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| Our Programs |
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Farm-based educational programs
At Common Threads Farm, children and youth plant, tend, harvest, prepare, and eat delicious, nutritious food. Our teaching tools include wheelbarrows, shovels, plants, soil, chickens, goats, measuring cups, and cutting boards! One day might find us munching on salad or stir-fried vegetables. On another, we might be building solar ovens to bake muffins or dry apples. On yet another, we might be delving into the science of soil or figuring out how to measure rainfall in the garden. Common Threads Farm offers scheduled after-school, weekend, and summer "farm camp" programs. We also work with teachers during the school year to provide customized learning opportunities that support and complement specific curricula and standards. We believe in providing an environment where students are encouraged to ask questions and work together to find the answers, creatively and patiently solve problems, learn from mistakes, and cooperate and behave with kindness. Common Threads Farm does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, ability, or sexual orientation. We view diversity as an asset and actively seek to cultivate an environment of inclusion and tolerance. We are fully committed to accommodating people of all abilities. We welcome your call in advance of a program to make sure that we are prepared to meet your special needs.
To Market, to
Market (Takes place every week June through September) This overnight program is for anyone who likes the idea of camping, cooking, harvesting vegetables, collecting eggs, and running a farm stand! Join us after school on Friday and spend the afternoon and evening working in the garden, cooking dinner -- with most of the ingredients grown on the farm! -- and preparing an activity related to sustainable food and energy to share with the general public at the Lummi Island Farmers Market on Saturday morning. What does that mean? Building worm composting bins, preparing simple dishes with unfamiliar vegetables, or experimenting with small scale solar powered toys, are a few examples. After a camp-out under the stars, we'll wake up early to harvest vegetables, collect eggs, and take them to market. Weighing vegetables, calculating price per pound, and helping customers with good ideas for cooking with the vegetables for sale is not only fun, but also a great way to develop math and public speaking skills. If you liked running your own lemonade stand, you'll love this! * Bellingham Pick-Up and Drop-Off Option: Leave Bellingham WTA Station at 3:40 on Friday, returns there at 3:43 on Saturday.
Farm
and Sea Enjoy all that we think is best about our Lummi Island location -- farm in the morning, sail aboard a classic 50' wooden sailboat in the afternoon, and camp out at a beautiful state park overnight! As much as possible, we draw on the bounty of the farm (eggs, milk, vegetables) and the sea (seaweed and fish) to prepare our meals. You will return home with new appreciation and understanding not only about the farm, but also about the beautiful waters of the San Juans. * Bellingham Pick-Up and Drop-Off Option: Leaves Bellingham WTA Station at 7:40 a.m. on Day 1, returns there at 5:05 on Day 2.
Food, Fun, and
Farming (These series begin in May and run throughout the growing season - drop in participants welcome on a space available basis: $15 per session) This four-week series is designed to offer young explorers a multi-sensory farm-experience -- from songs, books, and paints to shovels and wheelbarrows, cutting boards and measuring cups! As your child collects eggs, plants and tend vegetables, helps to milk a goat, or prepares and eats a delicious salad, opportunities abound for learning about plants, animals, and healthy living. * No pick-up and drop-off option for this program... but we're more than happy to help you coordinate carpools!
Farm Day Camp *(Working parents, ask about our afternoon care!)
Ages 8-12 Our farm day camp offers your child more time to be involved in all aspects of life on Common Threads Farm -- planting and tending vegetables, preparing delicious lunches straight from the garden, caring for the animals, and learning through hands-on exploration and experimentation -- child's play! * Bellingham Pick-Up and Drop-Off option: Leaves Bellingham Transit Station at 9:15 a.m. and returns there at 2:05 p.m. daily. ** Bellingham Pick-Up and Drop-Off option: Leaves Bellingham Transit Station at 9:15 a.m. and returns there at 5:05 p.m. daily.
Friday Farmers
Just because we're not kids anymore doesn't mean we've got our relationship to food, energy, and the environment figured out! Our adult workshops range from composting to solar enegy to raising chickens in your backyard
Volunteer and Internship Opportunities Common Threads Farm is a great place to volunteer. We always have a list of exciting projects appropriate for anyone interested in nutrition, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and farm and garden-based education. School and work groups, students completing internships and culminating projects, and members of the general public are all most welcome! Contact us to craft the opportunity right for you! Our Web site has more information on Common Threads Farm, including the latest calendar of events and frequently asked questions - we hope you will bookmark it!
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CTF contact information: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 360-927-1590, 4050 Sunny Hill Lane, Lummi Island, WA 98262
