Shumei Natural Agriculture School Visit

 On April 22nd, Earth Day 2005, 26 students from Christopher Columbus High School from the Bronx, New York took a class trip to the Catskill Mountain Foundations Natural Agriculture Farms in Hunter. Accompanied by their Chemistry and Environmental Science teacher, the students were given a tour of the farm’s greenhouse, cold frames and fields led by Mr. Kenji Ban, the Shumei Farm Director. Mr. Peter Finn also gave a presentation explaining the uniqueness and importance of Natural Agriculture Farming. This was a new experience for many of the students, who had never been on a farm before and had never seen plants that were not treated by some chemical or another. Even more unusual for them was being served sandwiches made from all natural ingredients. The students were very excited to see the farm and even had an opportunity to help with planting and harvesting sunflower seeds. Plans are in progress for them to return in the fall for harvesting.

Touring the Cold Frames	Harvesting sunflower seeds	Planting Seeds