Connecting with the (Farming) Community

As a blog ambassador for Mother Goose Time, we are given monthly topics to keep in mind to try and gear a post or two around. I've not been very good at it. This month we were given the topic of 'Connecting with the Community' and few focus questions to think about. While doing regular activities for the curriculum, I haven't really been able to make any connections or come up with anything grand. We just do lessons for fun, have a good time and that's about it. Most people think about the law enforcement, firefighters, mail carrier etc when talking about being a part of the community.

But, while we were visiting our local farm today, Solidarity Farm, I realized that we are mostly connected with this part of the community, this most natural part. I have been visiting this farm with my kids since September of last year for their farm school curriculum. The day consisted of activities revolving around the elements: earth, water, air and fire and helping with farm-work or chores. It has been almost weekly for the whole school year and has been a great tradition for us. We have learned so much about the dedication, hard work and the farming lifestyle in general.

At Solidarity, they don't have many animals. They mostly produce vegetables and are completely organic. So growing their crops takes work. Weeds are killed with sprays or chemicals; they are hand picked out of the ground.

I have learned the importance of community through the stories of trading and bartering that they do to have a variety of fruits as well at their produce stand. I love that this farm is all about helping others. People from surrounding properties come to help harvest or clean up fields. They also have a few helpers from other countries learning the art of farming and gardening. These individuals will take what they learn back to their home country when they are through, to help their community back home thrive. 

These chickens are new. We saw them for the first time today since they are still growing. Little Miss loves the animals they do have. Mr A and Mr Z have been wanting chickens of their own as well, so it was a treat to see these additions to their property. More chickens equals more eggs and more natural fertilizer for their fields.

 "Nurturing the Present" tee shirt

I loved this shirt that one of the farm owners was wearing today... "#8 Plant a Garden".

Here are beds of lettuce, broccoli, mint, and all sorts of other yummy things. This area is great for finding the ladybugs: a necessary bug for any organic farm or garden. The boys have learned that they do help pollinate a little, but mostly eat the aphids. Finding ladybugs was a great past time during freeplay.

 "The Earth is my Body,

The Water is my Blood,

The Air is my Breath,

The Fire is my Spirit."

The group of little kids made a table of items representing the elements and how they relate to us personally. 

Over the months we have been able to see how plants are grown and cared for from the small seed, to the sprouts, to the being transplanted into the ground to produce their food. Here is the outdoor greenhouse where the small seedlings and sprouts are cared for until they can be moved to the ground in the garden beds. They have tons.

It was neat to see how the roots grow and develop in the small starting trays. They intertwine trying to find their way to make strong healthy plants. As we helped transplant them to the beds, we would say out loud, "Grow big, grow strong. Thank you for making us food."

Here are some beds of tomatoes and beets (i think). Nice long rows with barely any weeds and drip tape to make sure they all get enough water.

Today our farm work was to help make a new compost pile.  We learned that a "compost cake" is layers of different materials that will break down to be mixed into soil. Below Mr A and Little Miss were helping gather the green material (weeds and overgrown chard) to layer in the new compost pile. The original plan was to use the chipper to grind all of the green materials up because it makes the composting process faster, but of course the machine didn't want to start. So, the pile of greens was layered as is. Sometimes you just have to deal with what you're given.

Little Miss carried some chard to the goats to feed them a snack while Mr A finished helping with the farm work for the day.

Farmer Nan told us about the importance of compost on a farm (or in a garden). He said, "The compost pile is the most essential part of the farm because it provides the most important (good) bacteria and micro organisms that benefit the soil and help the plants grow healthy and strong. It helps kickstart the growth and keeps the soil nice."
They like to name things on the farm. The compost pile we helped start today is named Shortcake.

I asked the boys, "How are you connected to the farming (or gardening) community?What have you learned from all the activities and farmwork we've helped with, since Mother Goose Time is about gardening this month too?"
Mr Z's answer was quick and obvious,"They grow food and we eat food."
Mr A took a little bit longer to answer and didn't really know how to respond but said, "I just like going there and learning and helping with all the work... I learned that plants need water and sun and you don't walk on the raised beds where they grow."
We have really been able to connect with this MGT unit from all of the experience we've had going to the farm. Our discussions have contained many farm examples and memories. This unit has really come alive for us... pun intended.

Before each class we would all recite this little poem about the different elements. I like how it teaches us to pay attention to the earth and respect what it gives us. Our Earth is our community and we are all connected to it. The greatest community of all is nature, its beauty and its resources.

I promise to take care of the earth,

I promise to respect the water,

I promise to listen to the air and

I promise to nurture the fire,

all in the spirit of wonder.

Happy Gardening!... it is a lot of work.