Adelbert Farm was brought to life through the dreams and hard work of Joe, Kimberly, Joshua, Harrison, and Thomas Kirstein. The fields, mountains, forest, and creek that encompass Adelbert Farm have been in Joe’s family for four generations. Joe comes from a long line of educators who also worked the land. Joe is the son of Jack Kirstein, a life long educator who grew up on this beautiful land, and enjoyed plowing, gardening, and harvesting throughout his life. Like his dad, Joe grew to love this piece of mountain land and followed his father’s footsteps into the field of education. Joe has spent the last 14 years teaching in public and private schools. Two years ago, he saw how his love of the farm and his love of teaching could live harmoniously. With his wife, Kimberly, Joe began a summer camp program that focused on the learning that naturally sprung from spending time in nature.
Kimberly is a former middle school teacher who changed professions (kind of) when she became a mom. She left the public school system to stay home with her little children. Her love for teaching didn’t wane though, as she taught her children, then taught homeschool co-op classes and tutored. After their successful summer camp experience, Kimberly wanted the opportunities from summer camp to be available throughout the year, so Joe and Kimberly began offering monthly nature classes.
Joe’s family has affectionately referred to the family property as “the farm” since the time it actually was a farm. Though it hadn’t been a farm in years, it was “the farm.” As Joe and Kimberly watched their own children grow up playing in the creek and picking apples and blueberries from bushes and trees planted by former generations, it all seemed to come together.
The children loved it here. Joshua, Harrison, and Thomas were so happy here. They stomped through the creek, climbed mountains, built forts, ran, played, explored. And they learned. They were learning constantly – about the life cycle of plants, about how mountains are made, about the water cycle. Mostly, though, about life.
And, in case you wondered: Why is it Adelbert Farm? Here is a link to a little bit of our family history -http://fairviewtowncrier.com/?p=336.