Demeter Certified Biodynamic® Farm

Summerfield is one of only a few Waldorf schools worldwide to have a working farm on the same campus as the school. The farm produces a seasonal bounty of fruits, vegetables and flowers. At the farm, students have the opportunity to learn many basic skills that are rapidly becoming lost in today’s industrialized society. By tending soil, turning the compost, planting perennial gardens, harvesting vegetables for soup, caring for farm animals, and pruning and grafting, each student gains a deeper awareness of the natural world.

Our commitment to sustainable agriculture goes a step further by choosing to uphold standards more rigorous than “Certified Organic” or even “biodynamically farmed” with our Demeter Certification. We proudly adhere to stricter requirements around imported fertility, greater emphasis on on-farm solutions for disease, pest, and weed control, and in depth specifications around water conservation and biodiversity. Demeter USA is the only certifier for Biodynamic® farms and products in America. It is part of a world-wide organization, Demeter International, that was first formed in 1928 and named for the Greek goddess of agriculture, to advocate Biodynamic® agriculture and to certify Biodynamic® farms. Demeter remains the oldest ecological certification organization in the world, active in fifty countries around the globe. 

Additionally, Summerfield Waldorf became a member of BDNAC (Biodynamic Association of Northern California) in September 2024. Their mission is to inspire social, environmental, and spiritual renewal through the cultivation of the art and science of Biodynamic® agriculture. Their member-run organization promotes the Biodynamic® approach to farming and gardening and often holds seminars and events for the community to inspire and education about Biodynamic® farming and practices.