About Montessorigården

The farm has 240 acres of cultivated land and 115 acres of forest. In the yard is the house where the family lives, stables, barn, chicken / goat house, Bihuset (living room for students) including a toilet building, and the old smithy (as living room for the horses).

We have our own horses and rental of stalls on the outside, cashmere goats, chickens, bees, a dog and two cats.

The farm is located 4km from Åsgårdstrand, 2km from Kirkebakken (Borre town center), 1km from the University of Southeast Norway (USN “Bakkenteigen”) and 5km from Tønsberg Montessori school.

The pupils in a Montessori school have from 6 to 12 years gathered a lot of knowledge and information on their own initiative and from the age of 12 will have a natural need to experience the practical aspects of the theory. They should also find out about themselves in relation to society and understand the structure of this now that they are approaching adulthood. A farm will provide the opportunity to create a small community, because it is suitably large and has the opportunity to drive several “industries” for real. For example, from the hen to the egg (or vice versa), cooking, producing and selling eggs / honey / meat / wool / firewood, growing vegetables and summer flowers, operating the guest room, building up the museum, keeping accounts etc. The farm allows for income and thus the possibility of purchasing material, lecturers, tours and other things. And a basis for discussions in the community meeting on the use of the resources.

Montessori Norway has its own curriculum for all steps in the Montessori schools. “Professional work” indicates in particular how occupations, daily operations and economics are to be part of the Montessori youth education, and where all subjects must be worked across. This is perfect to carry out on the farm.

All subjects should be able to integrate into life on the farm and the young people get a reality to link the theory to. At the same time, the theoretical level is kept high, so that young people from the Montessori youth school have good opportunities in life and in further schooling.

The point is not to educate the youth to farmers, but to have the space and opportunity to run a small-scale society and integrate theory and practice.