Help Learning Tree Farm by donating farming supplies

Learning Tree Farm fills this need for outdoor education, movement and play by providing access to hands-on learning in a traditional farm setting to all children and families in the Miami Valley.

“All of our multi-faceted farm education programs have one main goal: to connect children and families to nature,” explains executive director Loralynn Hickey. “Given the chance to come to the 85-acre farm, visitors can breathe in the fresh air, gently handle and pet all of the animals, hike over two miles of wooded trails, identify native plants, observe pollinators, and harvest and taste fresh vegetables from the teaching garden. “

While on their field trip, children also have the opportunity to experience life as an early Ohio settler by touring and exploring the Century House, the original homestead built in 1829.”

Learning Tree Farm currently reaches 15,000 Dayton-area children and families every year. “We’ve grown exponentially in the last three years, pulling from 10 different counties now, and we continue to get new farm visitors from all over the Miami Valley,” says development director Leigh O’Brien.

What they teach

The farm’s education director, Meredith Florkey, says for many of the kids, time on the farm is their first experience being immersed in nature. “Our mission is to teach concepts, like land stewardship, through hands-on activities that children and families would not necessarily have the opportunity to do at home or in a traditional school setting,” she explains. “We use hands-on teaching — including opportunities to interact with all of our farm animals — to extend learning and foster connections between food, farming and community. If visitors leave the farm understanding from where their food comes, for example, then we know that we’ve done our job.”

What they need

For the upcoming annual Sept. 23 fund-raising event, Autumn Fest, the farm is looking for a photographer to document the day; a hay wagon with sides for the hay rides and volunteers to help with activities.

Year-round needs include:

Donations can be dropped off at Learning Tree Farm’s office from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays at 3376 S. Union Road, Dayton. If no one is in the farm office, please leave your donations on the table under the back porch.

For a complete list of items or for questions contact Ellen Kibby, Community Engagement Coordinator, at ellen.kibby@learningtreefarm.org or by calling the main office number (937) 866-8650.

Other ways to help

Learning Tree Farm is always searching for volunteers for basic gardening, cleaning and general farm work. Please email info@learningtreefarm.org if you are able to provide your talents on a volunteer basis. For the latest farm projects, visit www.learningtreefarm.org and click on the "About Us" section to see ways that you can help us grow.

Each September, the farm hosts Autumn Fest, an annual community gathering and fundraiser. This year’s event is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. In addition to the farm animals, activities include food trucks, live music by Todd the Fox, crafts, children’s games, hay rides, antique tractor display, local artisans, pony rides, cow pie plop game pumpkin chuck. Entry is $10 per family. The farm is located at 3376 S. Union Road, Dayton.

Each week staff writer Meredith Moss profiles the non-profit organizations in our area that are in need of special items. If your group has a wish list it would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com

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