D2_Agraria_Journal_21_OPT

AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 25 have pursued college degrees will acknowledge the significant importance of in-depth experiences when coupled with academic pursuits. While we are excited to be moving ahead with numerous educational opportunities for students of all ages, now is also a time to be building new models of education for the future. Many parents are seeking alternatives to traditional education, choosing private schools over public schools, or home-school or un-school parent groups, or some other approach to childhood education. At the same time many high schools, colleges, and universities are facing declining budgets because of the demographic shifts and the growing dissatisfaction with high costs. Because the world is changing rapidly, many schools understandably find themselves significantly challenged to prepare students for uncertain futures; in fact, most students are better equipped technologically than their teachers to manage the tools that have become the primary access to acquiring information. So, what would the new, improved, educational models to promote a positive global future look like? And what can Agraria with our diversified land-based programs provide toward that end? These are the questions we are asking as our work rapidly expands. Just as the major issues facing humanity are interconnected, so are the solutions. Food insecurity, economic disparity, poor human health, climate change—all have their roots in the industrialization of our lives that has developed over the last few centuries. We are extracting, consuming and destroying resources continuously, compromising our environment for the sake of unsustainable lifestyles. The opportunity before us is to explore, learn, and share knowledge and skills that can empower anyone to grow, harvest, store, and consume healthy food wherever they live. These are the goals of our Regenerative Farmer Fellowship Program as well as our work in Springfield to develop an urban agriculture center in partnership with S.O.U.P., a Springfield nonprofit. Our online conferences and skill sharing workshops, the Big Map Out project for school age kids, and our increasingly popular Nature Camps are just a few examples of the mix of multigenerational learning opportunities we offer, both practical and philosophical. Expanding our ability as a demon- stration farm, a site for regenerative practices, is vitally important. But ultimately Agraria can be much more than that. We can help communities learn how to share resources, combine efforts, and increase their overall physical, mental and spiritual health. Perhaps the new education model is more invitational and inspirational than purely instruc-tive. Modeling the New means providing a window into a brighter future. As we develop individual and community resilience, we may begin to see economic disparity diminish along with the impacts of climate change. Each of us, regardless of our position in this life, is on our own educational journey. We take in infor- mation, take on understanding, learn new lessons, expand awareness, broaden perspectives, experience challenges, suffer pain, and are exhil- arated by joy. Providing experiential opportunities for expansive growth and the space, setting and means to share inspirational teaching all may be central to the new “edu-cational” model. Our vision for Agraria is to be part of the global network of resource- ful institutions providing that array of learning options that will equip students of all ages and backgrounds to participate in a truly regenerative future. We have just begun. Rich Sidwell is treasurer of the Community Solutions board of trustees and co-founder and treasurer of Raven Rocks, Inc. a 1250-acre wilderness preserve and alternative energy demonstration center near Beallsville, OH. DENNIE EAGLESON