Growing from the Ground up II - 1.30-3.30 (June & July 2024) - For children aged 5-15
Who are our groups aimed at?
All children 5-15 (younger children are welcome supported by a parent/carer). Adults of children aged 5 or over are encouraged to join in the session but can drop off and pick up their children at the end of the session. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.
What are the course dates and times?
6 Saturday afternoons (8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th June, 6th and 13th July 2024) 13.30-15.30
What are Farm School groups like?
At Farm School, we, the leaders, and growers co-design and follow a scheme of work based on the seasons and a child-led pedagogy that focuses on the discovery, and capitalises on the senses, logical as well as intuitive reasoning. Our activities involve the hands, hearts, and heads, and revolve around healthy organic food and mindfulness and wellbeing in nature and understanding and looking after our natural world.
What will we be doing during Growing from the Ground up?
Throughout 10 weeks ( summer course 1 and 2) we will be:
Caring and growing as we:
Sow radishes, beetroot, lettuce, chard and French beans
Plant tomatoes and runner beans and courgettes
Prepare the ground and use no dig methods of planting and weed control
Grow from root cuttings and pot on our seedlings
Harvesting rhubarb, raspberries, new potatoes, alliums, beetroot, lettuce and other salad leaves, herbs, kohl rabi, tomatoes, cabbages, and purple sprouting broccoli.
Cooking and nourishing as we:
We will design a variety of plant-based seasonal dishes with a focus on craftsmanship, for example: cauliflower rice, rhubarb crumble, mint sauce and delicious salad dressings, summer pizza, risotto and raspberry muffins
Creating and making as we:
Make wild flower arrangements to celebrate the tradition of Beltane
Make crayon leaf rubbings and muddy hand print bunting
Make journey cards and paper pots
Make and dry herb bunches
Make apothecary’s pouches for our herbs and press flowers
Paint sunflower pictures to celebrate the summer solstice
On the last session, the group will prepare and cook a delicious autumn feast to share and celebrate all they have learnt and shared together.
Getting ready for Farmschool: The food we prepare will be made and eaten by the children during each session. Please bring a water bottle and appropriate clothing plus extra snacks for your child if they are particularly hungry. We allow for snack time during each session. Please bring a small flannel or towel for hand drying. Suitable clothing such as boots and coats with extra layers in cold days and sun protection for sunny days is essential. We are an off-grid open and outdoor educational farm setting so dressing warmly in the outdoors is indispensable. We do have a sheltered large kitchen on site and a fully enclosed poly tunnel to use in case of strong winds and/ or rain.