We absolutely love spending time at Fall Harvest Orchard in Delano, MN. Although it is an apple orchard, it is a working farm that the kids can enjoy. They are able to feed goats and cows and hold many of the baby animals including chicks, chickens and goats. It is heaven to the kids (and me too).
They have tractor rides that take you through the farm to show you what they grow. Farmer Kurt took us this time and we all loved his enthusiasm and knowledge that he was willing to share. We have always gone and enjoyed this time with one of our homeschool family friends. It really is an all day event!
I was going to say that holding the baby chicks is the favorite part of the day but they have many favorites so I won't. It is truly a highlight. They have two little houses with baby chicks under heating lamps. The kids can pick them up and hold them. B still talks about the one that jumped from his hands onto his head and got stuck in his hair. We decided that neither of them liked it. Here is W holding his favorite chick.
Here the kids are in one of two corn pits. It is there favorite...oh yes, you are catching on, they have many favorites. You can see why! At least this time, they didn't take any home in their underwear.
Each of the kids picked a favorite chicken. Here are their picks...
The wagon ride is also a highlight. Farmer Kurt was great at letting us know what they grow (popcorn, gourds, pumpkins, flax and broom corn) and let us get off to pick goodies to take home.
Here we are with our good friends sharing the ride.
Farmer Kurt and friend. He is showing us the "old way" of harvesting the popcorn.
This is a Three Sisters Garden used by Native peoples from various parts of North America. Corn, beans and squash in the same mound creates a sustainable system as the corn provides the pole for the bean vines while the vines also stabilize the corn. Squash vines shade emerging weeds and prevents soil moisture from evaporating. Because squash vines are poky, it also help keep predators away from all three.I had never heard of this until this year and within a month, heard about it 3 times. It is a sign and I plan to try to grow one with the kids next year.
W took the gourd selection very seriously. We were all called back to the wagon to move on and W didn't not get to "the one" he wanted. Later, with Hollie watching guard, W and I headed back to the field to find "the one" he couldn't get to. Eventually, we found it.
It was a muddy, muddy day. We loved it!
Yes, we had time to pick apples!
OK, on this visit, this was really our favorite part. But, it only lasted about 30 seconds. There were 3 baby goats to feed at the end of the day. Since there were only three families left, we each were assigned to bottle feed the baby goat. S, W and B all took turns. It really was neat!
Me? I just got to feed a cow!
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