Know Your Farmer

We have a new farmers market in town this summer...the offerings are from local farmers...so all around the market you will see signs that read "Know Your Farmer".

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I got that chance.  We visited some "farmer friends" to get a kitten and ended up getting to experience a day on the farm!

We visited All One Farms in Rineyville.  All One Farms boasts a lovely flock of Shetland sheep--complete with playful spring lambs, two beautiful dogs (they make you feel like family right away), three proud roosters, countless felines--by the way there are three litters of new kittens if anyone would like a kitten or two or three.  Oh yeah...there are also the resident farmers: Aunt Luna and Uncle Alan.  Maybe you are familiar with Luna and Alan from the yarn and wool boutique in Elizabethtown-- Blueball Mountain Spindle and Needleworks but here is what life is like after the shop is closed...imagine this with cool refreshments on the lush lawn.

Aunt Luna gives the tour of their magical yard complete with its own apple tree tunnel!

 Uncle  Alan gives a riding tour of the farm...funny he got to be the rider :-P

 A botany lesson?!  Maybe I should record this as a field trip?  A lovely grand pecan tree shades the front lawn and there is so much to learn about nature from our farm friends.

chickens? Chickens!

Back in early spring I asked someone what they suggested I do about the bugs eating my peaches every year before I got a chance to pick them. {{disclaimer:  I knew this person might be able to give me a chemical free solution}}  And so they suggested chickens.  Easy enough we got some chickens.  And let them out of the cage to see what they would do...

 I have yet to figure out the getting them back in the coop for the night....but these past three evenings I have managed after chasing them around ....which feels as silly as...

this!  Glad no one has videoed the nightly chicken bedtime struggle!!

First Grade Science

Right now in Bens science we are studying plants.  I decided to do a unit study to add along with the text...I guess I will save it for the spring...but do my research all winter.    I want to focus on our little family garden and preserving the fruits.  Last summer our garden was washed away in the spring rains.So I did not get to do my usual gardening and canning.  As my own vegetable supply has began to wither away I am planning for next years garden.  What a perfect opportunity for my children.  Not only to raise their own food but the knowledge of how to do so.  Our classroom will be moving out the garden for some of our learning. Come soon spring!!

How much can we actually get from our small garden area?
Watch!