Bravely Return to the Earth


  • Home
  • Mission and Vision
  • Meet the Community
  • Preschool
  • Curriculum
  • What to Bring
  • Get Involved

Work should be love in action









Introducing...



Our Team





Jenn Feingold



Founder , director and lead mentor



Devon Van Noble



Farm Owner



Carly VanVleet



Lead Mentor





Laine Sempler



Lead Mentor



Alex Van Nostrand



Lead Mentor - Substitute



Devon Van Noble



Farm Owner



Introducing...



The Land



Our Classroom bursting with Biodiversity and Love



History



The history of this land must begin with honoring that prior to colonization and the genocide of the Native Peoples, this was Haudenosaunee land. Van Noble Farm is on a gentle East facing slope. Being so close to the territorial edges of the recorded historical Cayuga and Seneca lands, we are unsure which nation called this home, and perhaps, at times, the land was used by the peoples of both tribes.



Honoring Water



The human body is 60% water, and the Earths surface is 70%. We believe forming an intentional relationship with water is essential in developing many life skills and awareness's and deepens our connection to the life on Earth, and therefor is an integral part of our lessons.



Forest



Our second growth forest is diverse and thriving! As you enter the forest, the lights dim and cool shade stretches over you. Take a breath and look around and you meet sugar maple, white pine, American beech and scotch pine, hop horn beam, poplar, and elder crab apple trees. Depending on the season one may find an array of colorful fungi and mushrooms decorating the forest. The forest is also home to a vernal creek and several vernal pools that are full of new life, as well as nesting grounds for owls and hawks. Many interesting tracks and other signs of life can be discovered at any time of the year. The homeschoolers will find a classroom in the beginning of the forest and a primitive camp site further in.



Pasture, Wild Fields and Big Sky



Van Noble Farm is home to two meadows. Tipis for Breathe can be found in each one. We hope the children will help us create an outdoor kitchen and gathering space; more gardens and companion animal pastures. The lower meadow has hiking trails and lots of woods to explore.



Orchard and Gardens



We are fortunate to have newly planted apple trees the children can still reach! Scattered throughout the forests and hedgerows are 30-50 year old apple trees which boast diversity and full season production! There are currently three acres of other garden space, where we intend to foster medicinal and culinary herb gardens, pollinator, beetle and moth gardens as well as food gardens! Currently there are maturing pumpkins awaiting the children and seeds ready to be planted for the fall season. Eventually we hope to supply an organic lunch for the children of Breathe POD Homeschool.



Sacred Space




At Breathe, we believe in the connection between all living beings and have created intentional space to interact with this belief by working with our intuitions and the energy of the land. Though we believe the entirety of the Earth is sacred, there are a few locations on this land that hold space specifically for reconnecting with the Earth, ourselves and each other.


We have also embodied this by creating many Sacred Altars scattered about the land, where our Spirit Guides and Spirit are honored, and other altars of personal significance to individuals.


The children are invited to join us in these spaces and to create sacred space for themselves and others on the land at the instructors discretion. These spaces are intended to enhance core concepts that are not easily tangible and to coincide with academic lessons currently being taught.



Feeling abundant?



We Can really use your support
Consider making a donation along with your enrollment tuition, choosing the higher sliding scale option or share Breathe's mission with others who may be interested in supporting the work we do. Money raised will go directly towards land usage fees, supporting administration costs, scholarships for children in need and shared class enrichment materials.


Donate now :)
Email: bravelyreturntotheearth@gmail.com



90 Podunk Rd
Trumansburg, NY 14886



Breathe- Learning in Connection