Bethesda Academy Farm Program: growing tomorrow's leaders

Pictured here with Director Merrin Slocombe, Kamron Seabrain, a senior, has interned with the farm and is one of the market managers for the farm, working closely with Forsyth Market, one of the ways the farm sells its produce to the public. Seabrain has learned through his work in the farm program that first impressions matter - whether it is presentation of the product or one’s own appearance and actions.

Pictured here with Director Merrin Slocombe, Kamron Seabrain, a senior, has interned with the farm and is one of the market managers for the farm, working closely with Forsyth Market, one of the ways the farm sells its produce to the public. Seabrain has learned through his work in the farm program that first impressions matter - whether it is presentation of the product or one’s own appearance and actions.

a growing food movement

Bethesda Academy Farm Program: growing tomorrow’s leaders

by LeeAnna Tatum

Bethesda Academy has a long history of growing food as an integrated aspect of life on the beautiful campus located just outside of Savannah on the banks of Moon River. Originally founded in 1740 as an orphanage, it has transitioned over the years and is currently a school for boys from middle through high school. The campus hosts both borders and day school attendees.

Deeply rooted in its nearly 300 year history, the Academy continues Rev. George Whitefield’s founding mission centered around a love of God, a love of learning, and a strong work ethic.

Merrin Slocombe, Director of the farm and garden program at Bethesda likes to introduce students to the program at the place where it all got started all those years ago. It’s a spot where Whitefield first stepped foot on the ground he instantly knew would be the right place for his orphanage.

“We have this intimate connection with this spacehere,” Slocombe said. “This is sort of the betwixt and between … from the water up to the land. To me, it’s really important that our students understand that connection between what we do on the land, it flows out to the ocean - literally.”

“If we’re using some kind of product, even an organic product,” she continued. “We need to be aware of how that affects aquatic life. It’s a big deal! And that you’re always thinking about what’s downstream. What is downstream in my life? What’s downstream in my career? How do my actions right here flow out?”

These are the type of life lessons and broader applications Slocombe hopes that students take away from their experience on the farm.

The farm and garden program at Bethesda is not designed to be a traditional agricultural program to teach students about the garden, instead the garden is used to teach the students about themselves and about life. In a garden, students can learn lessons through hard work, perspiration and persistence that they could never learn in a classroom setting.

“And there is that piece of it - our bodies and our land - those are our primary gifts from God,” Slocombe said. “It’s really looking at that and being able to appreciate what we have and treat it with the same respect that you would … something sacred, something really important.”

“This isn’t an ag class, it really has more to do with learning to show up, being on a team, creative problem solving, being responsible,” Slocombe explained. “Understanding that good things take time, good things take hard work … we understand that we take these little steps toward that bigger purpose.”

“Rather than just memorizing things, kids in the 21st century have got to get the skill of critical thinking, of collaboration, of communication, of being able to be in community and work through projects in that way … I can’t imagine anything better than farming to do that. It teaches you that relationship of science, of good conscience and especially that entrepreneurial element,” Slocombe said.

As more and more consumers are becoming health and eco-conscious in their food choices, it makes good business sense to meet that growing demand with food production methods that are restorative for the earth and healthier for human consumption. There is also a growing agro-tourism industry due to the growing disconnect from the natural world in people’s daily lives.

The students at Bethesda are being exposed to ideas and ways in which industry and business can create win-win situations that are not only good for the environment but good for the economy as well. An important lesson for tomorrow’s leaders to be learning today.

As a nonprofit organization, Bethesda has a tradition of using its resources to help generate income for the school and the farm is part of that industry. This not only makes economic sense, but also gives the students a chance to participate in the business side of farming.