Asheville Farmstead School

Our daughter attended 2 years of preschool/Sprouts at Asheville Farmstead School. We had a wonderful experience and are so glad we chose this school. Our daughter gained a lot of confidence in herself, in being in nature, and around other kids. It was the absolute best choice for socialization. Now in public kindergarten, she is making friends easily and is also extemely kind to others. She has an innate love and consideration for nature and animals, and we attribute most of this to her time at the farmstead school. She is also incredibly creative in her play outside, as she learned that things to play with are abundant when outside. The staff are good people and passionate about what they do. The grounds are lovely and well kept and foster creativity and imagination. We feel strongly that going here provided our child with an excellent foundation to move on into public school and beyond. We hope to go back every summer for camp. Highly recommend.

This school is one of the best thing that happen to us during our 6 month road trip in the US. They have been so open to our ''alternative'' family, embrazing each and every particularity we may carry. The have been understanding our needs, providing constructive solution. Partial time, language barrier, behaving issues, cultural differences, everything has been taking care of with inclusion, empathie and the most important, love. The teachers prioritize social learning and communication but are also passionate about what they do and open to adapt to each and every child. We are so thankfull for everything they have done and highly recommend this place. We had to drive 45 minutes every day but it really worth it. Thank you for all the great work and to all the fantastic staff member.

My daughter is starting her 3rd year at the Farmstead. It is a really wonderful place for her to explore and grow as a human. The community of teachers, parents, and students have enriched our lives. I am thankful for a place that allows my kid to be a kid in nature. We love Asheville Farmstead!

Our daughter was there from Sprouts to Littlest Learners to Explorers. She was able to be outdoors and learn through doing, touching, seeing and smelling the natural world around her. She developed skills of teamwork and group learning I don't think she would have been able to have had in a traditional learning environment. We were able to watch this AFS develop and grow to what it is today. I give it my highest recommendation.

AFS is such a special community. We chose AFS for our kiddo because we wanted her to be amongst a learning environment that values play, nature, emotions, and creativity. We are so grateful to have been a part of AFS, and look forward to returning for Camp Farmstead in the summer!

Our 3-year-old son attends Asheville Farmstead School during the school year and the summer and I cannot overstate how much he is thriving here. His physical confidence and agility transformed in months. His knowledge about, and observation of, the natural world is expanding every day. (And he has become a real help around the garden!) Most importantly to us, he is learning communication and cooperation skills that we found other preschools did not prioritize. Like Lauren said when we first visited, "We focus on teaching children to be good humans." The teachers prioritize social learning and communication and we in our household appreciate it immensely!

The Asheville Farmstead school is a wonder-full place for children to experience and learn about nature, themselves and one another in a safe, healthy and imaginative way, without sacrificing any of the "wild" in wilderness. Our four-year old loves his time there and comes home full of stories and respect for the natural world and all living things. He knows more about salamanders than I do. Lauren Brown is a talented and intuitive educator. We're lucky to have found the Farmstead School.

I have had the opportunity to volunteer at this school multiple times through different events, and it is a wondrous place of learning for kids. There is something truly special about how these students learn from the natural world around them in a safe environment. So much of our world and society has gone digital, that this is the place to remind kids to be kids and to teach them important skills you will not learn in a classroom. Have you ever watch a child discover something they have never seen before? I have, and I can tell you it happens every single day at the Farmstead. Come to a Family Discover Day or schedule a tour, and see for yourself!

Wes had three days to decide where we were going to live when we moved to asheville. He was in town in Jan. of 2017, when it snowed and shut down the city. Half of his appointments cancelled. One held and the landlords were the neighbors of the Asheville Farmstead School who told us of this amazing learning environment. I vividly remember looking at the website and wanting so desperately for the kiddo to go there; but we didn’t think they had the times we needed so he went somewhere else...that didn’t work. I called Lauren Brown and she agreed to stay extra time for the kiddo. From that day forward, the farm has been a second home. Everyone who knows us knows our love for this place and this incredible educator. The kiddo has become happily independent, lovely with other children, and incredibly resourceful. I have had the pleasure of watching him grow while enrolled in “Sprouts” and experience the family evolution the farm has encouraged. Today, one year later, the kiddo graduated from Sprouts with a potluck picnic, surrounded by his friends and second family. We could not have picked a better home away from home for my son. I am only not losing my mind right now because he is going to be attending summer camp there; but when August rolls around, I am going to be a step beyond a blubbering mess. Thank you Asheville Farmstead School for all you have done for my family. I simply cannot express the level of my gratitude and love.

Lauren is such a bright spirit and very committed to helping building confidence and communication skills in our son. He truly looks forward to going to farmstead school and is always so excited when I tell him that he is going the next day. It has been a wonderful addition to our foray into homeschool curriculum.

If you have an interest in or love of farm and forest schools, definitely check this place out! Asheville Farmstead School is full of heart, enthusiasm and passion for the Earth. The school itself is an incredible environment for kids to explore and connect with the world around them.

My Daughter has so much fun, she is constantly asking which day she is going back to farmstead school. Great place to have kids learn that encourages them to use their imaginations and interact with the natural setting of the school.

Our son LOVES the summer camp. Such a beautiful, heartfelt learning space.