Lamb night

posted by Todd
This week we held a lamb training session with one of the other 4-H clubs in Lake County.  I like the fact that while this other club is a big deal in the lamb show all of our kids get together and work hard to help each other and learn how to be better showman.  I admit that I like the competive nature that showing livestock has but it is so neat when you also get to see honest good will and cooperation.  So a big thanks  to the members and leaders of the Country Bumpkins. 

Wagner Farm's demo plot

by Jen

Not wanting the community gardeners to have all the fun, Sarah and I designed a Wagner Farm demo garden in one of the south plots. We're going to use this plot to showcase different growing techniques throughout the gardening season. Wagner Farm campers helped to plant last week, especially enjoying the bike wheel bean trellis and our lettuce checkerboard. Stop by throughout the summer to see how our plot is growing!

Ready for dinner

by Jen

Harvesting is underway at the Community Garden. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and, yes, radishes, are some of the vegetables ready for eating, and eager gardeners are taking them home by the basket. 

Sweets and Treats Week

Posted by Sarah

We're celebrarting the start of summer with a sizzling celebration.  All this week Sweets and Treats Ice Cream Parlor will offer discouts on food and fun activities for our visitors.  Take a spin on the prize wheel and win a free topping!  Bring your grandparents with you on Friday for a special savings day!  And so much more!! 

Kicking off the Glenview Farmers Market

posted by Todd
This past Saturday the Farm hosted the first of the seasons Glenview Farmers Market.  Usually it takes a little time to get the word out that we have started up but not this year.  Saturday's attendance was 1,831 people making it the third largest single day turn out in the 24 year history of the market. Besides great fruit and vegtables there was cheese, meat and even dairy products straight off the farm.  We kicked the market off with a 4-H parade and singing of the national anthem. 
Hope to see everyone next week at the market!

Dollar Drop In Activities for the week of June 25

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 25


Monday, June 25 10-11 am: Egg Candling Demonstration

Tuesday June 26 10-11 am: Meet a Cow: Dairy Products
                           4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Wednesday June 27 10-11 am: Ice Cream Making Demonstration

Thursday June 28 10-11 am: Meet a Chicken
                            4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Friday June 29 10-11 am: Prizes in a Hay Stack

Missing

posted by Todd
On our last trip to the creek with the pigs one of our 4-Hers learned about the hazards of crossing a muddy creek.  Kelly went in with two boots and only came out with one.  Hope the pigs appreciated her sacrifice.

Gardening 101

Posted by Sarah

Last week Jen Roberts, our community garden programmer, led a Gardening Basics class to a group of eager students.  She spent time reviewing soil treatment, proper water and sunlight tips, and shared information on seeds vs. transplants.  Everyone had a chance to get their hands dirty and learned some great new skills.
Please join us for our next class on Thursday July 12 at 6:30.  RSVP to Jen Roberts at jennifer.roberts@glenviewparks.org.  The class costs $15. 
Happy Summer!

Keeping everyone cool

posted by Todd
With the heat this week we took special measures to keep the livestock comfortable.  Some of our efforts were a little more adventurous than others.  For the chickens it meant a Kubota ride to the basement.  The cattle got a cold water spray down.  The pigs took a short walk to the back of the property where the creek makes a turn and has a little pool. They very much enjoyed the trip.

More photos from Saturday's Dairy Breakfast

Over 1,200 people enjoyed breakfast at the farm Saturday. Thank you again to our partner Egg Harbor of Glenview. We couldn't do it without you! And be sure to join us this Saturday, 8 am-noon, June 23 for the opening day of the 2012 Farmer's Market season.

Dairy Breakfast 2012

 

Real cows, cows that you can color on, hay rides and pancakes brought smiles to many at Saturday's 10th annual Dairy Breakfast. On the contrary, the milk-chugging contest created some extra shirts in the laundry. But a great time was had by all! Thank you Egg Harbor of Glenview for you continued support.

Dollar Drop In Activites for the week of June 18

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 18


Monday, June 18 10-11 am: Meet the Team: Come for a Ride

Tuesday June 19 10-11 am: Animal Face Painting
                           4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Wednesday June 20 10-11 am: Make a Baby Chick Cookie

Thursday June 21 10-11 am: Wheat Grinding Demonstration
                            4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Friday June 22  10-11 am: Design a Cow Craft

4-H trip to Misercordia

posted by Todd When most people think of 4-H their first thoughts go to the fair and showing livestock.  While this is a large part of what the Glenview Clovers do they also spend time doing community service work.  This week they took some of their animals to Chicago to visit Misercordia so that the residents meet some farm animals. It was a hit and there were tons of smiles and new friendships made.

