Participants end the day by playing outside on the farm’s newly built tractor-shaped playground. Photos by Rachel Gore
Barnyard Educator Maggie Gallagher teaches participants to feed the goats properly by holding their hand out flat. Photos by Rachel Gore
By Rachel Gore
Hometown Weekly Intern
A new generation of farmers is sprouting.
On June 13, Dover’s Powisset Farm hosted the first of three activity-filled Wednesday mornings included in its preschool Farm Explorers series. Each of these farm-to-table sessions is designed to teach preschool students and their parents about the many connections between farm-grown products and store shelves.
Week one’s theme focused on barnyard animals. The children and parents who participated were led around and got to pet, feed, and learn about about the rabbits, sheep, and goats that live on the farm. In upcoming weeks, they can expect to brush the barnyard animals, collect chicken eggs, learn about plants, and do arts and crafts.
A chorus of laughter erupted from the group when they got to meet Megan, a two-year old sheep and mother of four who greeted the group with her loud and continuous bleating. Barnyard Educator Maggie Gallagher used this opportunity to teach the children more about why sheep are important. “Isn’t she soft? Eventually her and the other sheep will get shaved and their wool will be used to make blankets, yarn, shirts, sweaters, and other things like that.”
After saying goodbye to Megan, the group moved on to the goats, where the children were taught how to properly feed the animals by laying their outstretched hands flat. Once again, laughter filled the air as the children felt the ticklish sensation of the goats licking the pellets from the palm of their hands.
Participants take turns petting one of Powisset Farm’s barnyard rabbits. Photos by Rachel Gore
The perfect morning ended with enough free time for the children to take turns “driving” the newly-built wooden tractor-shaped playground structure, which overlooks the spacious farmland. The adults watched from a distance, enjoying the crisp fresh air of the chilly morning and chatting with Barnyard Educator Maggie about the future of their preschool educational program. “The hope is that there might be a summer camp here next year if it really takes off.”
Powisset Farm is set to host its second and third preschool Farm Explorers sessions in the coming weeks.
