Rows of crops looking towards Turtleback
Last week, both Salmonberry classrooms took to the road and visited a couple of local farms. The preschool class visited Farmr Rhonda’s Organic “La Campesina Project.”
A tasty green!
Rhonda showed the kids many aspects of her vegetable growing process, as well as introducing them to the wonder of the honey bees. Rhonda modeled for the kids the exuberance and passion of growing healthful organic food. The kids got to see firsthand the effect of biointensive farming methods on food production, and the rewards of nurturing living plants to provide people with delicious produce.
Many hands at work
Aaah, the flowers!
Henry with a barred rock pullet
A couple of days later, the elementary class spent a full day at The Bullocks’ Permaculture Farm in Deer Harbor. Here the kids played games, and then got a walking tour which introduced the group to many of the principles of permaculture.
Looking at the "debris hut"
The particular focus of this visit was seeing the production of food as participation in the nurturing of whole living systems. Permaculture uses design principles, that maximize the many functions of individual species, and looks to integrate these species’ complimentary properties. The kids looked at innovative and holistic design solutions for water management, solid waste and compost, and heat and energy.
solar hot water heater
The tour included farm animals, wetland habitats, orchards and vegetable gardens.
We will look for ways to use many of these permaculture principles as we return to our own school grounds.
