The Stonebridge School Farm
An Interconnected World
Our crop field came to life the summer and autumn of 2015. The very first crop, asparagus, was planted knowing an edible harvest would only come in succeeding years. Next were potatoes, then came kale, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, lettuce, basil, flowers, pumpkins and winter squash. By August we were adding our autumn selections of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lots and lots of lettuce, cabbage, beets, turnips, onions, fennel, kohlrabi, and more kale. Our Farm Stand had opened up in the afternoons providing school families with healthy, organic produce grown by their very own children to enjoy at home. To date we have donated almost 400 lbs of produce to the Napa Valley Food Bank and a small amount of our produce is being purchased by adjacent schools and restaurants. With positive intention and a hard work ethic, we were able to build a foundation that would support the farm for years to come |
Organic
Stonebridge School became organically certified in 2015 and has been certified every year since. We believe we reap what we sow. The better care and attention we give to our crops and environment, the more productive, healthy, and robust our yields have become. Our sustainable and natural pest and weed mitigation aims to produce a biodiverse environment that works with the earth and it's life, not against it.
Regenerative
Along with organic principles, the SBS farm utilizes no-till farming methods as well as regenerative practices. Soil is life, and a large portion of our efforts are spent producing and developing healthy micro-organisms and mycelial networks to better support our crops. Through compost dressing, wood mulching, and cover cropping, we have been able to build up our top soil, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve the fertility, drainage, and health of our soil.
Eduction
Stonebridge School is a K-8th grade Waldorf Methods Charter School where all students participate, contribute, and learn on the farm which themselves have build and maintained. Our Farm Director teaches structured farming classes to K-5th grade students while 6-8th grade students are self-led to complete farm work with minimal oversight. No matter what age a student is, curiosity, grit, and teamwork are always practiced whenever they visit. Our students realize they are just like our crops-with patience, love, and attention, they will grow to become incredible.