Educational Offerings

At the Institute of Soil & Soul, education is more than information — it’s formation. Our curriculum is designed to cultivate wholeness by weaving Jewish wisdom together with regenerative agriculture. Through this integrated approach, learners of all ages reconnect to themselves, their traditions, their community, and the earth.

Whether you're a preschool teacher introducing children to the wonder of seeds, or a synagogue educator exploring the mitzvot the land, or an adult learner exploring your relationship to food justice and farming, our curriculum meets you where you are.

Our educational framework is guided by our three pillars

Cultural Identity (CI) - Reconnecting learners to Jewish values, ethics, and agricultural wisdom

Environmental Stewardship (ES) - Teaching how to care for the earth through Jewish, regenerative practices

Social Justice (SJ) - Grounding learning in equity, access, and shared responsibility.

These pillars shape all of our offerings-from curriculum packages to daylong field programs-ensuring that every experience is meaningful, rooted in tradition, and oriented towards action.

Year round and seasonal offerings

our curriculum

The Institute of Soil and Soul offers a growing selection of core courses and seasonal learning opportunities that explore the intersection of Jewish wisdom and regenerative agriculture. Our core courses series (ISS111, ISS112, ISS113) provide foundational knowledge in sustainable farming practices, land-based Jewish learning, and community resilience. In addition, our seasonal offerings (ISS120-128) respond to the rhythms of the agricultural year, offering timely, hands-on learning experiences that connect deeply with both the land and Jewish tradition.

View our current offerings here

Branches of Learning

Branches of Learning is a transformative educational experience offered by the Institute of Soil & Soul. Designed for summer camps, homeschool communities, Jewish day schools, and organizations seeking ongoing, immersive programming throughout the year, this curriculum offers a deep engagement with Jewish wisdom and the land. Rooted in Jewish tradition and regenerative agriculture, this adaptable program invites students to explore: environmental ethics, food systems, and spiritual connection through the land.

Through hands-on experiences and text-based learning, Branches of Learning helps communities cultivate meaningful relationships with ecology, tradition, and one another.

What's included

Carefully designed lesson plans explore core themes of Jewish agricultural tradition and regenerative practices. Each one integrates spiritual wisdom with seasonal rhythms and hands-on learning. Choose from our suggested series or customize your package with seasonally available courses to best suit your community’s needs and calendar.

Participants get to visit our working Jewish regenerative farm four times throughout the year to experience the land in action—planting, harvesting, composting, and more—all tied to Jewish texts and values.

We bring the farm to you! A member of our team will visit your site for a special program that connects Jewish agricultural learning with your local space and community.

We provide toolkits, planting guides, composting instructions, and educational signage to help support ongoing learning and garden stewardship at your site.

Each lesson includes tactile, age-appropriate activities—like seed-saving, planting, or harvesting—plus take-home items that reinforce learning beyond the farm.

Every session is grounded in Jewish tradition, with source sheets, blessings, and commentaries that elevate environmental education into a sacred practice.

Whether you already have a garden or are dreaming of one, we provide personalized consultation to help envision, design, and implement a space that supports Jewish agricultural learning. For organizations without a current garden, we offer creative alternatives—such as container gardens, classroom grow kits, or seasonal indoor projects—ensuring all participants can engage with the material in a meaningful, hands-on way.

By participating in Branches of Learning, students will:

Cultivate a deeper understanding of Jewish agricultural traditions
Link Jewish texts and rituals with sustainable farming practices, fostering spiritual and ecological insight.
Develop practical, hands-on farming skills
From planting to harvesting, students gain essential knowledge for working the land with intention and care.
Learn the value of sustainability, justice, and community
Understand their role in caring for the earth and supporting social justice through Jewish teachings.
Create lasting memories and take-home resources
With tangible materials like farm journals and planting guides, students carry their learning beyond the field.

Field Days at Soil & Soul

Field Days at Soil and Soul offer immersive daylong experiences for groups of all ages to connect with the rhythms of nature, Jewish tradition, and community. Ideal for schools and congregational groups, each Field Day is grounded in seasonal farm work, learning, and reflection.

What's Included

Get an up-close look at our working Jewish regenerative farm. Learn about our growing methods, compost systems, orchard, and more—through the lens of sustainability and sacred stewardship.

Roll up your sleeves! Whether it’s planting, mulching, harvesting, or feeding the compost pile, participants join in real-time farm work that matches the season and brings learning to life.

Through storytelling, study, and shared dialogue, we explore Jewish texts and values—like justice, gratitude, and cycles of rest—that connect deeply to our work on the land.

We end the day with a closing circle to reflect on the experience, ground in gratitude, and share insights. This practice helps participants internalize lessons and feel part of a greater whole.

Each participant receives a small memento or resource—like a seasonal planting guide, recipe card, or text sheet—to carry the learning home and continue the journey.

Through field days at soil and soul, participants will:

Gain practical, hands-on experience
Learn seasonal farming tasks and regenerative techniques that promote sustainability and environmental health.
Deepen their understanding of Jewish agricultural laws
Connect spiritual teachings with physical actions on the land, bringing mitzvot to life through practice.
Engage in meaningful discussions about Jewish values and ecology
Explore themes of sustainability, social justice, and environmental stewardship through the lens of Torah and Jewish tradition.
Develop a stronger sense of community
Collaborate on the farm to care for the land, animals, and one another—fostering connection and shared purpose.
Take away resources and reflections
Leave with tangible materials and a lasting sense of connection to the land and their Jewish identity.

Ready to dig in?

At the Institute of Soil & Soul, we believe that meaningful learning happens when hands touch soil and hearts connect to heritage. Whether through a single Field Day or a full Branches of Learning partnership, our programs nurture a new generation of stewards—grounded in Jewish values and equipped with the skills to cultivate a more just and resilient world. We invite you to join us in this sacred work of reconnection—one seed, one story, and one growing season at a time.