We came away realizing that the choices we make when purchasing food are more complicated than we realized.
On Day Two, we had so much fun helping farmers by herding chickens, learning more about their farm layout, and the history of farming in the U.S. and in New Jersey! It was really cool to learn about chickens and alpacas. We started the day with a presentation in the greenhouse, where Liam and Gaby, our farm hosts, educated us about their story and their mission. We also got a brief overview of the history of agriculture, including regenerative and sustainable farming practices. We learned about seasonality and the commercial side of food production and distribution. Finally, we were quizzed on what fruits were grown during what season/month, which surprised us. Did you know that blueberries are imported to N.J. during January? One thing that also surprised us was when Liam taught us what it takes to be labeled “certified organic.” We came away realizing that the choices we make when purchasing food are more complicated than we realized.
Our favorite part of the day was herding the chickens! Trying to move their coop to another area of land, one of Liam and Gaby’s sustainable practices of rotational grazing, turned out to be chaotic, fun, and a great bonding experience. The chickens were so much fun to hold and run around with. We were also able to learn that being a farmer also sometimes means being a veterinarian. We observed Liam while he administered health checks and medications to the alpacas (Karl, Bruce, and Doc) and the chickens. These activities helped us learn about the farmers’ big goal of growing their farm since they are first-generation farmers. They want to keep their plants healthy so they can share the food with their family and friends. Liam and Gaby emphasized that running their farm is hard work, but incredibly rewarding. It was a great day, and we learned a lot about farming and taking care of animals!