This Thursday was much more smooth (and far less expensive) than the last one. We had breakfast and took our time getting ready. We loaded up around 9:15am and headed for my Dad's house (the house I grew up in). Over the last few years he's acquired chickens and very recently started growing vegetables. The kids visit Grandpa's house now and then. They always say hi to the chickens, but this was the first formal farm tour.
After hellos and candy (grandparents, what can you do?) we were off, armed with bread, to feed the chickens.
They seemed indifferent to the kids, but very excited to see the bread. Riley looked like Eva Gabor from Green Acres feeding chickens in her party dress. Isaac was a bit to imposing and for the most part they ran from him. The chickens enjoyed Riley's quiet approach and took bread from her hand. Just as we were finishing up she got a little scratch from an over zealous chicken's beak. Feeding the chicken's was Riley's favorite part.
Then we moved onto the chicken coop. We learned that chickens only lay eggs when they are young. Apparently there's about a two year window. He has brown chickens that are about done laying and two white ones that haven't started laying yet. Apparently, the color of their legs reveals what color the eggs will be. The coop was Isaac's favorite part.
Grandpa's growing raspberries, mangos, grapes (at least two varieties), tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, green beans, bush beans, cow beans, pineapple, lemons, peppers (at least four varieties), sweet potatoes and strawberries. It was thrilling for Riley to see all the different plants and how they grow. Isaac was only interested in what was edible now. I think it's great for the kids to see where food comes from. I don't think I understood the concept of growing/farming food until I was older. Food comes from the store, right? The cupboard? A box/can?
We all got out in the world and learned something, I declare Go! Dog Go! Day number 2 a success.
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