Old School Farm staff works hard to preserve fresh produce, herbs and flowers in seasons of abundance. Nicolette Maio, our resident preservation expert, works with our Mission Farmers to teach skills like drying, pickling, fermenting, canning and creating honey and oil infusions with our produce to ensure these organic products can be enjoyed all year long. Preservation Education classes are also offered to the public periodically throughout the year.

During the growing season, OSF mission farmers and staff harvest and preserve flowers, herbs and produce through drying, freezing or canning. Those items are then used to create a variety of products sold at events to help support the farm. Our current value-added offerings include multiple teas (mint, hibiscus, chamomile and other blends), hot honey, made with a monthly TN Artisan Honey donation, and a hot honey sage herb rub that’s perfect for seasoning veggies and meats.

Our team currently works with a rotating group of 38 students from Hunters Lane High School’s Exceptional Education program. Each week, students visit the farm to work with our team on seasonal tasks while we share our knowledge of regenerative farming, foraging and preservation.

Old School Farm offers educational field trips that focus on sustainable agriculture and the benefits of care farming. If you’re a teacher or homeschool group interested in taking a tour and learning more about what we do at the farm, please contact Jan Boroff Miller at jmiller@oldschoolfarm.org.