Community Education Programs
New as of April 2026 — two public education programs that bring the farm directly to families.
Every donation at these programs counts toward our 509(a)(2) public support requirement — direct community funding that keeps AISF a nonprofit.
Our Programs
Education, direct-to-consumer food access, community workshops, and technology tools — all powered by the closed-loop farm.
Farm Tours and Field Trips
The farm operates a 12-stop guided tour route covering every production system. Each stop features a Grafana display screen showing real-time sensor data. Students watch temperature, humidity, pH, and egg counts update live.
School groups from K-12 participate in hands-on activities: counting eggs, measuring pH, feeding BSF larvae, and monitoring solar production. The curriculum connects to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). All field trips are free or donation-based. The USDA NIFA Farm-to-School program supports this model.
Workshops and Community Education
Mushroom Cultivation: Log inoculation, indoor fruiting chamber setup, substrate preparation, species selection for the Northeast. Participants inoculate their own log to take home.
Backyard Aquaponics: IBC tote system design, fish selection, grow bed media, nutrient cycling, water quality management. Based on our Container 4 design scaled for residential use.
Small-Scale Poultry: Breed selection, coop design, feed management, egg handling, health monitoring. Drawing from our experience with 350 hens in Container 2.
Composting and Soil Building: Hot composting, vermicomposting, biochar production, cover cropping. Integrating BSF frass fertilizer and spent mushroom substrate. Penn State Extension provides frameworks for this education.
Farm Stand and Direct Sales
The farm stand on Route 115 between Route 209 and Route 33 will offer direct-to-consumer sales of eggs, mushrooms, microgreens, honey, goat cheese, yogurt, soap, and seasonal produce.
The planned 25-locker automated vending machine provides 24/7 unmanned access with mobile payment via the Appetite AI app. We are also developing a CSA subscription model for weekly shares of eggs, greens, mushrooms, and seasonal items.
Appetite AI Mobile App
Appetite AI is a free mobile health app built on the same sensor data pipeline that runs the farm. It predicts 24-hour hunger-satiety cycles, tracks metabolic phases, and provides a 45-minute guided rescue protocol when hunger reaches crisis levels. Built in Flutter for iOS and Android. Pending app store approval. Try the interactive demo.
All Donations Are
Tax-Deductible
509(a)(2) public charity — EIN 93-1895646 — Candid Gold Seal 2026.
Exclusive Donor and Member Benefits
• Free workshop passes
• Behind-the-scenes tours
• Priority CSA subscriptions
• Naming recognition
• Members-only updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Are farm tours free?+
Yes. Tours and school field trips are free or donation-based. Contact us to schedule a visit.
What age groups are the programs for?+
All ages. K-12 field trips include age-appropriate curriculum aligned with NGSS standards. Adult workshops focus on practical skills for home and small-farm application.
Can I buy food from the farm?+
Yes. The Route 115 farm stand offers eggs, mushrooms, microgreens, honey, and goat products. The 25-locker vending machine (in development) will provide 24/7 automated access.
How do I sign up for a workshop?+
Contact us to register or join the notification list for upcoming dates.
What is Appetite AI?+
A free mobile health app built on the farm’s sensor technology. Predicts hunger cycles, tracks metabolic phases, provides rescue protocols. Try the demo.