What Climate Farm School does

Climate Farm School is an experiential education non-profit that runs week-long, on-farm immersion courses in regenerative agriculture, food systems, and climate-health connections, founded in 2021 by Dr. Laney Siegner and co-led with Director of Programs Ryan Peterson. It operates as a fiscally sponsored project of Ideagarden Institute (a 501c3), serves 450+ participants across 30 cohorts since inception, and caps each cohort at 12 participants to preserve a high-touch, embodied learning format that combines field walks, hands-on farm work, workshops, and farm-to-table meals.

The product portfolio spans individual Core Courses (5-day, $2,600-$3,950 per person at host farms in California, New York, Washington, Vermont, Tennessee, Italy, Spain, and Ireland), Custom Courses for organizations (1-day to multi-day B2B programs for clients including SFUSD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Mineral, and Recipe4Health), Family Retreats, Food as Medicine training for healthcare professionals (developed with VUMC and Recipe4Health), the Funders on Farms program at Wally Farms for philanthropic and impact investors, plus gift certificates, event tickets, and the Soil Centric content platform acquired via merger. The underlying "technology" is a curated, evidence-based regenerative agriculture curriculum with 8 pre-course online modules, a 9+ farm host network, and faculty drawn from partner farms (Paicines Ranch, Green Valley Farm + Mill, Hawthorne Valley, etc.), UC Berkeley, Cornell Soil Health, and Point Blue Conservation Science.

The business model is hybrid: one-time course fees from individual learners form the core revenue, supplemented by custom enterprise contracts (professional services), small-scale event tickets, gift certificate sales, and tax-deductible donations (largely funding scholarships) routed through the 1% for the Planet partnership and Ideagarden Institute. 30-40% of operating expenses are directed to partner regenerative farms, reinforcing the network economics. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the climatefarmschool.org storefront with $500 deposits, plus direct enterprise outreach, and is amplified by an active alumni community that drives word-of-mouth referrals and the CFS Conversation Series event programming.

Name

Climate Farm School

Legal name

Climate Farm School

Website

https://climatefarmschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climate Farm School is a non-profit that runs week-long, on-farm immersion courses in regenerative agriculture and food systems, serving professionals, healthcare workers, funders, and families through a global network of partner farms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural and Food Systems Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN), Regenerative Agriculture (Soil Carbon, Cover Crops, Reduced/No-Till) (AFAGAMAA)

Keywords

• Regenerative agriculture education
• On-farm experiential learning
• Food systems training
• Sustainable farming courses
• Agricultural professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Sonoma County

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. On-Farm Course Fees (Core Courses): 5-day immersive on-farm courses for individuals, priced at $2,600-$3,950 per person depending on accommodation type (private room vs. shared/camping) and host farm location. Fees include lodging, three meals daily, course instruction, and materials. Revenue is one-time per participant per course.
2. Custom Corporate/Organizational Programs: Tailored 1-day workshops, 2-3 day retreats, and multi-day professional development experiences for organizations (e.g., SFUSD, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Wally Farms). Pricing is custom per program. These represent B2B contract revenue.
3. Family Retreat Course Fees: Family-focused on-farm retreats (e.g., July 20-24, 2026 at Green Valley Farm + Mill) with tiered pricing: Farmhouse Adult $1,700, Farmhouse Child $1,000, Camping Adult $1,200, Camping Child $700.
4. Event Tickets: Single-day events such as Climate Week on the Farm at Carnation Farms ($250 per ticket) and online Conversation Series events (free or low-cost). Revenue is one-time per event.
5. Gift Certificates: Climate Farm School gift certificates sold in denominations of $500, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, and $4,000, redeemable toward any course enrollment.
6. Donations and Scholarship Support: Tax-deductible donations primarily support scholarship funding for course participants. Climate Farm School is a project of Ideagarden Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit. The organization is also a 1% for the Planet environmental partner. Donations are accepted via the website donate page.
7. Fiscally Sponsored Project (Ideagarden Institute): As a fiscally sponsored project of Ideagarden Institute, Climate Farm School benefits from the institute's nonprofit infrastructure, donor relationships, and programmatic partnerships, which indirectly support its revenue and operational capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Climate Farm School delivers week-long immersive, on-farm educational courses on regenerative agriculture, food systems, and climate action, hosted at a global network of partner farms. The school also offers custom corporate/team programs, family retreats, and specialized Food as Medicine healthcare training programs. Programs combine pre-course online modules, hands-on farm work alongside farmers and soil scientists, workshops on climate science and food systems, and farm-to-table meals.

Product overview

Climate Farm School offers a portfolio of experiential farm-based education programs centered on regenerative agriculture and food systems transformation. The core offering consists of week-long immersive on-farm courses (Core Courses) for individuals, supplemented by Custom Courses for teams, Family Courses for family retreats, and specialized programs like Food as Medicine for healthcare professionals and Funders on Farms for investors. All participants access Online Pre-Course Modules before attending. The organization also hosts the Soil Centric content platform acquired in 2025, which provides educational storytelling and resources. Programs are hosted at a global network of partner farms across the US, Italy, Spain, and Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soil Centric at Climate Farm School: A platform for storytelling, education, and community building across the regenerative movement, sharing stories, resources, and insights that illuminate nature-based solutions to climate, food, and health challenges.

