Spring at Red Gate

By Elizabeth Rennert

CROCUSES BLOOM IN A MUDDY SPRING GARDEN

Spring has sprung on the farm, and new life is bursting forth in all directions. The winter snow is melting away, revealing the green grass and brown soil below. Colorful buds are shooting up, indicating the abundant growth beneath the ground. A walk through the garden reveals snow drops, and crocuses, and the first daffodil buds as well as empty-looking beds soon to be filled with vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

One of the most exciting signs of spring on the farm is the arrival of new lambs. The barn is a flurry of activity as the ewes give birth to their adorable, fuzzy little babies. The lambs are born wobbly and unsteady on their feet, but they quickly gain their footing and begin nursing. The barn is filled with the sounds of bleating lambs, exploring their new world, and getting to know each other.

oNE OF THE FIRST LAMBS BORN IN 2023

The arrival of school programs brings a certain liveliness to the farm as kids explore the new program building, and experience the first overnight winter programming. Students snowshoe out to check on the maple tree taps, shovel paths through the remaining snow, and watch with hushed anticipation as a ewe gives birth.

sTUDENTS HELP REPAIR AND SORT GARDEN SIGNS

Spring on the farm is a time of growth, when the world is filled with new beginnings and endless possibilities. The arrival of new life, from the lambs in the barn to the crocuses in the field, fills us with admiration for the joys of nature and the beauty of the world around us.

students plant carrot seeds in the garden