05/18/2026
Week 2 of Farm School
The spring semester of farm school looks much different than the autumn semester did because of the seasonality of work on the farm.
Students this week set up for a 6 week science experiment to learn about the scientific method. They built a low tunnel, a straw bale cold frame, and prepared the garden soil for planting. Starting next week, they will measure the pH, soil temperature & soil moisture levels and then plant different lettuces (with different germination temperatures and needs!) and hypothesize about growth rates. Will the cold frame cook the seeds before they can sprout? Will the bare soil dry out too much to allow for easy germination? Will the tunnel bolt and leave the lettuce inedible? Our young farmers are testing their hypotheses like scientists and learning that growing crops is much more than just putting a seed in the ground!
Shirley, the Dorset, also did an excellent job of teaching a biology lesson by giving birth to twins during class. Students had so many great questions as they watched Shirley lamb and bond with her ram lamb, who the kids named Neville. A few students stayed after class to watch the second lamb’s birth, which required assistance for shoulder distocia and still, unfortunately, ended with a stillborn lamb.
The second week of farm school was amazing. Practical applications of science. Real lessons on life and loss. Opportunities that you can’t get in the classroom or in a book.
