| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 17 2005 : 6:33:27 PM
I got a call yesterday from a local kindergarten teacher asking if she could bring her class out for a field trip. It was a message on my answering machine so it gave me time to think before calling her back...I was a little stunned that anyone would think of coming to my place, but then after thinking about it I think it may be fun.
I have some ribbons that say "I milked a dairy goat" that I could pin on each child who tries to milk my calmest goat and they can bottle feed one baby goat and pet her and the lamb and feed chickens and gather eggs...and It was suggested by a friend that I bring out my spinning wheel and show what I do with the wool from the sheep and angora goat and angora rabbit...and show the homemade soap I make here too. I guess it sounds like fun. They want to come next Monday!!! Any suggestions?? I am worried that I won't have enough to keep them busy or interest them since our place is small.
Does give me incentive to really get the backyard in shape this weekend thats for sure!!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 11:16:04 PM
Hi Jenny,
I was so excited about the field trip and then read further about the cancellation. I'm so sorry. It sure sounded like you had lots of great stuff planned.
I would definitely market to homeschoolers. When I was homeschooling my daughter I'd have loved to have a place to take her like yours. Find out if there a homeschooling association in your area and contact them. They will pass the word.
Kay
Proud Member of North Clark County Farmgirls |
| Danae |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 10:53:56 PM
Sorry to here that the field trip got cancelled, however, this gives more time to plan for another event of this kind, and SUZY is right about marketing your farm to other people for field trips because i know that kids just love being around animals, ect... I also like all the ideas people gave to help you on your way, and i don't think i could add a thing since these are the same ideas that we use at the camp i work during different parts of the year.
I think the hand sanitizer is a good idea because the parents will go for that. otherwise, for a future trip maybe a old metal bucket with a bar of soap near by and a towel to complete the experience. i know this posting is quite late, but i think the idea is great. let us know if anything else comes up.
with all my love,
danae |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 12:33:45 PM
Robin...I taught myself to spin..wish I would have had a teacher..it took me awhile. I love it though. Have had my spinning wheel for about 12 years now and have my own fiber animals..a few anyhow.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
| JoyIowa |
Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 12:26:04 PM
Eileen, What is a Waldorf school? If they would like farming, I would love to teach there! (smile) Yes, I'm still looking for a teaching position
To live without farm life is merely existing, to live with farm life is living life to it very last experience. |
| rockinhorse |
Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 10:29:25 AM
Jenny
whene did you learn to spin? sorry that your field trip didnt go through but maybe they would allow a visit in the school yard where you bring a veriety of animals and have a hour or so of it with several kindergarden classes and the kids will love it. The best part about kids at that age they are easy to please.
Happiness must be grown in one's own garden! |
| kris travis |
Posted - Jun 20 2005 : 06:45:13 AM
Jenny,
Your tours sound wonderful! I agree with some of the others - the sky is the limit. We had nearly 1000 visitors to our farm last year. We are creating it to be an educational farm that teaches a myriad of farm related subjects. This year we've already hit more than 800. We have all ages and kinds of groups come, but always stress the education part (not the recreational part). I love the idea of breaking the eggs open and making the ice cream (or butter) out of fresh products. We don't have all the animals yet, but are working on it. And - the school groups are the greatest. They are definitely the most fun and really energize us as well as the kids. We schedule groups ahead and work directly with the schools (talk to the principals and get them on your side also). That way we can have as many or as few people as we want during a month. We do have farm insurance that covers the farm, but got additional insurance for things like the ecoli stuff also. It didn't cost much. We also stress small local farms, preservation of family farms and heritage, instead of "mega-farms" or "agri-business" or "agri-tourism". We are all for "agri-education" and saving small farms. Good luck! Above all - remember to have fun. Life is too short not to.
Rooted in the past, growing toward the future.
