Charles L. Bowers School Farm

We've just rounded up an egg-cellent Everyday Agriculture program with our Bloomfield Hills Schools' third graders. No better time to be on the farm than spring in order to learn about what day-to-day life on the farm is like! Program participants studied our Barnyard Babies, our Sleeping Seeds, our Living Soil, and the Chicken Life Cycle, and made detailed scientific observations within their very own Everyday Agriculture notebooks. One group was even lucky enough to witness a mother goat give birth! 

This month has marked many new arrivals to the farm! In addition to our three new staff members, we've welcomed two calves, five goat kids, and countless spring flowers! Some of our baby goats have been named: their very original titles include Pee-wee, Emma, Rosie, last but not least "Benny Ninja." 

April's showers spring May flowers, which means our summer camps here at Bowers School Farm are quickly approaching! Our multitude of camp topics include the following: (brief subject descriptions in parenthesis)
Healthy Hearts, Hooves and Hocks (farm & animal)
Dairy Discovery (farm & animal)
Equine Excursion for Beginners (beginner horse riding)
Know and Grow your Food (farm & garden)
Barnyard Buddies (ages 3-5)

View dates, prices, check availability, and register at:
https://register.communitypass.net/BloomfieldHillsSchoolDistrict/
 

Take a look at a few of last year's photos in order to get an idea of all the fun that's in store for our Summer 2018 camp programs: 

Now that spring has FINALLY sprung, the Bowers Farm Spring Fling and Pancake Breakfast has been rescheduled to Saturday May 5th, 2018. Rescheduling was due to the inclement weather we experienced on April 14th. We're looking forward to a marvelous event on May 5th, and are oh so hopeful for nice weather! Take a look at the ice storm which occurred on the fourteenteenth, Spring Fling's original date, and cross your fingers for a sunny and beautiful day for the 5th!!!

Bowers School Farm is overjoyed to welcome three new additions to our team. First off, we welcome Jordan Hewitt as our Farm Site Coordinator. Jordan joins the Bowers School Farm with over 20 years of equestrian experience including over a decade of instructional time covering a variety of disciplines but specializing in driving. Jordan graduated with a degree in Animal Science specializing in Agribusiness Management from MSU and continues to work towards a Masters in Agricultural Education. In addition to her equine experience, she has several years of small ruminant facility management and most recently was the livestock manager for a living history site. In Jordan's own words: " I look forward to creating the most authentic farm experience possible for the students and hopefully my time farming with horses can come in use when creating the backstory for how agriculture has evolved." 

We are also thrilled to welcome Rachel Duncan as our Farm Caretaker. Rachel grew up on a hobby farm with horses, goats, chickens and rabbits and has had lifelong experience of owning, training and rehabilitating horses.  She works mostly evening, weekends and special events at the farm, which allows her to continue to run her business which she has owned for 20 years: working with adults with disabilities teaching driving, vocational and life skills.  Rachel describes that she is "excited to be a part of the Bowers Farm team of staff and volunteers!" Now residing in the newly spruced farmhouse, you'll be sure to see her around!

And finally, we're ecstatic to have Dayal Cetin join our team as our Garden Leader for the summer of 2018! Danyal joins us with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science and Society, with a concentration in Biology. With experience spent cultivating plants, Danyal looks forward to broadening this passion using his outstanding depth of knowledge to educate Bowers community members and campers. After just one week on the job, Danyal has already made an impressive contribution to our greenhouse and gardens! He reports "I am absolutely thrilled to join the team at Bowers School Farm and the Bloomfield Hills School district!  Here at Bowers, I am excited to share the knowledge I have gained over time and apply it to gardens of all sizes.  I look forward to helping others find a love for growing plants and the importance of sustainable farming." Many thanks for joining us, and welcome, Danyal!

Hello and happy spring from your friends here at the Bowers School Farm! We've had an awesome April, though it was quite a bit arctic at times. Please mark your calendars as our Spring Fling and Pancake Breakfast has been rescheduled to Saturday May, 5th. Take a read of the April Newsletter to hear about this month's happenings and new arrivals at the farm, hooved and human, alike!

Farms are known for growing animals and vegetables, but did you know we also grow staff? On the left, we have a young (and slightly nervous about holding a turkey!) Alan Jaros in the fall of 2003. He was a student in the Agricultural Science course which held classes here at Bowers. It was in this class Alan was able to gain an appreciation for agriculture. Shortly after, Alan was hired as a Farm Instructor to teach this knowledge to students and members of the Bloomfield Hills community. But, he didn't stop there! After graduating from Michigan State University with an MSA, Alan returned once more, but this time as out Farm Educational Leader.

For many reasons, we are lucky here at Bowers. Not only do we have a passionate, dedicated team... we also have very photogenic turkeys! In honor of Alan's April birthday (be sure to wish him a happy belated if you see him!) we've taken this opportunity to celebrate his dedication to Bowers Farm. Thank you for all that you do, Alan!

Visit www.bloomfield.org/summer to register for summer experiences including BHS Recreation Camps at the West Hills Middle School waterfront, Johnson Nature Center camps, Bowers School Farm camps, robotics camps, and more!

Interested in a class at Bowers Farm? Register Here!