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The Clubhouse Farm
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Audrey Hystad
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The Farm
AUDREY HYSTAD, MSc.
The Clubhouse Farm
This farm-and-nature based play space and outdoor classroom was created in 2012 based on two major principles for resilient communities. The first is that children need to play outside more often. They need to get dirty, pick up bugs, explore, and relax in and close to nature. They need to see where food comes from and be a part of helping in the gardens and picking the fresh berries off the bushes and the apples off the trees. The second is that supporting local food production is imperative for a sustainable community, and as a small scale farm, diversifying production and sources of income is pivotal to ensuring the farm can stay in business.
A good “day at the office” includes our daycare, preschool or school age children playing outside and exploring the insects, plants, trees and wildlife that offer so many opportunities for incidental learning.
A hard day at the office results when children or staff are not dressed for the weather. Thank goodness for our muddy buddies and stockpile of extra socks, rubber boots, mitts and sweaters.
Our greatest inspiration comes from watching the children enjoy their time here and grow. They quickly learn where certain plants like to be planted, how bugs are helpful to our ecology and why it is so important to compost. Through gardening, mud play, exploring and helping out, we see children begin to understand the basics of physics, earth sciences and agriculture, develop their risk and observation skills, and improve their fine and gross motor skills. These experiences will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Our advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is collaborate with like-minded people and organizations. Join local agricultural interest groups. Have a good team and write down your strategic vision. Preparation: everything from dressing for the weather to setting up irrigation first! It is hard work, but the benefits are more than worth it.