Historic Johnson Farm

Thank you to Furman student Anna Richardson for interning at the farm for both the spring and summer semesters. Anna was always willing to help out wherever it was needed. She led tours, helped with field trips, led a rotation for summer camps, created much of the programming for the May Farm School, and designed a new timeline display for the Interpretive Center. She was even brave enough to drive the tractor and wagon for many kids! We will miss having Anna around the farm as she starts her new school year.

Are you interested in learning more about the numerous volunteer opportunities at the farm? Join us on August 21 at 10 AM!

Public schools started yesterday, and teachers are busy booking farm field trips for the school year! Historic Johnson Farm will be offering a homeschool field trip day on September 20 for homeschool families. Participants will enjoy a farm house tour, visit to the one-room school house, and a lesson with the Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists. Adults are required to stay with their child(ren) at all times; this is not a drop-off event.

More information and registration here: https://forms.gle/sCNRCchBiu9SnnMH8

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, August 31 to help with the bi-annual cleaning of the historic farm house. Cleanings like this are necessary in order to protect the artifacts as well as the building itself. All supplies are provided, and it is actually quite fun! Email [email protected] for more information.

Today was puppy day at the farm as part of our series with Blue Ridge Humane Society!

Just before the rain started, Goose and Otter got to explore the farm and were excellent models for a photoshoot.

Goose is a 9 month old, tail-wagging girl who is up for an adventure. She already knows sit and seemed to be smiling for the pictures! Otter is a 4 month old, small girl who loves to give kisses! To learn more about them or their friends, visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs/

Are you interested in learning more about the numerous volunteer opportunities at the farm? Join us two weeks from today on August 21 at 10 AM!

Have you seen the massive vegetable garden planted by West Henderson High School agriculture students this spring? It is producing so many different vegetables, and West student Eli T. has been taking care of the garden all summer. He even led some campers in seed identification and thinning out the cucumber crop! Thanks to the Henderson County Farm Bureau for funding the summer student stipend.

Oftentimes extra veggies can be collected from the Interpretive Center front porch, so stop by and pick some up!

Historic Johnson Farm is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $50,000 USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant.

The federal Farm to School grant program supports initiatives that connect U.S. school children with farms and farming. Nationwide, the program awarded 154 grants this year; Historic Johnson Farm was one of only two grant recipients in the state of North Carolina.

This grant will create a rare opportunity for Henderson County Public Schools teachers. For the next two years, small groups of HCPS 8th grade teachers will spend time at Historic Johnson Farm and other farm sites redesigning some of their classroom lesson plans so they can be taught as hands-on projects at the Farm. Teachers will receive training and coaching support from state-wide educational consulting company, Constructive Learning Design. During the year-long experience, HCPS 8th grade students will also come to the Farm and test-drive the lesson plans their teachers have developed.

“This grant is so great because it will create a lot of opportunities for HPCS students, especially students who are a little older, to come and learn here on the Farm.” says HJF Executive Director, Mandy Gibson.

Titled “RootEd in Food and Farm,” this new project is a partnership between Historic Johnson Farm, Henderson County Public Schools, and Constructive Learning Design. HJF also would like to thank UNC Asheville’s Office of Postsecondary Planning and Preparation for their support and technical assistance in making this opportunity possible for HCPS teachers and students.

Do you know an 8th grade HCPS teacher interested in learning more about the program? Have them email [email protected]!

Check out the farm's 2023-2024 Annual Report and read about the past year!

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGJJHKWSrA/YkjG8WAI7TzXfWjCUlrguw/view?utm_content=DAGJJHKWSrA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

On the last day of camp, campers made slime, completed a foil embossing craft, played more sardines, and made ice cream in a bag. They finished off the week offering tours for over 50 visitors! Campers rocked their parts and taught visitors about the history of the farm.

Yesterday the campers ventured out to Chimney Rock. Despite a massive tree falling and preventing us from completing the waterfall hike, everyone still had fun going up to the chimney and exploring the area.

Yesterday morning was full of fiber arts for the middle school campers. The Weavers & Fiber Artists taught campers how to slentra braid keychains, and then campers wove on cardboard looms. Campers also picked vegetables from the farm's garden, visited the animals, and had plenty of time for games, including the ever popular sardines (backwards hide and seek). Campers also used hammers and nails to make tin can lanterns. After some trial and error, we learned how to make it better next time!

Finally, campers worked on their parts for tomorrow's FREE FARM TOURS. Be sure to stop by the farm from 1-3 PM tomorrow (Friday) to hear from the campers!

Yesterday was a day full of animal adventures for the campers!

First, campers got to learn all about llamas and alpacas at Ellaberry Llama Farm . They got to walk these animals through an obstacle course and then walk them down to the creek to cool off.

After a picnic lunch and games, campers traveled to Hendo Care Farm to meet and feed goats, chickens, pigs, and horses. Campers got to cool off in another creek and pick wild blackberries.

