City Kids - Week 7

And then the clouds parted and the sun shined through!

Last week, it rained and we had hope 

that Spring was really here…

This week, the sun shined and in marched the warmth. 

It appears (for now) that Spring has decided to stay.

The last week of boiling for 2017.

With the melting of the snow and the warming weather

comes the end of the sugaring season.

These city kids were the last to collect sap for 2017.

And as the sap stops running, the birds keep returning. 

This week, a couple pair of ducks payed a visit to our now thawed pond,

robins scratched for worms,

and Canada geese not only flew overhead, but…

Those specks all over the field are our resting goose friends.

they decided to stay in our field!

Much like last week, action in the barns was fairly minimal (we are still waiting for Milkyway to calf!)

but the Greenhouse was a different story.

More seeds sprouted (celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and romanesco),

more seedlings were moved to the Greenhouse (herbs, celery, and watermelon),

and city kids dug their hands in the dirt!

Filling beds with fresh
potting soil.

Spreading out the
new soil.

These hard workers earned a break in the sun!

Balancing around the last of the snow.

In the woods where it is cool and shaded,

 there is still a little snow.

Out in the wide open, sunny fields, 

the Daffodils are reaching for the sun.

The darkest green sprouts are
Daffodils!

City Kids - Week 6

"April showers bring May flowers"

Despite all the rain this week, the farm work and sap collecting still continued!!

And our farmers persevered.

Famers sticking it out sap collecting

Thank you amazing helpers!!!

Later in the week when sap had to be

collected again we had two amazing 

volunteers go and help Niles and Rob!

Farmer's driving Andy's tractor away

           

Even with all the snow we saw our first Killdeer fly by this week and heard Nuthatches singing.  Giving us more hope that Spring is really on its way.

We said goodbye to Aaverson and Ashton this week and are hoping to welcome in Milkyway's calf soon.

While not much happened in our barns this week, the garden had a lot of action.  

The greenhouse got a makeover and farmers planted: more spinach, lettuce, and melons.  Also broccoli, romanesco, cauliflower, honey-du, and brussels sprouts were planted.

Doesn't the greenhouse look great?!?!!

Watermelon growing in Greenhouse

April's Photos

April is started out with a snow storm,

 so though it is a month later, there is more snow on the ground

 than with the March photos.

Farm 4-1-17

Apple Orchard 4-1-17

Garden 4-1-17

Woods 4-1-17

Meditation Path 4-1-17

City Kids - Week 5

Instead of March ending like a lamb it is still roaring strong like a lion.  

Keeping all kids, staff, and teachers on their toes.

Shimmering Trees

This week started with ice covering all the trees 

giving the farm a sparkling look for the

 new farmers arriving.

Over the weekend our spinach, herbs, and radishes sprouted.

Chamomile sprouting

Spinach and lettuce sprouting!!

To add to our garden collection the farmers this week planted Dill and Celery Seeds.  It was also warm enough that our gardeners moved some watermelon, cabbage, and radishes up to the greenhouse to start experiencing the great outdoors!

Wednesday morning we all awoke to a new calf!!  Addison had a bull calf, which the farmers named Aaverson.

Aaverson Wednesday morning

Farmers teaching Aaverson to drink milk from a bucket

Come Thursday afternoon Aaverson was learning how to drink his milk from a bucket.  And by Friday he was doing it all by himself.

Friday as the farmers were leaving it started to snow and snowed all day leaving the last day of March covered in white wet snow (Check out the monthly photos for April to see all the snow that came!!)

With all the snow also came another bull calf.  Athena gave birth to Ashton.

Ashton drinking his first bottle