The Learning Center Concept

Primary Goal:

To provide public access to the resources of Grandale Farm for the purpose of learning and, in doing so, preserve the rural character and natural beauty of the 177 acre estate.

The Purchase of Grandale Farm in 1950

In 1950 Thomas and Evelyn Orme purchased Grandale Farm. With this purchase they fulfilled a long term goal of returning to the country with their family and reestablishing a rural home base that had been lost during the Depression. Tom Sr. commuted to a dental practice in the Washington metropolitan area. He and Evelyn transformed a neglected estate into a warm and comfortable home. The lives of the children, Tom Jr., Larry and Becky, became integrated into activities of the local community. The concept then was family farm, not a public resource. Agriculturally, emphasis was placed on developing a cattle feeding operation. The scale was small and, as often as not, unprofitable. But profit was irrelevant. The farm was a good place to raise children. There was the bounty of Nature, an irrepressible link to The Good Earth, a fine public school system, and 4-H projects.

Family Photo Album

New Concept - To place the physical and intellectual resources of the farm at the disposal of an extended family - making the farm a public resource, a Learning Center.

The same attributes that made Grandale Farm an ideal place to raise children make it an ideal location for a Learning Center. The rural setting assures the serenity of "escape" for adults and a variety of adventures in Nature study for youth of any age. At the same time, the proximity to Washington, D.C., with its treasure trove of libraries, museums, educational and entertainment centers, the richness of Loudoun County, Virginia itself with Dulles International Airport and the hub of business that surrounds it, and the community of Hillsboro with its intimacy and friendliness prevents isolation and presents opportunity for exploration of cosmopolitan ideas. An educational center which provides a full summer "camp" program and a limited year-round residential program for 15-20 youth is planned.

The initial plan developed in 1996 called for creation of a Science and Math Center coupled to foster care. While this idea has not been abandoned completely, it received jarring criticism from consultant planners, church members, and friends. Critics were concerned about the cost of meeting public health and facility requirements for foster care and about the ability of the Orme family to manage and care for foster children. Many who commented on the initial proposal suggested that a broader "Learning Center" concept to address the needs of both youth and adults would be desirable. A precise business plan does not yet exist. Elements which might become part of a business plan, however, have been considered in detail with professional help.

For-Profit vs Non-Profit Status

One of the first decisions was to organize for profit rather than to create a non-profit educational institution. This decision is based on the desirability of a multi-use approach to the 177 acres of land available to the Learning Center. In addition, since there exists no source of cash to support on a long-term basis purely philanthropic goals, some "more profitable" activities must be pursued in order to support the "less profitable" educational activities.

The land is currently in an A-3 agriculture zone. The planning challenge is to develop the income producing potential of the land while maintaining its rural character. The key to compromise is maintaining open space which can be used for agricultural and recreational purposes. In this regard, zoning requirements for rural hamlets and clustered housing were considered carefully. Both of these development options preserve open space. Professional help in performing this task was provided by Bruce Drenning and Associates of Leesburg, Virginia.

Bruce Drenning & Associates

Six income producing activities were identified and analyzed with respect to zoning law and public health law. These activities are:

Sale of lots

Building and sale of homes in a variety of configurations which preserve open space

Summer school/year-round school

Resident care - foster care/adoption

Farming and farm market

Bed and breakfast/catering

The income potential of real estate development is described in a three-ring binder containing materials assembled by Bruce Drenning and Associates. It is available to interested potential partners (see below). Any final business plan is likely to involve some or all of the six activities studied and perhaps others that have been suggested, but not yet evaluated in depth. Among unevaluated suggestions are a program for elder care, a teleconference center or a related telecommuting center, an information resources center to support consulting activity, and a health spa. Real estate development offers the greatest opportunity for immediate profit and a source of capital for educational objectives. At the same time, real estate development, if not properly planned, represents a threat to open space concepts and rural character. Herein lies the business challenge - to generate cash for construction of buildings for educational programs without jeopardizing the rural setting of a future Learning Center.

Consultant Services in Biotechnology is a licensed business which provides primary income for Thomas White Orme, Ph.D. ("Tom, Jr."). It is organized as a home office business, and business is conducted at Grandale Farm. This activity will continue.

Agricultural activities are continuing to retain preferred land use tax status. Under a lease arrangement, 151 acres of land is now committed to a beef cow-calf operation managed by Mr. Bob Ashby. The 26 acre parcel containing house and barn improvements is committed to an expanding horticulture, fruit and vegetable operation.

In 1998 a "best management" environmental plan will be drafted to comply with Virginia law. The plan will emphasize protection of water resources, forest and open space management. Grandale Farm is surrounded by equestrian centers, and there is a shared interest in developing a system of maintained public paths and riding trails.

Ownership

The 177 acres of Grandale farm is divided into three parcels: (1) a 26 acre improved parcel with house and barns owned by Thomas White Orme, (2) a 39 acre unimproved parcel owned jointly by Thomas White Orme, Lawrence Edwin Orme, and Becky Orme Russell, and (3) a 112 acre unimproved parcel owned jointly by Thomas White Orme, Lawrence Edwin Orme and Becky Orme Russell.

The Special Role of Computers and Telecommunications

To support consultant activities from a home office computers are used to create communication lines to clients via Internet and email. Educational software to be used by students individually or in a classroom setting is available to support instruction in mathematics, music and language. These indoor "information age" technologies supplement the natural resources of Grandale Farm and offer a counterpoint to the "outdoor" life style that can be found in woods, along creek, and in open field. The variety of possible educational settings is one of the most valuable assets of Grandale Farm.

About Tom Orme (Resumé)