Agriculture Lesson #7: From France to US, Lavender Farms and 4 Festivals

Photo by Krenda

A friend of mine visited Provence, France and raved about the lavender fields.  The Mediterranean mountains and Africa are known as lavender locations.  I imagined her strolling through the fields and visiting cute gift shops.  She brought me back lavender soap which I treasured.  The perennial flowering shrub smells so fragrant.  It's often found in beauty care items, sometimes with a claim to help relaxation and sleep.  This began my research in how to visit a lavender farm a little closer to home.

Born in the south of France, Martine Anderson became the founder of the Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm in Washington Island, Wisconsin.  Martine
began growing lavender gardens with her husband Edgar.  In 2013, the farm staff planted 9,000 plants and now there's 30,000 lavender plants.  So I scheduled our Door County Wisconsin vacation around the July timing of the Lavender Festival at the Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm.  It took all of us boarding a ferry to Washington Island.  We strolled through the fields, saw freshly harvested lavender hanging in the working barn, watched demonstrations, listened to live music, and tasted samples of food containing lavender.  The festival offered painting classes near the fields too.  While lavender for culinary and aromatic purposes, I prefer the scent versus the taste.  My sister doesn't appreciate the scent as much as me, so she gladly gave me her lavender organza sachet.

France inspired other growers.  In 1999, Rob Kendrick and his wife Jeannie Ralston shot a story for national Geographic about lavender farming and perfume-making in Provence.  In 1999, they planted 2,000 plants and now you can visit their farm Hill Country Farm in Texas, near San Antonio and Austin.  Visit the farm May to July or you can buy their lavender-lemon tea cookies online.

You can find lavender farms coast to coast in the United States.  Here's three more lavender festivals for you and your family to consider:
1.  Sequim Lavender Festival, Sequim, Washington; June-Labor Day
Considered the "Lavender Capital" of North America, Sequim celebrates with a street fair of craft booths, LavenderStock music stage, free self-guided farm tours at eight farms
Kids can stay active in the KidsZone including a dance party, quick golf, obstacle course, and minute to win it challenges
2.  Michigan Lavender Festival; Imlay City, MI; Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds (North of Detroit); July
Admission includes shuttle, educational classes and demos, 5-minute mini massage, daily yoga sessions at 11AM and 2PM, and many demos (knitting, pottery, broom making, spinning & weaving), pamper yourself with an express lavender facial for $20 or listen to live music
Kid's activity barn includes crafts such as DIY lavender play dough demo for age 12 and under
3.  Ojai Valley Lavender Festival; Ojai, California; June
Ojai declared June as Lavender Month.  Take advantage of free parking and shuttle; learn from talks such as "growing lavender" and "cooking with lavender" at Lavender Inn, listen to live music and expect a crowd as the festival has attracted over 4,500 attendees
 4.  Blanco Lavender Festival, Blanco, TX; June
Free admission to the festival and farm, live music, listen to speakers at the courthouse on horticulture and bee keeping

If you can't time your visit just right for a festival, visit a farm in the summer:
1.  Ali' Kula Lavender Farm; Maui, Hawaii; June to Aug.
2.  Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms; Montague, California
3.  Pelindaba Lavender Farm; Washington State's San Juan Island; April to Oct.
4.  Hood River Lavender Farm; Oregon; May to Oct.
5.  Red Rock Randeh & Farm Growers of High Altitude Lavender; Concho, Arizona
6.  Los Poblanos Lavender Farm; Albuquerque, New Mexico
7.  Sprigs and Sprouts; Palisade, Colorado
8.  White Oak Lavender Farm; Harrisburg, Virginia; open year-round
9.  Lavender by the Bay; East Marion, NY; June - Oct.
10.  Peace Valley Lavender Farms; Bucks County, PA;  open year-round

World of Difference #1: Feed My Starving Children Volunteer Opportunity

Looking for a way to teach your child about hunger and take action at the same time?  Look for volunteer opportunities at a Food Bank, mobile food program, or a local program such as Feed My Starving Children.

According to the Food Aid Foundation, poor nutrition causes 45% of deaths in children under five years old.
- 795 million people or one in nine people do not have enough food for a healthy life
- 12.9% of the developing countries population is undernourished
- Asia has the most hungry people
- Sub-Sahara Africa has the highest prevalence (percentage of population); 25% is undernourished.

Sign-up online to reserve a volunteer spot.  You can go as an individual volunteer or organize a group.  Our kids have volunteered multiple times through Scouting and school events.  After you sign-in at a Feed My Starving Children location, the organization shares statistics and stories with all the volunteers.

