Letter From Farmer Q
Here at Fernbrook we tend to mark our year like a school calendar. The end of camp marks the end of the year, and September starts our new year. And just like any New Year, we make resolutions, sometimes grandiose plans, but mostly rekindle our enthusiasm for the year ahead.
The summer was a challenge in many ways. The economic down turn has clearly effected all of us. But, once, again, thanks to our dedicated and professional staff, we were able to adjust schedules and create an exciting and fun filled summer for all. I’m especially excited about our Enrichment camp program for 12 to 14 year olds. This year, being our first time taking campers off the farm was a huge learning curve! Imagine, the entire state of New Jersey is our classroom! We had kids using seine nets in the Delaware Bay, canoeing rivers and lakes in the Pine Barrens, exploring and fishing along Long Beach Island just to name a few. What a wonderful opportunity to learn about and enjoy so many of the wonderful parts of our beautiful state.
New this year are our Toddler Programs, starting this fall along with expanded Homeschool programs. Lydia Francis, mother of a toddler herself and keeper of the goats, will be heading up the Toddler Program with many fun hands–on weekly events. It’s never too soon to introduce children to the wonders of nature, animals, fields and forests.
Perhaps our most ambitious project for this year is to build a rain garden in the barnyard. That would recycle all the water coming off the roofs, hopefully eliminating the flooding problem, which will enable us to refurbish the block barn to be used for indoor recreation space. Whew! I’m exhausted just thinking about it!
Rain gardens are becoming a popular (and practical!) part of peoples’ backyards. It’s not just about going green, with all the paved roadways, roof tops, driveways, etc, less and less rain water gets back into the soil. Most of it runs down storm drains and into creeks which overflow causing erosion and loss of topsoil. Rain gardens absorb and hold run off water so it gradually recycles into the Earth. This will not only make our barnyard space more user friendly, it will create a learning tool for our children to see, measure, tend and experience — It’s all about the future and stewardship.
Keep tuned to our website for additional events going on at the farm. We are always grateful for your support and look forward to sharing our farm with you often.
~ Farmer Q
Pre-K Adventures at Fernbrook
by Lydia Francis
The holiday festivities with their seasonal blooms, deliciously steamy dishes, and the smell of burning logs in the night time air bring heart warming memories. In fact, I love fall and all the traditions that come with it. Fall is also a time to buckle down and dig into projects left untouched during the carefree summer. Fall is the perfect time to fill in our calendars with fulfilling activities and rewarding experiences. For some, it is a time to resume work; for others, it is a time to being study, still other are occupied with family responsibilities such as soccer, basketball and a host of other evening activities.
This fall Fernbrook has incorporated a Pre–K programs into its weekly schedule. Children ages 1 1/2 – 4 are invited to experience farm life and the farm environment. During the one hour class, the knowledgeable and committed staff at Fernbrook will bring education through experience to the classroom. Your children will be provided with age appropriate lessons, hands on activities and educational crafts. One of our exciting new class is “Hens and Chicks.” Did you know that hens do not have eyelids, but rather a filmy substance that rises from the bottom of the eye to enable the bird to sleep? Did you know that hens have four distinct types of feathers? Or that the feathers are strategically located to help keep the hen warm, dry and able to fly? Children with be fascinated by the hens as they learn about these common creatures.
Additionally, children will be delighted by our friendly, curious, barnyard animals. As they progress through the eight week program, they will feed toads, card wool, discover seeds in interesting places and witness the wonders of fall.
In preparation for winter, farmers settle in and prepare for spring. As the semester ends, the children will learn how the farm slows down for the winter. They will learn the importance of diligence and hard work as they help to winterize the farm.
The coming months are a time to build pleasant memories and shared experiences. They are a time to enjoy the crisp autumn air and play in a learning environment. Come enjoy the “most wonderful time of the year” down on the farm!
Generations of Sharing
by Tara Hewitt, Homeschool and Family Program Coordinator
Over the past several hundred years, many generations of children have traversed the fields of Fernbrook Farms, built forts in its forests, skipped stones in its streams and watched clouds roll over its meadows. As the day passes by into night, unknowingly in the heart of a child at play, at the end of that same day that same child is unable to comprehend, let alone understand the value of how much he or she has learned. Fernbrook Farms is 230 acres, but there are no walls in an outdoor classroom and in the way, learning has no boundaries.
