Education and the Environment, Farmer’s Apprentice Project

The Farmer’s Apprentice Project began with the objective of engaging others with the spaces and processes present within the day-to-day life of our farm, and rural environments. In every area of our project, we foster an environment that dynamically and carefully intersects the interests of students and teachers alike. Our subjects include: sustainability, organic cultivation, soil, rural versus urban environments, animals, categories of produce, and many other possibilities. The enriching and unique experience we provide shows the links between our disciplines of science, geography, and mathematics, through experiencing our vegetable gardens, Atlantic Forest seedling gardens, our wide range of animals, our museum, and the breakfast, lunch, and workshops we will share with each other.

It is known that the most important time for human development is in our formative years, specifically when we are in the years of primary and secondary school. With this in mind, our environmental education is aimed at students from public and private primary and secondary schools. Our project presents itself as an effective contributor to better living conditions for the local population and for the development of attitudes that will positively impact the quality of life of our planet.

Throughout a series of activities in one day, our “Farmer’s Apprentices” see the direct importance of our social and environmental responsibilities. Some of these activities include:

• Visiting our sensory path which encompasses direct contact with nature and provides the experience of using our senses to promote integration with our soil!
• Visiting our organic garden, where we explore the origins of food and the importance of cultivating health habits.
• Experiencing our small animal nursery, for an engaging and genuine rural experience.
• Exploring our gnome’s house which stimulates the imagination while telling stories that bring forward an age-appropriate introduction to ecological concepts.
• Experiencing our Atlantic Forest first-hand, which encourages students to value and appreciate our region’s biodiversity, such as our treasured Golden Lion Tamarin
• Visiting our antique museum which introduces students to the impacts and importance of technological advances in everyday life.

To ensure the seamless transmission of these complex pedagogical subjects to our students we have created and introduced interactive characters which are present in the stories of our farm. Our three characters are our scarecrow, seven gnomes, and our dear Verde Flora. Our scarecrow welcomes our children and joins them for a magical musical experience. Our seven gnomes live in the farm’s old coal oven and are used to emphasize the importance of caring for our environment. Our charming Verde Flora was born as the personification of nature!

The entire day is structured with the intention of creating special experiences for the children during an unforgettable day. We can't wait to turn your students into Farmer Apprentices!

For more information, please access our contact form!

Partnerships with Universities and Institutions:

Other important programs we offer which also integrate rural tourism, conservation, and education exist through our partnerships with global and national universities and institutions.

Breda University, Miami University, National Geographic, International Institute for Sustainability and Associação Mico Leão Dourado are some examples of institutions that have established lasting relationships with Fazenda dos Cordeiros.

As incentives for the production and exchange of knowledge, we always seek to exchange with institutions that share our values and agree with our missions. The programs Fazenda dos Cordeiros offers to universities are diverse and can be adapted to different areas of studies including: Biology, Agronomy, Geography, Tourism, Sustainability Sciences, and more.

Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands visited us in 2019, with the intention of studying the possibilities of sustainable development for our Imbaú neighborhood and for the city of Silva Jardim. Tourism students visited different properties and analyzed their potential to develop the region.

The University of Miami visits us annually with its Master's program in Biological Sciences. Students stay at Fazenda dos Cordeiros and go daily to the Associação Mico Leão Dourado to carry out their research. The work of preserving the species requires particular and specific attention not only to the actions of individuals and our adopted processes, but also the observation and protection of the ecosystems and the conditions of their habitats.

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC) and the International Institute for Sustainability visit Fazenda dos Cordeiros through their Master’s in Sustainability Sciences programs to analyze our different land uses and their greater impacts.

Fazenda dos Cordeiros’ courses, lectures, workshops, and conversation circles promote our goal to always expand our horizons in social and environmental discussions, understand our role in the development of the region, and to contribute to the creation of a better world for future generations.