[2] Squibb envisioned a small, rural community reliant on the work of its inhabitants to meet its basic needs.

[3] Squibb and his wife, Louise, founded Midland in the midst of the Great Depression, believing that the essentials of education are a student, a teacher, and an idea.

[4] The school is located on 2,860 acres (12 km²) of largely undeveloped ranchland characteristic of central California's coastal hill country.

Students help with planting, cultivating, and harvesting the fruits and vegetable that are delivered to the school kitchen or donated to local food pantries.

The produce from the garden, orchard, and farm provide about 50% of the food eaten by this California boarding school community.

Annual giving generally yields $300,000, the bulk of which helps fund Midland's substantial financial aid program.