Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Agra-fun

Visiting farms with our kids is one of the best ways to teach them about food, work, animals, and just about anything else you can think of. Here are a few of our favorites:

Rancho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree Farm

Somewhere between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, CA. Explore this relaxed family farm, make wreathes by hand, roast buckets of marshmallows, and cut down your own tree.










Rockhill Creamery



great micro-dairy with six cows and dedicated cheese makers











Pumpkin Fest in Half Moon Bay, CA

Pretty self-explainitory














Does your family have a favorite farm?

Manifesto

Every day mothers are sold the line that they are at their best when their homes are immaculate, when their purses are trendy, and when their children are color-coordinated. This is, in a word, bogus. At the risk of sounding a bit like a summer camp counselor mid “kumbayah,” we are at our best when we teach our children, when we have fun with our children, when we strengthen our children. They (and most of us for that matter) don’t need better things. Children need to feel loved and valued. Children need better quality time. Children need that unique boost in self-esteem that comes from engaging with the world. For decades mothers have been pushed to do more, to buy more. To drive around more and schedule more. It’s been a doozie of a year for many families; loads of perfectly good money, jobs, and sleep lost without a trace. But hopefully a consolation will be the simple treasures unearthed under stuff and schedule. Learn, serve, play. A mother is the fiercest kind of steward–we battle for our children. Let’s be smarter. You know what’s good, what’s fun, what’s meaningful. You’ve been there, you’ve done that, and it either worked for your family or it didn’t. Mamiga bypasses the fluff to get and give the good stuff: small and large, tried and true ways to help bring balance to your family. Learning lends knowledge; playing lends joy; service lends strength. It’s time for us to help each other. Because every mama needs a friend.