Summer Graduate Course:

Growing Agriculture in Your Classroom

Beginning workshop: Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ending workshop: Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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About

Our popular 3 Credit Summer Graduate Course for educators returns for the summer of 2012. Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, collaborating with Fitchburg State College, will offer this three-credit graduate course, titled "Growing Agriculture in the Classroom," using Massachusetts farms as classrooms. Teachers will participate in agricultural-literacy training through fun, hands-on study and investigation of agriculture education resources. It will help enhance curriculum and meet many MCAS requirements.

The course will meet on Wednesdays, June 27 and August 15at the Brigham Hill Community Farm in North Grafton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each participant must attend both sessions and also participate in six additional workshops during the summer, selected from approximately twelve workshops on a variety of topics in locations across the state.

Participants will keep a journal of their agricultural journey and developing a classroom project, which they will present to their peers on August 15. Farm workshops may cover topics such as nutrition; plant science; soils; water; economics; technology; ag-history; farm animals; energy, sustainable agriculture and more.

This course will assist new educators and those who want to expand their offerings to integrate agriculture into the classroom. Participants will learn how to create community partnerships; link the classroom to the farm; expand math, science, social studies, art, nutrition and other educational knowledge using agricultural examples, and explore technology and engineering techniques.

The fee for this eight-day course is $500 and includes all materials; farm workshops; some meals and three graduate credits or 67 professional development points from Fitchburg State College. Participants will be paired with a MAC board member to give long-term access to agricultural resources and support.

The 12 Farm workshops are now being developed.

View the 2011 Workshops below for an idea of the farm experiences. As new 2012 workshops are confirmed they will be added along with workshop descriptions.

2011 Workshops

Wednesday, June 29

Dairy Farming in Massachusetts, Our Family Farms, Leyden

As recently as twenty five years ago, dairy farming was one of the major agricultural productions in Massachusetts. The high price of land and the small amount of money that dairy farmer received for their milk has greatly reduced the number of dairy farms in the state. Those that remain have developed innovative techniques and partnerships to bring the milk to the consumer or the consumer to the farm. On Wednesday, June 29 , travel to Leyden in the western hills of the Pioneer Valley to learn about a small cooperative of dairy farmers called Our Family Farms who work together to process and market their product. Angie Facey, 2nd generation dairy farmer will introduce us to the herd of Holsteins with ten percent Brown Swiss cows and offer an overview of dairy farming in Massachusetts. Learn about the life cycle of the cow and her young, milk production and processing and about the other crops that the farmer must raise to support the herd. Following a farm lunch we'll tour the dairy farm and farm fields. Warren Facey will also show us the maple tree and the sugarshack that produce a late winter product. (Lunch is included.)

Wednesday, July 6

Herbs, Botany and Microgreens Workshop at Quansett Nursery in South Dartmouth

Spend Wednesday, July 6, at Quansett Nursery in South Dartmouth, learning about herbs for the classroom and school garden. Horticulturist Debi Hogan will offer an overview of favorite herbs for children. She will tell you how to grow them, offering tips for using them for their herbal benefit and will share a number of herbal activity ideas that are sure to be a hit with students in the classroom or garden. We'll also take a closer look at plants that you can add to your school garden or schoolyard that will provide the food for wildlife from insects to birds and animals, taking care to have food for all life stages. Following a farm lunch we'll tour the nursery with owner Fred Dabney learning about the annuals, perennials, ground covers and other ornamentals as well as the herbs and vegetable plants that the nursery produces for the wholesale market, and for farmers at their farm stands, farmer's markets and CSA's. Then visit the new greenhouse operation that grows microgreens year round, supplying these tiny young greens for the restaurant markets throughout the northeast. (Lunch included.)

Thursday, July 7

Gardening in Containers and Horticultural Therapy at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown

On Thursday, July 7 travel to Watertown where we'll learn about the Horticultural Therapy Program at the Perkins School for the Blind with Horticultural Therapist, Deborah Krause. We'll explore the greenhouse and gardens, learning about the educational programming and many therapeutic activities that take place at the school. The workshop will then focus on the variety of container gardens that are used for both flowers and vegetables. We'll learn how to construct the vertical garden boxes and raised planters and will gain tips for growing and caring for the plants in these containers. Garden accessibility will also be discussed. (Lunch included).

