NH Loving Permies: Anyone up for co-creating an Educational Permaculture Community?

Hello, Permies! I am an ecologically oriented Montessori educator and homesteader with a passion for teaching kids to create respectful and sustainable community.

I have started nature-based Montessori programs in Vermont and India. I was so close to opening my dream school in Vermont right when the pandemic hit and schools closed, and the property owner decided to sell quick instead of waiting on our lease-to-own. The website I created for that school will give you an idea of my extended vision:
www.ecocommunityschool.org

The Current Vision:
At this time, I'd love to connect with kind and respectful people who share similar interests and would be interested in leasing a property together to start this on a smaller scale (camps, homeschooler programs, workshops, farm stand) and grow over time. There are frequently farming properties with housing available in New Hampshire (3 currently) and Northern New England for lease, and I'd like to find a like-minded team to join me on this journey to teach children how to create a healthier, more sustainable culture.
Alternately, I'd be interested in running the educational aspect of an established community. For now, I am committed to the general area of central New Hampshire to be close to my family and elderly mother. (Among my family and friends, locally, are those skilled in aquaculture and instrument repair, painting/arts, spinning, weaving and handwork, homesteading, foraging, theater, as well as musicians, yoga teachers, middle and high school educators, and more who would love to contribute to our programming in this area.)

My Experience:
I have a Master's in Education, BA in Education and Health Arts & Sciences, a Vet Tech degree, Montessori training in elementary/6-12 year olds, taught 3-6 yo Montessori for several years, and also have some infant/toddler Montessori experience. I additionally have school start-up and leadership experience, and a background in special education. I did a short stint learning to create community and ecovillages at Findhorn in Scotland, and experienced their amazing techniques connecting with plants in their remarkable gardens.
As a homesteader I have bred and raised chickens, rabbits, and wool sheep, have experience with LGDs, horses, vermiculture, and some no-till regenerative growing and hügelkultur. I am a flower essence practitioner and a dog trainer. For additional income and joy, I'd like to start a very small scale dog boarding and training/daycare side business. I'm learning to train service dogs and allergen alert dogs, so that would be my focus. A true Montessorian, I dabble in a lot of things and have a great love of learning!

Your Experience:
I'd especially like to collaborate with those who have expertise in permaculture/regenerative growing, whole foods culinary arts, and green building (earth shelter, wofati, RMHs, tiny homes, woodworking, etc.) to collaborate, support educational programming for kids, offer adult workshops, and create peaceful, respectful community together. I'm especially excited to integrate soil science, polyculture, crop covers and living mulches, growing mushrooms, hügelkultur, and Holzer and Fukuoka techniques. Or, if you're just lit up by any of this vision, please connect!

Really I'm looking for like-minded people who are teachers at heart ~ kind, non-judgmental, gentle, creative, open-minded, lovers of the earth and all of its beings. I love and appreciate plant based diets, though personally do best on keto and Paleo foods. No heavy drinking or smoking, please. You must love dogs and kids! ;)

If you're interested in learning more, please check out my website. It's wordy, but thorough, haha. And please tell me more about yourself and your endeavors here or via email, to start. Thanks for checking out this thread!
April
peassc@gmail.com

<3

Thanks for your post, April! I tried to send you a pie slice before it expired. I hope you got it. I am an elementary teacher in Nova Scotia - not so far away. I attended a Montessori pre-school as a child, and loved it. I taught Kindermusik for many years. I feel that children’s permaculture education is a very important part of the way forward, and would like to know how you got started.
-Anna-Maria

Thanks for your message, @Anna-Maria Galante ! It's wonderful to make your acquaintance! Creating ecologically-minded community with children has been a lifelong journey for me. I spent a lot of time on my aunt and uncle's large campground in the White Mountains of NH, growing up, and the community connections created there were very special to me. And my cousins and I loved being outside in nature, picking our way among the river rocks, creating trails through the woods, finding pollywogs in the swimming pond... I would have loved a more hands on education, and felt rather lost during most of my public school education. As a young adult, a dear family friend let me know that I was a Montessorian and just didn't know it yet, haha! I especially love the didactic learning materials, the deep respect for children and the Earth, and the holistic nature of Montessori education! In a true Montessori learning environment, there is plenty of time to spend on social endeavors, the development of relationships, and problem solving skills. And there is a lovely balance between following individual passions and development and creating supportive community. During my undergrad work, I was able to focus on this deeply, and I traveled to the Findhorn community in Scotland to study creating ecovollages! My lifelong love of nature and animals led me to homesteading and regenerative farming. In Montessori education, we "follow the child" via deep observation of their inner drives to explore, discover and learn. In permaculture, we observe and follow nature! It's all the same to me! :)