New Farm Campus

We are an established Steiner School building a new farm campus so our students will have a nature-based learning environment. Our 13.6 hectare farm offers gardens, orchards, fields, nature areas, trees, a lake, and wetlands. Construction of the new school buildings started in January 2020. We relocated to the new farm campus at the start of 2021.  

Biodynamic principles

We are creating an educational farm as an exemplar of restorative land management. Biodynamics treats the farm as a living organism to be honoured and nurtured. The students and farmers who work the land are then rewarded with healthy organic food.

The farm is a mixture of rolling hills, flat pasture, shelter trees, gardens, fruit trees, streams and lakes. It has a long history of sheep grazing and fruit production which have resulted in low biodiversity and low fertility. We have begun the slow process of restoring biodiversity and fertility. We do not use pesticides, herbicides or petrochemical fertilizers, and our management practices increase soil fertility and biodiversity. All organic waste is composted and returned to the land.

The new farm campus will be unique in New Zealand with its restorative approach to farming and buildings that create positive social and environmental benefits. Students and families will be involved in these activities through the school curriculum and community support.

History and vision

An eco-development 

Honouring the land and restoring nature are core values for us. We are guardians of this land together with the manawhenua iwi, Ngati Rarua and Te Atiawa. Together we are committed to protecting the mauri (life force) and wairua (spirit) of this land and water. Twenty percent of the farm is being set aside as nature areas, including a one-hectare spring-fed gully that is being replanted in native trees. One day this will be a small forest with a stream and ponds. Steeper slopes are being planted with native trees and a wetland will be restored.

We are encouraging low impact transport by building a cycle trail that connects the farm to existing cycle trails. It will be possible to cycle off-road the 4 km from Motueka township to the farm.

All our farm water-needs come from our lake, spring and well. Rainwater will be collected from buildings and used in the school. Wastewater will be treated and used onsite.

We plan to use grid-tied solar electric power as this is the lowest impact and most socially responsible option in New Zealand. Grid electrical power in New Zealand is 80% renewable energy. During school holidays our solar power will be fed back into the grid. Rather than invest in our own batteries, which are energy-intensive to manufacture, we prefer to pay for a grid connection because a cost-effective electric power grid is a social and environmental good for all New Zealanders.

The local climate is notable for high sunshine hours, long summers and mild winters. Buildings have been designed to maximise the solar advantage and natural ventilation. Outdoor classrooms will be places of beauty and inspiration.

Why a Farm School?

When students get outdoors and onto the farm some wonderful things happen...

They get energised and absorbed in the tasks, they run and move, there is more laughter, and they want to engage with each other and the task at hand. We see the quiet and reserved children step up and speak up.

When adults think back to their own happiest memories of childhood, they frequently recall the joy of playing outdoors and being in nature. Play is not only central to children's enjoyment of childhood but teaches critical life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.

Our outdoor classroom programme combines therapeutic, educational and social benefits to students. Here are 10 specific, and somewhat surprising, benefits of getting students outdoors!

1) Intellectual Development

According to a 2005 study by Kellert, spending time in nature allows children to develop the capacity for creativity, problem-solving and intellectual development. As well as assisting them in developing the skills to collate a range of information which greatly enhances their ability to learn.

2) Improved Coping Mechanisms

A 2003 study by Wells and Evans showed that children who spent time interacting with nature showed a heightened ability to cope with stressful events.

3) Improved Science Knowledge

A study by the American Institute for Research in 2005 on the effectiveness of outdoor education programmes, reported a 27% increase in science scores in children who had participated in such programmes.

And these results didn't diminish over time, children who spend time learning in nature show significantly and consistently improved academic performance.

4) Better Social Skills

Another consistent theme in a diverse range of research, show that children who spend time in nature are more civil. When children have regular opportunities for free unstructured play in natural environments they are better able to get on with others (Burdette and Whitaker, 2005) and rates of bullying are vastly reduced or even, in some cases, eliminated altogether (Malone and Tranter 2003).

5) Improves Eyesight

A study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology back in 2011 showed that time spent outdoors was linked to significantly reduces rates of myopia (near-sightedness) in both adults and children!

6) Improves Self-discipline 

Children who have access to green spaces, according to a 2001 study by Taylor, Kuo and Sullivan, show rapid improvement to their self-discipline skills, these skills have been linked to a reduction in aggressive behaviour, lower rates of anxiety and depression in adulthood, and lower rates of self-destructive behaviours in adulthood; so are well worth developing!

7) Better Concentration

There is a direct correlation between the level of access to natural views and direct contact with nature and the ability to concentrate and focus. According to two studies (Wells, 2000 and Taylor et al 2002), this isn’t a Iimited benefit and grows with exposure. So essentially, the greener the better!

8) Increased Imagination and Sense of Wonder

Exposing children to the natural world at a very young age has been directly linked to their development of a sense of wonder and imagination (Cobb, 1977 and Louv 1991). Why is this important? Well, according to Wilson (1997) a well-developed sense of wonder helps to harbour motivation for lifelong learning and development.

9) Boosts Self-Esteem

In 2013, the University of Essex reported that children who spend time engaging in ’green exercise’, that is spending time outdoors in nature, tend to have higher self-esteem, better moods, be members of groups and volunteer more.

10) We Protect What We Love

Early exposure to natural environments and environmental issues may help to build better environmental decision-makers for the future (Steampfli, 2008).