Filed under: March 2016 | Tags: draft horses, environmental stewardship, informed people, maple syrup season, mentor, mentoring, Small Farming, vote, water quality
March 21, 2016
Despite my muddy jacket, baggy pants and barn boots, I made a good teacher last week. I mentor to the local Vocational School. I teach woodlot management, environmental stewardship, and give a short maple presentation. I also give talks about small sustainable farming and the difference between community based farming -vs- commodity based farming. It is a good day for me when I can reach out to these young minds.
I have been doing this sort of thing for over five years now. I gear the talks to whatever curriculum at the time dictates.I have found that no matter how boring my presentation is…they think it beats sitting in the classroom! I figure that if I only reach one kid…it was worth it.
I explain the process of maple syrup. I talk about how that process is somewhat complicated when working in an environmentally sensitive area such as along the banks of Mill creek. It gives me one more platform to sing praises about the low impact of my draft horses upon the land and landscape. They pull the sap sled effortlessly leaving very little sign that we were even there.
My hope is that by opening my mind and my farm to these young people, one day farm policies and public opinion will support small, even niche type, farming. These young folks are the future. It is my hope that small farming is a part of their future too. If not farmers themselves, at least educated, informed people who buy farm products and vote.
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RicelandMeadows 
What you are doing is so vital to the cause Ralph! I certainly hope you are able to sway at least one person a year to the benefits of community based farming. I hope Leadership includes you in their AG day again this year.
Comment by Jacklyn March 21, 2016 @ 4:12 pmThank you. I do have the junior leadership group coming in April :o)
Comment by ricelandmeadows March 22, 2016 @ 8:37 am