Spring Break ON THE FARM

Now recruiting for March 11 – 17 or March 25 – 31 spring breaks in 2024.

Please reach out to our Young Adult Programs Director, Kiki Lipsett for more information.

Come dig your hands in the soil and hang out with our goats!

This renewing week-long retreat will connect you to nature in an urban farm setting We will explore earth-based Jewish practice, examine local food justice issues, and create opportunities to connect with yourself, others, and the land. Spring Break on the Farm provides an opportunity for university students to slow down, make new friends, and build community through farming, cooking, learning, and practicing Shabbat together.

SpringBreak-3

What will I learn?

Food & Farming

Sustainable Farming Practices 

Hands-On Experience in the Field 

Local Food Justice Scene

Herbalism & Herbal Medicine

Community Building

Communal Cooking & Meal-Sharing

Teamwork in the Field 

Collective Reflection, Listening & Sharing

Living & Learning Together

Jewish Tradition & Practice

Morning Singing & Mindfulness Practice

Jewish & Ecological Cycles of Time 

Shabbat & Havdalah Ritual

 Jewish Approaches to Climate Action

LOGISTICS

LODGING 

This program takes place at our two-acre urban farm in Berkeley, California. Participants sleep in our newly built Retreat Lodge in shared rooms.

FOOD 

Food at Urban Adamah is delicious, abundant, and vegetarian. Most meals are prepared by students. Some produce used in meals comes from our farm. Food is ingredient kosher, but not necessarily hechshered and not supervised by a mashgiach. If you observe a different level of kashrut, please reach out to our Young Adult Programs Director so we can meet your needs.

ACCESSIBILITY 

Our Lodge is fully ADA accessible. This program contains several hours of manual farm labor per day, and at least one hike on unpaved terrain. The labor and hiking utilizes all parts of our bodies, so those in a wheelchair or with chronic body aches might find these components challenging. That being said, all are welcome to participate and be involved in the ways that are possible for their bodies. 

SUPERVISION 

Two staff chaperones from each university are required to attend. These staff members are integrated in the program team and assist with program support while farming, learning, cooking, and during down time. Chaperones do not pay a participant fee but their full participation and support is required.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS 

All students and staff are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted. Participants and staff are expected to take rapid tests upon arrival which they must bring themselves. Urban Adamah will provide rapid antigen tests on site should the need to test arise during the program. If any students test positive during the week, they will be provided with accommodations on the farm to isolate. Protocols subject to change based on local COVID-19 levels.

Fees & Booking

 FEES


The cost per student for Spring Break on the Farm is $700 * 

The fee covers all food, accommodations, and a full week of dynamic programming. Transportation is not included in the cost of the program, with the exception of transportation between local airports (SFO & OAK) and the farm.

There is a minimum requirement of 12 participants to run the program, with a maximum of 40 participants. Individual university groups must guarantee a minimum of 12 students, or combine with another school to meet this minimum. Urban Adamah may choose to combine groups from different schools that share the same spring break dates. 

*For our 2024 trips, we are partnering with Hillel International and Repair the World to provide $500 subsidies, reducing the program cost to $200 per student. Students are still required to cover their own transportation costs, unless their university’s Hillel provides a travel subsidy.

There is no charge for university staff chaperones.

 BOOKING


We are recruiting schools to join us for March 11 – 17 or March 25 – 31, 2024

If you are a university staff member interested in bringing a group to the farm or if you are an individual interested in joining a trip, please reach out. Email our Young Adult Programs Director, Kiki Lipsett

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

WEDNESday
THURSDAY

8:00 – 9:00

9:00 – 9:45

9:45 – 10:00

10:00 – 12:00

12:00 – 1:30 

1:30 – 4:00 

4:00 – 6:00  

6:00 – 7:00 

7:00 – 9:00

Breakfast  

Avodat Lev (morning spiritual practice) 

Break

Herbalism + Herbal Medicine 

Lunch

Homesteading 

Break 

Dinner 

Connecting to land through text & art 

8:00 – 9:00

9:00 – 9:45 

9:45 – 10:00

10:00 – 12:00

12:00 – 1:30

1:30 – 4:00

4:00 – 6:00

6:00 – 7:00

7:00

Breakfast  

Avodat Lev (morning spiritual practice) 

Break 

Food Justice 101  

Lunch

Sadeh (farming) 

Break 

Dinner  

Free evening to explore the SF Bay Area