66. Reflections on Foundations in Land Stewardship

Foundations in Land Stewardship, the three-month farm school program I co-hosted with Cat Henning, just wrapped its inaugural cohort on August 1st. Though it’s impossible to fully capture the magic that unfolded throughout this program, this episode is my attempt to put words to what happened - for myself, for anyone who's been curious about the program, and for anyone who might want to create something like it in their own community.Farm school went deep. Yes, we explored soil science and market streams and the mechanics of a viable farm business, but at the core of it, it was also necessary to explore identity, inner work, relationships, and the revelation that a farm is always a reflection of the person tending it. I learned a lot, and I'm excited to share some of that with you in this episode today. Tune in to learn more about:Why the program was built around farmer-teachersHow every farm is completely different, and every farm is a reflection of the person running itThe importance of knowing your strengths, owning your weaknesses, and building something that actually works for who you areThe power of bringing people onto farms that are alive, cared for, and stewarded with intention, and why that experience is healing in ways people don't expectWhat it means to be a positive disturbance in a landscape, and how that shifts your whole orientation to the natural worldWhy I believe you can't bring a big dream to life without first facing the parts of yourself that say it isn't possibleWhy community is both the answer to food system change and the thing food most naturally createsSign Up for Farm School 2027If you're interested in being part of the next cohort of Foundations in Land Stewardship, you can sign up to be notified when enrollment opens: www.handsinthesoil.farm/farmschool Connect with Hannah: Instagram: ⁠@hannahkeitel