We are trying something new on the farm this year. We know that Laughing Buck Farm is a place of connection, with the animals as we learn to nurture and tend to the pigs, chickens, goats, horses, the bees and the plants in the garden. It's a place of calm and peace as we slow down and notice what is happening throughout the seasons and as we follow the life cycle of the plants in the garden from seed to harvest. It's a place of joy and activity as we work on real jobs and tasks around the farm like cleaning stalls, unloading feed for the animals, milking the goats, grazing the animals, digging trenches and doing what needs to be done.  It's a place of community, where we learn together and grow friendships, showing the same kindness to each other as we do the the animals and the land.   So what's new?  We want to open the farm to kids of ALL abilities and have partnered with Leah, an Occupational Therapist from Poudre School District, some amazing Instructional Paras, and a couple of young adults who have an interest in working with children with special needs.  We will try our first Integrated Camp this summer and hopefully build on the program from there. Here's what we are creating in August:
 
“My Senses and Me, On the Farm”
When: August  8-9th, 2017,  9:30-12:30
Ages: 5-12
Our integrated farm experience aims to help children develop and improve their social-emotional skills, independent living skills, and sensory regulation skills by learning through a sensory-rich environment where kids can experience the sights, sounds, smells, feel, and work of farm life!  Children will be able to explore the many wonders of farm life. Whether taking care of the animals by engaging in heavy work opportunities, exploring the garden to make a healthy snack, climbing the hay bales or swinging on the tire swing in the play barn, children will learn responsibility for other living things and work on engaging with others  or trying something new for the first time.

And here's a hello from  Leah, the OT who is heading up the class. The other teachers will be Dawn, Kate and yours truly, FarmHer Rosemary.

Hi there!
I'm Farmer Leah! I'm very excited to be joining Laughing Buck Farm's first ever Integrated farm camp this summer. I get to combine several of my passions: animals, children, and teaching in a natural setting. I grew up on a dairy farm in central Wisconsin where I grew up climbing around our hay barn, taming cattle for the local fair shows, and befriending loads of farm cats. I aspire to have a farm someday where my own children can do this and more!
When I'm not planning for farm camp, I work as a school based occupational therapist and my job is very rewarding. I love building connections with my students, their families and get to help shape their success as a student and beyond. I look forward to meeting the farmers very soon!  ~Leah

Would you like to learn more about our other teachers?  You can read more here:
http://www.laughingbuckfarm.com/meet-our-teachers.html

We have room for a couple more farmers in our integrated camp so email me if you think this could be a good fit for your child. More information and registration here.
http://www.laughingbuckfarm.com/summer-schedule-and-upcoming-events.html

I am always amazed at how much the farm teaches me me.  At first it was about irrigation, pasture management, weed control,  beekeeping, gardening... then running a horse lesson and boarding business, then creating programs for children. And now I'm excited to build on my teaching background as we grow our program and  try out new ways of teaching and learning for the beautiful range of learners out there.   Cheers to lifelong learning!
FarmHer Rosemary

When you live in a college town, you adapt to change as students, teachers and farm helpers come and go as semesters begin and end.  And so we say goodbye to our graduating helper, Zach, and welcome our new resident cowgirl, Willow.  This delights me to no end because  I got to know Willow's mom and their family almost ten years ago when we first moved to Fort Collins and Willow brought her horse Clifford to board at Laughing Buck as a teenager.  Now she is BACK, living here on the farm next to her horse, and teaching in our summer camps.    Welcome back, Willow.  I am as happy as Clifford is to have you here on the farm. ~FarmHer Rosemary

From Willow:
"Hi there! My name is Willow, and I am so excited to be spending the summer helping kiddos have some of the experiences that were the best parts of my childhood, and that shaped me into who I am today! I'm especially excited to get to play with the horses together, as they've been my biggest passion since I can remember. I started riding when I was 6, and grew up doing everything from English to barrel racing in 4-H. Then when I was 13 I got Clifford who is the best horse in the world, and is lucky enough to be living at Laughing Buck to this day. He has taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined and I'm so glad that he can do the same for other kiddos now. When I was 15, I got an internship with a reining trainer and spent two years doing that, which is what gave me the passion for both reining and for training horses and watching them learn and grow to be amazing partners. Training is what I eventually want to spend my life doing, but for now I am just so glad to be back at the farm! Here's to an awesome summer!"

Sarah has been involved in Laughing Buck Farm for years, starting when her girls were attending Farm School and she was a co-teacher.  She's had some cool adventures and I'm glad she's back in Colorado and has found her way back to the farm.  Can't wait to see what 2017  holds for our new garden team.  Welcome, Sarah! 

From Sarah:
"Being able to plant a seed, care for it, and watch it grow into something that can nourish my family has to be one of the most satisfying experiences. (It is similar to parenthood, although perhaps slightly more predictable!) My early professional and educational background was early child development, Early Intervention and family support. I have always loved working with children. I am inspired by their passion, creativity, hope, and confidence. Since first becoming a mother eight years ago, I have been pursuing the wisdom and wonder of medicinal herbs. And now, as a family herbalist, I am passionate about connecting people with plants.  A garden is such a beautiful metaphor for children, and bringing the two together is a magical combination. I have grown food and herbs in home and community gardens, and I am so happy to be growing at Laughing Buck Farm in 2017 (pun intended)."

You can find out about Sarah's Herbal CSA, Bhoomi's Basket, at
http://birthplaylove.com/bhoomis-basket-an-herbal-csa/ 
and check out her nature-inspired children's magazine at www.dandelionwishesmag.com

You can read about all of the teachers of Laughing Buck Farm here: 
http://www.laughingbuckfarm.com/meet-our-teachers.html