Discovering Diversified Farming at the Franklin Farm by Guilford 4th Graders with Pat Ireton and Paul Cornell The following article was written by the fourth grade at Guilford Central School in southeastern Vermont. During their study of the Franklin Farm students learned first hand about life on a small farm and the ways in which some farmers are facing the future. Their teacher Pat Ireton helped them make connections between farm life and the curriculum back in the classroom. This spring the challenges at the farm were hard to manage. All the weather problems made it complicated to boil the sap. Getting wood was strenuous because of the low temperatures, ice and snow. Running out of wood for the woodstove and the firebox was a threat. The cold temperatures slowed the sap in the sap lines. Can you imagine how it would feel to sugar and calve at the same time and not get enough sleep? It was also a challenge to keep everyone healthy in the barnyard and in the home. Even though the season was frustrating the Franklins made it through with smiles on their faces. With the help of a Strolling of the Heifers grant, the Guilford Central School fourth graders have been studying the Franklin Farm over the course of this long unseasonable spring. Two field trips (one for sugaring and one for helping with animal chores) helped us learn about the challenges of a diversified farm and the importance of continuing the farming tradition in VT. A diversified farm is one with many different crops and products that can be sold throughout the year. The purpose of diversification is to support the farm family with a variety of resources and incomes so that there isn’t a dependency on one crop. The Franklin Farm has two main areas of diversification. Those are maple products and raising animals. Spring is a very busy time on the farm because of all the activity involved in sugaring and calving. Sugaring was troublesome this season for the farms in Windham County because of the roller coaster weather. The Franklins reported that in 2003 they produced about 200 gallons of maple syrup, which is 2/3 of their normal crop. In a typical year there would be around 300 gallons. The late start was caused by lots of below normal temperatures and snow cover at the roots of the maple trees. Once the sap started running it got too warm and then it started going up into the branches to begin leaf production. Another cold spell helped to save the season with more sap production and an increase in syrup quality. The late sugaring season led right into calves being born. That caused more problems! The responsibility of animals on the farm was a lot of work. As the first calves arrived on time, the sugaring continued. That meant less sleep and more chores for the whole family. By the end of April there were 34 calves born on the farm. There were 9 boys and 13 girls left. The others had been sold. The five piglets were maturing. The cows had been put out to pasture right on schedule. In the three chicken coops eggs were being laid. The dairy cows were milked twice a day to keep fresh milk available and on the table. It must have been very exciting and rewarding to watch animals grow up from babies to adults. You would understand the many challenges the Franklins face each day running their diverse farm if you stood in their boots for a day. The Franklin Family is a living example of the family farm tradition in Vermont. The future of this tradition depends on our generation and we want to thank the Franklins for sharing their lifestyle with us.