Spence Farm
www.thespencefarm.com |
| quiltedess |
Posted - Jun 19 2005 : 08:23:06 AM
Jenny:
When I was young, my family had "Farm Tours" at our farm for years and years. Almost all the kids in fourth grade in the Spokane School District came out to our farm. It went on for the full month of May. We had lots of baby animals at that time of year. My grandpa, who was really "into" soil conservation set up a demonstration using a hill of dirt with a sprinkler on top. He planted rows of different vegetables cross-ways and length-ways and turned on the sprinkler to show the kids how different ways of planting would slow the erosion of the soil. We had a pond and the boys always tried to catch frogs. It was a lot of work for my parents, aunt and uncle, and my grandma and grandpa; but it was tremendous fun for us kids. In my school district (Mead) the kids went on the farm tours in first grade. I remember being quite proud when it was my class' turn to take the field trip to the farm. At the end of the tour we were all given a little "Dixie" cup of ice cream. When I was young I thought that was because my grandpa and uncle's names were Dixie. Even funnier, years latter the Dixie company came out with cups they called Dixie Riddle cups, because they had riddles written on them. Riddle is our family name. So my uncle and grandpa's names: Dixie Riddle. Can you tell we originated in Tennessee? I didn't learn til years later that Dixie is a "girl" name. :-)
Nancy |
| ivieacres |
Posted - Jun 18 2005 : 11:21:20 PM
You can make ice cream with the kids shaking it in tupperware containers-making about 5 different containers to pass around. Just make your ice cream recipe up, put it in zip lock bags reinforced with duct tape. The put in a tupperware (plastic Container with lid) add the ice and the salt and let the students shake away! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 20 2005 : 9:29:04 PM
farm aromas are good though, huh??? I got so many good ideas from all you gals I am excited to try some out..the summer reunion thing sounds like fun!!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| bramble |
Posted - May 20 2005 : 4:20:50 PM
Jenny- Sorry to hear the "stuffed shirts" decided not to visit.Maybe you could plan a summer reunion for your children's school friends to come visit that wouldn't be too overwhelming for you. They could have a farm day, make ice cream, help you feed the animals , and help with chores as needed.You got alot of great ideas to think about from everyone!
P.S. We went to the fish hatchery also, and my first memory of it was "Stinky!", not fun like the farm( which I'm sure had it's own unique aroma!)
with a happy heart |
| Eileen |
Posted - May 19 2005 : 09:12:07 AM
Is there a Waldorf school near you any where? They would be another possible group interrested in your farm.
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - May 19 2005 : 08:40:34 AM
And a time for every purpose...Sounds like you have your work cut out for you! Nice to have the time to decide what exactly you want to do. I think offering it to day camps/VBS is a great idea...it also lets you see what works before going to the schools.
Sharon |
| pnwchica |
Posted - May 19 2005 : 06:17:31 AM
Morning Jenny,
As I'm planning my monthly activity calendars this morning, I had an 'a ha!'. You know, if you were closer I'd bring some of my residents for a picnic lunch and a tour of your farm. I've many retired farmers and homemakers and they'd absolutely love to visit a farm. So, assisted living facilities, memory care units, etc., would be another avenue. We'd bring brown bag lunches due to state health codes, but you could supply our lemonade! And of course, we'd pay a nominal fee. One place we go here in Spokane is Green Bluff ... they have a website. Not sure off hand what it is, but the place to look up is either Harvest House or McGlades. Those are places we go for pie & coffee, and pumpkins.
Bless,
Suzy
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 9:54:20 PM
I never thought about that. I did do a spinning demo once for a homeschool group here in town..and it was fun...but never thought about doing the whole farm thing..farm products and all..good idea!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| pnwchica |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 9:41:10 PM
Jenny,
You might try marketing to home schoolers and also it soon will be the season for Vacation Bible School and YWCA/YMCA summer day camps. Family picnics, etc ... the sky is the limit.
Bless,
Suzy
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 3:51:40 PM
Jenny, So sorry for your dissapointment. Like Clare said, things happen for a reason. This will give you and the school more time to plan and fall is always lovely on the farm!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 3:28:13 PM
I am just a little dissapointed. The kindergarten teacher called me again today to tell me that her principal (not our local school..next town it turned out) decided not to okay the field trip here. They will go to a fish hatchery instead. She was very appologetic and sounded like she would rather come here than the hatchery. Oh well. I think I will work on getting some stuff together and then offer it as a walking field trip from our school..it would only be about 3 blocks. I could do a fall thing and would have time to prepare. Thanks for all your input..I wish it were still going to happen soon!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 2:56:14 PM
Sadly, I have to agree with MeadowLark about the waiver. Eveybody is so sue-happy these days. I love your ideas! When my daughter was about 3, she visited our neighbor's llamas with her uncle. They both still have some llama fur that they gathered from the fence. I think giving each child a chunk of wool to take home would be very nice. Maybe, if you do stations, they could even glue some wool onto a construction paper "sheep"??? Cheap and easy!That would also be a station that a non-farmer could (wo)man.
Have fun!
