Sustainability Served Fresh: FA Students Craft Local Pizza Pies

On National Pie Day, Falmouth Academy Middle School students in Josh Leveque’s Farm & Garden elective got a taste of sustainability—literally. They crafted pizza pies using ingredients sourced entirely from Falmouth, MA, including goat cheese and rabbit sausage from Leveque’s own farm. This hands-on lesson wasn’t just about cooking; it was a chance to explore the environmental and ethical benefits of local food systems.

The project also highlighted a broader effort to reconsider the role of goat milk in sustainable diets, as explored by WCAI (https://www.capeandislands.org/in-this-place/2022-12-15/reconsidering-goat-milk).

Josh Leveque, Falmouth Academy’s Director of Buildings and Grounds, is making environmental responsibility a way of life on campus and beyond. He oversees much more than facilities: he teaches Farm & Garden and Beekeeping electives, manages the school’s solar energy and recycling programs, and inspires students to consider where their food and energy come from.

In his Beekeeping elective, Leveque teaches students to manage hives safely, harvest honey, and use beeswax to create products like lip balm and candles. These hands-on lessons connect students to the environment and foster an appreciation for pollinators and their role in local agriculture.

Beyond the classroom, Leveque and his wife Lauren, a talented garden designer whose work fosters connections between people and the natural world, own Little Harbor Gardens, a farm where they live and work along with their three children, who have all attended Falmouth Academy. At Little Harbor Gardens, they grow produce, raise rabbits and goats, and craft artisanal goat cheese while balancing family life and their shared commitment to environmental stewardship. Their work aligns with the principles of the slow food movement, emphasizing local and ethical food production. Discover more about their work at Little Harbor Gardens.

Leveque’s environmental responsibility efforts extend to campus infrastructure. In 2022, Falmouth Academy replaced its original 330 solar panels with 642 new ones, exceeding the school’s energy needs and reinforcing its commitment to renewable energy. The campus is also home to the first wind turbine on Cape Cod. “What’s great about this is that we are meeting our environmental responsibility aspirations while making a sound business decision,” said Leveque.

Falmouth Academy's 34-acre campus, nestled in Beebe Woods, serves as a living laboratory for environmental and ecological learning. Students connect with the natural world through a variety of resources, including a garden, greenhouse, beehives, a vernal pool, koi pond, bird condos, and wildlife cameras, all woven into science classes to deepen their understanding of ecosystems. The Arts Across the Curriculum initiative further enriches this connection by pairing nature studies with creative projects. Students participate in an Audubon-inspired exploration of birds, culminating in detailed pencil drawings of native species, and experiment with oak gall ink pigments to test various properties while making watercolor paintings in a collaboration between science and art teachers.

Leveque’s work exemplifies Falmouth Academy’s mission to cultivate environmental awareness and responsibility. Falmouth Academy is an intentionally small and responsive co-educational independent school for grades 7 through 12, where students are encouraged to think critically and creatively about their role in the world. Through hands-on education, innovative infrastructure, and meaningful community partnerships, he inspires students to think critically about their impact on the planet.