Jewish Farming

Guiding Questions: How do we mark time in a Jewish way? How do we mark Jewish time in nature?

Participants: grades K-5

Duration: 4 months


This was a whole school project, which lasted for four months, culminating in family event on May 23. Each class focused on a different part of the farm.

  • K-1 made signs for the Rainbow Garden, complete with promises for the earth, just as the rainbow is God’s promise to us.

  • 2-3 made signs for the compost, choosing different texts and also practical compost suggestions.

  • 4-5 made signs about Jewish values, and for the first verse in Mishnah Peah ["These are the things without measure: the peah, the first fruits, the pilgrimage holidays, acts of loving kindness, the study of Torah."]

  • Early arrival and the Teva group made signs for the calendar garden complete with descriptions of each month with what is growing on the farm and in the garden.

See our work at keshernewton.org/signs or at the Gann Academy Farm!

Here are some of our planning resources:

Kesher Newton - Gann Farm PBL
intro to jewish farming
Guidebook notes

Here are some of our source sheets:

Gann Signs Info
Our Tradition Teaches - writings on values
Peah, Sharing Abundance
Shabbat & Shmita, Cycles of Rest
L'ovda u'lshomrah , Stewardship
Tzedek, Food Justice
Adam VAdamah Interconnectedness