Teachers got up close and personal with peacocks, chickens and goats as they explored Down To Earth Adventure Farm recently.

During the 1 ½ -hour adventure, the primary and high school educators pet and fed donkeys, learned about native plants, the 21-day egg hatching process and more. The field trip was a part of the Ministry of Education’s Summer Professional Development Workshops for Senior High School Social Science teachers.

“It’s an education tour where we explain step by step the process from seedlings to crop, egg production and how chickens are hatched,” said Caron Shepherd, Manager of Down To Earth Adventure Farm.

“We took the teachers around the 9-acre farm and showed them different animals in their habitat. We showed them ducks, 15 breeds of chickens, guinea hens, geese, ponies, donkeys and pigs.”

Perlene Baker, Curriculum Officer, with responsibility for Social Science subjects said, “We have to promote agriculture. Farming is a big component in the Geography curriculum.

“We are trying to use farming as a key area in our research. We need to make the curriculum rigorous and to do this you have to see it in action. Teachers came here and they got a better appreciation for farm life and what farming is all about and some of the indigenous fruits you don’t normally see. We want them to bring students here to make farming relevant.”

Following the tour the teachers enjoyed complimentary lunch of pizza made on the farm in a homemade pizza oven.

Teachers view livestock and crops at Down To Earth Adventure Farm.

Photos by: Patrick Hanna