64. Unpaved Paradise at the Garden School

The mission of The Garden School is to pass on

the essential skills of life to the next generation,

starting with horticulture.

Much of the experience of young people today is an abstraction—viewed through a screen. The Garden School seeks to remedy this by actual experience in the dirt. To plant a seed and watch it grow is an experience you will never forget. Working the land cultivates virtue in the individual: patience, focus, hard work, follow-through, and cooperation. These virtues are foundational for personal growth.

MEET JONATHON:

The Garden School is directed by Jon Zoba and a board of directors.

Jon graduated from Gordon College in 2006 with a major in fine art. From working on the Grounds Department at Gordon he developed a love for the land and has been landscaping and farming ever since. He helped his brother Ben establish The Garden School in 2016, serving as the property and facilities manager. Jon assumed leadership

of the School in 2023 when Ben moved to upstate New York.

He lives on the campus with his wife, Shirin, his son, Carl, and two cats.

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