Homestead & Chill - 7/10/2024
Hi Families, Miss Alex here!
I can’t believe we’re already half-way through our first week of Homestead & Chill! Your campers have been having so much fun around the farm and learning the way (and importance) of returning “back to the land!”
This week, our theme is all about experiencing the slower (and challenging!) pace of life that self sufficiency has to offer! Many of our activities put our campers into a “time machine” and go back to the early 1800s to learn important life skills that may have been useful at that time and the skills that come in handy for creating a “homestead” in our current day. Campers will investigate common resources we rely on and learn how to create their own alternatives.
To start off our day, campers completed animal chores! Taking care of our livestock is a super important role that Summer Camp undertakes each year - Each morning we will feed, fill water, do an overall health check and enjoy the company of these amazing critters! Group leaders strive to help our campers understand the needs of animals and gain a deeper respect for other living species.
Beeswax Candles!
Pictured above is Camryn from the Orange Peppers making a Beeswax Candle! Beeswax is just ONE byproduct of Honeybees and what they give to our world. Using beeswax for candles instead of traditional candle wax can also be beneficial for your home by producing negative ions that, when burned, can purify air and improve air quality in the space around. Enjoy your new, camper made, Beeswax Candle!
Sheep to Sweater: Weaving
Another activity our campers have done the past 2 days was Weaving with wool and learning the process of harvesting wool and the much work goes into making something we use everyday. After learning how tough this process can be, campers practiced their fine motor skills and created a weaving project using different fiber materials.
Farm Fresh Pickles!
Has anyone made homemade pickles before? It’s such a yummy way to show Farm to Table. Our campers made delicious creations using mini cucumbers and a blend of spices they created! This activity is split up into two parts: Salt & Spice and Pickle Making. Before they become a pickle chef, our groups will learn different spice tastes and their origins. Once they have their ‘flavor profile’ they start chopping, spicing and fermenting their cucumbers!
Pickle Recipe:
1, 4 oz. Mason jar
Mini cucumbers
White Vinegar Brine
Fresh dill, roughly chopped
1 Tbsp. Minced garlic
1-1 ½ Tsp. Salt
1-1 ½ Tsp. Sugar
1 Tsp. Peppercorns
1- 1 ½ Tsp. Dill seed
1:1 ratio distilled white vinegar & water
Slice your cucumbers! - Set aside when done
Tear your fresh dill and place in bottom of mason jar
Fill jar with sliced cucumber, leaving ¼ inch headspace
Top with salt, sugar, peppercorns and dill seed.
Pour white vinegar until jar is ⅓ full, fill remaining space with water
Put the lid on the jar and give it a shake
Refrigerate for 24 hours and enjoy!!
Tea Time!
To enjoy a restful moment with peers, campers made their own tea blends and enjoyed some peaceful time outside with friends. We taste-tested different tea bases we brewed in the morning, tried different sweeteners and then began filling tea bags to make their own piece of peace.
To make your tea at home, simply brew a bag in 8 oz. of boiling water for 4-8 minutes. Enjoy with sweetener of choice or as is. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, try adding a splash of milk!
Makerspace & Farm Show Reminder!
Each week our campers create a project to present to their families and friends at our Farm Show! At Bowers Farm Camp, we have our group leaders create a “driving question” for each week of camp - This question is what we ultimately want our campers to learn from their week at camp… For Homestead & Chill, our campers are asked to create a collaborative project answering the question - “What is our responsibility to the world around us?”
Come see what your camper had to say/make/do on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 3:15 - 3:30 pm!
