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 & Soul offers a growing selection of core learning experiences and seasonal programs that explore the intersection of Jewish wisdom and regenerative agriculture. Our core course series provides a foundation in land-based Jewish learning, regenerative farming principles, and community resilience.

View our current offerings here

Branches of Learning

Branches of Learning is a transformative, sequenced educational experience designed to immerse participants in Jewish agricultural wisdom and practice over the course of a season. Rooted in Jewish tradition and regenerative agriculture, these programs move beyond standalone lessons, allowing learning to deepen through repeated engagement, observation, and hands-on practice aligned with the rhythms of the land.

All Branches of Learning offerings follow a deliberate sequence, guiding participants through interconnected concepts and practices as they unfold seasonally.

Cultivating the Calendar Series

This series guides participants through a full cycle of the Hebrew calendar, helping them understand Jewish time as it unfolds through the seasons and the land. Learning follows the agricultural year and moves sequentially through Tu Bishvat, Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, allowing participants to experience how Jewish tradition, ecological rhythms, and hands-on practice are woven together over the course of a season.

Jewish Regenerative Agriculture Series

This series offers a deep exploration of food systems, soil health, and ecological responsibility through a Jewish lens. Participants move through a structured sequence examining Jewish earth stewardship, soil as a living community, rest and restraint, equity in food systems, and healthy, mindful consumption. All courses are grounded in real agricultural work and Jewish texts that embed ethics directly into systems.

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 & 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 centers on one 1.5-hour lesson drawn from the Branches of Learning curriculum.

Field Days are designed as standalone experiences, providing depth and meaning in a single visit while reflecting the values, pedagogy, and land-based approach of the full sequenced series.

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.