Our Barn, Animals, and Gardens

Learning through care, responsibility, and discovery.

Our school’s large red barn and gardens are an important part of everyday learning. They give children opportunities to care for living things, work together, and see how their efforts make a difference.

Caring for Our Animals

Our animal community includes three goats, two donkeys, lots of chickens, a red-footed tortoise, a lizard, fish, and barn cats. Through their involvement with the animals, children learn to be gentle, observant, and attentive to the needs of other living things.

The children take an active role in barn chores. They carry water from the school to the barn, feed the animals, and help put hay into the barn loft. These meaningful jobs build responsibility, cooperation, and confidence. Children discover that their contributions matter and that animals depend on consistent care.

A boy wearing a blue t-shirt standing inside a wooden barn with goats, one beige and one black, eating hay on the floor. The boy is looking down at the goats, and there's greenery visible outside through the barn doorway.
A girl with long brown hair and braces is smiling while holding a large brown chicken outdoors in a backyard with trees and a wooden fence.
A boy sitting on green grass touching a donkey's side in a lush backyard with trees and a wooden fence.

Meet the Herd

  • A turtle with a black shell and red spots on its skin crawling on the ground among dirt, small rocks, and green bits of plant.

    Speedy

    A gentle red-footed tortoise who takes life at his own pace, despite his name. He loves endive lettuce and helps kids practice being calm, slowing down, and taking one small step at a time. His quiet motto: “There’s no hurry.”

  • A gray and white pinto donkey standing on grass in a farmyard with a wooden fence, green trees, and a red barn in the background.

    Maria

    A kind, sweet rescue donkey in her twenties. She has a one-of-a-kind coat, loves spending time with the kids, and is happiest hanging out with her best friend, Eeyore. Her motto is: “Be kind, stay close, and make room for a friend.”

  • A close-up of a young donkey with gray fur and white markings on its face, grazing on green grass in a fenced outdoor area.

    Eeyore

    The elder statesman of the farm. Rescued 20 years ago in poor health, he was nursed back to health by the school and is now in his forties. He’s wonderful with the kids and charmingly stubborn with the adults. With years of wisdom under his belt, he knows one thing for certain: never miss a meal. His motto is: “Be patient with the little ones, stand your ground with the grown-ups, and always be on time for dinner.”

  • Close-up of a chicken's head showing its red comb, wattles, and eye, with brown feathers and a blurry green grassy background.

    Nugget

    Our oldest hen is the flock's brave matriarch and the mother of four of our other hens. She loves the kids and is the easiest hen to catch, making her a favorite feathered friend. Her motto is: “Be brave, stay curious, and keep your chicks close.”

  • A group of chickens of different colors and breeds inside a coop with wood chips on the ground.

    Our Flock

    Made up entirely of hens of different varieties. Each year, we hatch eggs and welcome new chicks to the farm. The hens live in their coop and spend their days roaming and foraging across our 2.5 acres.

  • Young goat with brown, black, and white fur standing inside a barn, with hay and wooden walls in the background.

    Oats

    a young miniature Nubian goat and the biggest, most vocal of the bunch. Wise but spunky, he always has something to say and plenty of personality to go with it. His motto is: “Speak up, think it through, and leave room for a little mischief.”

  • A young black goat with long, floppy gray ears standing on a wooden platform.

    Coal

    The smallest of the bunch, a miniature Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf mix, and Asher’s brother. He’s a little hesitant at first, but friendly once he’s had time to check things out. His motto is: “Trust, but give it a sniff first.”

  • Young goat with white face and brown body standing in a barn, eating hay.

    Asher

    A miniature Nubian and Nigerian Dwarf mix and Coal’s brother. Steadfast and very friendly, he’s the first to approach a new person and offer a warm welcome. His motto is: “Stand steady, step forward, and greet a new friend.”

  • Colorful fish swimming in an aquarium with rocks at the bottom, including orange, purple, and white fish.