Sharon |
| Nicol |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 1:23:36 PM
Jenny: Sounds like you have lots of great ideas. My daughter's preschool goes to a farm every year and the kids just love it. Can I come? |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 05:20:04 AM
These are great ideas for you Jenny! Just recently I heard on the news that children were sickened after going to a petting zoo by e-coli so the hand washing is a must. Does the school have some kind of waiver that includes you in it in case of injury or anything else? Might not hurt to check on that for your own protection.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - May 18 2005 : 03:50:52 AM
We do tours for schools. I keep a towel, gallon bucket of warm water for wetting and washing hands and another bucket for rinsing when the tour is over. I use my small bars of handmade soap so that the kids have a choice of scents.
Adults ask as many questions as kids.
I love the ribbons for milking the goat! I wish I'd had those.
Do you have different kinds of eggs? Or colors? I hold up turkey, different chicken eggs (green, dark brown, light brown, speckled), and different kinds of duck eggs (green, white) and ask them to think about the kids of birds I have and guess what kind of egg I'm holding. Then we break them open so that the kids can see that no matter what the outside looks like, the inside still has a yolk and a white. If there's a double yolker I let them open that. It's always good for squeels.
You have plenty to keep them busy! Your plans sound awesome!
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 17 2005 : 10:22:39 PM
Oh, I am so glad you guys are thinking it is a good idea..I am actually getting sort of excited about it. I thought of the hand sanitizer..do you think that antibacterial wipes would be good enough, or should I get the pump bottle of hand sanitizer??
I thought about the ice cream..but I think I would pasturize the milk I use for that...I don't normally..but with other people's children I better. You know what? with all the wet rainy weather we have had all spring, I DO have sheep that still need to be sheared....so I could do that too, or at least show the wool and all..I have plenty of that. I decided that I will wire the bunnie's hutch doors closed to prevent escapes. I have an extra bunny hutch that is mostly wire with a wood frame..really nice looking..that I can put the chicks in ...I even have a cute sign that a friend made for me (my best friend's elderly dad who I was doing home care for at the time) that is a cutout wood shape of a chick and is painted really cute and I painted "chick nursery" on it years ago...that would be fun to hang on the hutch!
I think I WILL recruit a couple of helpers so that I can rotate the groups through the different areas..that would make it more fun...and like you said..the ice cream could keep cranking without anyone getting tired. If I put someone in charge of the ice cream and the baby animals I could do the goat milking and spinning in the barn. I will for sure take lots of pictures..or recruit someone else to do it..maybe the teacher!
Thanks for all your input!! Now to get the yard looking nice and figure out where to have each "station" and all...
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| bramble |
Posted - May 17 2005 : 8:45:42 PM
Jenny--What fun! The field trip that made the most impression on me
in kindergarten was to a farm. We looked at turkeys, fed chickens, petted goats ,watched a cow get milked, and I was the lucky one who got to feed the horse an apple because everyone else was afraid!We picked pumpkins and got an ear of indian corn that I must have kept for YEARS!
You could give the children some pieces of wool and show them how to spin a little, they could learn about the animals that provided the fibers. You and your animals ought to be enough to keep them busy!
One thing I recommend highly is hand sanitizer so there is no chance of any child being infected with e coli. There have been too many cases of small children being infected at petting zoos and farm visits
and something so easy to avoid. Have a great time , that is such a fun age! They will be curious about everything, even the "fertilizer".
with a happy heart |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 17 2005 : 7:46:30 PM
Jenny, What you have described the kids will love. Kids love being around animals. Be sure to show them all your new baby chicks too! Do you have a hand crank ice cream maker? All those eager little helpers could crank the ice cream then get a tasty treat after the cranking. Kids like to explore on their own so I think keeping things simple is a good idea. It probably isn't shearing time is it. That would be another fun demonstration! Be sure and take a group photo! You will have a blast, so will the children!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| pnwchica |
Posted - May 17 2005 : 7:37:58 PM
Jenny,
When we were stationed in North CArolina, my kids used to visit "Mike's Tree Farm" ... don't know if they have a web site, but it was incredible. There was something every season. What I've found with my residents is 'keep things simple'. Try things out first. If it works, continue. Something as simple as a coloring page that they can take back to the classroom is fun. Mike's put together a coloring book. Also the kids could pick out a pumpkin for their classroom. During C'mas season, the kids were given a seedling to take back to their school to plant. There were hay rides, etc. Keep us posted!
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