Fernbrook Farms Education Center began as a vision of Farmer Q’s — nothing too complex, not a multi–million dollar business model, but a vision based on something so simple that we sometimes forget how important it is to share. And that is just what he did. Farmer Q and his wife, Susie, have opened their farm, fields and forests to anyone willing to embrace the experience it has to offer. One group of people who have them up on heir offer is the New Jersey Homeschool community. Through the fall, winter and spring, Homeschool children and their families frequent the farm for our seasonal semester programs and cooperative field trips. Recently, we gave them their own lesson in sharing…
It was a surprisingly warm fall day and our Homeschool students were excited to start class. That’s right, excited, because this particular day’s class was on benthic macro–invertebrates. In kid language, this translates to “pond dipping” or for those of you who aren’t familiar with Fernbrook, “taking nets down to the pond and catching bugs.” In fact, it’s one of the rare days students will forego tag games to start class early. Unbeknownst to the kids, however, this day would be different. Instead of dividing the class by age, today the older (nine through eleven year olds) would each be paired with a younger (six through eight year olds) in an effort to provide the younger children with a peer to help them hone their pond dippin’ techniques.
At the mention of our newly crafted “peer ponding system,” the faces of the younger kids filled with anticipation — they would get to be part of the older group! On the flip side, the older group’s eyes widened with an expression of disbelief – you mean we’re being demoted? In hopes of rallying their interest, I took the oldest kids aside and asked them to think about what knowledge and skills they had to offer the younger group and suggested that while we hiked down to the pond, they all think of one way they could help their younger partner learn how to go pond dipping.
During our class, the kids shared many things with one another. I overheard a younger student wonder aloud why more whirligig beetles were on the sunny side of the pond and heard their teammate encourage them to share reasons why the beetle would prefer the sun. I witnessed an older kid discreetly reveal to their partner “the best” place along the water’s edge to find scavenger beetles. (For those of you who haven’t caught bugs at Fernbrook, it’s a very big deal to share your favorite ponding spot.) I even saw younger students approach their older siblings to ask them for help in achieving the best netting technique. These are just a few of the many words of encouragement and expertise that were exchanged among students.
In today’s world, we are so overwhelmed by information that sometimes we forget that oftentimes the most authentic knowledge exists in simplicity. While catching bugs down at the pond the kids shared more than a macro–invertebrate lesson; they had an experience working together. The older group was able to realize the value of all that they had to share — that working with the younger group was far from a demotion, but instead an opportunity to present their knowledge and experiences and to inspire. The younger kids had a change to speak up, be inquisitive and feel confident.
These things are all so simple that they are too often overlooked. With that said, I encourage everyone to remember their importance and to use the example Fernbrook Farms has set for many generations as a reminder of important it is to go outside, count the stars, skip stones, look for shapes in clouds, hike a new trail, or do whatever suits you. And to just be sure that if you experience one of the endless lessons of the world that you make sure you share it with others.
Fernbrook Enjoys Its 5th Summer!
by Brian Kuser, Camp Director
In just a short time, Fernbrook has some well established traditions that campers look forward to year after year. At the same, Fernbrook has expanded each summer and campers are always looking forward to the changes they will see each year. In 2009, campers arrived at the farm and found some new additions; a brand new girl’s locker room, a new boy’s locker room and a new arts and crafts room. The locker rooms have more cubby space and beautiful benches constructed from fallen Fernbrook trees. The arts and crafts room was moved in the main barn and feature new white walls, perfect for mural painting!
There was also the addition of the greatly appreciated Enrichment Program, which had a very successful inaugural year. Many brave campers signed up for the unknown and helped mold the program into a successful one that is guaranteed to continue. At the beginning of each week, the young stewards (the name of the campers in the Enrichment Program) would stay on the farm and were challenged by teambuilding initiatives that helped solidify the communication of the group. They used their communication skills to help build their own “secret” spot on the farm, to be positive role models for the younger campers and to ensure a constructive experience during their off–farm trips at the end of the week. These trips were often the highlight of the week for the young stewards and everyone enjoyed hearing the stories associated with the trips. Some of the highlights from the off–farm trips include canoeing on the Rancocas Creek, hiking around the bogs in Brendan T. Byrne State Forrest, fishing off the Mantoloking Bridge, hiking on the beach at Island Beach State Park and the unforgettable 10 hour canoeing adventure down the Mullica River in the rain.