    Be a Goldfish

    “Every moment is a fresh start… ooh, a bubble!”

  • A person holding a small, brown, textured gecko near a window, with the gecko's head and eyes visible.

    Kratos

    A still, quiet lizard who loves crickets. With a powerful name and a calm presence, he takes his time—until a cricket catches his eye. His motto is: “Stay calm, stand strong, and keep an eye on the crickets.”

From Barn to Gardens to Kitchen

Our barn and gardens are connected through a cycle of growing and nourishment. We compost the animals’ manure and use the finished compost to enrich the soil in our gardens. This helps children understand how natural materials can be returned to the earth to support new growth.

The children participate in every stage of gardening. They plant seeds, tend and water the gardens, watch the food grow, and harvest it when it is ready. The food they pick is then used in our home economics program, connecting their work in the gardens with food preparation and everyday life.

A group of children and adults planting in a garden bed outside a brick house.
Child in a long-sleeved yellow and white shirt walking through a lush green pumpkin or squash patch in a backyard with a house and trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Child planting a small plant in the soil in a garden.
A young boy with blonde hair, wearing a striped shirt and brown overalls, stands in a pumpkin patch surrounded by large green pumpkin leaves and a big orange pumpkin. He is smiling and touching his hair with one hand.
Two children, a boy and a girl, are shoveling wood chips or mulch into a red wheelbarrow in a backyard with trees and a wooden fence.
A close-up of a pasta salad with rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, chopped green onions, and herbs in a clear glass dish.
Close-up of a hand holding an Easter egg with a blurred colorful background.
Close-up of two people harvesting a ripe red raspberry from a green plant outdoors.
Close-up of a purple cauliflower growing among green leaves.
Backyard garden with plants, wooden planter boxes, and wood chip ground cover, with house and trees in the background.
Close-up of sliced chocolate fudge on a glass tray, with a dusting of powdered sugar.
A backyard with a vegetable garden, green leafy plants, a small wooden fence, a deck chair, and a playground with swings and a slide, surrounded by large trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up of green cucumbers growing on a vine with large green leaves.
A white bowl filled with small cherry tomatoes on a woven wicker surface, with three zucchinis placed behind the bowl.
A stainless steel mesh basket containing a green squash, a yellow and orange gourd, a single brown egg, and multiple red cherry tomatoes.
Baked casserole dish with ground beef, corn, tomato, and melted cheese in a glass dish.
A close-up of a large dark green pumpkin with mottled yellow-green patterns on its surface, surrounded by green leaves and grass.
Four children holding various gourds and zucchinis in a backyard with green grass and trees, sunny weather.
Young girl with brown hair in a pink patterned dress watering plants in a lush garden with large green leaves, a small red and white shed, and trees in the background on a sunny day.
Five young girls, some wearing colorful pajamas, are gathered in a garden, tending to vegetable plants.
Red glowing egg-shaped object with black marks resting on a surface, with a dark background featuring some electronic device buttons and a grid-patterned area.
Spaghetti noodles served with a tomato-based sauce in a bowl.
A large, ripe yellow pumpkin growing in a garden with green leaves surrounding it, and a child's hand reaching to touch it.
A young boy in a red t-shirt is holding a freshly picked dark zucchini in a garden with green plants and a house in the background.
A young boy wearing a blue hoodie looks down as he plants a small sprout in soil. An adult's hand is near the plant, possibly assisting or guiding him. The background features a blurred fence and green trees, indicating an outdoor gardening activity.

Why It Matters

The barn and gardens bring learning to life. Children experience firsthand what plants and animals need to thrive. They practice patience as seeds grow, teamwork as they share chores, and care as they meet the needs of living things.

These experiences connect science, environmental awareness, and practical skills. They also help children understand where food comes from and appreciate the work involved in producing it.

Above all, our barn and gardens give children a sense of belonging and purpose. They actively contribute to our school community by caring for the animals, the land, and one another.