ST LOUIS' FIRST MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S FARMSTEAD
Help us create an educational Farmstead for children in St Louis. These funds will help us secure land to build a geodesic dome schoolhouse
Project Description
Our Mission: Our future farmstead will be an affordable, hands-on, agricultural education facility for children in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Here, children will learn to grow their own food and care for animals while preparing for Elementary/Primary school in a Montessori inspired classroom setting.
Our Vision: This time next year we hope to be enrolling future first generation farmers in our program complete with a geodesic dome classroom, adopted and rescued farm animals and the support of our community.
Since 2017, Bernadine Pruessner has owned and operated Chesterfield
Community Preschool, an affordable Montessori, micro-school. The participants and materials in this Montessori school will become the foundation for Root Cause Agricultural Education Group’s classroom.
We will spend the next several months as follows:
1. Find Land: we're seeking 5-15 acres within driving distance of St. Louis,
Missouri. We want to be cautious of land history and environmental toxins, but find a location easy for families to access.
2. Fund, buy and build two geodesic domes: A two room schoolhouse with child size kitchen and bathroom facilities and a separate event space for seminars,
fundraisers, 4H, FFA and scout troop use and corporate team building retreats.
3. Animals: Partner with animal welfare agencies such as the Humane Society of
Missouri Long Meadow Rescue Ranch to adopt and prepare homes for our barnyard residents.
4. Invite the children: open as St. Louis' first Montessori farmstead.
Future: Our students will understand where their food comes from, how to care for our animals, and why farms and self sufficiency are critical. They will enjoy growing their own food, raising animals, and studying horsemanship and animal husbandry while developing a firm academic foundation in preparation for Elementary/Primary school. In the future we will also provide agritainment, allowing families and schools to come to our
farmstead to learn about growing food and caring for farm animals.
Thank you so much for your support of this big dream, we cannot wait for opening day!
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When will RC open?
- We hope to be open for the 2020 school year- it will take a lot of puzzle pieces, but with your support, we'll get there!
- Is RC a Nonprofit?
- We're registered as a nonprofit corporation in Missouri and are awaiting our 501(c)3 designation from the IRS.
- What age groups will RC serve?
- At Chesterfield Community Preschool we serve children 3-6 years old, we'll continue to do so at Root Cause, but plan to incorporate activities for older children, families and corporations over time.
- Where will RC be located?
- Within driving distance of St. Louis- we're considering a lot of variables in our decision including price, pollution, need, and of course zoning restrictions.
Just Because I Care
Farmstead Friends: $100
Your family/business name will be included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Root Cause Family: $300
Your family/business name will be displayed at the entrance and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Animal Pen/Stall Legacy: $500
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our animal pens/stalls and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Beehive/Rabbit Hutch/Chicken Coop/Vegetable Garden Legacy: $1000
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our beehive, chicken coop or vegetable garden and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Natural Playground Legacy: $25,000
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our natural playground space and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Schoolhouse or Event Space Dome Legacy: $50,000
Your family/business name will be on a plaque used to name our geodesic dome schoolhouse or our geodesic dome event space to be used for FFA/4H/Fundraising/Seminars/corporate team building events and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Rewards
Just Because I Care
Farmstead Friends: $100
Your family/business name will be included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Root Cause Family: $300
Your family/business name will be displayed at the entrance and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Animal Pen/Stall Legacy: $500
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our animal pens/stalls and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Beehive/Rabbit Hutch/Chicken Coop/Vegetable Garden Legacy: $1000
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our beehive, chicken coop or vegetable garden and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Natural Playground Legacy: $25,000
Your family/business name will be used on a plaque to name our natural playground space and included on our web site, social media and advertising.
Schoolhouse or Event Space Dome Legacy: $50,000
Your family/business name will be on a plaque used to name our geodesic dome schoolhouse or our geodesic dome event space to be used for FFA/4H/Fundraising/Seminars/corporate team building events and included on our web site, social media and advertising.