Other new additions to Fernbrook include new ducks, goats and sheep in the Animal Barn. There were also new pigs out in the CSA Garden, which help to fertilize the soil for the next year’s crops. The Children’s Garden features a new shed and pond surrounded by lots of delicious vegetables. There was also a new round–up which was used for a couple of weeks when there were too many campers for one round–up.
Some traditions that continued during the summer of 2009 included the playing of everybody’s favorite game: Predator and Prey. We also had the return of Water Palooza and the 2nd Annual Fernbrook Olympics. Some favorite activities that continued this year included Egg Drop, Volcanoes, Solar Ovens, Getting Lost and Frisbee Golf, to name just a few. Of course, we also continued the tradition of chores which gave each camper the opportunity to spend time with and feed the goats, sheep, ducks, chickens and cows. We also kept the Children’s Garden growing and it produced wonderful peppers, okra, raspberries, eggplant, cabbage and more!
2009 will also be remembered for the incredible insects that covered the farm in the second half of the summer. There were countless types of caterpillars crawling around that were captured, studied and released by many campers. All the different shapes and colors on these caterpillars were absolutely amazing! Also on the insect front was the influx of bees around the farm. Boy did they love our snacks and lunches!
Lastly, the summer of 2009 will always be remembered for the tornado that struck the farm on a Sunday night early in August. The storm tore up the roots on close to 25 trees, snapped the trunks of about 75 more and broke the branches on hundreds of other trees. The storm amazingly did not damage any buildings except for a relatively small corner of the roof on the main barn. The campers that were the first to show up on the farm the Monday morning following, saw the missing roof corner in the middle of the flooded barnyard; as there was no power to pump the water out. In addition, there were trees down all over the place that changed the routes of our favorite exploration spots. Kuser Forest was unreachable and dangerous at first glance. The creek had to be explored from new locations. Even the meadow was difficult to get to as two large Tulip Poplars feel on top of the old butterfly house and altered the main entrance to the meadow. As the farmers cleared the paths and made them safe again, the storm had provided an amazing learning tool to investigate the power of the storm and allowed campers to try to recreate the events of the storm.
What changes are going on in 2010? What traditions are going to be solidified for future campers? Who knows? But one this is certain, 2010 promises to be another exciting year at Fernbrook Farm!
Enjoy you winter and always remember: Be Safe, Have Fun and Help Each Other!
~ Mr. Brian
Exploring the Outdoors
by Eric Tadlock, Education Director
When I welcomed the group of girl scouts that came to the farm for an astronomy program last night, I started by asking to see a show of hands of those who had been to the farm before. I was very surprised to see that almost the entire group had their hands raised. ‘Maybe they came as a group,’ I thought. This, however, was not the case. “Composting lesson,” “orienteering” and “spring camp” were among the answers I received. None of the girls had been to summer camp, but nearly half had been out for a Saturday program. I couldn’t hide my amazement at the amount of “return customers.” A handful of parents shared with me that Fernbrook was well known in their circles of friends and families, and that most of their friends had either been out for a program or were planning to come out soon.
Even though I’ve been a part of this team for over four years, I’m still amazed at how diverse the audiences we reach are and the multitude of reasons for which they come to the farm. From young, Trenton school children, to grandparents bringing their grandchildren out; there truly is something here for everyone.
When I speak to guests who come out for campfires and Saturday programs, I always hear them say, “you can’t get this anywhere else in New Jersey.” As happy as I am to hear that, we’re not the only natural resource in NJ. If you want to go to a farm to pick berries or take a haywagon ride, you can go to a plethora of farms right here in Burlington County which offer such attractions. Great fun for the kids can also be found at the nearby corn mazes, pumpkin patches and apple orchards. Fresh air on any farm is a good thing. It’s all a matter of what you’re looking for!
