|
RISE Academy students get ready to watch resident sheep-herding dogs Scout and Trip
|
|
|
Your Summer 2017 Farm News
|
|
|
Learning Tree Farm's mission is to provide hands-on learning experiences in a traditional farm setting to children and families in the Miami Valley.
|
|
|
A Wet, Wild & Wonderful Season
|
|
|
The Spring season at Learning Tree Farm was a wet one but, despite all of the rain, we still had more than 3,400 students visit and enjoy all that the farm has to offer. We also had families and, of course, our Nature Preschoolers who enjoyed the farm as well with the children (and more than a few parents) especially loving splashing in all of the puddles!
It’s also been a very prolific spring and start to the summer; we had more than a dozen lambs born throughout April and May as well as eight goat kids. They have been wonderful ambassadors for the farm and are a great way to introduce children to livestock and to teach them how to handle animals humanely and safely. Many students had an opportunity to witness sheep and goat births, which was truly special for farm educators, teachers, and the children. It was certainly a unique opportunity to highlight life cycles on the farm. The wet weather has also allowed the garden to flourish and there are now an abundance of summer vegetables available for tasting.
We hope to see you at the farm enjoying one of these beautiful summer days soon! Drop in visitors are always welcome. While staff is often here, there are also guidelines for visiting, as well as an honor system donation box, on the sign in the traffic circle. The cost is still $3 per person or $10 for families of four-10 people. Please feel free to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a few hours at the farm!
|
|
|
Loralynn Hickey, Director of Farm Operations
|
|
|
Join us for one of our upcoming events as we celebrate the last half of the summer and usher in fall on the farm!
August 4th, 9 AM - 3 PM
August 10th, 9:30 Am - 11 AM
August 12th, 10 AM - Noon
September 8th, 9:30 AM - 11 AM
September 23rd, 10 AM - 4 PM
|
|
|
|
The First Year of Nature Preschool
|
|
In the Walnut Grove, a quiet spot in the garden, I stand together with several parents watching thier children frolic among trees, the farm animals graze, and the first fireflies of the evening emerge.
We are quiet, reflective, and at peace. It is the end of their children’s first year of
Nature
Preschool. We are camping out, spending one more moment together before they transition to Kindergarten. Together, we reminisce about what a wild and wonderful year it's been...
|
|
|
|
One of Learning Tree Farm’s guiding principles is connecting our community to local food, gardening, and homesteading resources.There are several great Dayton farmer’s markets where you can talk with the farmers from our area who are working to feed us in sustainable ways.
Here is a great list of local farmer's markets.
If you would like to learn more about gardening or are looking for an intimate community with whom to share your garden adventures, look no further than to our
NEW garden club!
We are also very excited to share an initiative by one of our Nature Preschool moms. She has started a
Facebook page devoted to backyard gardening.
It’s amazing to see what people in our own backyard are cooking up. Get out there and GROW!
|
|
|
|
We're hiring! Do you love nature? Do you have the ability to work with people of all ages, are self-motivated and have excellent problem solving and organizational skills? If so, we're looking for you!
The farm is currently in search of Nature Preschool substitutes and a farm & facilities maintenance worker.
|
|
|
|
Service Spotlight: Volunteers
"Help Us Grow"
|
|
We would not be able to run the farm as we do without the help of our volunteers; they are truly priceless.
|
|
|
|
Save the Date: Autumn Fest is Saturday, September 23, 2017
|
|
A wonderful annual community event, Autumn Fest is our most popular one of the year! We invite you to join 3,000 guests (and growing!) to not only support Learning Tree Farm's mission of providing hands-on learning in a traditional farm setting, but to also spend the day HAVING FUN with family and friends!
Activities include:
- farm animals: including goats, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, and miniature ponies!
- food trucks (yum!)
- live music by Todd the Fox
- crafts, children's games & prizes
- pony rides
- cow pie plop game (purchase a deed HERE for a chance to win $1,000!)
- pumpkin chuck (if you've never sent a pumpkin soaring, you need to try this!)
- hayrides
- AND MUCH MORE!
Learn more, including how to volunteer, become an Autumn Fest vendor or sponsor, by clicking here!
|
|
|
|
* A special thank you to
Bridgette Davis
from {BD} Photography for documenting our first year of Nature Preschool so beautifully.
Thank you also
to our own Garden Manager,
Brooke Medlin
, for photographing our days of summer on the farm.
|
|
|
STAY CONNECTED!
Visit us on Facebook for the latest news & event updates
|
|
|
Providing hands-on learning in a traditional farm setting since 1973
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
