Farm Academy

Intergenerational Programs

Learn, Build, Heal — Together

Farm Academy

Training Programs

Every system on the farm is a classroom. Our hands-on training tracks teach you how to build, grow, and sustain — using both cutting-edge technology and time-tested ancient methods.

All Programs Coming Soon — Enrollment Opens 2027 🌱

Off-Grid Solar & Energy

  • Solar panel installation & sizing
  • Battery storage & inverter systems
  • Passive solar building design
  • Grid-tied vs. off-grid architecture
Coming Soon

Water Systems & Harvesting

  • Rainwater cistern design & setup
  • Drip irrigation planning
  • Greywater recycling systems
  • Water quality testing basics
Coming Soon

Soil Science & Composting

  • Soil testing & amendment planning
  • Compost building & biochar
  • Cover cropping strategies
  • Phytoremediation with hemp
Coming Soon

Plant Processing & Permaculture

  • Seed-to-harvest pipeline
  • Essential oil distillation
  • Hemp fiber processing
  • Food forest design & companion planting
Coming Soon

Animal Husbandry & Processing

  • Rotational grazing management
  • Poultry care & egg collection
  • Beekeeping & honey harvesting
  • Humane butchering basics
Coming Soon

Community Building & Wellness

  • Cooperative farming models
  • Farm-to-table business planning
  • Mental health through land work
  • Leadership & participant development
Coming Soon

Natural Building & Off-Grid Living

  • Cob & straw bale construction
  • Timber framing fundamentals
  • Passive heating & cooling design
  • Tiny home & A-frame building
Coming Soon

Zero-Waste Farm Operations

  • Vermiculture (worm composting)
  • Biodigester basics
  • Waste-to-energy concepts
  • Closed-loop system design
Coming Soon

🎓 Certification Pathways

We are developing certification partnerships to provide recognized credentials upon program completion — from Permaculture Design Certificates to Off-Grid Solar Installation accreditation. Details coming as programs launch.

Your Journey

Learn. Build. Heal.

This isn't a vacation — it's a transformation. You come here to learn how to homestead using the latest technologies and the ancient tools that actually work. Passive heating and cooling. Permaculture. Natural building. You learn by doing — and you heal through the work, the learning, and the connection with other people, animals, plants, and the land itself.

Multigenerational family walking through pine forest trail at golden hour

Reconnect with the Land

Walk 30 acres of pine forest and wetlands. No screens, no noise — just birdsong, soil under your feet, and sky through the canopy. Healing starts the moment you slow down and listen to what the land is teaching you.

Farm workshop instructor teaching planting techniques to group under rustic pergola

Homesteading Workshops

Hands-on training in the skills that actually matter. Passive solar heating. Rainwater harvesting. Composting systems. Hemp processing. Permaculture design. We blend cutting-edge technology with time-tested methods — because the best solutions are often the oldest ones, refined.

Couple relaxing with hot drinks on A-frame cabin deck at twilight with string lights

Rest & Restore

Stay in A-frame cabins tucked into the pines. Unplug. Build a fire. Watch the stars. Physical labor on the farm during the day, deep rest at night. People come here carrying weight — and leave lighter. That's not an accident. That's the system working.

Young visitors joyfully picking lavender bundles in blooming lavender fields

Get Your Hands Dirty

Pick lavender. Feed the goats. Plant a row. Turn compost. This isn't observation — it's participation. You learn by doing, and you take that knowledge home. Every visit plants a seed for your own homesteading journey.

Community farm-to-table dinner under string lights with live music and families

Break Bread Together

Farm-to-table suppers under the stars. Seasonal festivals. Stories around the fire. The deepest healing happens in community — sharing food grown from the soil you just learned to tend. Connection is the medicine.

Children doing hands-on wetland science with instructor examining water samples

Next Generation Stewards

Intergenerational programs that teach soil science, seed saving, water ecology, and animal care. Participants learn where food comes from, how the land works, and what it means to be a steward — not just a consumer. Planting the seed of ownership early.

