Join the Prairie Food System Vision Network in welcoming Rachel Schneider and Steffen Schneider, Co-Founders of the Institute for Mindful Agriculture, as they share their Three Soils Framework, a powerful approach for reimagining our fragile food systems and cultivating resilient food webs.
The Institute for Mindful Agriculture is guided by three principles:
Farms can become places of health, collaboration, and beauty
Agriculture as a source of the well-being of all
Agriculture as a leverage point for cultural renewal
Their work is deeply rooted in over 30 years of biodynamic farming at Hawthorne Valley Farm in New York state’s Hudson Valley, along with their many contributions to strengthening the local food movement in their community.
Join us to explore how the Three Soils Framework can help us grow connections, nurture collaboration, and support resilient food systems across the Prairie region.
To register click here.
About the Facilitators:
Rachel Schneider – Co-Founder, Institute for Mindful Agriculture
Rachel is Director Emeritus of the Hawthorne Valley Farm Place Based Learning Center, offering farm-based education for children, families, and agricultural professionals. With a Master’s in Waldorf education, she spent over 20 years at Hawthorne Valley Farm, developing its CSA program and co-founding CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training). She now leads a food access project in Columbia County and co-manages Rolling Grocer 19, a store with an innovative three-tier pricing system.
Steffen Schneider - Co-Founder, Institute for Mindful Agriculture
Steffen completed his agricultural studies in Giessen, Germany, in 1982 and has practiced Biodynamic farming since 1983, including over 30 years at Hawthorne Valley Farm, where he is now Director Emeritus of Farm Operations. Passionate about livestock (especially dairy cows) and spiritually grounded agriculture, he sees it as key to societal transformation. Through the Institute for Mindful Agriculture, he advances food justice locally and nationally. Steffen serves as treasurer of Demeter USA and lives in Columbia County, NY, with his partner Rachel and is grateful to be able to spend more time with his two sons and three granddaughters.