farmingconnections
Filed under: Uncategorized
Sophia visiting pre-procession
Palm Sunday has been a special day for St. Michaels Episcopal church because of its celebration of Jesus’ ride into town on the back of a donkey. It became an even more special day thanks to Sally Swift who thought the church’s celebration could be improved a bit if a real burro could be persuaded to lead the procession. Enter Fermando, world’s cutest donkey. He led the procession to the delight of Sally and her fellow church members. No one could resist Fernando’s charming ways. Sadly and most unexpectedly Fernando passed away in the early winter of 2009. It was at this point that the church offered Sophia, Fernando’s daughter, a chance to step into her father’s shoes. Last year, her first go at it, was a bit sketchy… Dr. Sorton and I had to literally lift her hind quarters into the air to get her to move forward. Maya Sutton-Smith patiently encouraged her while Sophia’s ‘rear wheel drive’ was not so delicately ‘encouraged’ to get along little donkey… This year was the year for Sophia to prove the naysayers wrong! She most politely and willingly led the Palmsters along with joy in her mighty little burro heart. Palm Sunday was special indeed. Thank you Sally Swift: your vision carries on to the delight of others on Palm Sunday as well as on the other 364 days of the year!
A huge thank you to Dr.Pam Sorton who has been instrumental in keeping Sally’s tradition going.
Filed under: Additions/Improvements
On October 2nd Gail and board member Patti Doiron participated in Brattleboro’s Buddy Walk which is an annual event held to raise money for the Winston Prouty Center. We sold FC tee shirts, homemade cookies and met many wonderful people. Another huge delight was seeing old friends who were also participating in this important community event.
FC is now looking more uptown thanks to the Brattleboro Kiwanis Club who have donated 5 benches to place in strategic places. The benches allow clients and their families to have a comfortable place to sit and observe our teachers interacting with peers or with other species of teachers. This special contribution to our environment is a keenly important one. A HUGE thank you to the Brattleboro Kiwanis Club!
Bridget, Scarlette and Bob enjoying one of the new benches.
Another wonderful addition to FC has been the increase in our volunteer staff. Annette Dykema, Natasha and Joshua, Katie MacAllister, Anna, have joined our volunteer crew and have already made a huge positive difference at FC. Natasha and her husband Joshua have made our duck habitat look oh so much better and more comfortable for our inimitable duck teachers and with help from Annette have reconfigured the chicken yard. The volunteers have been staining, cleaning, mucking, training etc. What a wonderful thing for all!!!
Our new volunteers join: Elizabeth Doiron, Maya Sutton-Smith,Wendi Zimmerman and Katie Reynolds who have contributed so very much in helping to make Farming Connections a better place for both animals and people.
We lost some very precious teachers over the past months. Fernando, the world’s most adorable donkey died unexpectedly this winter. There were many tears shed as Fernando brought joy to so many. His absence can still be felt.
Our Beloved Fernando
We lost our playful feline clown, our beloved quirky little Cole Daniel Bolo. He was not feeling well but before we were able to bring him to the vet he disappeared.
Saryn, who with her son Ethan sponsored Cole Daniel, is holding the little guy the day he arrived.
The severe heat of the summer took a heavy toll in the chicken family: we lost Amanda, Helen and Maude. The circle of life can be a very difficult one to accept but harder to deny. While our tears were still wet on our cheeks, Samantha presented us with 6 healthy and adorable chicks. New life has a way of reminding us that death and birth are tied together.
Maude, Shade's Mom, stately friend
Amanda, Elizabeth's special girl
Helen who ruled the roost with dedication
Filed under: Clinical Considerations, Kids therapy, Relationships/ Friendship
Many of the young people who come to Farming Connections have had trouble making and keeping friends, getting along with others – including members of their own family. It is not uncommon for people who do not feel comfortable around others to avoid looking at them directly – even when they are talking to someone. This lack of eye contact makes it impossible for them to become good at reading the expressions and movements of others.
While one cannot go back and redo what happened in early childhood or modify genetic predispositions, it is possible to improve one’s ability to notice nonverbal cues and translate them. Starting this communication education with animals makes it far less threatening than starting with peers or authority figures. Animals, after all, do not judge us they simply respond to us. Our farm teachers are quite good at letting us know how things are going. Making a mad dash away from us is hard to miss or to misinterpret and a slobbery lick while trying to fit into your lap is equally transparent. While these behaviors are easy to read, more subtle animal speak can also be mastered. This mastery and the accompanying self-confidence it brings can become a springboard to improvement in communication away from the farm.
Now what does that mean??
Below is an excerpt from an article that relates to how we can improve our ability to connect with others:
What do neuroscientists know about what happens in the brain when we are more “socially intelligent?” One finding is that what one person does…exhibit empathy, for example… affects their own brain chemistry as well as the people around them. One person’s behavior “powerfully leverages the system of brain interconnectedness,” wrote Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis, authors of “Social Intelligence and the Biology of Leadership” in September’s Harvard Business Review.
