Learning Farm provides education in natural world

Picture an idyllic farm on a sunny September day. Chickens roam freely in the barnyard, sunflowers reach toward the blue sky, and apples ripen in the orchard.

What you might not expect to see is a group of elementary students tending dwarf goats while another group learns an African dance and a third works on a nature journal in the woods. Yet, this pastoral scene can be found most mornings at The Learning Farm on Enfield Falls Road, where Christa and Pete Núñez run the Outdoor School.

“I was working in marketing in California with no real plans to switch, until I had children,” she said. “We created The Learning Farm for them.”

Looking at the world through parents’ eyes, the Núñezes grew increasingly concerned. They dreamed of a place where children and families could immerse themselves in the study of living things, agriculture and food and explore practical solutions to the challenges facing the planet. Not being able to find the healthy outdoor learning environment they were looking for, the couple decided to create it for themselves and to share it with other families.

At the same time, the couple began to focus on sustainable, organic food production. Christa was concerned particularly about the sugary, calorie-laden drinks that were marketed to children and wanted to create something better.

“It was the juice that actually brought us here to Ithaca,” she said.

Working in partnership with the Cornell Food Venture Center, the Núñezes began to develop their grape/beet juice product at the Geneva Pilot Plant in 2016. The food incubator project provided access to food scientists and production equipment. The Learning Farm Juicery now sells its 100% organic juice at 12 locations including GreenStar and P&C Fresh, as well as online through its website and Amazon.

“Initially, Cornell was also interested in working with us on The Learning Farm and housing it on campus,” Christa said. “Unfortunately, that plan fell through due to insurance and legal issues.”

By that time, the family had fallen in love with the Ithaca area and started looking for a property where they could implement the second part of their plan. They purchased the house and acreage just above the lower entrance to Robert H. Treman State Park three years ago and set to work creating the farm they envisioned.

“We are primarily focused on teaching, not production,” Christa said. “The Learning Farm is a biodiverse landscape, so we grow a little of everything. We want kids to learn what naturally grows best in the area where they live and how to do it in a mindful and caring way.”

Walking around the farm, it is easy to appreciate the difference. Instead of the typical fields of a single row crop, The Learning Farm has discrete areas with complementary purposes. The orchard is filled with all kinds of fruit trees as well as blueberry and currant bushes. Bees carry nectar to the apiary nearby, and grape trellises dot the hillside. Shiitake mushrooms grow in the woods, which also contain a nature trail complete with activity stations.

The Núñezes have had to make some adjustments to their programs to accommodate health and safety concerns during the pandemic.

“The Outdoor School offers children with working parents the opportunity to engage in educational activities in a beautiful, natural setting,” Christa said of their program. “We wish this to be a place where students can learn in small outdoor groups and safely engage socially with their peers.”

The school supports the distance learning option currently offered by the area’s public schools, and a small portion of each day is allocated for students to complete and turn in assignments. The majority of the day, however, is spent in tactile learning, immersed in nature and the activities of the farm.

“That’s how students learn best,” Christa said. “We want learning to be a wonderful, joyful experience rather than screen time all day.”

Enrollment in the Outdoor School is kept intentionally low, with two cohorts of just five to seven students each grouped by grade level. The farm provides plenty of room to spread out, but maintaining proper social distance in the winter months will be more of a challenge.

“We’re currently fundraising to renovate and expand our barn to create a safe, indoor learning space,” Christa said.

Supporting families who are struggling to balance work and schooling is a priority at this time, Christa said. Even with limited enrollment, the school has been able to offer their services for free to some students.

“Several incredibly generous individuals and businesses have provided scholarships for kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend,” Christa said.

The summer program held in July and August also looked a bit different this year. Instead of the normal on-site camp experience, kits containing materials and instruction for daily activities around weekly themes were delivered to students.

“One week, the kids were making ecologically sustainable home products like soap, paper and a working lamp,” Christa said. “The next week, they might be making solar cookers or learning about composting.”

The Núñezes were quick to point out that they would not be able to provide such diverse offerings without a lot of help. Summer program activities were created with the assistance of interns from the Dyson School of Business, workers hired through Tompkins County’s Youth Employment Service and resources from Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Lab of Ornithology.

“So many people lent a hand in developing programs that would resonate with students and families,” Christa said. “We were able to connect kids with local experts in a variety of fields, and we hope to continue that with our new online platform.”

Once registered at LearningFarm.online, students can earn badges by completing assignments designed to engage them in the community and foster their particular interests. Christa sees it as just one more way they can support a love of learning, even during a pandemic.

The farm has come a long way in three short years, but the Núñezes still have a few irons in the fire.

With juice production at the Geneva site currently on hold, the Núñezes are using the time to finalize formulas for two new flavors. When the juice returns to the shelves in the spring, look for apple/carrot and pineapple/celery to join their original grape/beet blend. Fundraising is also underway for equipment to allow production to move on site.

Other products in development include sourwood honey and healthy, organic bento lunch boxes for kids.

Looking toward the future, Christa is hopeful that education won’t go back to business as usual after the virus has run its course.

“The outdoors should be a critical and vital part of every child’s day, not just now but always,” Christa said. “We have an opportunity to make some real changes to our educational system to help kids learn in the way they want to learn.”

Go to khubainternational.org to contribute toward barn renovation or juice production equipment. For more information on enrollment or to sponsor a scholarship student, go to thelearningfarmjuicery.org.