Welcome to the “Farmily”!
Our story
While it was always in our plan to begin a school, the COVID-19 Pandemic made us realize there was a need for this kind of school now. We knew that there would be children who could not sit in front of their computer all day.
This is the school that we, Good Pickin Farm owners, would have wanted to go to as a child. It is the school that we would have thrived in. Less time sitting inside at a desk, more time outside with nature, animals, and fresh air with opportunities to learn from children of different ages, both older and younger. It is the perfect environment for the child who wants more than what the public school systems can offer.
Our Focus:
To encourage a love of learning, exploration and adventure.
Outside Learning:
In nature and among farm animals. The Preschool program is primarily outside. The School House is outside for science, nature, farm chores and a portion of the remaining academic lessons.
The Farm:
Located in Westford on 85 acres of fields, trails and woods where we learn, play, investigate and work each day.
Pickin’s Playground:
A woodland play space for creativity and playtime, adjacent to many other areas for quiet reflection.
Imagine
Imagine a recess where your child takes a hike with the goats. Imagine an art class working with alpaca wool and creating a plan for turning creations into a business. Imagine a classroom of kids who become your family, with unique learning styles and gifts respected, nurtured and appreciated. Imagine all of this, but with cutting edge educational curriculum and tools, aided by modern technology, on a beautiful Massachusetts farm.
Imagine a school day which begins with taking care of the animals, followed by a morning gathering including yoga and a daily affirmation to focus the mind and body. Each student, together with parents and teachers, will create a unique learning plan that meets the requirements of the MA state frameworks for your child’s age/grade, but also of personal goals in character building and community egagement. Their academic work during the day will be spent partially on those individual educational objectives using the Kahn Academy and Writing Without Tears Curriculums, among many others. The blended, multi-age group of students will also work on a long-term project together. For example, they might create a video of farm life in the 18th century, but choose individually what to contribute (writing, acting, videoing, research, art work) according to their age and level.