Young McJasper at the farm: Stone Barns

High up on the list of reasons why I love Jasper's new school is this: they love growing food. The school has a plot at the local community garden and their activities there are integrated into the curriculum. And on Monday the school took a trip up to the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. This is a sustainable farm and education center with a cafe and weekly farmer's market. The farm also helps feed the restaurant Blue Hill (where Lane and I celebrated an anniversary a couple years ago) in New York City.

I'm so glad the school planned the trip in late October, with the fall colors on full display. Sigh--I was often distracted by the fall foliage.

Stone Barns is a pristine example of sustainable farming; much of what I've read about Joel Salatin's farming methods was on display here. Sheep and cows are moved from field to field so as not to overgraze any one piece of land.

The "eggmobiles" are also rotated around the property so the free-range hens can peck new ground and so their droppings don't over-accumulate. Maybe it was the cool weather, but I couldn't believe how fresh the farm smelled.

The Berkshire piglets are kept in the forest. Did you know pigs can't sweat? This is why they roll around in mud--to cool themselves off. At Stone Barns the pigs keep cool in the shade. Jasper found the giant sow's snorting terrifying. They did kind of remind me of the boars in Princess Mononoke.

Gorgeous digs you've got here, piggies! Tell me, who does your decorating?

Of course, they also grow vegetables here.

I think this is drying basil.

The greenhouses.

It occurred to me, schools often take trips to see the animals at the zoo--but doesn't it seem more meaningful to see animals you encounter on your plate? Our tour leader and Jasper's teacher did a great job of engaging the children, helping them to understand how the farm works and what it means for the animals. The following day Jasper's class built their own farm made of blocks, their own clay figures, and other materials. I can't wait to see it this Friday! Jasper tells me he and a classmate got to make the eggmobile. I'll post the restults next week. And now, another gratuitous fall photo.