The organization also talks about the nutrition.  Feed My Starving Children collaborated with Cargill food scientists and General Mills and Pillsbury employees to create the vitamin and mineral fortified rice meal name Manna Pack.  Depending upon your shift, you will make one of three Manna Packs: 1) Manna Pack Rice, 2) Manna Pack Potato-D, or 3) Manna Pack Potato-W.  Manna Pack Potato-D uses fortified potato and soy meal for rehydration, helping those who suffer from diarrhea.

You don't need to travel outside the United States to help the hungry around the world.  Feed My Starving Children ships food to 70 countries and focuses on delivering to the developing countries.

After the introductions, the leader asks for volunteers to help in the warehouse and providing supplies to stations.  Everyone suits up in a hair net and washes hands.  Volunteers split up into "cells" surrounding two funnels.  Two or three people scoop the ingredients.  Two volunteers place bags under funnels.  Two volunteers weigh the package.  A volunteer seals the bag.  When enough packages are filled to fill a box, the entire cell gets to shout out a celebratory cheer, signaling a warehouse volunteer to pick up the box.  The entire process feels simple and seamless.  It's so well organized that the organization allows volunteers as young as five years old.

Volunteers switch positions.  Volunteers can get competitive with other groups on how many boxes they've packed.  Music pumps over the speaker.  A two hour shift ends before you'd guess.  Everyone helps in the clean up which includes putting supplies away and sweeping.  Feed My Starving Children began by Richard Prodfit after his mission trip in Honduras.  The session ends with a prayer over the food.  You don't need to be religious to volunteer.  You don't need to join the prayer session.

After the prayer, the leader reveals the number of boxes the group packed.  Before and after testimonials of how the food has helped a child transition from undernourished and underweight to thriving is shared with before and after photos.  Volunteers can help further by making purchases at their shop.  In 2018, 1.2 million volunteers packed 333 million meals.

Locations:  Aurora, IL, Libertyville, IL, Schaumburg, IL, Chanhassen, MN, Coon Rapids, MN, Eagan, MN, Mesa, AZ, Richardson, TX,

Kite Science and 8 Festivals in the US

In attempt to find a new theme for each birthday, we held a birthday party at a kite festival (West Chester, OH Voice of America park).  The party included a kite shaped cake and a kite for each kid to fly.  On this day, we felt grateful for wind.  There's a science lesson in kite flying, the need for wind pressure or force to keep the kit in the air.  It's called lift and it counteracts the force of gravity.  Kids understand gravity or the force that pulls things towards the earth well.  Have them jump up and down.  Kites garner more physics terms:  thrust, drag, angle of attack, and tension.

You may also tie history into a kite flying demonstration.  Kites have served as so much more than just toys.  During the Han Dynasty, a Chinese general flew a kite above a town to calculate the distance his army would have to tunnel to reach under the city walls.  Scientists and inventors experimented with kites.  Benjamin Franklin experimented with kites and electrical energy.  Alexander Wilson compared air temperature.  The Wright Brothers flew kites to test their wing-warping control system.

Kites play a key role in certain sports; power kites pull fliers on surf and land boards.

If you have small children, check out a book about kites such as Curious George Flies a Kite, Let's Fly a Kite, Kite Day A Bear and Mole Story, and Kite Flying.



Kite creation can bring out the artist in your child.  Years later we attended a kite making class at a naval base and the kids had just as much fun creating as flying.

Kick off your child's interest in kites by attending a kite festival.  Here's 8 other kite festivals in the US:

1.  Frank Mots International Kite Festival, Veterans Park, Milwaukee, WI, launches nearly 600 kites plus demonstrations from professionals
2.  Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (National Mall, Washington DC), visit the exhibit indoors and go outdoors to fly kites
3.  Ziller Park Kite Festival (Austin, TX), over 85 years old festival, one of the oldest in the US
4.  Outer Banks Stunt Kite Competition, Wright Brothers National Museum (fitting location!) Kill Devil Hills, NC
5.  Bug Lite Kite Festival, Bug Light State Park, South Portland, Maine
6.  Soar into Spring Kite Festival, Floxglenn Park, Flagstaff, AZ
7.  Sunfest Kite Festival (Ocean City, MD) festival on the beach, location considered "The Kiteflying Capital of the World" with it's wide beach and regular winds, host site of The AKA (American fliers Association) convention
8.  Marblehead Festival of the Arts Kite Day, Deveroux Beach, Marblehead, MA