Products and services

• Core Courses Week-long immersive on-farm educational experiences for individuals focusing on regenerative agriculture, food systems, and climate action, including online pre-course modules, hands-on farm work alongside farmers and educators, and farm-to-table meals. Limited to 12 participants per cohort. Priced $2,600-$3,950 per person depending on accommodation.
• Custom Courses Tailored farm-based courses and professional development experiences designed for teams and organizations, including 1-day workshops, 2-3 day off-sites, and custom multi-day programs with custom pricing based on client needs.
• Family Courses On-farm learning retreats for families offering immersive, hands-on experiences including farm activities, cooking classes, and sustainable farming workshops over multiple days. Tiered pricing for farmhouse vs. camping accommodation and adults vs. children.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ participants trained across 30 cohorts as of 2025/2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Terra.do Climate SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Farm School was piloted through Terra.do Climate School in Fall 2021. CFS founder Dr. Laney Siegner was Director of Academic Programs at Terra.do. Terra.do served as the initial distribution and incubation platform for the CFS concept. The organizations maintain referral and collaborative relationships.
• Paicines RanchcoreOthersPaicines Ranch is a core host farm partner — a 7,000-acre regenerative ranch in Paicines, California owned by impact investor Sallie Calhoun. Hosts Climate Farm School courses and provides faculty including Kelly Mulville (Vineyard Director) and Elaine Patarini (Learning Center Director). CFS advisory board member Kelly Mulville serves as Vineyard Director at Paicines Ranch.
• Green Valley Farm + MillcoreOthersGreen Valley Farm + Mill is a core host farm partner — a 172-acre cooperatively owned farm in Sebastopol, California on Southern Pomo, Kashia, and Coast Miwok ancestral lands. One of the first CFS host farms and primary location for family retreats and the April course. Team includes Aubrie Maze (Farm & Land Manager) and Scott Kelley (Facilities Manager).
• Hawthorne Valley FarmcoreOthersHawthorne Valley Farm is a core host farm partner — a 900-acre biodynamic and organic certified farm in Ghent, New York. The only CFS hosted at a biodynamic farm, with an onsite ecology team (Farmscape Ecology). Hosts the Hudson Valley course including visits to Stone House Grain.
• Carnation FarmscoreOthersCarnation Farms is a core host farm partner — a regenerative agriculture non-profit in Carnation, Washington with a legacy dating back to 1908. Hosts the Climate Week on the Farm event during PNW Climate Week. Team includes Paul Shoemaker (Director) and Eric Popp (Director of Regenerative Agriculture).
• Ballymaloe Organic FarmminorOthersA 100-acre organic/biodiverse farm in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland, site of the famed Ballymaloe Cookery School. Hosts CFS courses in Ireland, providing a European biodynamic farming perspective through a regenerative agriculture and food systems lens.
• Tenuta di SpannocchiacoreOthersA 1,000-acre diversified farm in Tuscany, Italy, comprised of vineyards, olive orchards, and heritage breed pastures. Participants stay in a 12th century Tuscan castle. Includes partner farm visits to Tenuta di Paganico and Tenuta San Carlo on the Tuscan coast.
• Cascina BagaggeraminorOthersAn organic livestock farm in Curone Regional Park, 45 minutes north of Milan, Italy. Run by Marta Galimberti and partner Elia. A social enterprise employing disabled individuals through the Corimbo ONLUS Association. Includes a Montessori nursery school. Course includes visit to EROC (European Regenerative Organic Center).
• La JunqueracoreOthersLa Junquera is a host farm partner in Murcia, Spain, run by Yanniek Schoonhoven and Alfonso (14th generation). A 1,100-hectare farm in one of the driest places in Europe (30cm/year rainfall). CFS teaches a joint course with Regeneration Academy at this location. Demonstrates ecosystem restoration + agricultural productivity in arid conditions.
• Shelburne FarmsminorOthersShelburne Farms is a partner farm in Shelburne, Vermont — a 1,400-acre working farm, forest, and inn that serves as an education center for sustainable agriculture.
• Wally FarmscoreOthersWally Farms is a 1,000-acre working landscape in Ancram, New York creating entrepreneurial models for climate mitigation and resiliency. Hosts the 'Funders on Farms' course for philanthropists and impact investors. The only CFS hosted at a farm with an active steward ownership model.
• Regeneration AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegeneration Academy co-develops and co-teaches courses with CFS at La Junquera in Spain. A leading regenerative agriculture education organization in Europe. CFS and Regeneration Academy compare notes, teach together, and share the La Junquera farm experience.
• Berkeley Food Institute (UC Berkeley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Berkeley's Berkeley Food Institute is a partner organization. Advisory board member Dr. Kris Madsen was recent Faculty Director of the Berkeley Food Institute. CFS founder Laney Siegner completed her PhD at UC Berkeley Energy and Resources Group and was among the first to receive the Food Systems certificate. Ryan Peterson advised on Berkeley Food Institute's Graduate Food Systems Certificate.
• Point Blue Conservation ScienceminorOthersPoint Blue Conservation Science is a partner organization contributing soil science and ecological expertise to CFS courses. Dr. Erika Foster from Point Blue is listed as a soil scientist educator for Climate Farm School.
