Walking/Talking
Study ToursThe
Small Farm Training Center draws a few thousand visitors each year.
Guests are escorted through a beautifully kept ¼ acre showpiece garden
where they see and learn about exotic and heirloom vegetables, Old World
culinary herbs, Native American food plants, flowers, and medicinal herbs
from India. If you prefer exploring on your own, please feel free to roam.
Most of the 50 plus growing beds are marked with explanatory signs. Guests
are also welcome to just relax and enjoy the park like atmosphere provided
by several shaded sitting areas. Kids can tag along with their parents or
have fun planting seeds and watering in a specially designated “children’s
mini farm.” The educational garden is flanked on one side by four friendly
goats and on the other side by the dairy barn. Open dawn to dusk. No
appointment necessary.
Group
Touring - We equally welcome large groups to our gardens. Many
youth groups, college classes, senior citizens on chartered buses and
foreign tourists have traversed our grassy pathways. Large group or small
group, special care is taken to provide comfortable seating and the chance
for questions and answers. We have accommodated as many as 75 curiosity
seekers at a time. If you call or email before your visit, we can better
prepare. Appointments are appreciated but not required.
Educational
Forums for Holidays and Weekends - Show and tell styled
presentations, aided by lively talks, are regularly scheduled events during
busy weekends and holidays. Many of our presentations focus on personal and
family health issues, such as how to find outlets for affordable organic
foods, how chemically grown food inhibits the transfer of good genetic
traits even before conception, and the role of animals (especially cows) in
sustainable farming. In the words of one visitor last summer, “The garden
was spectacular but the discussion about the importance of finding a safe
food supply has really changed how our family looks at their food choices
now….thanks for caring enough to share the good advise.”
Small
Farm Library - Many volumes of books, periodicals, journals, USDA
pamphlets, videos and slides are available. Assisted research for persons
seeking specific information must be prearranged. The library is located
inside our guests facility—called Mom’s Place--, directly next to the
display garden. It is open to the public for browsing Tuesday through
Sunday, 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.
'City
Mouse, Country Mouse' Land Link Program - The Land Link Program
matches city folks looking for gardening space with country folks willing
to share available farmland and mentoring skills. For example, we currently
provides 4ft x 30 ft. growing beds to families or novice gardeners living
in a nearby apartment complex. The Land Link Program strengthens the bond
between urban consumers and rural growers.
Picture
Legend:
1). Photo No.1: Professor Rosenthal and students from Hanover College in
Indiana
2). Photo No.2: A group tour of the Teaching Garden
3). Photo No.3: Shaded gazebo shelters visitors during a workshop
presentation
4). Photo No.4: ".....and the meek shall inherit the earth....."
5).Photo No.5: Visiting kids ready to take an herbal walk
Walking/Talking
Study Tours 
Group
Touring - We equally welcome large groups to our gardens. Many
youth groups, college classes, senior citizens on chartered buses and
foreign tourists have traversed our grassy pathways. Large group or small
group, special care is taken to provide comfortable seating and the chance
for questions and answers. We have accommodated as many as 75 curiosity
seekers at a time. If you call or email before your visit, we can better
prepare. Appointments are appreciated but not required.
Educational
Forums for Holidays and Weekends - Show and tell styled
presentations, aided by lively talks, are regularly scheduled events during
busy weekends and holidays. Many of our presentations focus on personal and
family health issues, such as how to find outlets for affordable organic
foods, how chemically grown food inhibits the transfer of good genetic
traits even before conception, and the role of animals (especially cows) in
sustainable farming. In the words of one visitor last summer, “The garden
was spectacular but the discussion about the importance of finding a safe
food supply has really changed how our family looks at their food choices
now….thanks for caring enough to share the good advise.”
Small
Farm Library - Many volumes of books, periodicals, journals, USDA
pamphlets, videos and slides are available. Assisted research for persons
seeking specific information must be prearranged. The library is located
inside our guests facility—called Mom’s Place--, directly next to the
display garden. It is open to the public for browsing Tuesday through
Sunday, 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.
'City
Mouse, Country Mouse' Land Link Program - The Land Link Program
matches city folks looking for gardening space with country folks willing
to share available farmland and mentoring skills. For example, we currently
provides 4ft x 30 ft. growing beds to families or novice gardeners living
in a nearby apartment complex. The Land Link Program strengthens the bond
between urban consumers and rural growers.