Fall Farms

October 29, 2010

Now that the growing season is over we have said goodbye to our weekly farm visit.

It's always bitter sweet to be done the summer share pick ups. We've been there every week (except for vacations) this summer since late May. But in the end I am thankful for the change, as I love the shifting of seasons. And mostly relieved as I now have one less errand to run (a lovely errand mind you) during the week.

Starting November we will visit the farm once a month to pick up our winter share till next May when the summer shares start again.

We've been members at this farm since Brienne was a babe in my arms and the farm is simply a part of who we are and what we do.

The kids and I like farms in general. Damien is not a farming guy. He's an outdoorsy, backpacking man so I make sure the kids and I get our farm fill during the weekdays.

This month we visited three different farms, including our "own".

At the beginning of the month we went to see the last remaining active Shaker community in the world, Chosen Land at Sabbathday Lake, ME, a National Historic Landmark.  It was a homeschool field trip that just happened to coincide with my own reading and study of the Shaker faith.

I've worked bits of Shaker study into our homeschool this month including listening to Simple Gifts, Shaker Chants and Spirituals which I found at the library. I may be the only one who's really engaged in the subject matter but no mind. Mama wants to learn too and sometimes the things we study together, however informally, are simply because I'm interested in it. 

But back to our visit. The tour was unexpectedly cancelled so we didn't get to see much besides the outsides of the beautiful, old buildings but it was a nice morning at a working farm nonetheless. In large part because I was able to have a lovely, long (and unexpected) chat with a friend who was also there for the homeschool tour. 

The other farm we visited this month (other than our own) was a fiber farm. I've wanted to go here for ages, especially since I learned how to needle felt in the spring. I wanted to stock our craft supplies with raw materials for the children to use for felting projects and also I wanted to see the cool yurt they use as a studio. 

The twenty minute drive was well worth it and the visit did not disappoint. It was an extra special treat for the kiddos. Not only did they get to choose wool they wanted for their own projects, they also fed and played with the goats. 

The "kids" loved it and so did my kiddos.

I was a good month for farm visits. It's been a great growing season in general and now it's time to say goodbye.

I found this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson that is very fitting for this time of year as the growing season comes to a close and the fields (and our wonderful farmers) are ready for a rest. 

Farewell to the Farm

The coach is at the door at last;
The eager children, mounting fast
And kissing hands, in chorus sing:
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything! 

To house and garden, field and lawn,
The meadow-gates we swang upon,
To pump and stable, tree and swing,
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

And fare you well for evermore,
O ladder at the hayloft door,
O hayloft where the cobwebs cling,
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

Crack goes the whip, and off we go;
The trees and houses smaller grow;
Last, round the woody turn we sing:
Good-bye, good-bye, to everything!

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