Shop Local - Green Chimneys

From Intern to Mentor: The Journey of an HAI Professional

September 20, 2022

Shop Local

Boni-Bel Organic Farm is part of the Green Chimneys campus, serving as a vocational education site for the students of Green Chimneys, as well as a charming farm and country store in the heart of Brewster.

The former dairy farm was purchased by Green Chimneys through a bequest from generous donors Rudolf G. and Tulli Sonneborn. As a working organic farm, Boni-Bel produces vegetables, fruit, flowers, maple syrup, and honey used in the Green Chimneys kitchen and classrooms, and sold at the Country Store and roadside farm stand.

In the gardens, Green Chimneys School students learn to interact with nature as they learn about and become responsible for the many plants while discovering new skills, a concept known as Green Care. Vocational training extends to the Country Store where students learn about operations and customer service in a real retail environment.

Brownie

With the completion of an elaborate new habitat built by Green Chimneys’ woodshop students, the Farm Science classroom was able to welcome Brownie into her new home. Brownie previously lived alone in her cage in the farm and wildlife office, but guinea pigs do best in larger environments. The new habitat allows her to live in a herd as she would in the wild, with many places to hide and ways to practice her skills. Brownie has always been a social creature, and she has taken over the guinea pig herd but is a very peaceful leader.