Tuesday, July 12

Horticulture and Environmental Education at Heritage, Heritage Museum & Gardens, Sandwich

Tuesday, July 12, takes us to Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich in East Sandwich on Cape Cod. Heritage Museums & Gardens, a 43-year-old not for profit, is the largest cultural organization on Cape Cod and the largest public garden in Southern New England. It is located on 100 acres of gardens and nature trails on the banks of Shawme Pond. In addition to the magnificent grounds, known for their encyclopedic collections of daylilies, hostas and hydrangeas, the estate holds a nationally significant collection of rhododendrons, specialty gardens, water features, and sculpture. Hidden Hollow, a new family-friendly feature, is a place for exploration of the natural world and learning about environmental stewardship. You will work with Heritage's Education and Horticulture staff thru hands-on activities that will surely engage students of any age. You'll spend the morning immersed in environmental activities and nature exploration as we explore Hidden Hollow. In the afternoon, we'll tour the grounds and learn about plants and gardens that grow on this beautiful property. (Lunch included.)

Thursday, July 14

Woods of the World, Sustainable Forestry & Wood Gasification Workshop at the Botanic Garden of Smith College and Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton

Learn about the value of forests and woods to the economy and ecology of the state on Thursday, July 14. We'll spend the morning at the Botanic Garden of Smith College in Northampton, exploring their amazing Woods of the World Exhibit with Arborist Jay Girard. It features more that 187 samples of wood from around the world as well as many of the products made from woods. Kent Lage, Director of Forestry for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and a local forester will offer an educational presentation on forestry in Massachusetts emphasizing the sustainable practices used by foresters throughout the state. We'll have lunch by the pond and give you time to explore the Greenhouses and gardens before we leave for Cooley-Dickinson Hospital. You will tour the wood gasification system that has been producing the energy and heat for the hospital for more than twenty-five years. (Lunch is included.)

Tuesday, July 19

Pick-Your-Own Blueberries & Canning and Preserving Workshop at Derrick Farm in Oakham and the Warren Farm and Sugarhouse in North Brookfield

Meet at Derrick Farm in Oakham on Tuesday, July 19, where we'll learn about this small pick-your-own Blueberry farm. Then we'll pick the blueberries we will be using for the jam and you may also choose to pick some to take home. Then drive to the nearby Warren Farm and Sugarhouse in North Brookfield where you'll discover the lost art of home canning! Using those beautiful hand-picked blueberries and all natural ingredients, you'll make blueberry jam. Learn about creating safe foods, which are naturally shelf-stable with farm host Janice Wentworth. Technical topics include: sterilization, cross-contamination, vacuum sealing, low and high acid fruits, water availability, and lots more. Morning snacks, fruit, jars, and great conversation will be provided. We will also walk the farm while the jam sets. You will take home your own blueberry jam! ( Additional Materials Fee of $12 for blueberry jam and jars; bring your own lunch. We will pay for the blueberries that you pick for the jam. You may choose to purchase and pick additional blueberries at $2.20 per pound. Registration Limit 12.) (THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL!)

Thursday, July 21

Embryology in the Classroom & Raising Chickens and Turkeys at Home at the Ouimet Family Farm in Westfield

The fifth grade students at Coburn Elementary School in West Springfield incubate eggs and hatch chicks every year, under the directions of teacher Jessica Ouimet. These activities provide many cross curricular opportunities for teaching reading, writing, math, science and much more that she will share with you. Once the chicks are old enough Jessica takes them home. Spend Thursday, July 21, with Jessica and her husband Alan at their Westfield home and on nearby farm land where they raise the chickens for eggs and meat, raise turkeys and will soon have guinea fowl. They also have a young orchard and vegetable gardens and even tap trees for maple syrup. Learn how they are building their young farm operation and the links Jessica makes to the classroom. We will also take time out during the day to build a mini-chicken coop. (Lunch included.)

Tuesday, July 26

Cranberries, Bogs, Wetlands & Soils at Garretson Cranberry Farm in Marshfield

Travel to Marshfield on Tuesday, July 26 where we'll spend the early morning investigating hands-on activities for the classroom related to soils: including soil texture, structure, composition and conservation with classroom educator Ken Oles. Next try out some leadership techniques that focus on consensus building that are a hallmark of the National Outdoor Leadership School with NOLS educator and farm family member Doug Lowry. During the afternoon we'll tour the cranberry bogs and associated wetlands and uplands at Garretson's Cranberry Farm with 3rd generation farmers Gib Garretson and Sarah Garretson Lowry. Learn about these unique native fruits, bog construction and maintenance, drainage, irrigation, the wet harvest method, marketing and the history of cranberries in Massachusetts. (Lunch included.)

