Today was Namine’s field trip with the RVA to the Homestead Farm in Hartland. We got to the farm and met up with some of the other children and played in the miniature log cabins that were set up. I had to take the outriggers off of Namine’s wheelchair so that I could tip her back and wheel her through the gravel. When we were playing Namine got stuck in the grass, and forgetting her outriggers were off, tipped back and hit her head. She was pretty upset and scared along with myself and all the other moms there. She calmed down and we went on with the tour.
The tour began with the farmer talking about chicks and giving details to the chicks life and what the box is called for keeping them warm. It is called a brooding box. There is a red light in the box so that chicks don’t peck at each other. It is red so they do not see the blood on the other chicks so that they don’t hurt each other more. I never knew that chicks were cannibals. The farmer said that if they see blood they will peck and peck until the hurt one dies. The farmer also talked about egg size and how if the the hen lays a brown egg she will always lay a brown egg. He has some hens that lay blueish green eggs. Farm raised eggs have darker yolks and some say have better nutrition than store bought eggs. He also said that the first egg a hen lays is very small. After talking about the chicks and eggs he passed the chicks around for the children to hold, but before he told the children to be careful and if they drop the chick to leave it and let a parent get it because a couple of weeks ago one got away and the child stepped on it, it lived but is only able to use one leg. Namine was the first child to get a chick and she just loved it. She wanted to take it home. She asked me if we could have chicks at home. I don’t think the apartment complex would like that.
After we talked to about chicks it was onto the petting farm. The farmer told us about the electric fence around the animals to keep the coyotes out and the dogs and also to keep the animals in. He also described the donkeys as bouncers. He said that donkeys are good animals to keep the other animals in, they are good watch animals. He also said that they are good killers. Donkeys can kill a coyote with its hooves. He also shared a good story about why donkeys have a cross on their backs. He said that it is about the ride into Jerusalem with Jesus and after Jesus was crucified the shadow of the cross was cast upon the donkey and that is why they have a cross on their backs. We also got to see turkeys, goats, sheep, roosters, geese, and an alpaca. After petting the animals it was time for the hayride.
We went up to the top of the hill and got on the hayride. It was a fun ride. There is a poster that is shown for us to find things throughout the ride. It was a nice way for the children to calm and get ready for lunch. The rest of the families stayed and had lunch then went through the corn maze. It was really hard for me to push Namine in her wheelchair through the gravel so I knew that it was going to be hard to get through the maze so we left. Which gave us enough time stop and eat lunch before therapy. We had a great time. I hope that everyone gets out and sees this farm and has a great time. We had a great time and can’t thank the RVA enough for this opportunity. I can’t wait to go on more field trips with them.
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