Ready, Set, Grow: The FARM Program

At the F.A.R.M. garden here at camp, there’s a lot growing! Butternut and yellow crookneck squashes, cucumbers, watermelon, pumpkin, sunflowers, basil, sage, several kinds of tomatoes, and four different kinds of peppers. Soon the carrots and onions will begin to show too, and earlier in the summer we were lucky to have a great harvest of strawberries. However, the plants in the garden beds aren’t the only things growing - the boys are also going through a lot of growth themselves each day at camp!

F.A.R.M. stands for Food, Animals, Repurposing, and Manpower - all things that we learn about and use in the program. Boys care for the chickens, learn about repurposing materials to reduce waste, use manpower instead of machinery, and grow different kinds of food. Just like other activities at camp, boys have the opportunity to work on the five different progression levels, culminating with the achievement of “Warrior”.

Charlie R. just achieved the level of Challenger this week, and has already begun working towards Ranger. Ranger is one level below Warrior, and Charlie is determined to reach it one day. “I started working on my progressions in 2019, and want to get a Warrior in 3 different activities so I can be a Journeyman.”

Yesterday Charlie was working on drying and collecting seeds from the vegetables that had grown, in order to get more seeds to replant. He was harvesting seeds from the tomatoes and the kale plants. The kale was easier since the seeds grew in pods, which he would just have to pick and wait for the pods to dry. The tomatoes were a more involved process since the seeds are covered in a jelly-like substance that acts as a germination inhibitor, preventing the seeds from sprouting prematurely.

To prepare the seeds for planting, Charlie had to pick some ripe tomatoes, cut them open to scoop out the seeds, and place the seed and tomato goop mixture in a jar. He then filled the jar half full with water and let it sit overnight so the seeds would sink to the bottom. Today when he heads back to the FARM, he should be able to scoop out the separated seeds and let them dry out on a paper towel, so they’re ready to be planted and sprout into new tomato plants.

Earlier this week, Charlie was working on another one of his progressions to reach Ranger: a soil test. Charlie tested the soil in the tomato garden bed to measure the pH, potash (potassium), nitrogen, and phosphorus. Charlie explained this process, “So I would have a shovel and go a few inches deep in the tomato plants to get some soil. I would put it in this bowl with four cups of water, still it up, and let it sit for half an hour.” He would then take four samples of the soil water to measure, breaking open the four different kinds of chemical capsules to measure soil makeup.

While the phosphorus test was inconclusive, the soil test revealed a few ways that he could improve the tomato garden bed. The nitrogen levels were adequate, but the potassium levels were deficient. “I think we could put banana peels in the soil to raise the potassium levels,” he thought. The soil acidity was between a 5.5 and 6. “I guessed slight acidic, so I was pretty close,” Charlie said. He wants to add some orange peels to the bed to make it a little more acidic for the tomatoes. Zeb, the FARM manager, has been working with Charlie to help him achieve his progressions, and is impressed by Charlie’s efforts. “He’s motivated,” Zeb says,

Progressions aren’t the only thing that brings boys to the FARM though. In 2nd period yesterday, George from Alexandria, LA and George from Miami, FL were both helping improve the coop run for the chickens. They were gathering sticks and branches to create forts for the chickens to hide and play in, as well as peck for bugs. George from Miami said that he enjoyed spending time with the chickens, especially because at his new house, he hopes to one day have chickens of his own. He had been learning about them this session and planning ahead. Learning how to care for something other than yourself can be a valuable lesson while at the FARM - plus, the chickens are fun to watch and hang out with!

A growth mindset is what we hope to foster with boys at FARM, and all around camp. It’s another new day here at Falling Creek - ready, set, grow!