Schedule and Activities

Morning Gathering:

Prayer, Group Meeting (Chapter) to outline tasks to be done that day, discuss strategies for their accomplishment, make plans, assign work.

 

Activities:

Farm Chores  – feeding and handling animals, milking (in season), barn and infrastructure maintenance, field work (gardens, grain plots, haymaking, etc), animal transport, pick-up of cut meats from the processor, work with the veterinarian on animal preventive health and emergency care, dairying.

 

Students learn about breed characteristics, animal fertility, health and breeding, management of resources.  They will also research best crops for human and livestock consumption based upon our climate, availability, and plant culture.

 

Kitchen – Kitchen safety and hygiene, nutrition, food preparation techniques and skills.  Cheesemaking and food preservation.

 

Home Economics – Sewing, Knitting, Woodworking, Art, Home Maintenance, and more.  Students learn how to be self-sufficient, to create many of the things needed for living, and to make simple repairs for themselves.

 

Construction and Workshops – soapmaking, sugaring and honey production, chandlery, woodworking, mechanics, forestry management, shelter building using sustainable techniques (recycled materials, strawbale, cob, etc.), farm road maintenance, fencing and security.

 

Farm Economy – Creating products from the natural and cultivated resources of the farm to sell in the farm shop (foods, plants and cuttings, wood crafts, and more).  Work on marketing, newsletters and flyers, contact with commercial customers (caterers and restaurants), work at the farmstand with retail customers and CSA members, herd and flock planning (purchase and sale of livestock), fruit and vegetable crop planning, seed and plant procurement, work with the processor to schedule drop off livestock and pick-up of cut meats. Pricing of products.Plan events on farm throughout the year.

Dismissal:

Group Meeting (Chapter) to talk about the day’s progress and challenges, tasks to be continued the following day, Eucharisteo circle (sharing the days’ blessings and gifts), prayer.