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Farm-Based Educators Inspired by Anthroposophy (FBEIBA)
cultivating collegiality, networking, and best practices in this emerging field
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Children and Nature Network

 

Grassroots Gathering 2013

 

September 4, 5, 6

San Diego, CA

 

This year's theme, "I am the children and nature movement and so are you" offers professional development opportunities through panels, plenaries and informational sessions with leading experts across the disciplinary spectrum: from youth leaders to engaged grandparents, pediatricians to business leaders, early childhood educators to university faculty. 

 

Learn more and register online.



Student science experiment finds plants won't grow near Wi-Fi router

  Five ninth-grade young women from Denmark recently created a science experiment that is causing a stir in the scientific community.

 

It started with an observation and a question. The girls noticed that if they slept with their mobile phones near their heads at night, they often had difficulty concentrating at school the next day. They wanted to test the effect of a cellphone's radiation on humans, but their school, Hjallerup School in Denmark, did not have the equipment to handle such an experiment. So the girls designed an experiment that would test the effect of cellphone radiation on a plant instead.


Thanks to Waldorf Today for sharing this article!
          
Farm-Based Educators Advanced Retreat 
with Gunther Hauk

September 27-29, 2013
at Spikenard Farm, Floyd VA

 

Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary

Farm-based education has finally come of age. It is now a recognized national movement. Meanwhile, our society seems to be ever more plagued with signs of disconnection, violence, turbulence and crisis.

 

This September, FBEIBA is organizing an intensive retreat for experienced farm-based educators inspired by anthroposophy. We will come together to further penetrate questions of how farm-based learning can best be used productively to create hope for a better society. 
Gunther Hauk speaking at the 2012 Farm-Based Education Intensive at Angelic Organics
 
The retreat will be hosted at Spikenard Farm in Virginia, combining the beautiful rural setting of this special honeybee sanctuary with the opportunity to work with legendary gardener, beekeeper and educator Gunther Hauk, who will bring more than 35 years of experience and wisdom regarding farm-based education inspired by anthroposophy to our conversations.

 

Tentative Retreat Program

Friday, Sept 27:

Afternoon handwork project, supper and welcome

Saturday, Sept 28:

Tour of Spikenard Farm, discussions on meeting the needs of children and society today, work project, 

Michaelmas talk, lunch and supper

Sunday, Sept 29:

Further group discussions, lunch and closing

 

Registration for the 3-day retreat is $220 before August 15 ($250 after) and includes four meals. Members of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association receive a 10% discount. Scholarships are available for those with financial need through the Biodynamic Scholarship Fund. 


We are limiting this year's gathering to 25 experienced farm-based educators, in order to ensure the depth of conversation that can truly bring our work to the next level. If you would like to join us, please complete our online application to participate in the retreat.

 

If you have any questions about the retreat or the application, please contact Dana Burns at [email protected] or 262-495-4247

 

 



Garden Intern/Teacher Sought for Waldorf-Inspired Charter School

The Tomorrow River Community Charter School in Amherst, WI is seeking an enthusiastic individual to be a Garden Intern/Teacher for their Waldorf-inspired school. The intern will guide and implement curriculum to the needs of the individual child, while embracing the unity of the class as a whole, creating a nurturing learning environment. This individual will research and develop a well-organized, useful and productive garden, greenhouse and composting program. They will work with the food staff on planning for food production and preservation for use in school lunches. The Garden curriculum will include, but is not limited to, garden maintenance, harvesting timelines, food storage, garden planning and seed ordering. The intern will be responsible for weekly classes with the students and organizing parent volunteers. Read the full announcement.

 



Biodynamic Farmer Sought for Sublet - Lakeside School

Lakeside School, located on the 200-year old Black Kettle Farm in Essex, NY, is seeking to sublet farmland to a farmer dedicated to biodynamic farming practices and interested in establishing an affiliation with the school as farm educator. Modest cottage housing is included on the farm. 

 

Black Kettle Farm is a 230-acre organic Wild Farm nestled between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. It includes more than 100 acres of tillable farmland, large barn, equipment sheds, tool/garden shed and root cellar, stream and pond, established apple trees and vineyard, fenced-in pastures, and modest greenhouse. Read the full announcement.

 



Farm-Based Educators Inspired by Anthroposophy (FBEIBA) 

www.biodynamics.com/farm-based-educators

 

FBEIBA is a project of the Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association