A Wild Home

Google Listing: HERE
Address:
241 Pryor Street
Brooksville, FL 34601
We are located just two blocks from the Public Library, Public Park, & the heart of downtown- with many tasty restaurants, coffee shops, a record store, & various other businesses owned by local folks.

Parking for drop off is a breeze, on our side of the street. It is available for longer-term parking on a first come first served basis on *our side* of the street (Pryor) or at the nearby (1 block away) public city parking lot. The learning space here includes mulch-covered paths and natural terrain. If visitors have specific accessibility needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out-I’d love to work together to see how we can make the space welcoming and inclusive to all bodies. That said, there may be some limitations to what we can reasonably accommodate at this time.

Stop by and take a book or leave a book! AJ loves & fully supports the Free Little Library’s mission to “…be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all…” and is very excited to share this resource with the community. We’ve used Free Little Libraries all over the country & it couldn’t make us happier to see others enjoying ours here.

Click on the photo below to see our registered Free Little Library & find others in the area!

Donate your kitchen scraps, to be turned into a valued resource here at A Wild Home! Let’s turn waste into wonder -together!
We’ve been composting everything we can in our family for over a decade and the process of turning leftover kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost that gives life to our gardens never ceases to delight us.

Offering a community compost bin is one more way to support our mission to Cultivate Community, Celebrate Curiosity, and Nurture Wonder, with Nature. If you’re dropping off scraps, please:

-NO meat or bones, light oils & dairy is nice, but not necessary
-NO pet waste or human feces (this is not a humanure system)
-YES to fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, eggshells, and plant trimmings

We regularly turn the pile and add in the “browns” to help it stay balanced and odor-free. Browns are dry, carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, shredded paper, cardboard bits, and straw. You’re welcome to toss some in, but no pressure- we’ve got that part covered.

Our swale forest gardens are designed to capture and manage water while supporting a variety of edible and native plants. Students help plant, maintain, and observe the gardens, learning about water management, permaculture principles, and plant interactions, and we harvest from them for hands-on projects and activities. These gardens offer a practical way to see how thoughtful design supports healthy, productive ecosystems.

We have: Honeybees, chickens, a ball python, outdoor ponds with goldfish, mosquito fish, & various wildlife, a caterpillar habitat for observation, an indoor tank with an aquatic frog, beta fish, ghost shrimp, catfish, reg wiggler worms in our worm farm, plenty of occupied nesting bird hotels + homes, & 2 cats

Might be surprising, but given the way we cultivate & tend to the land intentionally with the wildlife in mind, we have tons of crawling, flying, & scurrying critters here to learn from!

We’ve observed; butterflies – moths – bees – armadillos – bats – migrating & resident birds, regularly owls & hawks – lizards – snakes – frogs & tadpoles – salamanders & too many more to list!

Our worm composting system lets students see how food scraps turn into rich, fertile soil. By feeding and caring for the worms, kids learn about decomposition, nutrient cycles, and sustainable waste practices. It’s a simple way to understand how everyday materials can be transformed into resources for the garden.

We also have multiple other working compost locations for students to use that do not incorporate the Red Wiggler worms.

This space is in the very back of our property, tucked away and fenced off with a gate & the above pictured sign. Through to the left leads to our honeybee outdoor classroom- with seating for class in the woods, with a nearby hand built Warre Honeybee Hive, teaming with life. To the right is the fully wooded, wild space for the students to make trails, forts, and play as they see fit among the trees.

Our wildlife ponds include many native plants, giving students a chance to observe frogs, insects, birds, and other creatures in a natural habitat. By helping care for them -and simply observing and enjoying- the kids learn about aquatic ecosystems, life cycles, and the role of native plants in supporting wildlife. The ponds provide a hands-on way to connect with nature up close.

Our pollinator and bird gardens give students a chance to see bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife in action. By offering education & access to these diverse, mainly Florida-native gardens, kids can see how pollination works in action and why creating habitats is important for local ecosystems. The gardens provide hands-on opportunities to observe nature and understand its role in our outdoor classroom.

Our herb spiral is a living classroom that students help design and build, giving them hands-on experience in permaculture principles and garden planning. As they plant, water, and care for the herbs, they learn about plant growth, companion planting, and seasonal cycles, and we harvest from it for hands-on projects and creative activities. This spiral becomes a sensory-rich space for tasting, smelling, and exploring the natural world up close. With the attached Wildlife Pond, it also provides a vibrant habitat for flying, swimming, and crawling creatures, making it a diverse and lively feature of our outdoor classroom.

Built by John and designed with thoughtfulness, this space is commonly used during ‘Your Choice’ time to just hang out with friends and snack, play board games, or climb & imagine as they see fit. It’s a beautiful view up there, perched over the space for a Birds Eye View. There’s pulleys & various ways to climb up, with an outdoor shower off the back for easy clean up & a fixed water outlet that lands on the slide for warmer weather fun.

Our muddy area, complete with a mud kitchen with working water features & outdoor shower for play & rinse off, is a hands-on haven for sensory exploration and creative play. Kids dig, mix, pour, and build, learning about textures, cause and effect, and the natural world through active experimentation. Every splash and squish sparks curiosity, imagination, and joyful connection with the outdoors- and with the educators, who often join in!

Our zipline, climbing, and swinging features bring pure joy and adventure to every Wild School day, letting kids challenge themselves and move their bodies in playful, exciting ways. These elements encourage confidence, coordination, and risk-taking in a safe, supportive environment, while inspiring laughter, teamwork, and a love of outdoor exploration. Each ride and climb is an opportunity for children to connect with nature and their own sense of adventure. We’re working on adding more to the ‘natural playground’ area as well!

Our gathering spaces include an open-air pavilion and a spacious screened-in porch classroom, both designed to keep us connected to the outdoors while offering welcome shade from Florida’s sun and sudden showers. The pavilion is our main classroom hub for circle time, group projects, and hands-on lessons, while the screened porch offers a quiet nook for small-group work and board-game play during “your choice” time. In cooler months, we often gather around the fire as another central spot for connection and project work. Each space keeps the sights and sounds of the garden close, supporting our goal of learning with nature in every season.

We harvest rainwater to conserve resources and care for our garden, showing students how simple systems can support a healthy ecosystem. Using collected rain to water our plants and outdoor classroom spaces turns every storm into a hands-on lesson in sustainability and the natural water cycle.

Our outdoor learning space is designed by a certified permaculture designer with education at the heart of every element. It will grow season by season, adding more gardens, wildlife habitats, and hands-on learning features, with students actively involved in some of the planning, planting, and tending to the space. Every part of the design invites curiosity, teaches ecological principles, and nurtures a deep connection with nature. We’re especially excited about the new land we’re adding to the layout, opening the door for even more opportunities, including an outdoor composting bathroom, possible tiny living quarters, a woodshop, and a natural swimming pool.