River Bend Farm
A center to inspire innovative learning and sustainable living.
In 2020, The Ecology School transformed as it transitioned to a new home at River Bend Farm, a historic 105-acre farm located on a scenic bend in the Saco River, just twenty minutes from the Maine coast. The move has propelled our educational initiatives by increasing program capacity and providing “live what you learn” opportunities for participants through hands-on exploration of Maine’s ecosystems, sustainable living practices, direct connection to food systems and farming along with modeling conservation-in-action.
Our growth to River Bend Farm will feature construction of a dormitory and the Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons, both built to the specifications of The Living Building Challenge, a green building certification program and sustainable design framework. It’s also considered the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings, taking into account the impact buildings have on the environment and the health of community.
This new video of River Bend Farm was created to celebrate the successful construction of the two greenest buildings in Maine. As we enter the final stages of our capital campaign, learn more about the impact you can create with us and help us cross the finish line with only $250,000 left to raise. In this video, enjoy scenic shots of the beautiful River Bend Farm and learn more about the impacts of our programming.
Featuring shots courtesy of:
Lone Spruce Creative, Poland Spring, Maine the Way , Tim Greenway Photography
A Special Place, Designed for Sustainability
In a pristine location on the Saco River in Southern Maine, The Ecology School’s innovative River Bend Farm campus lives and breathes a sustainable future, now. All around our program participants, groundbreaking ways of growing food and conserving energy show that humans can thrive while nourishing the ecosystems we inhabit. River Bend Farm’s forest, fields, and streams allow us to explore specific plants, animals, organisms and their habitats and in great depth, providing a richer understanding of how living and non-living factors affect one another over time in every ecosystem.
At River Bend Farm, we strive to live, learn, work and play in ways that are restorative to the world around us. Our campus will rise to the “Living Building Challenge” that asks for spaces to give more than they take from the environment around them. We have partnered with four leading sustainable architecture firms in Maine—Kaplan Thompson, Scott Simons, Briburn, and Richardson & Associates—to execute a site plan developed through comprehensive study of the property and analysis of programmatic design. By design, our facilities will inspire students and visitors, and support conservation of the surrounding Saco River watershed.
Our working farm, dormitory, kitchen, and Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons will exceed every official “green” standard, modeling regenerative and self-sufficient ways to grow and prepare food, power our buildings, and utilize technology to minimize negative human impact on the ecosystems we inhabit. River Bend Farm opens our eyes to what’s possible, reimagining the future, now.
Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons
A 7,000 square-foot Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons, situated overlooking a meadow and the Saco River, draws its inspiration from the property’s 1794 farmhouse. Program participants will be treated to farm-fresh, local, and nutritious foods during family-style meals in this beautiful gathering space.
The south facing Sharon Parent Porch provides an element of historical continuity and is configured to provide passive solar heating.
Water treatment will be achieved using activated carbon filters or treatment with UV light.
Reused 55 gallon barrels constructed into cisterns will capture rain water to be used in the permaculture gardens.
A highly efficient kitchen design with no combustion utilizes advance electrical induction cooking equipment.
200 solar panels will be positioned on the roof, producing an estimated 80,000KwH, equivalent to 6,366 gallons of gasoline or 131 barrels of oil consumed.
Wainscoting will be constructed using reclaimed wood.
5,000 sq. ft. of Maine White Pine siding will be used.
Simplicity of design allows for universal accessibility.
Dormitory
The 9,000 square-foot dormitory takes advantage of existing tree line windrows, enhancing the natural contours of the landscape and giving participants the opportunity to be immersed in a restful forest setting.
Reduce summer solar heat with windows facing east and west.
Low flow toilets, faucets, and showers will save an extra 240,000 gallons of water each year over conventional.
Triple-glazed windows are three times more efficient than traditional windows.
R35 internal walls and roof are composed of recycled wood fiber.
Multiple reclaimed furnishings including 60 bunkbeds and salvaged wood used for wainscoting.
More than 18,000 sq. ft. of Maine White Pine siding.
Energy Recovery ventilation system is 6x’s more efficient than conventional system continuously circulating fresh air while retaining peak efficiency
Unisex communal bathrooms promote community and acceptance. (These will be customized based on external partnerships.)
All areas are ADA accessible.
Walkway walls will be laser-etched with tree silhouettes.
Wood materials free of chemical finishes promote a deeper connection to nature and will naturally age
AgroEcology Farm
The Ecology School’s next phase at River Bend Farm will model sustainable community development through the Living Building Challenge dormitory and dining commons. There’s another compelling part of the project that is taking root (literally) alongside the Saco River.
The vast acreage of fertile farmland will soon be home to our agroecology farming operation. In essence, agroecology farming is farming that centers on food production that makes the best use of natural systems and ecosystem services while not damaging nature and the land. This addition to our River Bend Farm "education ecosystem" will enable our Program Team to integrate ecological agricultural practices into the programs and curriculum while providing experiential opportunities for program participants to learn about farming, food security, climate resilience, and local food systems.
The half-acre of permaculture gardens that began at Ferry Beach gave root to a robust Food Systems curriculum that now is fully integrated into our programming and inspired our growth to a full-scale farm. This endeavor provides even more opportunities for our educational program participants and other visitors to gain valuable “hands in the dirt” learning.
The goal is for 100% of all produce served in the Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons to be grown on our own farm.
Virtual Tours and Webinars
An In-Depth, Behind-the-Scenes Look at our River Bend Farm Project
We are excited to share videos and webinars—created by The Ecology School Team as well as some of our partners—that show the progress at River Bend Farm and share all the unique elements of the Living Building Challenge.
August 2020 Construction Update
In this month’s tour of the River Bend Farm construction site join Meg Edstrom Jones, The Ecology School's Director of Educational Partnerships, as she shares with us the progress that this project has seen in August!
In this video series, The Ecology School takes viewers on a tour of the construction site, highlighting the progress on the dormitory, Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons, and overall site. Each month has a new tour guide with “first look” updates about construction progress.
July 2020 Construction Update
Join Mary Martin, The Ecology School's Board Chair, as she walks the site and shares her perspective on the power of outdoor education experiences in a school's curriculum. Mary's expertise in education runs deep, from her years as a teacher and principal to her current role as the School Board Chair in RSU 16 (Poland, Mechanic Falls, and Minot).
In this video series, The Ecology School takes viewers on a tour of the construction site, highlighting the progress on the dormitory, Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons, and overall site. Each month has a new tour guide with “first look” updates about construction progress.
Virtual Tour and Panel Discussion, Hosted by PassivHaus Maine
PassivHaus Maine hosts a virtual tour of River Bend Farm and an in-depth panel discussion about the design features, construction progress, and Living Building Challenge with the project’s architectural team—Kaplan Thompson Architects, Briburn and Scott Simons Architects—and contractor, Zachau Construction Inc., and materials supplier, 475 High Performance Building Supply. Virtual tour is guided by Adam Routhier, Project Manager at Zachau Construction.
Living Building Challenge - The Ecology School, Hosted by ReVision Energy
ReVision Energy hosts a webinar featuring Drew Dumsch (The Ecology School, President & CEO), Alex Grindle (The Ecology School, Director of Programs), and Joe Pagano (ReVision Energy, Small Commercial Team Lead). The focus of the webinar is on solar and the requirements of the Living Building Challenge when it comes to on-site energy. The webinar also dives into the ways in which The Ecology School’s programming will incorporate energy, specially solar, into its lessons.
River Bend Farm News & Happenings
