The Farm Program, introduced in the fall of 1993, was Meadow Montessori's first step toward the Montessori ideal of Erkinder. Dr. Montessori visualized that adolescents should leave the confines of the classroom and continue their education in a farm setting, working and living in a "real-life" laboratory. The objectives of the Farm Program at MMS include helping the students replace a lost heritage of farming, make environmental connections between lessons and nature, and see the results of hard work.

The Farm Program has evolved over the years. In the past we traveled to different locations, primarily a dairy farm and a horse farm. Today, we have found a "home farm" within walking distance of the school. Each Friday morning, the students lace up their hiking boots and walk the mile across the field or, on muddy days, down the road to begin their day on the farm.

The students are broken into three groups, working with three different adults; we fondly refer to these groups as agriculture, horticulture, and house-i-culture.

One week a group may work in the woods, identifying trees and/or cleaning deadwood, then again, this group might conduct scientific studies on the farm pond or nearby creek. The agricultural group also works with farm animals, notably horses. Several members of the middle school class are members of 4-H and raise lambs and hogs for the Monroe Country Fair. These students keep their animals on the farm and share their growing expertise with the other students.

Another group might work in a vegetable garden, one of several flowerbeds, and/or pick fruit from the trees. The students tend a large compost pile on the farm, but this same group has responsibilities in the greenhouse, organic vegetable beds, and compost piles located on the school grounds. It is a long-term goal of MMS that we one day grow all the food we eat, and last year we managed to provide all the salad for the school community.

A third group works in the house, preparing a meal for the entire group, canning fruits and vegetables for the winter, or learning other home-making chores. The students learn (and practice) the principles of good nutrition and balanced meals.

All students rotate during a three-week period through all three groups.

In 2008, the Michigan Farm Bureau honored Catharine Calder, who founded both MMS and our Farm Program, as the Outstanding Farm K-12 Educator of the Year. While accepting this honor, Catharine credited Maria Montessori. After all, it was Montessori who realized how important the agricultural world is to the complete education of any human being.

Click here for more information on our third-year senior (traditional ninth grade) curriculum.