CITIZEN FARMERS,
A TRUSTED PARTNER
Bringing the benefits of farming to individuals, organizations, schools and communities.
CITIZEN FARMERS PROGRAMS BRING VALUE BY SUPPORTING FARMERS, EDUCATING YOUTH AND NOURISHING COMMUNITY
EXPANDING HORIZONS
FOR FARMERS
Farmers gain much from participating with Citizen Farmers, including training, employment, career opportunities, connections and a broader impact in the communities where they live and work.
EXTENDING CLASSROOMS
INTO THE GARDEN
Citizen Farmers provides educational programming for youth K-16 through hands-on farming experiences that can be tied to curriculum including STEAM, PBL, SEL and CTAE. The farm provides a dynamic outdoor classroom where educators can teach subjects like math, science, Spanish and art through project based learning.
NOURISHING COMMUNITY
Citizen Farmers nourishes community by growing and distributing healthy food to food insecure students, families and seniors as well as hosting educational events that foster healthier, more connected communities.
WE BLOOM WHERE PLANTED
Citizen Farmers Academy sites can be planted just about anywhere there’s a patch of land and willing stewards to care for it. Here are some places where our program can thrive:
Farms
Working farms, agrihoods, community gardens, urban farms, and other non-profit educational farms
Educational Institutions
Schools from elementary to college, public and private
Faith-based locations
Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship
Community and Civic Centers
Camps, YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, senior centers, libraries, etc.
Support Centers
Youth and adult prisons and detention centers, mental health centers, and other places serving people with diverse abilities
Pilot Program: Price Middle School
The Price Middle School pilot program is CFA’s living laboratory in Atlanta, GA. Here, we are transforming 3 acres of school grounds into a vibrant, productive farm that serves as an immersive outdoor classroom, where students get their hands dirty while learning about science, math, and environmental stewardship.
From curriculum integration techniques to sustainable farm management practices, each component is meticulously studied and optimized. By gathering comprehensive data on academic performance, food production, community engagement, and environmental impact, we're gathering insights that will nourish future projects across the nation.
The lessons larned and innovations developed at Price Middle School will shape a new generation of school-based farms, each adapted to its unique environment yet built on our proven model.
VALUES TAUGHT IN THE GARDEN
The Citizen Farmers Academy learning program is based on the lifecycle of the garden and built around nine lessons that each showcase a unique value, educating and empowering students.
LESSON #1
COMPOSTING IS STEWARDSHIP
Composting is a daily practice of being conscious consumers, reducing and recycling our waste as responsible stewards of a healthy planet.
LESSON #2
PLANNING IS VISION
Farming teaches us the importance of short-term planning and long-term visioning in order to have an abundant harvest and achieve our goals in the garden and in life.
LESSON #3
TILLING IS INITIATIVE
Learning to till and prepare the soil teaches us to take the initiate and get our hands dirty to activate and support our goals and intentions.
LESSON #4
SOWING IS FAITH
Sowing seeds and tending baby seedlings teaches us how to be gentle, tender and caring stewards of plants, people and the planet. The power of planting a seed and bringing it to harvest is an inspiring process that cultivates faith and hope in young people that empowers them to plant metaphoric seeds in other aspects of their lives.
LESSON #5
GROWING IS PATIENCE
Learning to tend a crop through its life cycle from seed to harvest is a great lesson in what can be achieved when practicing patience and responsibility. Cultivating patience is a virtue that is much needed in today’s fast passed technological world and the garden is the ideal place for youth to develop an appreciation for the time it takes to bring a seed to harvest literally and figuratively.
LESSON #6
HEALING IS COMPASSION
Gardens heal in ways that enable people to feel connected, and assuage feelings of disconnect from society and each other – helping everyone from seniors to youth not only feel useful but necessary, showcasing hidden skills and teaching new ones, engendering a sense of responsibility while forging healthy relationships and connections.
LESSON #7
REAPING IS GRATITUDE
When you tend a seed all the way to harvest and eat the fruit of your labour, a new sense of true gratitude is experienced. The virtuous cycle of growing plants inspires youth to be grateful of food and other things in life that are often taken from granted.
LESSON #8
SHARING IS GENEROSITY
When children share food they grow with those who need it most they develop a deep sense of appreciation for what goes into growing and distributing healthy food and how lucky they are to have access to it. Being able to share it with others teaches them the importance of helping others who do not have access to fresh healthy food.
LESSON #9
SUSTAINING IS PERSEVERANCE
Children learn that all crops will not be successful every time and the garden is a place of constant learning, experimentation and perseverance. This lesson in life teaches us that we get new planting cycles and new seasons to continually improve and try new things in the hopes we will get a better harvest the next time.
WHAT’S NEW
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Inspiring The Next Generation And A Regenerative Society With Laura Turner Seydel
August 26, 2021
Farmer D and Laura Turner Seydel take a holistic look at what a regenerative society would look like.
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Farming the Agrihood With Clayton Garrett
August 12, 2021
In this episode, Farmer D and Clayton Garrett get down to business discussing the ins and outs of running an agriculture development community.
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Cooking Up A New Recipe For Hospitality Rooted In Biodynamic Farming and Heritage Crops With Tyler Brown
July 29, 2021
Farmer D and Tyler Brown discuss a Chef's vision for an agrarian future.
Talk to our experts today to learn how Citizen Farmers Academy can help you develop your own learning program.