News From the Farm

Day 1 - Tuesday

We had a fabulous journey, long, but fabulous...there was traffic on almost every road. We were able to view two movies to the delight of the students. On arrival the farmers were greeted with cheers. One student said, "This is the best trip I have ever been on," and that was said while descending from the bus. The children listened to stories told by the farmers and went on the big farm tour. Right now, they are in the middle of a scavenger hunt. I am interested in finding out the amount of cows on the farm so I am off. 

Leslee Atiram

The students were broken into three working groups to complete their chores today: the barn group, the bunkhouse and the wild walk. The barn group helped feed the pigs, goats, chickens and birds. The bunkhouse troupe helped slice beans, cut apples and pears as well as prepare the dinner and the dining hall. Wild walkers trod through the woods and learned about the natural environment around the farm.

I sat next to Kavi, Dan, Raghav, Jordan and Divya for dinner and was delighted that they were willing to try all the food and found that they enjoyed it. Zach, Will, Shubha and Dhruva loved picking raspberries from the vine but had difficulty saving any, as they went into their mouth faster than the bucket. Matt was in heaven in the barn workshop and decided he wanted his own workshop for the holidays. He was joined in the barn for chores with Amay, Mariah and Sophia. 

Mrs. Stevenson and I enjoyed taking pictures with all of the girls in their bunkroom while watching them set up their room. The boys preferred playing outside and left the unpacking for the evening. Jordan, Lucas, Taj and Devin played basketball while David, Hemanth, Akul and Neel explored the open spaces. Isabelle, Brynn and Nicole fell in love with the pigs and tried their hardest to get a pig footprint on paper.

In the kitchen, Chidilim, Katherine, Pansy and Proteeti learned how to use a peeler to peel the pears and apples. At another table Scott, Sam and Nick were using knives to cut and prepare string beans. Ava, Dan, Simran and Kurosh went with others on the Wild Walk with farmer Reid. They came back excited and filled with energy. Rachel told me that she likes the farm dogs because they are gentle and not wild. I found Avani sitting in a quiet little spot in the horse barn, drawing a picture of the pair of horses. Right now I am sitting alone in the bunkhouse, while Mr. Thorne is reading to the fifth graders in the Old Horse Barn (meeting house). Some students are in their pajamas and others are still dressed from the day. Soon they will return to get ready for bed and end their first day at the farm. Lights out.

Leslee Atiram

Day 2-Wednesday

At 6:15 AM everyone was out of bed, dressed and ready for his or her first farm chore. I followed the Wild Walk group through the woods on a new trail. The farmers showed us how they mark the trail so that we can follow the blue paw prints on the trees. I was so impressed with how the students showed me several science-related items along the way, pointing out the vascular ferns, mosses and conifer plants. The trail was indeed a wet and mucky mud-filled trail. One child went in a bit too deep into a water passage, not realizing that the water was coming into the top of his boots. Ah, the joys of an adventurous hike! We returned to find the kitchen team had made breakfast; 120 eggs and a fantastic oatmeal with pears and apples baked into it. Yum! After lunch we stood in a big circle on the cow hill and stretched.  Now we are ready to work on the farm. Some are off to the kitchen to prepare lunch, some are working in the garden, and others are getting the wood ready for the winter.  I am about to grab my camera and follow them around.

Leslee Atiram

I can't believe how many things we can fit into one day, but I am totally exhausted. Today children were building and shellacking shelves, using drills and saws and nails. The talent among us is incredible. The chef students created an avocado, broccoli, and green bean pasta with cheese for lunch. We had fruit on the side and a foccacia style cracker, also made by the children. Some actually took showers today and I am beginning to see fewer 5th grade shirts worn, but it is only day 2. I've heard a few great comments today that I must save. After eating the afternoon pasta one of the boys said, "Wow, that is really good. I never thought anything green can be good". Two girls told me they wanted me to accidentally leave them on the farm and return to RPS without them. And finally someone told me the mud up here is better than any New Jersey mud.  

Dinner was a wonderful treat. The students that were on KP duty made pizza, dough and all. No plain pizza on the farm, all pizza pies were covered with vegetables that the students had picked. We used the outdoor stone bread stove to complete the treat. The after dinner activity tonight is story telling.

I am impressed with the camaraderie of our students. They all play well with each other and have been showing random acts of kindness throughout the day. Tonight is usually the night that they fall asleep rather quickly as they have been out expending energy all day long. It is not raining here tonight, but we will see what the morning holds for us.

Leslee Atiram

Day 3 - Thursday

This is the lunch time lineup:  brown rice, kale, black beans and vegetables with a side of sour cream and hot sauce if needed. We tried to smile for the camera but lunch was straight ahead and I was holding up the line from moving. Cheers!

Leslee Atiram

Thursday evening, the students at the Farm School did their assigned chores, and then had free time. After another wonderful dinner with corn bread, we went to the Horse Barn to play a game with Mr. Thorne.  It was wonderful to have the whole group playing together.  I learned how to do a “ghost applause” and Mr. Thorne taught us a wonderful game called Werewolves.  The game was awesome,but what was even more amazing was Mr. Thorne’s energy.  He took every opportunity to teach the children how to express themselves while they were having fun.  This was a great evening!  Now I have to figure out how to adapt Werewolves for Spanish class.

I can’t wait for tomorrow.  The farmers have more wonderful activities planned for our last day on the farm.

Sra. Stevenson