Are you looking for a fun outdoor activity that you get to walk away with fresh food to take home? U-Pick Farms is the answer for you! There are many to choose from in Central Florida and in this blog I write about the four we have visited. I'll share ideas on how to incorporate learning together before, during and after your visit with educational insights that are quick and to the point so multitasking moms like me can be a mom-boss (or dad-boss) while making sure your kid is the most well-rounded and smartest on the block!
The four farms we have visited so far are:
- Bekemeyer Family Farm in Winter Garden, FL. Click to watch the video of our visit there!
- Pappy's Patch in Oviedo, FL. Click to watch the video of our visit there!
- Southern Hill Farms in Clermont, FL Click to watch the video of our visit there!
- Beck Brothers blueberries in Windermere, FL Click to watch the video of our visit there!
Before
- Each has their own social media outlets where they post the most up-to-date information for daily picking options. (Most have Facebook and Instagram). Be sure to check these often so that you know the operating hours on the day you plan to go, as well as what is being offered.
- Depending on your familiarity with farming, you may have lots of knowledge to share with your child! I am no green thumb by any means, so books and videos help my family. You can prepare the day by learning anything from planting and growing plants, fruits, and trees to farm life to taking care of the land. Bekemeyer Family Farm uses hydroponics so that could be fun research.
- We didn't see too many farm animals on our visits, but this could be another fun way to introduce farm animals to your child through items you might already have: puzzles, toys, books, stuffed animals and videos.
- While in school, your child starts learning some concepts of photosynthesis early on, so reading a book about it together can connect the learning from school to home. As a teacher, I loved the Magic School Bus offerings of various subjects, so you might be able to find the book or video for photosynthesis.
During
- Some places charge by quantity, some charge by pound. This is a great way to learn and reinforce counting and weighing skills. Have your child estimate how much/how many before paying for the exact amount. Watch this video to see how we counted our blueberries when we got home!
- Connect what you may have talked about and learned before your visit by asking questions at the farm. What do you notice about the strawberries that are red and the ones that are green? Why do you think some blueberries are not blue yet? Why do the orange trees have hoses/plastic pipes through the rows? What do you think the tractors are for? Why is farming so important? How did this family figure out how to grow plants one above the other? -This last question is specifically for the Bekemeyer Family Farm. These types of questions would take some thinking for your child to answer, the kind that teachers aim to ask students to develop critical thinking skills. If you have a toddler, you might ask, "What color are the strawberries?" This is an identifying type of question because toddler is identifying colors and there is a usually a one word answer. See how complex you can make your own questions!
- Talk with the farm owners or available personnel about when fruit or vegetables are ripe for picking, how to know when they are okay for picking and how to pick. Not only are you finding out information that your child is listening to, but you are modeling how to ask questions and listen to another person's expertise. Your child is always watching and learning from you!
After
- Going home with all of goodies is the best part! There are so many possibilities that await!
- While at the farm, you may have guessed how many/how much you picked. When you get home, have your children predict, estimate and count a container full. Watch this video to see how we did it!
- Look up a recipe and try cooking something new together.
- Show your child how to wash and prep the food, when age appropriate.
- Try planting a fruit or vegetable in your garden/home/etc.
- My one year old just got this Learning Resources' Farmer's Market Sorting Set and I am so excited to start working on colors soon! For now, she is enjoying the textures and putting the items in the baskets. My four-year-old-niece definitely had fun sorting by colors. My seven-year-old niece enjoyed making up a story to go with the toy. I love toys that can reach multiple ages! Check out this video to see us using the toy in action!
- If you were able to read a book or watch a video before your visit, now would be a good time to revisit the same book/video to reinforce the learning. Before the visit you were helping build background knowledge for your child, and watching it again after the visit allows your child to make connections from the real world to what she learned in the book/video. It helps make the learning stick around longer too!
I hope one of these suggestions is good for your family to try out for your next trip to a U-Pick Farm! Learning is everywhere!!
