Happy 40th Birthday to our Ohlone Farm!

On September 10, 1985, Ohlone principal Jim Matthiott conducted an opening ceremony on the new farm – a chain-link fence around a bare patch of dirt. With the vision of teachers, parents and students, the farm grew into the thriving learning environment we know today. Over the past four decades—and through innumerable hours of parent volunteer work—the farm has become the amazing outdoor classroom we’ve inherited in 2025. From the first apple trees planted in memory of the Challenger astronauts, to the creation of the pond, greenhouse, native habitat, and solar-powered barn, the farm has always been built by and for the Ohlone community.

Farm Opening Day 1985

Farm Opening Ceremony 2025

First Farm Workday 1985

Farm Workday 2025

Families building the duck pond 1987

Native habitat and pond 2025

Farm entrance 1985

Farm entrance 2025

Laying out garden beds 1985

Garden beds 2025

Barn area 1985

Barn 2025