Animal Lesson #8: Camel Races and 7 Other Camel Experiences

Did you know that 94% of camels are dromedary or one-humped camels.  You'll find them in the Middle East or the Horn of Africa.  Only 6% of camels get classified as Bractrain, the two-humped camel from Central Asia.  According to the New York Times, 3,000 camels live in the United States.  Americans imported camels in 1856 for Army use.  It may seem rare to ride a camel in the United States, so I'm sharing with you camel experience opportunities from most to least expensive:

1)  Big Bend Camel Treks, camel-assisted trek to travel the same Big Bend region of West Texas that the historic US Army Camel Experiment explored in 1857 on the Beale Expedition; camp overnight $750 per person with 3 person minimum; 3 day trip $1,050

2) Camel Safari in Las Vegas, 1.5 hour trip in Nevada desert, overlook the Virgin Mountains and Virgin River, must be at least 3 years old and under 250 pounds, $150 per person

3) Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, Palm Desert, CA; zoo admission $20 +$6 camel ride offered through April

4) Safari North Wildlife Park Brainerd, MN; May to Sept. and camel rides only on weekends, $15 entrance + camel ride fee

5) Camel Safari in Bellingham, WA; camel encounter includes opportunity to pet and feed camels; no rides; $25 per person

6) Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm, South Barrington, IL; feed giraffes and ride camels in October; $15 admission + $6 camel ride

7) Oasis Camel Dairy, Ramona, CA; not open daily, look for Open Farm & Show day or book for a small group (10 person min.); $10/person entrance + $10 adult ride or $5 for age 3-14 years old

We found a relatively low cost way to ride a camel.  The Travel & Adventure Show in Chicago (Rosemont Convention Center) provides a different adventure each year.  One year they offered diving in a small pool.  Another year they offered free camel rides. Admission to the show costs $15.

If you seek a much longer experience, consider a special trip to the International Camel & Ostrich Races in Virginia City.  The 57th race will happen Sept. 8-10 in 2017.  The Virginia City newspaper published a farce about racing camels in Virginia City.  When out-of-state competitors arrived, a new tradition began.

Art Lesson #5: 7 Art Festivals to a Creative Mind

You can even provide edutainment at a birthday party.  To inspire and encourage creativity, consider a paint your own pottery party.  Each kid chooses a piece and paints their project.  The pottery studio in Evansville, IN allowed us to bring in food and cake, so the entire celebration happened in one location.  The boys and girls had fun and everyone gained a unique art piece as a party favor.

Paint your own studios seem to pop up in every town.  If you don't have a local studio, Michaels art chain store offers party rooms and you could buy pottery kits as the project.

The price can add up fast with a per person fee if you have a large group.  For a cheaper alternative, find a local art festival as another way to provide your kid a pottery experience. 

Here's seven art festivals:

1.  Fine Arts Festival - Ridgeland, Mississippi; April - Renaissance at Colony Park includes a Childrens Creative Crafts Corner; lessons about art history and culture while kids make clay pottery, mosaics, or fiber art
http://www.ridgelandartsfest.com/


2.  Wheeling Arts Fest - Wheeling, WV, June - clay learn and take project, learn slab, pinch, and coil techniques.  Other classes include fiber arts and acrylic painting.
http://wheelingartsfest.com/

3.  Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival - Palo Alto, CA; July - large two day festival with over 150 artists
http://www.acga.net/cgi-bin/DJcalendar.cgi?TEMPLATE=shows-detail.html&EVENTNO=00084

4.  CLAY festival - Silver City, NM; July - childrens tile class at Silver City Museum only $5, free Clay Play Exploring Our Wilderness Heritage class for grade 3 to 6 - register early, limit 15 kids/workshop at the Gila Valley or Silver City library; free tour of the Syzygy Tile Factory
http://www.clayfestival.com/

5.  Minnesota Pottery Festival - Hutchinson, MN - kids tent at The Clay Coyote Studio; raku, throwing, and handbuiling demos
http://www.mnpotteryfestival.com/

6.  Clayfolk - Medford, Oregon - indoor event at the Medford Armory, mostly a show and sale, but also offers a Kids Clay Area where kids can create their own clay art
http://www.clayfolk.org/

7.  San Antonio Potters Guild Clay Festival - San Antonio, TX; Dec. - $5 includes museum entrance, kids under 12 free, 30 potters and gallery tours

Agriculture Lesson #2: 7 Blueberry Events

Blueberry pancakes, blueberry pie...mmm, kids love blueberries.  Kids are curious about fruit.  Do they grow on trees or bushes?  Help your kids learn about how blueberries are grown by taking them to a pick your own farm or a blueberry festival. 

