No Child Left Inside

I received an e-mail from Project Learning Tree and they mentioned the No Child Left Inside Coalition. They are trying to accomplish the same type of thing that was brought up by Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods and his description of "nature deficit disorder". The No Child Left Inside Coalition apparently has been able to get this point across to our politicians and there is now a No Child Left Inside Act that has passed through Congress. It doesn't seem like it should take an act of Congress to get your kids outside but in these changing times, I guess it must.

I also received my new Small Farmer's Journal this week. As always the editorials by Mr. Miller are spot on. He brings a common sense approach to the nuts and bolts of farming but also sheds light on how important the role of the small farmer is. More important, at least in my view, is his crusade to make the small farm a much bigger player in the lives of us here in America and through out the world. To clarify the definition of a small farmer, basically all you have to do is plant yourself a small garden and your in the group. Of course there is no need to stop there. You can get yourself a few acres, plant a truck patch, get a few chickens and keep working yourself into a bigger operation complete with draft animals. Basically it's any small scale operation both in size and in mindset.

With these two things in mind, it would seem only natural to combine the two. Get the kids involved in a gardening and/or small animal project. Even if you live in the city there are community gardens. Volunteer with the kids on beautification projects. Talk to the folks at the farmer's market and see if you can't arrange to visit or help out - there are farming apprenticeships available. Magazines like the Small Farmer's Journal and Small Farm Today are great resources. Get a subscription and have it available for the kids to read. I went to the Horse Progress Days in southern Indiana a few years back and it was very interesting. It's basically a trade show for those who farm with draft animals. Even if you have no intention of ever farming with horse or oxen, it's still a great thing to see. It's not often you get to see a team of horses making hay or plowing.

Of course that's all in the spring and summer. Now's the time for sledding, skiing and skating. Get outside and enjoy winter.