Remember to stop by the farm this Friday from 1-3 PM to take a FREE tour from these campers!

Yesterday was a great first day of Middle School Farm Camp!

Campers took a farm tour, painted various crafts, played games, did fingerprint analysis, and extracted DNA from various fruits.

Come out to the farm this Friday from 1-3 PM as the campers will be stationed throughout the farm giving FREE farm tours! Please come support them as they work hard throughout this week to prepare their parts.

We hope to see you at the Honeycrisps game today!

Come out to the Hendersonville Honeycrisps baseball game today at 2 PM! The farm is the non-profit sponsor for this game and will have a table set up for attendees to learn about the farm. More information can be found here: https://www.hendersonvillehoneycrisps.com

Come out to the Hendersonville Honeycrisps baseball game this Saturday at 2 PM! The farm is the non-profit sponsor for this game and will have a table set up for attendees to learn about the farm. More information can be found here: https://www.hendersonvillehoneycrisps.com/

It was a great last two days of Farm & Arts Camp! Campers played in the creek, watched fireworks in a jar, made slime, tie-dyed paper, and created lizards/snakes/axolotls. Today campers did scavenger hunts, rode on the wagon, played lots of games, and made homemade ice cream. While some said it was too much work, others said they would love to make all the ice cream they eat :) Then they showed off all their masterpieces in the Camp Showcase.

Thanks so much to all the camp leaders and helpers that made this week possible!!

Today at Farm & Arts Camp, campers learned all about antique cars and how car safety has changed through the years. They did experiments with pennies and Skittles and made puppets. They also learned how to finger knit and spool knit from the Weavers & Fiber Artists .

Today was a fun day at Farm & Arts Camp!
In art, campers began their weaving projects with the plates they painted yesterday. In farm, the campers explored the old schoolhouse, visited the animals, and decorated pots before planting seeds in them. For STEM, campers made marshmallow shooters and designed boats to see whose boats would float and hold the most weight!

We welcomed a new group of campers today for fun and games! Campers made nature collages and bird feeders, painted, participated in team-building bridge and tower challenges, visited the animals, and more. Thank you to Caregivers of Mother Earth for leading a station today.

Today at camp, campers displayed the crafts they’ve worked on all week for the Camp Showcase for their family and friends. They also did fitness scavenger hunts, went on wagon rides, visited the animals, and made homemade ice cream!

Huge thanks to all the leaders and helpers who made this week possible! Thank you April, Anna, Kemper, Katya, Sofia, Aunica, Gracie, Alaynah, Janessa, Samantha, Bryce, McKinney, Caroline, and Eli!

Today was a messy but exciting day at camp. Campers made slime and watched fireworks in a jar. They worked on finishing their weaving projects and many began making Kumihimo bracelets. Other campers worked on coloring with oil pastels. The campers also got to play in the creek and even found some salamanders!

Today was a great day at camp! Campers learned finger knitting and spool knitting from the Weavers & Fiber Artists . Farm garden intern Eli taught campers about different seeds and the vegetables plants they produce. Campers also got to decorate and pot flowers or grass seeds. Finally, campers experimented with water on pennies to see how many drops a penny could hold and poured hot water on Skittles to see what happened.

Today was another busy day at camp. Campers began weaving projects in art, made foil boats and marshmallow shooters in STEM, and learned about old cars and how automobile technology has changed in the farm rotation. They even got farm money and a list of car features (brake lights, rear view mirrors, seatbelts, etc.) and had to determine what was most important and what to spend their money on when designing a car. There was time for games and even some line dancing!

Today was a great first day of the June Farm & Arts Camp!

Campers did a nature walk and nature crafts with local partner Caregivers of Mother Earth. They also painted plates in preparation of a weaving project later this week. For the first time ever, the third rotation of the camp week is STEM focused. Campers worked in teams to build bridges and towers out of ordinary office/craft supplies. And of course there was plenty of time for games and visits with the animals!

Today was the monthly visit from Blue Ridge Humane Society.

Pineapple is a 1 year white dog who gives the best kisses and is eager to please. She walks well on a leash and loved exploring the farm.

Hodor is a 2 year old chocolate and white mix who may be the best "sitter" that's visited the farm so far. He walks very well on a leash and is sweet and gentle.

To meet either of these dogs or any of the other animals at Blue Ridge, visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/adopt/

It is time to start gathering supplies for the farm's summer day camps! Many of our needed items are things you may have laying around the house. Before we purchase them, we wanted to check with people to see if they may have things like straws, rubber bands, pencils, and more.
View our wish list here! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/22TYX7NRVSM6Q...

While the groups were smaller this time around, the May Farm School participants had fun learning about healthy living through nutritious foods and exercise. They learned about the different food groups through memory games and fast food nutrition scavenger hunts. They also exercised through fitness bingo, scavenger hunts, and orienteering activities. And they of course spent time with the animals!