Today, the majority of us are looking for value when we spend money. We want to make sure our dollars are being well spent. Most of us have been cutting back on spending, which means sacrificing those entertainment extras. Many families I speak with are looking for a way to simplify their lives and those of their children’s. And this, they tell me, is why they come to Fernbrook.
Fernbrook offers a slower pace; an opportunity to stop and watch a Red Tail Hawk fly and screech overhead, listen to the Great Horned Owls hoot back and forth while sitting around en evening campfire. It offers a chance to listen to a farmer talk about the care and maintenance of her most valuable resource; soil. It allows children to see that their French fries grow as roots in between rocks and bugs below the ground. Fernbrook helps us to remember that there are many other ways to learn, not just through books and electronic equipment.
While Fernbrook is a great place to explore and make natural discoveries, you can do this anywhere! Your local park is full of potential nature experiences. There are an incredible amount of state parks all throughout New Jersey that showcase the incredible diversity of flora and fauna (plants and animals) as well as the changing landscape of this great state. Even your back yard has nature in it. All you have to do is dress for the weather and walk out the door!
Most of our community is on the same page with me. We enjoy being outside. For many of us, it’s who we are as people. We take our kids outside for walks and share discoveries with them. Others may not enjoy being outside and exploring the natural world as much, but they understand the importance of learning about and appreciating nature. So, in turn, they create opportunities for their children to get outside.
So, to all of you I put forth this idea: Nature as entertainment is the cheapest, yet most rewarding, there is. Why spend $50 – $100 taking the kids to the movies when you can bring them (and the dog too!) on a hike through the Pine Barrens or Sourland Mountain Preserve? Exercise, fresh air and some exposure to the natural world is inexpensive and much healthier.
A great book to share with your family is “50 Hikes in NJ.” It’s a great guide to places all over the state for families to explore. Check it out no matter what your experience level is. But if you’re simply not comfortable with taking your family into the woods by yourself, Fernbrook is always here to explore, share her beauty and help create the building blocks for your family to become a part of our natural world.
Food for Thought
by Farmer Q
In the on–going debate about health insurance, (in this great country of ours) we hear very few voices talking about the food we eat. The emphasis is about the “cures” and little about the prevention. The food debate talks about local vs. organic and our carbon footprint. So, let’s look at some other facts on the food side; some good, some raise cause for concern.
Today, not more than three companies process 90% of the seeds used in growing food. As a result of patented seeds and the capacity for court sanctioned engineered genetics to contaminate our bio–diversity, the actual real choices we have in the food we eat are being eroded. All this being done in the name of creating solutions to world hunger and our ability to feed the world’s billions.
On the other side, there is strong research evidence that organic farming can yield up to three time as much food as conventional farming on the same land — WOW! In addition, the food we eat contains many healthy things; vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and things called flavinoids and carotenoids which are basically chains of proteins. Modern technology and DNA analysis has identified over 600 of these chains of proteins that our bodies are able to synthesize to keep us healthy. One research study from the University of California at Davis found flavinoid levels in tomatoes increase 79% as a result of organic management. Wow again! Not only can we grow more food, but better food without using synthetic fertilizer (tied into oil), pesticides or other chemicals!
Another part of the local vs. organic debate has to do with where our food comes from. In 2005, the United States became a net food importer from the first time; we brought in more food than we exported. That raises concern about food inspections. In 2007, the Food & Drug Administration inspected less than 1% of imported vegetables, fruit, seafood, grains, dairy and annual feed. The Department of Agriculture will inspect approximately 11% of imported beef, pork and chicken. If the quality and safety of our food trust only meet the standards of the exporting country and not our own, how is that affectively our health and the health of our children?
So, the health insurance debate necessarily needs to include the debate about the food we eat. Just about everything we buy in the grocery store contains high fructose corn syrup (i.e. sugar). Is that bad? Probably not, but the average American consumes over 80 lbs. of it each year and we wonder why diabetes is so prevalent! There is early evidence that allergies and autism in children are related to the food we eat. Should we be concerned about that? Absolutely! Should we be teaching our kids about eating responsibly? Here at Fernbrook, we believe that’s just about the most important thing we can do.