A Decade of Breakfast

A breakfast not to be missed! Join us this Saturday for our 10th Annual Dairy Breakfast! Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults and children 10 and over, $5 for kids 2-10 years old, under 2 are free. After filling up on scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes and juice...enjoy wagon rides, dairy demonstrations, milk-chugging contests, live music, crafts and more!

Cookin' up some Cherry Cobbler

Posted by Sarah

Everyday from 10-3 visitors can tour our 1920's farmhouse.  Staff love using our wood burning stove as much as possible so guests can see, and smell, what life was like on this farm long ago.  Sometimes we even have a visitor who likes to help with the baking!  Clarie, one of our docents, picked the cherries from our orchard and Mary Beth, a programmer and the farms resident storyteller, made a delicious cherry cobbler.  Wagner Farm staff recommends enjoying this treat with some vanilla ice cream!

Black cow

posted by Jeff
While they say a cow can't change her spots we proved them wrong.  Today we painted one of our fiberglass cows with chalkboard paint so that kids can design it for the Dairy Breakfast this weekend.  Should be a fun activity.

Dollar Drop In Fun

Posted by Sarah

One of our fun drop in activities is when our guests have a chance to meet Bob and Sue, the farm's draft horse team.  This week visitors learned some grooming basics.  This is, by far, the horses favorite drop in!  How do I know this- Sue kept falling asleep!  Come out and join us for our next horse activity on Monday June 17 between 10:00 and 11:00am.

Dollar Drop In's are Back!

We're getting into the full swing of things around here with summer camp starting and the Dairy Breakfast coming up fast.  We've also started our Dollar Drop In activities for the summer.  Join us every Monday-Friday between 10:00 and 11:00 and take part in a craft, animal experience, or fun activity-all for just $1.00!  Check the blog every Sunday to see the week's activities.  Here's what's on schedule for this week:

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 11

Monday, June 11 10-11 am: Meet the Team: Grooming and Basic Care

Tuesday June 12 10-11 am: Meet a Chicken: The Basics
4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Wednesday June 13 10-11 am: Drive a Tractor

Thursday June 14 10-11 am: Meet a Cow: Learn the Breeds
4 pm: Storytime with Mary Beth (free)

Friday June 15 10-11 am: No Activity Today-join us tomorrow for the Dairy Breakfast!

Good bye to friends

posted by Todd:
We recently lost a couple of our WF favorites, Rob and Lindsay as they moved on to start the next chapter of their life.  Lindsay first came to us as an EIU graduate intern and did such a good job we kept her around for the next two years.  When her boyfriend Rob finished his masters degree we took advantage of his background in construction to help with the building of the new shed and the silo project.  Because of their work with the silo we sent them off with a framed print of one of the exhibit panels. Hopefully it will remind them of their time down on the farm. We'll miss you guys.

Summer time stories

posted by Todd:
This week we start offering one of my summer favorites, story time.  Mary Beth does such a good job of preparing a story with all the props.  If you have some young ones or just want to hear a story stop by on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 4:00

Summertime Strawberries and Pies

Posted by Sarah

One of the sure signs that summer is approaching is when the first ripe strawberries make an appearance in the garden.  June is a favorite month among many staff at Wagner Farm because we get to enjoy this fruitful bounty for several weeks.  Our rhubarb plants also look lovely this time of year, so I put the two together and made a strawberry rhubarb pie a couple weeks ago for folks to enjoy.  I started wondering what kinds of recipes my historic cookbooks had for this kind of pie, so I went to one of my favorites: The White House Cookbook from 1887.  To my surprise, I only found a recipe for rhubarb pie-strawberries were completely absent!  In light of this discovery, I thought I would share the recipe with our readers for your own culinary pleasure.  Happy pie baking (and eating!).

Rhubarb Pie
The White House Cookbook
Mrs. F. L Gillette and Hugo Ziemann, 1887

Cut the large stalks off where the leaves commence, strip off the outside skin, then cut the stalks in pieces half an inch long; line a pie-dish with paste rolled rather thicker than a dollar piece, put a layer of the rhubarb nearly an inch deep;  to a quart bowl of cut rhubarb put a large teacupful of sugar;  strew it over with a saltspoonful of salt and a little nutmeg grated;  shake over a little flour;  cover with a rich pie-crust, cut a slit in the centre, trim off the edge with a sharp knife, and bake in a quick oven until the pie loosens from the dish.  Rhubarb pies made in this way are altogether superior to those made of the fruit stewed.