Piney Woods Seed-to-Harvest Summer Camp
Join us this summer for Piney Woods Farm’s Seed-to-Harvest Summer Camp!
Sign up to pre-register for the camp, securing your spot. Limited to the first 20 participants to signup.
In this six-week program, we will learn and walk through all that is needed to start a garden -- from soil composition, to seeding in the greenhouse, to planting our seedlings for an end-of-camp harvest. In our time together, we will explore many farm topics including: pollination, working with farm fibers, foraging, food preservation and cooking with nature. Each week will feature a special guest speaker and teacher for full coverage of our focus each week. We will tend to our garden daily to develop a deep appreciation for our foods and famers who provide our produce, as well as care for the farm animals from chickens to goats!
Duration: 6 weeks
Dates: June: 2nd - 27th / July: 7th - 18th
Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Drop-Off Pick-up: 9:15-9:30AM 1:15-1:30PM
Location: Piney Woods Farm, LaGrange
Age Group: Kids from 5 (by Sept. 1) to 12-years-old
Lunch: Each child should bring their own lunch and reusable water bottles to enjoy during a community picnic each afternoon.
Farm grown vegetables, fruits and organic healthy snacks will be provided to each day.
The Seed-to-Harvest of Piney Woods program is designed to reconnect children with the earth, helping them:
• Develop a deep appreciation for the environment.
• Strengthen critical thinking and creativity through hands-on discovery.
• Build life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and responsibility.
• Experience the joy and calm of being immersed in the natural world.
The Six-Week Dance
Week 1 // Planting & Preparing the Soil - Compost
- Prepare the soil for planting.
- Learn about composting and soil health.
- Plant seeds and seedlings.
- Understanding the importance of healthy soil.
- Exploring plant life cycles.
- Hands-on gardening skills.
Week 2 // Pollinators & Beekeeping
- Create natural dyes using fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
- Dye fabric pieces or clothing.
- Learning how plants can produce color.
- Understanding sustainable craft techniques.
Week 3 // Preserving & Conserving Food
- Learn techniques like drying, pickling, and fermenting.
- Preserve fruits and vegetables harvested.
- Developing awareness of food preservation.
- Understanding how to reduce food waste sustainably.
Week 4 // Nature Art - Natural Dye
- Paint with flower pigments and natural materials.
- Create mandalas using leaves, stones, and flowers.
- Encouraging creativity through nature.
- Exploring art as a form of connection to the environment.
Week 5 // Harvesting/Foraging
- Harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the garden.
- Learn proper harvesting techniques.
- Understanding the effort involved in growing food.
- Appreciating the rewards of hard work in nature.
Week 6 // Cooking with Nature
- Use harvested ingredients to prepare simple meals.
- Explore flavors using herbs and spices.
- Connecting food preparation to the growing process.
- Fostering teamwork through cooking.
The cost of the program is weekly $150 and total program cost $900, there are payment plan options and financial aid is available.
Meet our teachers and camp leaders:
Keyal Loveland is currently serving as an instructor at Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve Nature School where she teaches at Woodland Wonders, an outdoor nature program for children ages 3-6. She also established and currently teaches a gardening program at First Presbyterian’s Montessori School. Keyal is passionate about connecting children to their food, creating a deeper appreciation and understanding of how our foods are created, and how they shape our bodies’, minds’ and spirits’.
Keyal is the owner and creator of Love + Land Seasonal Goods, a Community Shared Apothecary program that provides custom seed-to-shelf culinary and medicinal herbal products from local, farm grown, chemical-free herbs and produce.
Sara Botero is passionate educator focused on hands-on learning, creativity, and nature-based education for children. With a background in Waldorf education, Sara is passionate about awakening natural wonder in children by cultivating imagination, creativity, and a deep respect for the natural rhythms of life.
Please pre-register in the link and we will contact you shortly with payment information.