Winter weather did not slow learning on the Shrub Oak International School farm this week, as students brought their agricultural work indoors and continued to engage with the land in thoughtful and creative ways. Even during a blizzard, farm-based learning remained active, flexible, and deeply connected to long-term goals for the growing season ahead.
This week’s focus centered on garden planning, an essential step in preparing for spring planting. Students learned about the purpose and process of planning a garden, including how different plant choices can shape both the appearance and function of a growing space. A key point of discussion was that approximately one-third of Shrub Oak’s garden this year will be dedicated to wildflowers. Students explored what wildflowers are, how they differ from traditional garden crops, and why they are valuable to ecosystems, particularly in supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
To reinforce these concepts, students engaged in hands-on design activities using art supplies. Some students chose to design a garden entirely from scratch, mapping out their own layouts and selecting where vegetables, herbs, and wildflowers might grow. Others worked with a blank template of the Shrub Oak garden, using it as a guide to visualize how the real outdoor space could look once planting begins. These activities encouraged planning, sequencing, decision-making, and creative expression, while also helping students develop a concrete understanding of how ideas on paper translate into real-world outcomes.
Art continued to play an important role throughout the week’s farm activities. Students worked on making bookmarks and completed suncatchers that incorporated dried, pressed wildflowers. These projects allowed students to connect directly with natural materials, even while indoors, and to reflect on the beauty and variety found in plants. Handling pressed flowers required care and attention, while assembling the final pieces supported fine motor skills and patience. The finished bookmarks and suncatchers served as tangible reminders of the connection between the farm, the garden, and creative expression.
These indoor farm activities exemplify how Shrub Oak International School adapts experiential learning to meet students where they are, regardless of weather or season. By blending agriculture, art, and environmental education, the farm program continues to offer meaningful opportunities for engagement, skill-building, and collaboration. Students remain connected to the rhythms of farm life year-round, gaining knowledge and confidence that extend beyond the classroom.
As winter continues, the farm team will keep finding ways to bring the outdoors in, ensuring that learning, creativity, and preparation for the growing season continue to flourish.