Scientists found the existence of “mirror neurons;” when we become aware of someone else’s emotions via his or her behaviors, our mirror neurons mimic those emotions. The neurons create an “instant sense of shared experience.
Intuition also is located in neurons called “spindle cells.” These make it possible for a super-rapid coming together of beliefs, emotions, and judgments that result in our first impressions of people we’ve just met. It’s our social guidance system, Goleman and Boyatzis wrote.
The surprising thing to me about all this is that if you’re motivated to have more social intelligence, take heart. You can. Once you become aware that your SI quotient is low, you can learn and practice new behaviors and thoughts, which lead to changes in emotions…”
After a long absence of blog updates it’s time to bring everyone up to date.
As you may have guessed, we had yet another litter of little bunnies. Ms. Madison, pictured in the little red truck, was the smallest and some would say the sweetest.
We had a full house of hoppers- almost wall to wall rabbits. The boys who still live here have all been neutered and the baby boys who were not neutered are in their new forever homes. What this should mean is we will not be having any more baby rabbits but will spend our time enjoying the ones we have.
Our exciting plan for our rabbits is to have a bunny jumping competition right here at Farming Connections so stay tuned!
When rabbits were bumper to thumper. (sorry about that)
This is Barbara Parry’s blog address. She owns the farm from which we will be getting our lambs. Please visit her blog to find out everything you ever wanted to know about sheep and lambs. You can find the link under the Blogroll category in the left margin.
Filed under: Animal Sponsorship
One of my students has a very special gift with the animals especially with Buster our Percheron. Her gentleness and patience with all of the farm residents makes her one of the animals’ most favorite visitors. Recently Clary did something that was really awesome. Not the “awesome” of kids’ slang, but the awesome meaning to inspire awe.
On her last birthday, instead of asking for a new doll or video game or new this or that, she asked her Grandmother to give her a year long sponsorship for Leo one of our barn cats! Now Clary is just 9 years old! To be that caring and generous so early in life is something very special indeed. Leo is one lucky cat and the rest of us – both human and non-human animals – are lucky to have such kind young lady in our midst.
Leo’s sponsor is Clary Sage Mitchell
Filed under: additions to our staff, Animal Sponsorship, Animal teachers
If you’re going to be proved wrong, Moxie/Duncan had the perfect way to show more than one human that we just don’t know very much about rabbits. Last Thursday, September 3, while cleaning the rabbits little house, I discovered a little nest with itty bitty baby bunnies! Moxie/Duncan/Doxie is a girl after all!!! When the folks at Lightlife Foods decided to sponsor our new lop- eared mom, I bet they were not expecting this! One of the little ones looks amazingly like his father Oslo and the other survivor ( 2 little babies did not survive) is black with a little hint of white around its ears. You can see for yourself !
Filed under: Clinical Considerations, Kids therapy, Uncategorized | Tags: asperger syndrome, autism, farmingconnection.org, joint attention, nonverbal communication, social skills
Just as many animals do, we humans communicate a lot of information with our eyes. Some among us, for one reason or another, do not pay attention to this valuable source of interpersonal information. By not looking at another’s eyes much of what is being ‘said’ is lost. Whether this failure to make eye contact is due to insufficient arousal in the brain, shyness, fear, etc. , the bottom line is that a chance for a more complete understanding with another person or animal can’t happen without it. In a group setting, failure to scan eyes and accompanying facial expressions can result in a real lack of understanding about what’s going on. Those who do not routinely read the eyes of others may feel disconnected, confused and alone. They can be shocked by things they could have seencoming. Being social creatures, this is a very real problem. It is very difficult to make and keep friends without tapping into this valuable source of communication.
Working with animals and observing their nonverbal behaviors can help develop the skills needed to notice and readeye language.
In watching animals communicate with each other, clients can witness the power of what is not being spoken. Learning something by watching others is called Observational Learning. Now how perfect is that!
Filed under: Relationships/ Friendship
Just checking to see if the awesome threesome were still willing to spend some time together, we reunited Wedowee with Oslo and Moxie.
( There are now 4 rabbits but the two babies were fast asleep in their parent’s house located in the corner of the room)
The video, produced by Ethan Meckle, is just too, too heartwarming! See for yourself.
Filed under: additions to our staff, Animal teachers | Tags: chick, inter-species get togethers, non-verbal communication
Our little chick Wedowee was not accepted by her Mother so we decided to see if she
would like to spend some time with our two very sweet dwarf rabbits Oslo and Moxie.
You can’t begin to believe what happened!! You’ll love this inter-species get together!
