Grandma's Farm

We realize that every aspect of Grandma's Farm is important for personal growth and transformation. However, we feel that our EARTH KEEPING activities are perhaps the most necessary for this time in human history. So, it is with heartfelt thanks for the Great Plains Earth Institute’s support, both emotional and collaborative, that has been an invaluable resource for Grandma's Farm. Drawing upon Great Plains Earth Institute’s years of wisdom and guidance, together, with the resources of Grandma’s Farm, we are developing programs that not only teach and inform, but actively include the participants, showing them that being in tune with nature instead of against it is more in harmony with our natural state of being.

In this time when our mindless consumerism is beginning to show it’s effects upon all aspects of nature, we strongly feel that by working together and sharing resources and ideas, we will quickly develop a teaching and experiential forum that will reintroduce the value and morale systems contained in the wisdom of our ancestors, allowing love, compassion, integrity, loyalty, self-reliance, and respect for all life everywhere to be our guidance. It is our goal to encourage people to accept and act upon their own personal responsibilities to Earth, thereby providing one on one direction as well as action oriented community forums that honor and preserve our past in order to create an Earth friendly future.

Great Plains Earth Institute has been serving and educating the public about environmental issues for over 10 years. Through establishing meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals, nationally known personalities of conscious leadership, and local service generated organizations, they have become an invaluable resource for all people, especially those in the Wichita area. With their extensive array of teaching modalities and knowledge, they are changing the way people view the world and their place within it.

Grandma’s Farm is very honored to be working with Great Plains Earth Institute in order to expand each of our facilities into something more; and through this expansion, create a

Service Generated Action Oriented Resource Center.

Together, we will develop hands on experiential forums that build upon their various classes, lectures, video programs, and discussion courses to include the natural environment of Grandma’s Farm. We will also draw upon local and national authorities to teach a wide range of subjects covering what we call Natural Living Skills. A few examples include:

      Food Production and Preservation that focuses upon how food is
      produced and its close relationship to the environment of the planet
      along with the processes necessary to grow, harvest, and preserve the
      foods we eat.

     Bee Hive Keeping that utilizes the beehives at Grandma’s Farm while
       looking at the delicate balance bees have with the environment and
       the pollination of our foods.

Wild Crafting is the process of identifying, collecting, and preparing
wild edible plants.

If you have ideas or suggestions for future classes or would like to teach a class at Grandma’s Farm, please CONTACT US. As the classes, events, and activities listed are developed and ready to present, they will be posted on our web site, so please check our site often.

WIND GENERATORS

One of our collaborative efforts will be the installation of wind generators and solar technologies as power systems for the farm, employing not only established systems, but allowing creative inventors to experiment with new and innovative systems to develop working examples that teach and inspire.

THE MERCANTILE

The Mercantile is destined to become a valuable resource for all who come to Grandma’s Farm. We will strive to offer the very best and current eco alternatives necessary for our society’s active lifestyle. Such products will include biodegradable silverware, plates, cups, various recycled paper products, as well as the Naturally Grown Produce from Grandma’s garden. To get a more detailed description of the other products that will be offered, Click HERE.

BUILDING GREEN

Perhaps the most exciting area of our collaboration will be the various examples of green building technologies. In July of 2007, we began the first of these by remodeling the farm’s original tractor shed, built in 1945, into the “Club House” where all of the classes and activities at the farm will be centered. This remodeling project includes creating a real building out of the wood and metal structure and installing heat and air as well as a small addition where the bathroom and MERCANTILEwill be located. Some of the alternative examples we anticipate employing at this time include:

Gray water recycling system

Passive Solar - Greenhouse system for heating

Geothermal natural convection system for cooling

These will be working examples of Earth friendly products and technologies that provide valuable environmental and resource saving alternatives. This will allow people to experience the comfort contained within, living in harmony with nature.

Our goal is to have the remodel of the Club House completed as soon as possible. It is then we will begin our second example of green building, which will be to turn a ground silo into a greenhouse. The creation of this greenhouse will begin with the existing cement floor and sides, adding a plastic covered hoop roof and a straw bale wall at the entrance, we anticipate using passive solar with a wood stove back up as the heating sources. This ground greenhouse will be a creative example of recycling something old and useless into an eco friendly useable building supplying all of Grandma’s Farms customers with fresh salad greens throughout the winter. We also have a building located within the garden complex that will be remodeled in the future to be the main greenhouse and horticultural classroom for the farm.

With the completion of the above projects, we will begin construction on the completely eco-friendly off line home that will utilize cutting edge technologies and systems of building. Until then, we will be researching what modes of building we will employ. If you are interested in participating in any aspect of this project, you are invited to CONTACT US.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

During the last few years we have been able to accomplish a great deal. By cleaning the seven existing structures of all the farm debris, we were able to properly dispose of over nine thousand pounds of various metals and the farm refuse dump. Cleaning and improving the land will be a continuing effort.

The entire northern edge of Grandma’s Farm runs along the Big Arkansas River. By focusing upon the pristine environment and all the possibilities it offers for personal growth and interaction with nature, we will maintain this area as a sanctuary for plants and animals. This will create a place where children and adults alike can witness the plant and animal kingdoms, connect to the earth, and experience spiritual renewal.

Some of the Outdoor Activities that are currently under development are:

Sky Watching - Astronomy

Animals - Wildlife Walks (Plants, Animals, and Birds)

Ponds - Building a Dock and/or Bridge for Fish Feeding

Fishing - Catch and Release for the Elderly

Row Boating for the Physically and Mentally Challenged

Games - Archery Horseshoes Croquette

Basketball Kite Flying Model Airplanes
Volleyball

Whether it’s walking in the gardens/greenhouse, animal watching along the river, fishing in one of the three ponds, or just simply playing in the fresh country sunshine, the experience of being one with nature is a basic human need not always addressed in today’s culture. Grandma’s Farm will address this need by offering a place for families to come and experience the heritage of a small family farm while creating lifestyles and memories that will last beyond this lifetime through our children, stretching far into the future.