Growing More Than Food: What a School Farm Teaches Children

American Montessori Society (AMS)

18 May 2026

What if some of the most powerful lessons children learn happen outside the classroom walls? In this episode, Biff and Nicole sit down with Montessori educator and school farmer Elise Washburn to explore how farming can become a living classroom — one that nurtures independence, observation, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural world. Together, they discuss: • Elise’s unconventional journey into Montessori, from California’s redwood forests to Rwanda and ultimately to the school farm • How farming creates meaningful learning experiences for children from toddlers through middle school • Why hands-on work in nature strengthens confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving • How food tasting, planting, composting, and harvest lessons bring Montessori principles to life • What schools can do to start small and build meaningful outdoor learning programs Warm, practical, and deeply inspiring, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that when children are given the chance to work with the earth, they often grow far more than vegetables. Whether you're an educator, parent, or Montessori advocate, this episode will leave you rethinking what a classroom can be. Contact Us: humanpotential@amshq.org Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society. For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/ And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach: https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood Contact us: humanpotential@amshq.org