Cole Daniel is one of our barn cats who is beloved by many; especially by Saryn Lauzon and her son Ethan who have decided to sponsor this lucky boy!
Cole Daniel’s life has taken a dramatic turn upward since being hit by a car and delivered to the Brattlebor Vet Clinic by the police. At the Brattleboro Clinic he was loving cared for by Drs. Boardman and Sorton as well as by the support staff. Saryn is one of the clinic’s support staff. It was Saryn who brought Cole Daniel’s situation to my attention. Her gentle but persistent reminders about this playful young cat who had yet to find a permanent home were initially brushed off thinking that eventually, someone would decide to take him, after all, we already have 4 barn cats. As time passed and no one had adopted him, Saryn’s persistence hit its mark. With broad smiles, Saryn and her son Ethan arrived with Cole Daniel in tow. As if arranging his placement here was not enough, they have taken their devotion to this quirky, friendly and playful little guy one step further by deciding to continue their support of his future well-being by sponsoring Cole Daniel Bolo!!!.
A huge Thank You Saryn and Ethan!
Filed under: Animal Sponsorship | Tags: Business Support, Community Support, Family Sponsorship, School Sponsorship
Sophia, our lovely donkey and Moxie, our lop eared rabbit have been chosen for sponsorship by Lightlife Foods ! We are thrilled as Lightlife enjoys a reputation for support of environmental stewardship and overall responsible practices. Their commitment to the humane treatment of animals makes this sponsorship a very special one for Farming Connections. Please take the time to check out the Lightlife Foods website at: http://www.lightlife.com.
Pictures of these two lucky farm residents have been sent to Rachael Collins at Lightlife who plans to put pictures up so everyone there can keep tabs on their special new friends. Updates will be sent periodically so a real feeling of connectedness can develop. Here’s hoping that some of the Lightlife staff will come out to meet Duncan and Sophia in person.
Thank you so much Lightlife for helping to take care of these two precious farm animals. We are honored.
Moxie
Sophia and young friend:
Filed under: Animal teachers | Tags: animal, cat, doberman, friendship, horse. therapy dogs
Filed under: Animal teachers
With help from volunteers Cam, Paula, Elizabeth, Maya and Steven, the entire duck family was moved to their new quarters. Much is still to be done but getting the entire flock back together was our number one priority and that was accomplished. We celebrate this step towards our goal of a welcoming, duck friendly area that will keep ducks safe and healthy while allowing visitors to watch their duckishly [sic} hilarious antics.
Steven Streeter donated his strength and know how to make the most difficult aspects of this move possible. Thanks Steven! and a big thank you to everyone else who pitched in to improve the lives of a small flock of ducks. Awesome.
Filed under: Animal teachers
Buster is a percheron who was abandoned here almost a decade ago. He was brought here with his long time friend and harness mate, Anna. Prior to the untimely vanishing of his then owner, Anna was sold. Buster was distraught; he ate very little, stood with his head hanging, lost weight and became sluggish. There wasn’t a medical explanation for this radical change in his presentation: he was grieving the loss of his beloved Anna. In my desperation to help Buster, I decided that he needed a job.
With his big back, his gentle nature and overall responsiveness it seemed reasonable to see if he would like to work with children. This was the beginning of a new chapter in Buster’s life. Since his maiden voyage as a lesson horse, Buster has taught people of all ages how to communicate with horses. In so doing, he has helped to build the self-confidence of many, raised the joy quotient in the lives of many and has delighted, amazed and endeared himself to all who have had the opportunity to spend time with this lovable, kind and steady horse.
One of Buster’s most endearing traits is his uncanny knack for telling when a rider needs special consideration and care. He is especially patient and forgiving with those who lack the experience or motor control to execute required moves correctly. His insight and desire to keep his riders safe and successful is something that must be witnessed to fully appreciate.
When Buster is very happy, his lips quiver. One day after a ride a young girl who adores Buster pressed herself into Buster’s side and did her best to hug his huge body with her small arms. She had the side of her face pressed into his side. At that moment I noticed Buster’s lips quivering with joy. This was one of the most moving moments I’ve ever witnessed between horse and rider.
Thank you Buster for all you have taught us. Those who know this gentle giant hope he will continue his work for a long, long time.
Oh how very fast they grow! Both Opp and Boaz have been growing like little bamboo shoots and will soon need much more spacious quarters. This week is camp week so maybe, just maybe the campers will help get the relocation rolling. I’ll keep you posted! Opp is the darker duckling. Boaz stands alone in the picture on your right. Can you say CUTE!!
Filed under: talented critters
Most horses avoid- at all costs- submerging their heads under water. Winston, however, is the exception as his idea of a fun afternoon is to, with nose submerged, sling his water bucket to insure a dramatic swoosh of water across the entire front section of his stall. For his next underwater feat watch this!!!!!!!
