I have a teenage son who needs things to do this summer - any suggestions?
Wants to own a farm when he gets older, so if anyone knows of a farm that he can help out at, I'd love to hear about it.
Posted Jul 7, 2022, 9:07 PM UTC
I grew up on a cattle farm. I occasionally miss it just a tiny bit, but then I remember baling and storing hay in the summer and then feeding it in sub-freezing winter temps up to my knees in half-frozen mud and cow shit in the feed lot. That's when I realize just how damn fortunate I am to be an engineer.
If you can find someone with hay fields they're always looking for help during cutting and baling season - of course now they mow, rake, bale, wrap, and load all from the cab of an air-conditioned John Deere. Fence maintenance for a cattle farm is good work for a teen boy as well. Some 35 years later and I still remember it - wouldn't trade it for anything.
CASA of Madison County has a volunteer program for their community vegetable garden: https://casamadisoncty.org/casa-garden/
Thank you. Definitely going to check it out. I appreciate it!
Is your real goal to let him sweat it out in the summer heat, so that he changes his mind. Lol
I grew up on what I call hobby farms, like 50 acres and some cattle. Patents worked full time jobs to pay for it. Full time farming is tough but honorable work.
Nah, I grew up doing farming as one of the odd jobs during the summer, generally gleaning the fields after harvesting or doing harvesting of the more labor intensive crops, and I know that it can definitely suck. But, he says he wants to do it, so I will do anything that I can to help his dreams succeed.
Look up Next Step Farms on Facebook. I bet they would love his help.
Thanks! I’ll check them out.
https://www.facebook.com/NextStepFarms
Was on mobile when I posted, here's the link, it's a farm dedicated to special needs folks for learning skills. They'd definitely love a volunteer like your kid to help them out while he both teaches and learns.
That's pretty cool. Thank you for the suggestion
I think Duncan Farms takes volunteers and has classes. Could be a great way to learn how farms work and get first-hand experience.
https://www.huntsvillefarm.com/pages/internships-and-volunteers
Thanks! I've submitted to get more information on it. I appreciate the info!