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Farm Store: | While our Farm Store, located in the Visitor Center is currently closed until April, please stop by our satellite Farm Store located at Winter Park to shop for your pasture raised BEEF, PORK, and LAMB. We also have frozen broiler chicken from our FFA club. We have local gifts and food items available. |
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Registration for Summer Camps is just around the corner. Start planning for a summer of farm fun for your kids. The Summer Camp schedule is available to preview. We have also made some changes to the registration process. Please visit our Camp Information Page for current details.
| Farm Member registration for Farm Camps and registration for Nature Center camps begin on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 at 8am. Non-members may begin registration on Monday, Feb 21, 2022. |
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Open Barn is a learning environment offering authentic experiences throughout one's time on the property. Each visit will be different from the previous, though the constant will always be a wagon ride, a fan favorite! Come back weekly to see animal and plant growth, get to know our farmers, and find a place that helps you understand the land we live on a little bit more. Beginning Friday April 1, Open Barn will run Fridays 2:30-6:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am-4:00 pm (weather dependent). Any cancellations or closures will be communicated via social media.
Activities will be focused on a monthly theme! Each day will be a new experience at the farm. Learn more HERE
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PARTNER PAVILION AT OPEN BARN |
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Open Barn 2022 Partner Pavilion Applications are open!
Local non-profit and civic organizations are invited to partner to bring a variety of hands-on activities, displays, and presentations to Open Barn guests. Partner Pavilions take place on Saturdays April through October 10am-4pm.
Partner Pavilion's highlight a specialty theme that is aligned with our mission and the following topics: agriculture, education, and/or the environment.
The Partner Pavilion is a great opportunity to connect with local community members in a unique, fun-filled setting. |
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 | Applications can be found here. For more information contact Megan at misabell@bloomfield.org |
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Welcome to the start of birthing season. The month of January we welcomed piglets, calves, and lambs!
Our two Tamworth sows that you might remember live near the horse barn (Tizzy and Maude) gave birth to a combined twelve piglets. When the piglets were born the first week of January, they were approximately 3 lbs. each. At two weeks of age, the piglets are over three times their birth weight. They are all growing so fast!
Our two cows also had calves in the beginning of January. A female calf was born in the early morning hours of January 3rd and a bull calf arrived on one of the coldest days of the year, January 13th. Both are healthy and spunky.
As we wrap up the month of January, our sheep have begun to have lambs! We have eight ewes expected to have babies. …. |
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TOWELS:
We are currently accepting used towels for many purposes, including animal birthing, field trips, and general farm use. Large bath towels and hand towels are most useful. |
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WINTER ACCESSORIES:
We are also in need of new and used children's winter gear to have on hand for field trips. These will support children who don't have access to warm outdoor clothing and allow them to make the most out of their field trip experience!
Please bring donations to Winter Park during any open hours (ticket not needed). Hours are Thursday 4 pm - 9 pm, Friday 4 pm - 10 pm, Saturday 12 pm - 10 pm, and Sunday 12 pm - 9 pm. |
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The 4-H Club is humming away with chores, special projects, deeper educational experiences, field trips and volunteer time supporting Winter Park! Club members are growing in community and best self practices!
This month’s meeting theme was on COWS with the added challenge of having the officers present without the use of technology! The most recent bull calf was a guest visitor and made the meeting just right. |
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One of the year's highlights is to participate in Lamb Watch - while it’s impossible to time a birth to our time together, the club had a great evening: in between checking on the ewes, s’mores were made, games were played, animals were visited and fun was shared by all
This spring, we will be showcasing animal clinics that are going to be visible to the public during Open Barns on Saturdays - this is a moment for the greater community to observe the club in action. Community support helps the club members continue to thrive!
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 | Lamb Watch on a cold Friday night. |
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Both Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center have been running camps for at least a decade. I first became involved with camp when I started at the farm, all the way back in 2014 as a Group Leader. Since then, we've been able to expand our program and offerings, impacting almost 1,000 kids each summer.
Each site offers age appropriate camp sessions. We set campers up to be the drivers of their exploration and learning on a fun, scaffolding quest of curiosity.
Visit our website to view our camp schedule. Registration opens on February 15 for nature center camp and farm members. Registration for camp at the farm will open to all on February 21. |
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Michelle is the Camp Coordinator at both Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center. We asked her a few questions so that you can get to know her a little bit before seeing her around at camp.
How did you first acquire your passion/interest in Bowers Farm?
I grew up in Troy and did not know, like so many (!), that Bowers Farm existed. My first visit to the farm was for my initial interview and I instantly fell in love. Throughout the years, I've been able to witness *thousands* of people having awe-inspiring moments that I hope will stay with them long term.
What is your favorite animal or critter on the farm?
Any of the bugs on the farm are my favorite! I'm fascinated and deeply admire the structure and work ethic of honeybees. They can be found across the farm, diligently working to meet common goals.
What’s your Favorite Farm Memory? I can't pick one LOL
What animal advice or other farm advice do you have? Dress comfortably! To really experience the farm, you want to wear clothes and shoes you feel able to fully engage and get messy in.
What are your favorite things about being at Bowers Farm? Camp is my favorite thing! Youth from all over are able to deeply dive into the world of farming. For many, it's a reprieve from busy life, and at the farm campers are encouraged to get messy, explore together, and also simply 'be'. Tuning in and noticing the abundant natural world around them has a calming and grounding impact on campers. We've had numerous requests for an adult camp and I hope we can add this to our queue soon!
What would you like people to take away from visiting Bowers Farm? I want all visitors to feel a sense of peace and place, remembering that we all are connected to the land.
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In honor of our recent new additions to the farm, here are a few farm funnies!
What do you get from a pampered cow?
Spoiled milk.
What do you get when you cross a dinosaur with a pig? Jurassic Pork
Knock, knock.
Who’s there? Barbara. Barbara who? Barbara black sheep. Have you any wool?
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