Round the Bend Farm

Join us in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts for a week of farming, learning and building community, with a focus on integrated food-energy-water systems. This week-long farm experience is part of the Climate Farm School learning program.

About the farm

The property

Round the Bend Farm (RTB) is situated along the Farm Coast of southeastern New England, on the ancestral lands of the Wampanoag people. It is a non-profit educational farm devoted to its mission of valuing diversity, modeling nature, and redefining wealth. The farm hosts annual vegetable production, perennial crops and animal husbandry, in partnership with independent “agripreneurs” who own and manage most of the animals on the land. The farm also employs an eclectic range of practices, in order to grow the most health-sustaining soils and nutrient-dense, bioactive food and medicine possible. 

Farm team

Participants will be hosted by the RTB team and will learn from them and from others who are immersed in the Southeastern MA farming community.  Peter Zine, RTB’s Education Manager, will be your primary contact and facilitator.

 

Peter Zine grew up exploring the woods and waterways of southeastern Massachusetts and feels inextricably connected to that region. He completed his undergraduate studies and taught in the MA Public Schools for a few years before embarking on a graduate program in Ecological Teaching and Learning, which catalyzed his commitment to place-based learning and living. After teaching for twelve years at progressive independent school, Peter, his wife and their two children sought new challenges and adventures. They traveled, started homeschooling, and doubled down on applying principles of permaculture to their landscape – where they raise chickens, goats, a dog, a cat and honey bees; grow a variety of annual and perennial fruits, vegetables and herbs; and make their own ferments, teas, tinctures and salves.

Glimpses from the farm

Hands-on activities

Prepare to get your hands dirty with a wide range of activities offered at the farm.

Farming and forestry

Food and cooking

Pricing and expected commitment

US $2200 – $2600

*Pricing varies based on lodging. For this course, the range is $2200-2600. Exact details are provided in the application form and follow up communication to applicants.
*New 2024 farm dates coming soon

Hear from Climate Farm School fellows

Caroline Santinelli

"Climate Farm School should be required coursework for every generation.. I've learned that it doesn't matter if you work in the climate or agriculture industry; as humans, we are a part of, not apart from, the agro-ecosystem, and we owe it to ourselves and our planet to understand the complexity of our food systems."

Consulting Engagement Director, Soil Centric
Varsha Uthappa

"The week spent on the farm was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had.. This course has given me so much knowledge, insight, perspective and hope.. The course material combined with all the people associated in making it what it is makes it so unique and like nothing else out there."

Business Consultant at Coldwater Canyon Provisions

Accommodation and other FAQs

Participants will camp at a group campsite set up on the farm around a fire pit, with picnic tables and bathroom/shower facilities close by. Participants can bring their own tent and camping gear, or a limited amount of gear will be available onsite (ask about this in your application if you’d like to borrow gear). There will be composting toilets and a bathhouse for showering, as well as a commercial kitchen and dining space and indoor meeting space for participants to engage in discussion, store belongings, etc.  Additional lodging is available nearby via Airbnb or in surrounding towns, if participants prefer to find their own lodging rather than camping on the farm.

The course theme is integrated food-energy-water systems. This means that in addition to the core course content, we will feature guest speakers and create dedicated discussion time for delving into topics related to sustainable living systems that comprise water conservation, local food production, onsite energy generation, and waste/nutrient recycling. Note that this is not a course location that will focus on production farming or commercial farming with profit and yield as the primary goals. As a non-profit farm, Round the Bend is committed to exploring and experimenting with new methods of sustainable farming and food production that reflects its core values. RTB is actively partnering with other local, mission-aligned organizations and the local Wampanoag tribe to advance their work of rebuilding a healthy, equitable, accessible local agroecosystem.

The weather at Round the Bend has heavy coastal influence, as the farm is in close proximity to the Buzzards Bay coastline. In the summer it can be hot and humid with regular rain or thunderstorm events. Come prepared with sun protection, rain gear, breathable layers, and warm clothes for cool coastal evenings!

Learn the skills to work on climate