Lake Country School Land School

Below you will find a description of the events that typically occur in a calendar month at the Lake Country Land School.

Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec

January

January is a slow month at the Land School. The Land School managers are on vacation. Here are some things that happen on the farm in January:

Feeding and watering of farm animals.
Stocking of birdblind.
Ski trail making with snowshoes.
Occasional visits by families or small groups to ski, slide, snowshoe, watch birds, stay in the bunkhouse.

February

February is a month of planning and preparation. In addition to the activities of January, there are a few more things that go on. February activities include:

The third JH Farm Stay begins.
Feeding and watering of farm animals.
Occasional visits by families or small groups to ski, slide, snowshoe, watch birds, stay in the bunkhouse.
Planning for the Land School Plant Sale.
Ordering seeds and preparing the brochure for the Community Garden.
Preparing for maple syrup making.

March

March is the beginning of the productive year at the Land School. The snow melts and maple syrup is made. The gardening season begins with the starting of plants in the greenhouse.

Animal care includes feeding and watering animals, and spring cleaning of their environments. Our neighbors begin lambing season in March, so it is possible to visit their barns and see lambs and kids (baby goats).
Family and small group visits are encouraged, especially around the production of Maple Syrup.
E2 students would be well prepared for overnights in March after their recent trip to Camp Widjiwagan.
The third JH Farm Stay concludes.
Plant Sale orders are taken and plants are started for the Plant Sale.
Community Garden brochures are sent out and sign-ups are collected for Land School Stewards.

April

April is the finish of the Maple Syrup season at the Land School. The weather is often above freezing, and if the soil is dry enough it is a good time to plant oats, peas, and other cool-loving crops. In April a lot of the work is in the greenhouse, where plants are being started for the Land School Plant Sale and for the Community Garden.

Animal Care is always needed. April is also a good time to clean out the animals' environments after the snow is gone. Lambing season continues.
Maple Syruping is finished with the final collections, the removal of the spiles, and the washing and storage of the equipment.
Plant sale orders are finalized and the greenhouse work is in full swing, with the making of soil mix, the seeding of flats, the thinning and weeding of flats, potting on of growing plants, labeling of plants, and so on.
With the end of the snow, April is a good time to do general clean-up around the farmstead area and organize the tools and buildings for the coming summer.
If the soil is ready, April is a perfect time to spread compost, prepare the garden soil, and seed cover crops.

May

May is a busy time of year at the Land School. May is the month when planting in the garden really starts to happen. The fourth Junior High Farm Stay takes place in the first part of the month; the Junior High then has their Spring Land School Days, where many projects are worked on, including bee-keeping, garden work, animal care, orchard work, trail maintenance, farmstead care, firewood collection, and other projects. The Land School Plant Sale happens in mid-May; also in mid-May the Junior High has their Land School Research Project Presentations. The CH, E1 and E2 Levels all start seedlings in their classrooms. There is a Large Spring Work Day at the Land School for LCS families the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. E1 and E2 students come out to plant various things in the Community Garden - including pumpkins, potatoes, and squash.

Animal Care continues with pen clean-up and the establishment of pasture areas for the sheep and llamas using electric fence.
Sheep shearing happens if we're not lambing.
Baby chicks arrive and are cared for.
The Community Garden is planned and most of it is planted, including onions, leeks, greens, flowers, lettuce, broccoli, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, root crops, cucumbers, and so on. Projects include spreading compost, mulching, planting, removing quack grass from the garden areas, and laying out the garden.
Families and small groups are encouraged to come out and enjoy the spring. The woodland wildflowers are in bloom and there is a lot of work to do. The Spring Community Work Day is a major event for Lake Country School. There is garden work, but the work day is also a time to do upkeep on the farmstead.

June

June is marked by the end of the school year and the beginning of the harvest season. The bulk of the work at the Land School revolves around the Community Garden, including planting, weeding, and harvesting.

The beginning of June sees end-of-the year outings by E1 and E2 classes to the Land School that include ceremonies, planting, and hikes.
There is a second Community Work Day for families to come out and help finish the planting. Families are encouraged to come out and help on all weekends in June.
June is one of the most important times of the year for garden work. If we are able to keep ahead of the planting and weeding in June, then the rest of the season benefits greatly in terms of harvests.
June is also the first month where Junior High apprentices come to the Land School for a week at a time.
The last week of June is typically the first week for harvests and deliveries from the Community Garden.

July

July is usually a hot month characterized by lots of growth in the garden. The Apprentice Program continues, harvests continue and grow in size and variety, and family visits are encouraged.

July is a good month to come out to the Land School and camp as a family. The woods are cool and there are usually berries of some sort ready to pick.
There is an endless amount of important garden work including planting of fall crops, weeding, and harvesting.
Junior High apprentices are hard at work in July.
Animal Care consists of feeding and watering animals and rotating pastures.
Swimming is a great activity to beat the mid-summer heat at the Glen Hills County Park, just south of Glenwood City, twenty-five minutes from the farm.

August

August is often marked by intense heat and peak harvests of summer vegetables. Tomatoes, sweet corn and peppers come into season. The school year begins. The LCS staff often meets at the Land School prior to the start of the year. JH apprentices finish up and the Junior High goes on the Odyssey.

August is a perfect month for family visits to the Land School. Camping is great and there are fewer ticks.
There is a lot of rewarding work to be done harvesting summer crops and weeding fall crops.
There is a need for E2 students to come out in small groups for Friday harvests in August after School starts.

September

September is one of the busiest months at the Land School. The harvest of fall crops begins while summer crops continue to produce until frost. There is a schedule of small groups from E2 and E1 to come out and harvest and wash produce and bring it in for Friday Markets at LCS. There is usually one or more all-class E1 and E2 visits. The first Junior High Farm Stay begins at the end of the month.

Harvests and Friday markets involving small groups (4 to 6 students and a chaperone) of E2 and possibly E1 students.
The first JH Farm Stay begins.
Family visits are encouraged as the fall colors begin.
All class trips and overnights are encouraged in September.

October

October is a big month at the Land School. It is a good time for overnight trips for small and all-class groups. The Fall Harvest Festival is planned and carried out. Fall markets continue and culminate in a big pumpkin sale prior to the end of the month. Holiday Trees and Wreaths are pre-sold for early December pick-up. Honey is bottled and prepared for sale. Garlic is planted and the rest of the Garden is put to bed.

Small Groups continue to come out for Friday Harvests.
Large groups enjoy fall weather for overnights.
The first Junior High Farm Stay concludes.
The Garden harvesting is finished and the Garden is put to bed. Cover crop of winter rye is sown (hand broadcast as a potential student project).
October is a good month for crafts - wreaths using dried natural things, baskets using willow.
Seed collecting from Prairie Plants.
Take down of prickly ash.

November / December

In early December the second Junior High Farm Stay takes place. Otherwise, November and December are slow months at the Land School. There are appropriate fall and winter activities.

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