Guided food forest tour with families learning about permaculture layers and picking berries

Permaculture & Foraging

Tour the seven-layer food forest and learn why permaculture works. Every plant serves a purpose — ground cover, nitrogen fixers, fruit trees, canopy. Identify edible plants, understand companion planting, and taste what a designed ecosystem produces.

Outdoor wedding ceremony under a wisteria-draped pergola with lavender-lined aisle at golden hour

Weddings & Celebrations

Say "I do" beneath a wisteria pergola surrounded by lavender at golden hour. Elopements, family reunions, milestone celebrations — with farm-to-table catering and overnight cabin packages.

What's Happening

Seasons at the Farm

From lavender bloom festivals to winter wellness retreats — there's always something growing, something gathering, something healing at Re-Thinking The Leaf.

🌸
May — Annual

Lavender Bloom Festival & Pick Day

Celebrate the first harvest. Walk the blooming fields, pick your own lavender bundles, enjoy live music, food trucks, and artisan vendors. The estate's signature event.

Get Notified →
☀️
June — August — Monthly

Farm-to-Table Supper Series

Long tables under string lights. Locally sourced menus from partner farms. Live acoustic sets in the meadow. The kind of dinner that feeds more than your body.

Get Notified →
🍂
October — Annual

Harvest Festival & Trunk-or-Treat

Hayrides through the pines, pumpkin decorating, trunk-or-treat for the kids, and a farm market packed with fall harvest goods. The whole community comes out.

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❄️
December — February

Wellness & Warmth Cabin Retreat

Cozy A-frame weekends with guided meditation, lavender aromatherapy sessions, fireside journaling, and stargazing. Rest, reset, and return to yourself.

Get Notified →
🌿
Monthly — Year-Round

Food Forest Tours & Workshops

Guided permaculture walks, seasonal foraging experiences, and hands-on workshops on food forest design. Learn to grow food that grows itself — every month, rain or shine.

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🦋
Weekends — Year-Round

Butterfly Pavilion Open Days

Step inside the geodesic dome and walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Guided talks on pollinator conservation, monarch migration, and native species at 11am and 2pm.

Get Notified →
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the estate open for visitors right now? +
We're currently in Phase 1 development. While the full resort experience isn't open yet, we do host seasonal events, guided tours, and partner farm experiences. Sign up for membership to get first access when we open for bookings.
How do I book a cabin stay? +
A-frame cabin retreats will be available starting in Phase 2 of our development plan. Use the contact form below to express interest, and we'll add you to our priority booking list.
Can I host a wedding or private event at the estate? +
Yes! We offer the wisteria pergola and lavender field as a stunning ceremony backdrop. Select "Wedding or Celebration" in the contact form and we'll reach out to discuss packages including farm-to-table catering, floral arrangements, and cabin accommodations.
Is the farm pet-friendly? +
Absolutely! We're building the Agro-Hound Dog Park specifically for your four-legged family members. Leashed dogs are welcome on trails and in common areas. The dog park will have separate small and large dog sections with water stations.
How do I become a community partner? +
We welcome local farms, artisans, educators, and organizations. Visit our Community Application page to apply, or reach out through the contact form. We're especially interested in Brunswick County-based connections.
Where exactly is the estate located? +
PO Box 425, Lawrenceville, VA 23868 — in the heart of Brunswick County. We're about 1.5 hours south of Richmond and 30 minutes from the NC border. GPS coordinates: 36.7578— N, 77.8389— W.
Do you offer group tours or field trips? +
Yes — we offer guided group tours for schools, churches, community organizations, and corporate retreats. Groups of 10+ receive customized itineraries including food forest walks, wetland science, and farm-to-table experiences. Contact us to plan your visit.
Is membership really free? +
Yes! RTTLC membership is completely free. Members get early access to seasonal events, cabin booking priority, the monthly farm newsletter, and a voice in how we develop the estate. Join here.