We turn working farms into immersive, get-your-hands-dirty learning spaces for students of all ages. The transition is simple, doesn’t interfere with your core business, and provides an additional revenue stream.
Taking fresh produce from the farm to school is all the rage as it should be. But consider the possibilities of taking the school to the farm. Better yet, imagine your farm AS A SCHOOL.
As an experienced farmer, are you missing out on a golden opportunity to increase revenue, expand your customer base, and have a lasting impact on your community by not using your urban farm as a classroom for a farming education program?
We think you just might be leaving money on the table and allowing would-be customers to drive right past your farm every single day without realizing it.
Would adding another revenue stream help you reach the goals you have for your farm? Could you serve more customers with your current production?
You can leverage the equipment and systems you use everyday to increase the revenue of your farm by thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars each year without growing any additional plants.
Are you curious about farm to school? Or should we say, “school to farm”!
Want to know how to turn your farming operation into a farming education program that will serve K-12 students and would-be farmers in your community?
We’d like to introduce the Edible Learning Lab
The initial reaction that most people have when they enter the Edible Learning Lab in Wyoming for the first time is nothing short of awe.
“I never knew something like this was possible! What an amazing opportunity for kids to learn about how their food is grown and what it takes to nurture plants from seed to table. I’d love to come here to learn too!”
They see raised planters, worm farms, hundreds of seedlings, specialized lighting, and plants growing everywhere. Sound like your farm? I bet it does.
Our Edible Learning Lab program includes a edible education curriculum, a vast library of supporting material, and expert guidance all layered on top of what you already have, a working farm. Integrating our program with your current systems is easy yet it opens the door to a world of possibilities that you may not currently be able to access. You are just a step away from a farming education program that generates another revenue source and builds your customer base in one simple process.
Increase revenue and earn new customers with school to farm model
Your farm isn’t just a food production engine. It also holds the potential to be a school to farm classroom for students of all ages, giving them the information they need to make decisions that will influence their health and wellness for the rest of their lives. We want to turn you into a farm educator.
Consider this…
With just 20 students enrolled for three classes a week at $20 a class over a 12 week summer program, you could generate more than $14,000 of additional revenue simply by leveraging your farm as an Edible Learning Lab.
Word of mouth is a powerful force. Parents talk to other parents. And parents of students at our Lab in Wyoming regularly buy produce that we’ve harvested in class with their children. What could be easier than that!
Imagine the possibilities
Expanding the reach of your brand within your community by offering classes to students and adults, working directly with the schools and afterschool organizations, and bringing more would-be customers into your farm could open the door to the following:
- sell your produce directly to the families of the students in your program
- offer a summer program through the local schools
- partner with after school programs during the school year
- offer student internships for school credit
- build your volunteer base
- increase word-of-mouth marketing
Adding the edible education component to your farm just might be the revenue stream you’ve been searching for, the one that will make ends meet and help you grow your business. Do you see the possibilities that other farm educators are already harnessing?
The School to Farm Curriculum
The 2018 Edition of the Edible Learning Lab Program explores the full cycle of food production including:
- starting plants from seed
- growing plants in soil-based and hydroponic systems
- reducing waste and recapturing nutrients with compost and vermiculture systems
- tending and harvesting crops using practices that foster maximum yields
- transforming raw produce into nutritious meals with basic kitchen skills
- and ultimately fosters a positive impact on the students and the local community
The Edible Learning Lab Curriculum is supported by articles, videos, podcasts, and teaching aids to help prepare the instructor for each lesson. When you need more guidance, we’ll be there to help you.
Urban farming in the basement of an old middle school. Look familiar?
Lead the program yourself or gift it to a teacher or school
Not sure who will run your Edible Learning Lab? Don’t feel you qualify as a “teacher”?
Guess again. You can become an urban farm educator effortlessly with a little help from the Modern Steader team. The lessons are designed to guide you through the process. Translating that to the students is simple because your teaching elements of the process that you know inside out.
We built the Edible Learning Lab program around the concept of Teach the Teacher. You already know how to grow food so we’ll guide you on how to synthesize that information with the help of our 274 Lessons and 250+ Supporting Articles to present it in the way that only you can to engage the Students in your program. We’ll teach you so you can teach them.
Of course, if you prefer to be more behind the scenes you can gift the Edible Learning Lab Curriculum to a teacher or school in your community. You pay for the monthly or yearly subscription and we provide the access to the teacher or teachers that will lead the classes at your farm. They get the access and you get the write-off!
If you would like to gift a subscription to a local teacher or school, just complete this form to get started.