June 15, 2011 by Debra.

Rumsey Farm in York, ME offers various sessions of farm camp for the summer — kids can sign up for a week of full or half day sessions of on-the-farm activities and learning creative sustainability:

Farm Camp at Rumsey Farm

275 Cider Hill Rd, York, ME

Full day sessions $225, includes lunch

Half day sessions $125

Come spend some time on the farm!

 

We will focus on farming, homesteading and being self-sufficient in this camp. Children will experience daily farming chores, care of animals, and gardening. Lunch will be prepared by the children themselves using local, in season foods, many from our own farm. Each week will be filled with different activities and lots of fun and games. During our gardening, we will touch on soil preparation, planting, natural pest control and harvesting.

 

Throughout the week, while the children spend time with the different farm animals, they will investigate about life cycles, animal uses and predator protection. We will continually discuss our minimal impact on the land and a respect for our wonderful earth. Each week will include a field trip to visit local farms and homesteads. This year we will have a guest teacher with a focus on art history and sustainable art projects.

 

2011 Summer Session Dates

• Session 1: July 11-15, 4-7th graders, 8am - 2pm

• Session 2: July 18-22, 1-3rd graders, 8am - 2pm

• Session 3: July 25-29, kinder-1st graders, 8 - 11am

• Session 4: August 1-5, 4-7th graders, 8am - 2pm

• Session 5: August 8-12, 1-3rd graders, 8am - 2pm

• Session 6: August 15-19, kinder-1st graders, 8 - 11am

For more information: www.rumsey-farm.com

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June 15, 2011 by Debra.

Meet the milking cows, try your hand at making butter, and sample free ice cream at UNH’s Annual Open Barn day on Saturday, June 18th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center:

UNH Annual Open Barn

Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center

University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Saturday, June 18, 2011

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Free and open to the public

UNH and Granite State Dairy Promotion host the annual free UNH Open Barn Saturday, June 18, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UNH’s Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center.

 

Free milk and ice cream, wagon rides, tours, and visits with the UNH milking cows and calves are highlights of the day’s activities. Visitors can try their hands at making butter and ice cream, enjoy games and prizes, and learn surprising facts about dairy nutrition and the dairy industry in New Hampshire. Even musical offerings will have a dairy focus, the organizers promise.

 

“We’re pleased to partner with Granite State Dairy Promotion to introduce visitors to one ‘source’ of the dairy products they enjoy every day,” says Jon Whitehouse, manager of the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center.

 

According to Granite State Dairy Promotion, the New Hampshire dairy industry affects state and local economies with more than $141 million in total output, 3,717 jobs and more than $19 million in labor income. Dairy farming also helps support many businesses related to the production of milk such as feed stores, milking equipment suppliers and tractor dealerships. In 2010, New Hampshire had 130 active dairy farms, down from 182 in 2000. For more information, go to www.nhdairypromo.org.

 

The UNH Open Barn takes place rain or shine. For questions, contact Granite State Dairy Promotion at (603) 271-3696 or gsdp@comcast.net.

For more information: http://unh.edu/news/campusjournal/2011/Jun/08milk.cfm

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June 15, 2011 by Debra.

See what’s going on at other farms, and learn and interact with other growers by attending a Twilight Meeting, sponsored by the UNH Cooperative Extension:

THIS THURSDAY, June 16. High Tunnel Twilight Meeting, Ledgewood Farm, Moultonborough NH. 3-5pm: High Tunnel Construction, 5-7pm: Vegetable & Fruit Production, IPM and Disease Management in tunnels.

http://extension.unh.edu/events/files/93295515-A4BA-DB0D-3646282DC22F527C.pdf

June 22. Tools for Tunnels. Moriah Valley Farm, Tassey Family, Sherburne NH. For info, contact Steve Turaj at steven.turaj@unh.edu or 603-788-4961.

June 29. Backpack and Airblast Calibration Demonstration. Edgewater Farm, Plainfield NH. For info, contact Seth Wilner at seth.wilner@unh.edu or 603-863-9200.

July 12. Vegetable & Berry Twilight Meeting. Moulton Farm, Meredith NH. For info, contact Kelly McAdam at kelly.mcadam@unh.edu or 603-527-5475.

July 13. New Hampshire Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting. Poverty Lane Orchards & Farnum Hill Ciders, Lebanon NH. 5:30-7:30pm. Hosted by Stephen Wood & family. For info, contact George Hamilton at george.hamilton@unh.edu or 603-641-6060.

July 13. Tools for Tunnels. David & Andrea Craxton’s Roots & Fruits, Dalton NH. For info, contact Steve Turaj at steven.turaj@unh.edu or 603-788-4961.

July 14. Winter Growing Workshop. North Haverhill, NH. For info, contact Heather Bryant at heather.bryant@unh.edu or 603-787-6944.

July 18. Vegetable & Berry Twilight Meeting. J&F Farms, Derry NH. For info, contact Nada Haddad at nada.haddad@unh.edu or 603-679-5616.

July 20. Vegetable & Berry Twilight Meeting. Meadowstone Farm, Bethlehem NH. For info, contact Heather Bryant at heather.bryant@unh.edu or 603-787-6944.

Aug 2. Vegetable & Berry Twilight Meeting. Dimond Hill Farm, Concord NH. For info, contact Amy Ouellette at amy.ouellette@unh.edu or 603-796-2151.

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