Modeling Life, Faith and Family
Mentoring Life
Everything we do on the farm is done in relationship. Mentors and students exeperience so many lessons around the farm, and they are all done together. As they are learning the skill, they are also learning how to listen, communicate, problem solve, teach a peer after they have learned it and encourage others. Often times students and mentors have great life conversations in the middle of the activity or on the way from one thing to another.
LIFE SKIILS
Students learn a wide range of skills from gardening, cooking, animal care, food production, carpentry, archery, various art forms, camping, first aid, conflict resolution skills.
Each season at the farm brings about new adventures of life and learning the skills to enjoy new activities and hobbies.
Daily Responsibilities include taking care of the animals, garden, and meal preparation.
Faith
The foundation of everything we do here on the farm is to help students grow in their relationship with God through Jesus.
Students come with a wide range of beliefs, attitudes and exposure to religion. We are honored to explore the truth of the Bible and discover who God is, why did He create us, and how can we have a relationship with Him. All of this is done with care and creativity so each student can understand and respond at their own speed. The farm is full of animals and objects that help the Bible come alive!
2 Greatest Commandments: Love God, Love People.
A relationship with God also informs us of how we relate to others. Our students are constantly learning how to treat others; in their homes, neighborhoods, and around the world. Our great mentors help these lessons take human form as they model love for God and others each week. Gentle correction and instruction is best received by someone you trust, so we work hard to build the bridge of trust that the Gospel can travel across.
Family Table
Meal time is about good nutrition and so much more!
We call it Family Table to highlight all the different aspects of a meal in a family setting.
Meal Preparation: Students learn to cook a wide variety of foods and we especially like it when they get to try things for the first time. Veggies harvested from our garden, eggs and meat produced on site, freshly baked breads and some tasty desserts are all apart of our menu.
Setting the Table: Good manners go a long way in life. How to set the table and simple etiquette like not eating until everyone has been served help show honor and respect to everyone around the table.
Family Interaction: One of our most valued times is the intimacy of a dinner table. Each student gets a chance to be heard and seen in a close setting by caring mentors. This opens up for a time of sharing great victories, new adventures and sometimes the struggles of the day. Peers and mentors get to listen, rejoice with the victories, show interest in the new adventures, empathy and wisdom with the struggles. Its reinforcing what family time is about and why we want them to continue to practice it at their homes now and when they have children of their own.