In 1970, the parents in Aspen decided that the Aspen Elementary School was too conservative. They decided to start their own experimental school following the teachings of Sylvie Ashton Warner, a renowned teacher in New Zealand. The first year, the school opened in the Aspen Institute’s building in town. Sylvie came for the year to establish the curriculum. She documented her experience in “Spearpoint: Teacher in America”.

The parents (who were also the teachers) quickly decided they needed their own building so a local hero, George Stranahan, donated land and the parents began planning the building. The Fall semester of the school’s second year was devoted to building the log school.

The land is in Woody Creek and up the road was a saw mill where we got the logs and separators. I don’t remember where the mortar came from. The parents and students researched the building requirements, got donations and went to work. The main building is all logs with a tower that at the time, was the tallest log tower built. They used as few nails as possible, opting for dowels. The floor was poured concrete and classrooms were partitioned off with recycled garage doors. It was an ungraded school where students were grouped by ability and assignments were derived by student experience (the Aston Warner methodology).

Today, the school has grown but maintained its focus on environmentally friendly structures using yurts and the like. They have solar panels for energy and focus their classes on life skills and academics.

As a kid, my favorite classes were in the garden. The students still grow vegetables and flowers. The plot has grown substantially, but the concept is the same. Teach the children the value of the earth and of locally grown food. It is a lesson I still recall as we put our garden in every spring and as we enjoy our fresh vegetables in the harvest season.

Last week was “Eat Local National Challenge Week”, and I was happy to share the joy of growing food at home with my children.

-Ashley