CAMPS and WORKSHOPS

New Farm Institute, the nonprofit education center created by Green Gate Farms, hosts children, adults, farmers, gardeners, policymakers, and everyone in between at our award-winning camps and workshops.

At each fun and informative event, participants learn about self-sufficiency, sustainable farming, gardening, permaculture, how to get involved with Austin’s local food community, and so much more.

Read more about Farm Camp in this 2010 interview of  Green Gate Farms co-Founder, Erin Flynn.

 CAMPS for FAMILIES, KIDS, ADULTS

• Weeklong Kids’ Farm Camp (Click here to register):Our award-winning Farm Camp is so much fun that campers come back year after year. That’s because we want children to feel like this farm is theirs. After learning farm rules, campers are led through age-appropriate activities, including: planting and harvesting, cooking class in our farmhouse kitchen, taking care of animals, learning from presentations made by area experts on conservation, ecology and local food issues, pony cart rides, horse care, swap blanket, soccer, basketball and air hockey, plenty of time to relax and explore the farm!  Upcoming sessions:

   Spring Break

  March 11-15

  Summer Sessions

• June 10-14- Build Tents, Tepees, Treehouses, and More
  • Get ready to explore! Campers learn about building different types of shelters, living off the land, and exploring the great outdoors.
• June 17-21- Care for Rare Breeds of Pigs, Sheep, Chickens
  • Are you ready to be a farmer? Campers experience what life is like on the farm while feeding animals, understanding different breeds, collecting eggs, and many other activities. 
• June 24-28- Get Handy: Cooking, Crafts and Carpentry
  • Are you a homesteader? Campers will learn about the many useful items that are on the farm and then use them to create food items, crafts, and woodworking. 
• July 1-5- Chickens, from Egg to Table
  • Do you love chickens? We do! This week will focus on everything related to raising chickens, from egg to table.
    
• July 8-12- Horse Care and Pony Cart Rides
  • Campers will just be “horsing around” this week! Learn about the grooming, feeding, and care of horses as you get to daily interact with the farm’s beautiful horse White Sox.

• Family Farm Day Camp: Parents and children spend the morning exploring the farm and assisting farmers as they work in the fields and tend to livestock. Depending upon the needs of the season, you may get to seed plants in the greenhouse, feed animals, set up the farm stand, play in the hayloft, and learn where their food comes from.

• Kids Day Camp: School closed for the day? Come learn and play on the farm! There’s no better way to spend a day off than exploring our farm. Farmer-led activities vary throughout the year so no two days are the same:

• Monday, February 18, 2013, 9:00-3:00 (pre/post care available)
• Friday, June 7, 2013, 9:00-3:00 (pre/post care available)

• Farm Camp for Adults: Why should kids have all the fun? If you daydream about having a farm or you’ve got land and you’re not sure how to make it productive, then this camp is for you. Get a behind-the-scenes look at organic farming. We’ll cover livestock management, organic vegetable production, composting, irrigation, and any other topics the group would like to discuss.  Great gift for gardeners and budding farmers.

• Creating the Farm of Your Dreams: This workshop is designed to help wannabe farmers (those with and without land) and landowners avoid the costly mistakes we made. Topics will cover all aspects of choosing and managing agricultural property, including: soil, water, mineral evaluation; choosing crops and livestock; labor; budgeting; recommended resources; ag exemptions and taxes; and quality of life issues. In addition to farm tour and classroom time, participants will receive private evaluation to help them achieve their goals.  Space limited to 6 participants. $450 per participant.

• Butchering Workshops: Want to learn how to harvest and process a chicken, goat or sheep? Let us know. Workshops are being organized now for Spring 2013, info@newfarminstitute.org.