Break out the US map.  The blueberry gets recognized as the official fruit of Maine.  Maine produces 25% of all lowbush blueberries and requires about 50,000 beehives for pollination.  Michigan leads in highbush berry production, accounting for 32% of the small berries.

For your best pick-your-own experience, begin early while energy is high and before the hot sun beats down.  Bring your sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, and coolers to bring home the treasured fresh berries.  We always pick extra.  My employees showed appreciation when I brought them berries to the office.

We've also celebrated the blueberry harvest at the Marshall Blueberry Festival.  It's been named a "Top 100 Event" in North America by the American Bus Association in 1997, 1999, and 2007.  Many of the blueberry festivals include kid pleasing foods like blueberry pancakes.  If you feel like burning the calories, many of these festivals also have a variety of sports events.  The Marshall Blueberry Festival includes a 5K run, arm wrestling, volleyball, and softball.

Here's 7 festivals in the United States:

1.  Marshall Blueberry Festival, Plymouth, IN, Aug. 30- Sept. 2 2013; 45+ year old festival with parade, auto show, music, and 300+ craft vendors  http://www.blueberryfestival.org/pg/history.html

2.  Paradise Annual Wild Blueberry Festival, Paradise, Michigan (MI), Aug. 16-18 2013, bring your blue clothes, a bucket, and enjoy http://www.paradisemichigan.org/bb/blueberryfest.html

3.  Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, Machias, Maine, 1.5 hours from Bar Harbor, 38th annual festival, Aug. 16-18 2013, a church project with music, parade, contest, free admission  http://www.machiasblueberry.com/

4.  Texas Blueberry Festival, Nacogdoches, Texas (TX), 23rd annual, June 8 2013, free admission, blueberry picking at Blueberry Place, motorcycle show, car show, competitions, 100+ vendors  http://www.texasblueberryfestival.com/

5.  Blueberry Jubilee, Poplarville, Mississippi (MS), cooking contest, pageant, auto show, dog show, 5K run...go to the site just to show your kids the animated berry (-:  http://blueberryjubilee.org/

4.  Reed Valley Orchard Blueberry Jubilee and Pancake Day, Paris, Kentucky (KY); Sat. June 29, 2013 horse drawn wagon, fruit pies, slushies  http://www.reedvalleyorchard.com/Jubilee.htm

5.  Wellborn Blueberry Festival, Wellborn, FL, June 7-8 2013, free admission, blueberry pancake breakfast $5, parade, talent contest, 5K run  http://www.wellborncommunityassociation.com/Pages/BlueberryFestival.aspx

Gym Class #2: Rolex Kentucky & 7 Other Horse Events

Photo by Krenda

If you want to help your child envision, show them the best.  Sporting events help kids see what's possible.  Before signing up for horse back riding lessons, take your kids to a competition or event.

Living near Kentucky, we simply drove down to Lexington for the Rolex Three Day event including:  1) dressage, testing the gaits and obedience, 2) cross country, riders and horses go at speeds up to 25 mph over challenging terrain, including obstacles, water hazards, ditches, 3) jumping - a thrill to watch.

Prices can be steep, so check online for lower advanced pricing.  The Rolex takes two tickets, one for grounds admission ($20 to $40 for adults) and one for stadium competition seats ($10-$40 daily).

A friend of mine from my MBA college program has family in KY, living and breathing horse breeding and racing.  Kentucky residents are fortunate to be surrounded by horse farms and events:  Kentucky Derby, North American Junior/Young Rider Championships, American Saddlebred World's Championship Horse Show, Paso Pino Horse Association Grand National Championship Show.

You don't need to live near KY to find a horse event.  You can find events across the US and throughout the year.  Here's 7 other horse events (locations and dates may change):
1.  FEI World Cup Show Jumping & Dressage Finals -April, Las Vegas, NV 

2.  International Friesian Show Horse Association World & Grand National Horse Show- Sept., Burbank, CA

3.  AQHA World Show - Nov., Oklahoma City, OK

4.  Super Ride US Equestrian Drill Ride Championship - June, Lindale, TX 

5.  American Eventing Championships - Sept., Tyler, TX

6.  Arabian Sport Horse Nationals - July, Namba, ID

7.  Arabian Youth Nationals - Albuquerque, NM