On Monday, April 29, 2013 students in Foods Class had a chance to visit Shelburne Farms to learn about "soil".   The students were excited and eager to visit the Farm.  Many remembered visiting this farm as a young student.  Unfortunately, these pictures reflect only one of the two groups adventure, exploring and learning.

Thanks to the chaperones Michael and Mrs. L's dad, George.  Also, thanks to the Shelburne Farms Education staff, Christine, Lori and Matt for an amazing day.

Shelburne Farms Education Center

Exploring the high and low pastures

     The trip started with introductions, brainstorming and an overview of the day.

An auger to collect soil

Measuring the soil temperature

Students collected and compared soil properties from six different locations on the farm lawn, woods, high and low pastures, garden beds and gravel.  Each student had an opportunity to do every test through out the day. 

Discussing a soil profile.

Collecting data for location comparisons.

Looking for earth worms. 

The first day these young cows are out to pasture.

Yes, Mrs. L. was afraid of these lively animals.

After a morning of being outside...it's time for lunch!  A triple decker sandwich was inhaled with nothing but crumbs left. 

We had a chance to visit the animal barn but missed the lambs by just a few days. 

Exploring and identifying life under logs and rocks.

I want a picture of this.

Community Projects...
We finished the book, Seedfolks.  It is a short novel about a group of people from all different walks of life who come together in an urban city to garden in a vacant lot.  They are each drawn to the garden  for their own reasons.  With this mindset a project idea was created, find a need at CHS and how can you solve it.  Each project had to be small, sustainable, doable and low in cost, with the idea of making  CHS a little better, more environmentally friendly or increasing awareness to this community.

Step One: Find a need at school
Step Two:  Research, find data, identify the cost and present our ideas first to our class

Here we go...

The teacher goes first...garden bed covers are made and ready to go!

Garden signs

Waste Management for everyone at CHS

I'm not presenting first!

I'm thinking...of building a bench.

Composting...my gram composts I've seen this design used before

I've got two ideas... TA garden beds and

Bottle Flower Planters

We want to use the composting process to generate electricity

Mrs. L is excited and a little nervous :)

Flowers...we need a flower bed

Have you seen the garden beds lately?

PAINT them!!!

Step Three:  Make our ideas happen...wait and see what happens next!