Speciality Class Highlight August 2025: Earth Eduaction & Farming
Hello Garden Families,
It is so nice to return to another year at the farm with Second and Third grades. We are beginning our farm year gently and slowly as we learn all about our new responsibilities. Third graders are taking care of just a few basic animal care chores that they “trained” for last year as Second graders, while Second graders are starting our late-season garden that will carry us into fall. We are keeping our hooved friends in the back pasture while we get used to opening/closing the main gate and moving around our space with ‘walking feet’. Each morning, we open our farm block in a circle with song and movement before putting on our gloves. Here are the song lyrics:
“A little seed for me to sow
A little earth to make it grow
A little sun, a little shower, a little wait,
and then, a flower”
The enthusiasm the Third graders have shown for their animal chores has been energizing and contagious! Shoveling manure into a wheelbarrow or wagon and transporting it to our school’s compost area in teams is a highlight of their day, and some of the Second graders are eagerly awaiting their turn. For now, students are engaging in developmentally appropriate practical work at the farm, which means that the Second graders are doing more teacher-led activities for the beginning of the year, while the Third graders are rising up to their leadership role with more independence.
Second graders have refreshed our garden space by weeding, raking, and sowing seeds. We are making leaf mulch in a cylindrical compost bin within the garden, which will turn into soil with patience. Some friends are forming a garden border out of stones collected to help us remember not to step on our newly sown seeds, while others enjoy using the hand trowels to pull weeds. Students have planted rows of radish, carrot, spinach, and snap peas. Each day, friends observe and comment on the bumblebees napping in the squash flowers and how the tendrils of the squash and watermelon vines grab onto the trellis. Students also enjoy offering healthy treats to the donkeys, goats, and chickens as we get to know our animal friends.
Third graders learned a lot last year on farm visits, which has made for an easy transition into their new leadership role on the farm. Students change the chickens’ water, refill chicken feed, check for eggs, and clean the coop. They also know how to gather the chickens to get them back into the coop using only their outstretched hands and cleverly herd them by walking behind them. The barn and lean-to shelter get scooped daily, and hay is placed into a slow-feeder for the donkeys and goats. We will soon be learning how to repair fencing with staples, hammers, and other small building projects.
It has been a beautiful and encouraging start to the year. The love for nature and living things is strong in this group, and it will be a joy to see it grow along the way over the school year. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at heidi@thegardenmarietta.org if you have any questions.
Happy planting,
Ki Heidi
