Bunnies, Chicken & Goats, Oh My! The Land’s Sake team is made up of more than farmers. Our lovable, happy creatures are a vital part of our education department and we love them dearly! Land’s Sake patrons are delighted to interact with our animal friends, and that’s part of what makes our farm so special. They’ve become Weston “celebrities”, and have a tremendous impact in our education of animals. They also travel to schools, attend field trips, and even make guest appearances at birthday parties! We would like to thank ALL of the gracious volunteers whom help us care for our Land’s Sake “celebrities” all year long.
MEET OUR BUNNIES
BUNNY FUN FACTS
Henry and Raspberry are bonded, which means they live together and are inseparable. Kids often ask if Henry is evil because he has red eyes, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Henry is one of the nicest bunnies around and is not shy to meet new people. He loves to be pet right above his nose and will eat just about ANYTHING that you give him. Raspberry is less cuddly, but equally engaging, and just LOOK AT THAT FACE.
Goji is a cool bunny who loves to ‘binky’ (big old hops and jumps while spinning in the air) and roll on her back to show her double chin when she’s happy. Goji is so sweet that when she gets to know you, she will follow you around and even jump into your lap! She loves a good broccoli leaf and when living in her winter homes, Goji has been known to enjoy watching tv and listening to the radio.
Hawkeye (/Hakurei/Harvey/this bunny has a lot of fans and a lot of names) is the best escape artist of all our bunnies; he has learned how to dig under or jump over many of our enclosures and we have to constantly adjust to outsmart his escape artist abilities! Despite constantly trying to get out of his pens, he likes to hang around! He loves people and is very interactive. He makes lots of little squeaks when he’s excited, loooooves arugula, and will nose-boop you to say hello.
Harry’s favorite food is Brussels sprouts and his favorite hobbies include digging in dirt and napping in sunbeams. (Nickname: Sunbeam)
Emma is full of curiosity and loves to explore. She snores in her sleep and her favorite food is bell peppers. (Nickname: Stormcloud)
Just like Henry and Raspberry, Harry and Emma are a bonded pair. They live in the same home and spend all of their time together. Harry and Emma got married at a Green Power-officiated wedding in Summer 2019! Harry and Emma like their alone time, but will be friendly on their own terms!
MEET OUR CHICKENS
HAWK & PRINCESS TOASTY
Hawk:
Breed: Bantam Belgian Bearded d’Uccle, or Mille Fleur
Feather color: speckled brown, white, and black
Birthday: Spring 2017
Princess Toasty:
Breed: Bantam Salmon Faverolle
Feather color: whitish pink
Birthday: Spring 2017
Hawk and Princess Toasty are both bantams, which mean they are very tiny versions of their breed. They are two of the smallest chickens in our coop and also two of the nicest! (Possibly because they’re so used to being held by kids).
LAND’S SAKE HISTORY: HORSES & SHEEP
Work Horses on the Farm
Did you know, for a brief time, Land’s Sake had work horses? The horses arrived around 1990 — they were in full use in 1991, a project of one of our farmers, Steve Miller, and our forester John Potter. The horses were a team of Suffolks named Lady Di (the larger one) and Roman. They were used some on the farm, more in the woods skidding firewood logs, and giving hay rides. They helped with the farm work and were cared for by beloved previous board president Bear Burns and wife Carol.
We still have our annual Land’s Sake potluck Holiday dinner at the Burns’ Barn, and love hearing stories of years past. Carol Burns wrote a short story, recollecting some of the times with the short lived and kind of forgotten workhorse. Click on the link below to read Carol’s Story.
Sheep in the Suburbs
In recent years, while visiting the farm and walking the property, you may have noticedl a section of fenced grass with some sheep grazing inside. This is thanks to the work of our beloved neighbors, Nina Danforth & Henry Stone. They have become an integral part of the farm experience here at Land’s Sake, as educational tools for our summer programs, and in return fresh farm grass for the grazing! Click on the link below to learn more about the sheep of Land’s Sake & some funny stories involving the police!
DOWNLOAD: Sheep in the Suburbs
POLLINATORS
A farm isn’t a farm without animals, and Land’s Sake has a wonderful herd, but in more ways than you would think. Most visitors to our Farm are excited to feed our summer goats, or hold a bunny, but there is really an entire ecosystem that makes it all happen. In the Land’s Sake Education Garden, we are really into pollinators and the plants that help them.
