Meridian Micro Farm

Meet the Guide: Mr. Ben

With a background in philosophy, sustainability, environmental education, and hands-on outdoor work, Mr. Ben brings a thoughtful and grounded approach to our Summer Stewardship program and adolescent community. Passionate about meaningful learning, he values environments where students can work independently, ask questions, and engage deeply with the natural world through real-world projects.

This summer, Mr. Ben will guide students through gardening, stewardship, creative projects, and community-based work as they prepare for the transition into our adolescent program year.

Last week, our lab schools gathered at the garden for our annual butterfly release. We watched as the butterflies emerged in their own time, surrounded by students, guides, families, and neighbors who have shaped this school year.

Moments like these remind us what meaningful learning can look like when designed intentionally. Without prizes or manufactured novelty, children grow within community, participating in the world with curiosity, independence, and intrinsic motivation.

As we move into summer, our feed will grow quieter for a season. We’ll continue sharing occasional updates through stories, and we look forward to reconnecting after Labor Day.

FAQ Friday

Do you offer a summer program?

Yes. As a working micro farm, our adolescent program operates year-round to honor the agricultural cycle. From June–August, adolescents participate in a lighter Summer Stewardship Session. Summer Stewardship is not required, but strongly encouraged for students who wish to remain connected to the land, community, and responsibilities of the micro farm year-round.

Full FAQs here:
https://www.meridian-learning.org/lab-schools/meridian-micro-farm/adolescent-program/adolescent-faq/

A summer rooted in meaningful work, hands-on learning, and real community.

Meridian Micro Farm’s Summer Stewardship is a small-group program for ages 12–15 centered around gardening, building projects, sustainability, makerspace activities, and community-based learning.

Summer Stewardship - Meridian Learning Summer — designed specifically for adolescents. Our Summer Stewardship is a two-day-per-week experience grounded in land-based work, shared responsibility, and the rhythms of the season. Students return each week to ongoing work at the micro farm, contributing to projects that evolve over time. At...

FAQ Friday

Isn’t this a radical new approach to the typical high school experience?

Not really. Before consolidation and standardization, adolescents were educated in small, multi-age environments where learning was closely connected to real responsibility and practical contribution.

There are also more recent examples, such as Metro Chicago’s “the school without walls” that demonstrate how community-based, experience-driven models can be highly successful, even if they were never intended to scale system-wide. Our program builds on this lineage by prioritizing adolescent development, meaningful work, and participation in real life rather than adherence to a factory-style school model.

Full FAQs here:
https://www.meridian-learning.org/lab-schools/meridian-micro-farm/adolescent-program/adolescent-faq/

The adolescent program at Meridian Micro Farm balances a focused morning work cycle with hands-on, real-world experiences, where students build responsibility and explore entrepreneurship in a small-group setting.

Explore 2026-2027 enrollment options: https://www.meridian-learning.org/lab-schools/meridian-micro-farm/adolescent-program/

This week’s adolescent work focused on preparing the ground for our hoop house. Students measured the space, set boundaries, and began shaping the site.

Planning now moves into implementation as the work on the land continues.

Meet the Guide: Mr. Rob

Mr. Rob will be guiding our Building the Future: Shaping the Micro Farm workshop next Tuesday.

Mr. Rob designs and constructs furniture for our classrooms and helps maintain both our indoor and outdoor learning spaces, including the micro farm. Additionally, he brings a background in systems and technology, supporting students as they begin to explore tools like design and 3D printing in practical ways.

He’ll also be leading our upcoming Micro Farm Makerspace session in May, where students will design and create signage to support the ongoing work of the farm.

Join us Tuesday, April 21 from 9:30–11:00 a.m. Space is limited; RSVP through the event link to reserve your spot.

https://facebook.com/events/s/building-the-future-shaping-th/1997874780963106/

Each Meridian Micro Farm workshop begins with hands-on work that invites curiosity through the senses.

For Harvest, Herbs & Seasonal Flavors, we’ll start with detailed botanical coloring pages — a simple, creative way to notice form, pattern, and texture before exploring the scents and flavors of the season. 🌿