• Cornell Soil HealthminorOthersCornell Soil Health is a partner organization contributing soil science expertise. Deborah Aller from Cornell Soil Health is listed as a soil scientist educator for Climate Farm School.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)coreOthersCFS collaborated with VUMC to design and deliver the 'Cultivating Food & Health: Medicine Rooted in Regeneration' program at Caney Fork Farms (September 2026) — an invite-only 1.5-day program for healthcare professionals exploring food as medicine in clinical settings.
• Recipe4Health (Alameda County)coreOthersCFS collaborates with Recipe4Health (Alameda County) to design the 'Food as Medicine on Farms' program at Pie Ranch (October 2026). Recipe4Health is an award-winning Food as Medicine initiative. Dr. Steven Chen, CMO of Recipe4Health, is a program instructor. Recipe4Health helped implement one of California's first Medically Supportive Food and Nutrition services as a covered Medi-Cal benefit.
• Pie RanchcoreOthersPie Ranch is a partner farm host for the Recipe4Health collaboration program in Pescadero, California. A 17-acre farm focused on educating about sustainable food systems and growing produce for donation to food banks.
• Caney Fork FarmscoreOthersCaney Fork Farms is a 400-acre certified organic regenerative farm in Carthage, Tennessee hosting the VUMC healthcare program. Run by Asher Wright, who is also a Savory Institute Accredited Professional. CFS partner farm for healthcare professional training.
• Stone Barns Center for Food and AgricultureminorOthersStone Barns Center is a partner organization in the CFS network. Jason Grauer is listed as a farmer educator representing Stone Barns. Nena Johnson, Managing Director of Wally Farms, previously led the Growing Farmers Initiative at Stone Barns Center.
• Soil CentriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoil Centric, co-founded by Diana Donlon and Kyle Lawson, officially merged with Climate Farm School in 2026. Soil Centric helps people find their path to regeneration through storytelling, resources, and insights. The acquisition brought Soil Centric's Substack newsletter, digital content library, and community platform into the CFS ecosystem.
• Gold Ridge Resource Conservation DistrictminorOthersGold Ridge RCD is a partner organization contributing soil science and ecological expertise to CFS courses. Will Spangler from Gold Ridge RCD is listed as a soil scientist educator.
• Farm to School / CAFFminorOthersCAFF's Farm to School program is a partner in CFS workshops, notably the SFUSD workshop at Green Valley Farm + Mill where CAFF shared farm-to-school sourcing success stories.
• Farm Based Education NetworkminorOthersThe Farm Based Education Network is listed as a partner organization on the CFS Partner Organizations page, supporting the network of farm-based educators.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Savory Institute: Global regenerative agriculture education and accreditation organization offering land management training, educator programs, and hub network. Highly comparable to CFS in focus on experiential learning for food systems professionals and regenerative agriculture curriculum.
• Quivira Coalition: New Mexico-based nonprofit advancing regenerative agriculture through education, apprenticeship, and land stewardship programs including the New Agrarian Program. Comparable in audience (ranchers, farmers, changemakers) and experiential training format.
• Shelburne Farms: Vermont-based 1,400-acre working farm, forest, and inn that is both a CFS partner farm and an education center for sustainable agriculture. Offers its own programs on food systems, land stewardship, and place-based learning.
• Regeneration Academy: European regenerative agriculture education organization based in Spain that co-develops courses with CFS at La Junquera. Competes for the same international participant audience seeking on-farm regenerative agriculture training.
• Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture: Working farm and education center in New York offering programs on sustainable agriculture, food systems, and chef training. Comparable as a farm-based educational institution serving similar changemaker audiences, with Nena Johnson (now Wally Farms) previously leading its Growing Farmers Initiative.
• Terra.do Climate School: Online climate-focused learning platform where CFS was incubated and piloted in Fall 2021. Continues as a referral channel and adjacent platform for professionals entering climate and food systems work — overlapping audience with CFS.
• Ballymaloe Cookery School: Ireland-based organic farm and renowned culinary school that hosts CFS courses at its 100-acre biodiverse farm. Directly comparable as a farm-based, food-and-agriculture-focused educational institution serving similar participant demographics.
• Holistic Management International (HMI): Nonprofit offering training and education in holistic land management and regenerative grazing practices. Comparable in mission and target audience (land managers, farmers, ranchers) and educational/training delivery model.

Emerging players

• Farm Based Education Network: Network organization supporting farm-based educators and programs. Listed as a CFS partner organization and operates in the same farm-based experiential education category, though more focused on K-12 and informal learners.
• Ecdysis Foundation: Regenerative agriculture research and education organization led by Dr. Jonathan Lundgren. Listed as a CFS partner and operates in an adjacent space — research-driven regenerative agriculture education targeting farmers and scientists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/climatefarmschool.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ClimateFarmSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-farm-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/climatefarmschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Climate Farm School