Mayim Chayim:
Judiasm in the Garden
In our forest garden young children will explore Judaism in relation to the earth. Through discovering traditional Jewish plants, blessings for the natural world, and seasonal practices, we connect Jewish time with the rhythms of the growing season.
Forest & Garden Play - Gathering at a beautiful urban forest farm
Jewish Nature Stories & Songs - Folktales in the garden and singing Jewish songs beneath the trees!
Hands-On Earth Learning - Planting seeds, harvesting veggies, flowers and herbs, meeting our farm animals, forest exploration, and learning respect for the earth
Nature Crafts & Creative Garden Activities inspired by Jewish farming teachings and wildcrafted art
Cooking with Garden Ingredients - Preparing simple Jewish recipes from the garden and garden pizza!
Community & Friendship - Connection through joyful play and fun in a small relationship-focused group setting.
Join us as we cultivate a sense of belonging within Judiasm and the outdoors!
Sunday mornings of farm-based Judaism for children ages 4–7
Program Details
Ages: 4–7
Group Size: 10 children per session
Times: 10 AM- 2 PM, Shabbat is 5 PM-7 PM
Sessions: Each session includes four program dates and one farm shabbat where the whole family is invited down to the farm for a potluck-style shabbat hosted by Mayim Chayim.
Sign your kiddos up for one session or both!
Location: A beautiful 4-acre forest farm in Southeast Portland
Format: Outdoor learning rooted in Jewish tradition and nature
Led by experienced outdoor educators who have spent years teaching young children through nature play, storytelling, and creative play.
Small group size ensures each child receives plenty of attention, support, and space to explore.
Session 1:
May 31st
June 14th
June 28th
July 12th
July 10th: Family Shabbat
Session 2:
July 19th
August 2nd
August 16th
August 30th
August 28th: Family Shabbat
Pricing
$400 Regular
$350 Early Bird Special - Register before April 15th
Sibling discount- get $50 off with any additional siblings enrolled
**We will have options to make up one missed day per session if you are out of town. Only if travel plans are shared with us at registration!
Meet with us before you register!
Our Team
Sharon Newman (She/Her)
Mayim Chayim EducatorSharon is so excited to host Mayim Chayim at the beautiful Jean’s Farm where she lives and works. She first fell in love with outdoor education while studying the environment at the Universtiy of Vermont and TAing ecology labs. With a background as a garden teacher and outdoor educator, she has worked with children of all ages, pre-k through 12th. For the past year, she’s been a teacher at Wildflower Outdoor Learning Center sharing her love of gardening with preschoolers there. She’s passionate about the importance of nature play and place-based garden education for inspiring the next generations to lead a life of caring for our earth and community.
From the east coast, Jewish summer camp was a huge part of her life, and set the scene for a lifelong connection to Jewish community, song, and traditions! She hosts monthly shabbats at the farm and continues to study the interconnection of Judaism with the growing calendar.
Sofie Brandt (They/Them)
Mayim Chayim EducatorSofie is so excited about Mayim Chayim at Jeans Farm. They are passionate about nature-based play for kids and growing curiosity in the garden through intergenerational learning. Sofie loves being outside and getting their hands dirty. They studied Indigenous Nation Studies at Portland State University and is passionate about connecting with native plants, learning their history and learning more about how we can re-wild our environments. With a background as an outdoor educator, childcare provider, and family portrait photographer, they have worked with kids from 2 months to 15 years old.
Sofie and Sharon both have CPR and first aid training. Sharon is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
A Day at Mayim Chayim
A Day in Sivan: Flowers for Shavuot Celebration
During the month of Sivan, when Jewish tradition celebrates receiving the Torah, we honor the beauty of flowers and the abundance of the land.
10:00 - Arrival & Farm Discovery
As children arrive, they join a nature scavenger hunt, exploring the garden and finding bees buzzing, worms in the soil, and ripe vegetables
10:45 - Morning Circle
Morning stretches and singing Modeh Ani together, expressing gratitude for the new day, surrounded by plants in bloom.
We’ll tell a Jewish story about flowers and the signficance of Sivan to guide the day’s activities and exploration
11:15 - Planting in the Food Forest
Children carefully plant flower starts together in the garden, Using Agudal- the Hebrew unit for measuring from our thumb to first knuckle, we learn about spacing seeds out as we carefully plant them.
12:00 - Lunch & Story Time
Children enjoy their packed lunches at picnic tables in our outdoor kitchen while we read a Jewish folktale like, “It could always be worse” while watching the goats munch in the apple orchard.
12:45 - Nature Weaving/Garden Art Activity
As a group, we’ll wander into the forest and through the gardens gathering flowers and grasses to weave into a communal nature loom made of branches! We talk about the holiness of flowers and how we honor what is sacred in the earth and to our people.
1:45 - Free Play & Pick Up
The day ends with bubbles, music, water play and sprinklers and a dance party to jewish music as families arrive for pick-up.
Want to visit the farm? Join Our Farm Shmooze!
Sunday May 3rd - 10 AM-12 PM
For families that have registered or are interested. Meet the educators, visit the farm, and bring your family! RSVP Below! An email will be sent with farm address and details.
No prior Jewish knowledge required! Only excitement to play outside and be part of the community.
Rooted in Jewish Values
Through joyful outdoor experiences, children connect with the core teachings of our tradition:
Education - Learning through natural curiosity, stories, and hands-on discovery.
Tikkun Olam - Caring for the earth, understanding our role as stewards of the land.
Community - Building friendships and belonging through shared experience.
REFUND POLICY: No refunds will be issued within 30 days of the start date of the program, except with prior administrator approval for extenuating circumstances. Refunds outside of the window will incur a 10% administration fee.
About Jean’s Farm:
Jean’s farm is an educational homestead, located along Johnson Creek in Southeast Portland. Surrounded by forest, our farm holds two yurts, an outdoor kitchen, a large pesticide-free garden, a forest garden, two goats, 11 chickens, and two bunnies.
The farm is easily accessed by foot, bike, bus or car with an off-site parking and drop-off location. Visitors walk down a moderately steep, dirt and gravel driveway. Alter-abled access is available with advance arrangements.