GC St. Johnsbury: Farm Visit

Early in the Spring Term, Marshall suggested it would be fun to visit Second Chance Farm and went about setting up the logistics of the visit. He works at the farm and wanted to show people around. We arrived and met his boss, Penny. Penny let Marshall lead the tour. We started with the freezers and storage and Marshall showed everyone where the meat and eggs are stored. Marshall brought out his egg scale, egg-collecting bin and egg cartons. He told the class that he is in charge of collecting the eggs, weighing them, cleaning them, and then putting them in cartons. He explained that some eggs are jumbo and some are small – this depends on the chicken, he explained. The scale had markers ranging from “too small” to “ouch!”

Next, Marshall led us down to the barnyard. Penny explained that she keeps her animals like they do in the movie Babe. Everyone lives together. We saw chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, geese and a lamb all in the same big barnyard. The pigs, Lucy and Ethel, were very popular. Lucy showed off rolling in the mud and splattering everyone’s pants with muddy water. Inside the barn, Marshall showed us the baby chicks.

Next, Marshall took us to the fields. He explained that Penny’s plan is to bring the chickens into the field in a moveable pen so they can fertilize the grass. As of now, cows, sheep, a goat and a llama live in the fields. Penny brought us out compost to feed the animals. Rosie loved feeding the cows and sheep and had fun throwing in loaves and loaves of old bread. Cristy made friends with the goat, Stars. Sharilyn said she was having a great time, which she never expected she would! Marshall hopped the fence and picked up a baby lamb for us to pat. Lastly, we went out to look at the beef cows. Penny moves them around to different parts of the pasture so they can graze at different levels of grass and clover. Regina showed interest in the cows and knew that cows without horns are called “polled.” We have a lot of farming knowledge in our group!

GC Springfield: Video Project

This spring term Global Campus Springfield participants were involved in a video project sponsored by Lincoln Street, Inc., our partnering agency, to highlight the Global Campus experience. During the filming, a number of participants were interviewed about their involvement with Global Campus and how the Global Campus experience has enhanced their lives by increasing their confidence and teaching them skills that they can use not only as Global Campus Faculty and Student Learners but in other areas of their lives as well.

GC Newport: Ice Cream Making Class

Homemade Ice Cream class is fun for all! To begin, Kasey setup milk, sugar, vanilla, mixing bowls, blueberries, ice and rock salt in the front of the room and then walked the class through the process of making ice cream. She invited people up one-by-one to help mix the ingredients, and explained the process as she went. People contributed their knowledge – some recipes use eggs, some don't. Some people use electric ice-cream makers, some don't. After the batter was mixed, Kasey poured the milk into small zip-lock bags and placed the bags inside coffee cans. Next, she filled the coffee can with ice and rock salt and taped the lid closed. She demonstrated how to roll the can on the floor, back and forth, to help the ice cream freeze. Bernie volunteered to roll the can, and she got down on the floor, putting all her effort into the can rolling. Kasey also showed how the zip lock bag could be placed inside a larger bag, also filled with ice and rock salt, and the bags could be shaken to freeze the ice cream. We had two methods going at once.

There was so much ice cream batter that almost everyone in the class of thirty was given a bag or tin can to shake. The room came alive, people got down on the floor and walked around shaking bags and laughing – everyone had a lot of energy. We had a few adventures of leaking bags and salty clothes and soon learned that condensation forms quickly on the cold ice cream makers. After about twenty minutes our first batch was ready to taste. People commented that the consistency was similar to a creamy or a milk shake. The ice cream tasted great – there’s nothing like homemade ice cream!

GC Moretown: Green Up Walk

The day starts outside Middlesex on River Road with a lively crew from Global Campus Moretown. This is a class on Greening Up taught by Matthew Hersey. We go out on this project as a belated Green Up Day to collect litter left behind by our neighbors and to improve the environment. We go up and down the sides of the road finding recyclables, mailboxes, cardboard, and metal. Finding a way to dispose of these items and write for it is what brings us here on this beautiful day. The turnout of people for this project is fabulous…at least twenty people have joined to help the environment. As we walk down the dirt road I’m at the back of the pack but the effects of this effort are still clear on the faces of the adults. Clear joy, not only for the beautiful day, but for the chance to clean up their environment and make a difference. The day ends with a gathering of twenty to thirty bags of garbage to be collected and several piles of tires and metal on the side of the road.

By Lee Willsey Potter, GC Moretown Participant

GC Hardwick: We've Got Talent!

On May 4^th, James hosted a talent show! He brought tablecloths, star confetti, star mobiles, and a karaoke machine to transform the Greensboro Bend Church into a place where stars are born. We pushed the tables back, set up rows of chairs facing a stage surrounded by stars and arranged a judges’ table to the side of the main stage. James prepared grading rubric and nametags for the judges.

As people arrived, a few people came in costume and others brought instruments. Cristy and Levi came from Global Campus St. J, dressed in red white and blue and carrying an American Flag. Debbie wore a Hawaiian dress and shirt and Kei brought his drum. Amy brought her fiddle. Melissa wore a leather coat and pants.

Almost everyone in the group performed for the talent show. Annie and Amanda performed a sign-song, where they signed the words and sang while Kei kept the beat on his drum. Lots of people performed Karaoke songs – some good country twang came through. Connor (and back-up dancers) performed YMCA. Melissa broke out her Flashdance skills. I played the fiddle. Cristy and Levi asked for audience participation for their A cappella song, This land is Your Land.

The judges had a hard time picking winners and ended up throwing the ribbons over their shoulders and announcing that everyone received first place. All participants and audience members received Achievement Awards for their performances.