WATER STEWARDS is an ongoing program for the public (youth in grades 5-12, college students and adults) with interest in rewarding, hands-on opportunities to work with nature and art in order to solve a real-world problem: insufficient quantity and quality of water on a community farm.

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Led by professionals in ecology, permaculture, conservation and environmental art, participants will be inspired by nature to design a regenerative landscape that can capture and disperse clean water to all the right places on the farm. WATER STEWARDS will examine the vital role of water and the interconnections of all living things in the ecosystem. Students will create various art forms to provide structure and function for the landscape and to uniquely express their experiences.

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Those who will flourish in this program possess a sincere interest to participate and bring to the team one or more of these qualities:

• eagerness to explore and solve a real-world problem

• inspired by hands-on activities and experiential learning, indoors and outdoors

• need real-world skills or community service for a college application, employment applications, resumes and community service essays

• desire to work in and with nature

• willingness to explore sustainable concepts for living, agriculture, farming, landscaping and gardening

• desire exposure to various careers such as ecological farming, environmental conservation, culinary arts, wellness, landscaping and the arts

• aspiration to put science into action

• concern for social justice

• open to exploring the fields, ponds and woods in our outdoor laboratory

• interest in exploring new experiences and/or expanding talents in photography, poetry, painting, graphics, drawing, sculpture, nature-based arts and social media

• interest in learning the wisdom of indigenous people that apply to modern living

• enjoy learning about nutrition, cooking, whole foods and health

• desire to practice sustainable living

• open to discovering new skills, strengths and perspectives about our world

• desire to contribute meaningful solutions to environmental challenges

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Collaborative Work ~ Individual Achievement ~ Self-Expression

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Every session will include new concepts and projects in landscape (ecosystem), creativescape (the arts) and humanscape (community). This life-changing experience will provide participants with skills and knowledge that can be used throughout their lives and around the world. The program offers a diverse laboratory to apply and reinforce classroom education. Students may be inspired by this program to pursue a wide variety of college and career fields.

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Working in NATURE is a PATH to SELF-DISCOVERY

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LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES FOR YOU TO . . . 

• Observe natural patterns and resources throughout the changing seasons and phases of restoration.

• Use nature as a guide for problem solving so we can restore resilience and sustainability to a complex ecosystem.

• Plan zones and sectors, shape dry, flat land, and build systems to capture, store and move water to support all the farm’s needs.

• Make decisions by using the Stacking Functions Method.

• Create a natural system that needs fewer human inputs, while the system gives more outputs year ‘round.

• Witness why segmentation of issues, modern force and chemical approaches to controlling nature don’t work and how a whole-systems, nature-based design is sustainable.

• Learn about natural wastewater and flow form systems that can recharge groundwater supplies, positively impacting the farm and the Canandaigua Lake watershed.

• Generate soil fertility.

• Plant multi-system garden guilds in swales and raised beds on contour.

• Use natural planting and cultivating techniques to extend the growing season and harvest more food that is healthier.

• Discover simplicity, low cost, flavor and health in garden-to-table food preparations.

• Use art (traditional and digital) to express, illustrate and document observations and outcomes that can guide others.

• Discover personal connections, roles and purpose within the ecosystem.