It’s hard to believe Farm Camp 2019 has come and gone for the year but what a time it was! The two weeks of Farm Camp were jam-packed every day with activities ranging from cooking, garden walks, science experiments, art projects, and games. A highlight from this year’s camp included Yoga in the Garden with Etsy volunteer Lindsey Wernquest. She led the campers through mindful breathing and sun salutations out in the Learning Garden providing an amazing and calming new activity to camp this year. Another Etsy volunteer, Kevin McDermott led the campers through a carpentry lesson as they cut bamboo stalks with a hand saw to create insect hotels. In week two, Paul from Bee Hollow came and talked with the campers about pollinators. He held a tasting tour through many of their delicious honey products, then made beeswax candles with the campers, and even brought some bee suits for the campers to try on. Week two finished with special guest John Farrel who, with the assistance of his wife, took campers and parents on a musical journey in a garden songwriting workshop during the harvest celebration feast on Friday.
On top of having special guests at Farm Camp, it was a special theme every day of the camp revolving around different parts of a plant. Tuesday was “Roots Day” and involved a lesson on carbohydrates, potato related science experiments, delicious carrot pancakes, planting radishes and potato carving stamps for apron printing. Wednesday became “Stem and Leaf Day” where campers made Japanese style Okonomiyaki pancakes for snack and pizza for lunch. The science experiment and art project for the day were using leaves and stems to sun print tea towels creating varying results. The day ended with campers planting spinach for the fall harvest. Thursday was “Flower and Fruit Day”, where the heat still trapped in the pizza oven from the previous day was utilized to make zucchini muffins in week one and blueberry peach cobbler in week two. Pollinators were a big discussion topic on Thursday as the day’s activities centered around flowers and fruits. Kevin who helped make insect hotels and Paul who brought a colony of bees talked about the importance pollinators play in the food system. For the final day on Friday, Farm Camp celebrated every part of the plant and campers created their own recipes to serve to their families during our Harvest Celebration Feast.
At Farm Camp, it is amazing to see how the dishes evolve from the first week to the second week and the creativity and culminating skills campers used to create these wonderful dishes.
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