Each semester, more than 60 students are part of Putney’s Farm program. The students are engaged in all aspects of the diversified farm, including milking and caring for dairy cattle, foraging crop production, gardening, livestock care, maple sugaring, and firewood processing.
Dairy Barn
We have more than 50 dairy cows who are cared for daily by students. Through our Work Program, students learn how to milk cows, and feed cows and calves. Work crews are led by student “barn heads” who are responsible for attendance, delegating work, and quality assurance.
Small Animal Barn
Also through our Work Program, students are responsible for the care of our small animals which includes pigs, a flock of laying hens, turkeys, sheep, and alpacas.
Horse Barn
Students care for horses — which are part of our recreational riding program. The stable is filled with wonderful school horses of various breeds and levels of training, and students learn to care for, tack up and evaluate their horses for confirmation, soundness and general behavior. Our riding program is open to all levels, and focuses on dressage, jumping, and trail riding.
Dye Garden
Created by a student for her senior exhibition, our dye garden includes plants that can be used to create dyes, inks and pigments for paper making, fiber, drawing, and other art projects. The beautiful space features a circular stone path, standing stones and branches for birds to perch on. It includes plants such as Japanese indigo, weld, madder, coreopsis, tansy and several kinds of mint, which are used to create many different colors of the rainbow. We offer a class on the chemistry of natural dyes, and the garden continues to be an inspiration and source of materials for students and teachers.
Independent Studies and Project Weeks
Students are encouraged to become more involved with the farm through independent or project week studies. These studies may include dairy cattle nutrition and health, dairy cattle genetics, fitting and showmanship, basic sugar lot management, planting trials, and other agriculturally related topics. For instance, our cows are in an intensive rotational grazing program, making the best use of the hilly terrain surrounding the farm. Students helped design and build all the fencing required to maintain this system.
We hope all students leave Putney with a deeper connection to the land.
Gardening
Our garden program includes nearly three acres of land and two greenhouses. All the gardens are organic and use compost developed on Elm Lea Farm. Our gardens are also used as classrooms, encouraging many discussions about various agricultural techniques and providing a real illustration of varying methods of food production.
Maple Sugaring
One of the joys of living in Vermont during the winter is maple sugaring season. In late February students begin the process by tapping trees, setting buckets and lines, and then gathering the maple sap for boiling. The syrup we produce is used in our kitchen and sold in the bookstore.
Wood Cutting
Cutting wood is a lifelong skill that our students learn at Putney. They are taught how to properly fell and cut trees using both hand and power tools, allowing them to decide for themselves which method they find more comfortable, productive and safe. All our wood is cut from Putney School land, and used for heating our senior cabins and faculty housing.
Keep Exploring
Sustainability
From our solar powered cabins to our net zero LEED Platinum certified Field House, sustainability is a way of life. Many of the amazing initiatives here are simply part of
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Food and Dining
From students working in the kitchen and serving food, to home-cooked meals inspired by international cuisines, to the smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the big brick oven that
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Outdoor Experiences and Stewardship
With our 600 acres nestled in the eastern foothills of the Green Mountains, Putney students spend a lot of time outside. We weave our beautiful natural surroundings into our classrooms
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