Wednesday, August 3

Teaching Sustainability Using the School Garden at the Jackson Street School in Northampton

For the past two years teachers at the Jackson Street School in Northampton have engaged in a school-wide garden initiative to promote environmental learning, healthy eating, and an awareness of caring for our earth through recycling and composting. On Wednesday, August 3rd, teachers Mary Bates, Kathy Bredin, Mary Cowhey, Micki Darling, Susan Ebitz, Aaron Piziali and Katharine Walmsley will host an all-day workshop at the Jackson Street School and Garden. Workshop topics will include: organizing a school garden; using the garden as an outdoor classroom for science, nutrition, literacy, social studies and math; the farm to school initiative; and the school-wide garbage reduction program. Learn how these teachers are partnering with faculty, school administration, parents, the school PTO, the Northampton Education Foundation and Northampton city departments to make these efforts sustainable over the long term. Best for Grades K-6. (Lunch included)

Thursday, August 4

Beekeeping, Composting at the School and Cafeteria & Nutrition, Leicester Primary School and Small Bit Farm in Leicester

Thursday, August 4 takes us to the small mill town of Leicester in the hills west of Worcester. Spend the morning learning about pollination, honey bees, beekeeping with Dianna Provencher of Little Bit Farm. Dianna is passionate about tending honey bees and she will explain how she works with her hives at her farm. She will also share the various ways that insects pollinate plants and the many products that can be made from honey and beeswax. In the afternoon, travel to the Community Garden in Leicester which abuts the playground at the Primary School. Occupational Therapist Michele Connor and Speech and Language Pathologist Sarah Mahoney integrate work in the garden with activities in the classrooms and therapy rooms. Classes have ground corn and investigated seed saving as well as using materials from the garden for art projects. As Special Educators, Michele and Sarah rely on many hands on activities to facilitate retention of concepts being taught. Then Nutritionist and educator Rita Brennan Olson will discuss connections between gardens and good nutrition. (Lunch included)

Tuesday, August 9

Oyster Farming & Water Quality Workshop at East Dennis Oyster Farm on Cape Cod

On Tuesday, August 9, travel to East Dennis on Cape Cod to learn about oyster farming. We'll meet and spend the morning at the Jacob Sears Memorial Library studying the science of oyster culture including how they are tended and raised, as well as how they benefit water quality and their role in the marine environment. After lunch we'll trek on down to the beach and out to the oyster nursery at the East Dennis Oyster Farm, where owners John and Stephanie Lowell will offer an overview of their operation from seed to harvest and market. (Lunch included - bring a lawn chair and shoes that are appropriate for low tide at the beach)

Thursday, August 11

The Old and the New of Agriculture in Massachusetts, Carlson's Orchard in Harvard & Flintlock Farm in Still River.

On Thursday, August 11, we'll start the day at Carlson's Orchard in Harvard learning about growing Apples, Peaches and Nectarines. This second generation farm was started in 1936 and produces 90 acres of apples, 20 acres of peaches and nectarines and a pick-your-own raspberry and blueberry area. Owner Frank Carlson will offer an overview of tree fruit farming in Massachusetts and will highlight techniques for growing and managing, harvesting and storing these crops. A highlight of the tour will be a visit to the newest farm operation, solar farm that covers two acres and helps offset the energy used in storage.

Following a farm lunch we'll carpool to nearby Captain Pollard's Flintlock Farm, a 1780's period (post Revolution Farm). Owner Phil Wilson and farm educator Jenna Sweeney will tell you about the lost arts associated with the subsistence farmers who colonized this area. You will learn about the Physic garden, neoclassical landscaping, farming with draft animals, the organic practices of the times as well as the farmer's class war of the Shay's Rebellion. This farm is connected to the first local scientific farmer, Isaac Marshall, who is connected to the use of rock phosphates and other soil amendments. (Lunch included.)

 

Using Massachusetts Farms as your classroom, learn how agriculture can enhance your curriculum, enthrall your students and meet many of the MCAS requirements. Workshops offer hands-on, open-ended experiences, activities and resources related to a variety of agricultural topics. Participants will:

Sponsored by:

MAC & Fitchburg State College