Honey Bees, Monarch Butterflies & Milkweed
In the Land’s Sake Education Garden, we grow a number of plants specifically for these flying friends. Bees & Butterflies are fascinating creatures, so small, yet vastly important. This info graphic on bees is very insightful:
Check out this video explaining the story of the Monarch Butterfly’s amazing migration.
HOW YOU CAN HELP POLLINATORS
Certain kinds of flowers in your garden attract different kinds of pollinators. Learn more about how you can help by planting flowers! Or, by allowing a section of your yard to grow “wild”. Learn more!
- Plant a variety of flowering plants in your garden so there are blooms from spring to fall to provide nectar for adult butterflies.
- Don’t use pesticides harmful to butterflies and their caterpillars in your gardens and landscape.
- Support actions to protect native grasslands.
- Encourage habitat restoration with community-wide plantings of wildlife corridors that include native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MILKWEED
Milkweed is the only host plant of monarch butterflies — meaning it is the only plant they lay their eggs on and the only thing that monarch caterpillars can eat. There are many kinds of milkweed (which happens to also have bright, beautiful flowers).
We grow lots of milkweed in the Land’s Sake garden — the seeds are easy to save, so we have lots! If you want any milkweed seeds for your yard or garden, please get in touch with Farmer Katie (education@landssake.org) and we’d be happy to share our supply!
ANIMAL THEMED ACTIVITES
Get Outside: Be a Detective and Observer!
NATURE DETECTIVE
Put together a nature detective kit:Magnifying glass, notebook, something to write with, a small container to collect things (evidence), something to take pictures (camera or phone), plastic gloves and tweezers for examining droppings, paper envelopes for collecting feathers, binoculars.
See if you can find evidence of who has been using your yard – look for holes and nests in the trees, ground, on your house. Write down all your observations. Can you find an animal trail? Chewed on pine cones or nuts? Follow the trail and see if you can find the animal’s home. Use your magnifying glass to carefully examine what you find – and make sure to write down what you see – or draw pictures of who you think left the trail behind.
ANT OBSERVER
Do ants like and dislike different foods and smells?
– Get a paper plate, a small pile of Bread crumbs, a scoop of peanut butter (sun butter will do too) and Jelly. On a paper plate, set out a pile of tiny ant-size breadcrumbs, a small dab of peanut butter, and a small dab of jelly. Set the piles slightly apart from each other on the plate.
– Go outside and find an ants colony
– Put the paper plate down on the ground
– Find a place near the colony that you can observe the ants. Keep your feet off the ground and watch. Time how long it takes until the first ant finds the food.
– Make sure to write down your observations
Can Ants Smell? Do they react to certain Smells?
– Get some Mint (perhaps you can find some outside)
– Find some ants working together.
– Lay the mint leaves in a circle around the ants. What do the ants do?
– Remove the mint, what happens now?
– try this with other plants or spices you can find in your home. Is there any difference in what the ants do?
MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD FEEDER
– Find some pine cones (any size will work)
– Place the pine cone onto a paper plate and spread peanut butter on it. (use a popsicle stick or a spoon)
– Next, sprinkle the bird seed on the pine cone so it sticks to the peanut butter
– Tie the twine or string around the top of the pine cone and hang them from a tree or hook. Make sure to hang them someplace you can watch the birds enjoy!
*Extra- Try to identify the birds you attract to your feeders!
Indoor projects: Animal Arts and Crafts
LEARN HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY
This tutorial will show you how to draw a bunny sitting and it’s perfect for beginners of all ages. It looks pretty cool, but it’s really easy to draw so it can be drawn by kids in preschool and kindergarten or grown ups who are just starting out. Take a pic and email us your art work!
COFFEE FILTER BUTTERFLY CRAFT
It’s the perfect season for colorful butterfly crafts! Whether kids are learning about insects, the butterfly lifecycle, colors, or simply enjoying a creative art activity at home, this fluttering butterfly craft is a fun way to extend your summer unit.
MAKE YOUR OWN CHICKEN FAMILY
Check out this video on YouTube and learn how to make your own paper chicken family. An ideal project for crafting at home, or for preschool activities. You will only need paper, and basic tools such as scissors and glue. Add a bit of fun, and you’ll have your cute chicken family in minutes!