Seed to Harvest Summer Camp @ Piney Woods Farm!

Duration: 6 weeks

Dates: June: 2nd - 27th / July: 7th - 18th

Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Drop-Off / Pick-up: 9:15-9:30AM / 1:15-1:30PM

Location: Piney Woods Farm, LaGrange

Age Group: Kids from 5 (by Sept. 1) to 12-years-old

Lunch: Each child should bring their own lunch and reusable water bottles to enjoy during a community picnic each afternoon.

Farm grown vegetables, fruits and organic healthy snacks will be provided to each day.

In this six-week program, we will learn and walk through all that is needed to start a garden -- from soil composition, to seeding in the greenhouse, to planting our seedlings for an end-of-camp harvest.

You can choose what week(s) you would like to participate in or come for all 6 weeks for an immersive seed-to harvest summer!

Durning our time together, we will explore many farm topics including: pollination, working with farm fibers, foraging, food preservation and cooking with nature.

Each week will feature a special guest speaker and teacher for full coverage of our focus each week. We will tend to our garden daily to develop a deep appreciation for our foods and farmers who provide our produce, as well as care for the farm animals from chickens to goats!

The Seed-to-Harvest of Piney Woods program is designed to reconnect children with the earth, helping them:

• Develop a deep appreciation for the environment.

• Strengthen critical thinking and creativity through hands-on discovery.

• Build life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and responsibility.

• Experience the joy and calm of being immersed in the natural world.

Theme: Planting & Preparing the Soil & Compost

Activities:

- Prepare the soil for planting.

- Learn about composting and soil health.

Learning Focus:

- Plant seeds and seedlings.

- Understanding the importance of healthy soil.

- Exploring plant life cycles.

- Hands-on gardening skills.

Theme: Pollinators & Beekeeping

Activities:

- Create natural dyes using fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

- Dye fabric pieces or clothing.

Learning Focus:

- Learning how plants can produce color.

- Understanding sustainable craft techniques.

Theme: Nature Art & Natural Dye

Activities:

- Paint with flower pigments and natural materials.

- Create mandalas using leaves, stones, and flowers.

Learning Focus:

- Encouraging creativity through nature.

- Exploring art as a form of connection to the environment.

Theme: Preserving & Conserving Food

Activities:

- Learn techniques like drying, pickling, and fermenting.

- Preserve fruits and vegetables harvested.

Learning Focus:

- Developing awareness of food preservation.

- Understanding how to reduce food waste sustainably.

Activities:

Theme: Harvesting & Foraging

- Harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the garden.

- Learn proper harvesting techniques.

Learning Focus:

- Understanding the effort involved in growing food.

- Appreciating the rewards of hard work in nature.

Activities:

Theme: Cooking with Nature

- Use harvested ingredients to prepare simple meals.

- Explore flavors using herbs and spices.

Learning Focus:

- Connecting food preparation to the growing process.

- Fostering teamwork through cooking.

Meet our teachers and camp leaders:

Keyal Loveland is currently serving as an instructor at Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve Nature School where she teaches at Woodland Wonders, an outdoor nature program for children ages 3-6. She also established and currently teaches a gardening program at First Presbyterian’s Montessori School. Keyal is passionate about connecting children to their food, creating a deeper appreciation and understanding of how our foods are created, and how they shape our bodies’, minds’ and spirits’.

Keyal is the owner and creator of Love + Land Seasonal Goods, a Community Shared Apothecary program that provides custom seed-to-shelf culinary and medicinal herbal products from local, farm grown, chemical-free herbs and produce.

Sara Botero

Passionate educator focused on hands-on learning, creativity, and nature-based education for children. With a background in Waldorf education, Sara is passionate about awakening natural wonder in children by cultivating imagination, creativity, and a deep respect for the natural rhythms of life.

Cancelation Policy:

In the event that a ticket holder needs to cancel their reservation at least 4 weeks before class starts a refund minus processing fee will be issued. Refunds/credits will not be issued to the ticket holder who requests a cancelation within 4 weeks of the class start time or does not attend.

If less than 4 people enroll, the class will be cancelled, and a full refund will be issued.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, every dollar spent at Piney Woods Farm is for charitable purposes. Our sustainable approach to farming equips us to help supply our local communities with organic, nutrient-dense goods and produce—to date, we’ve donated over 100,000 pounds of produce to community food banks and other charitable organizations!

Host or Publisher Piney Woods Farm