CROPS & CATTLE

Ap Environmental Science And Nutrition Classes Explore Orchard Pond And Ayavalla Ranch

SMELL THAT SWEET NATURE. SENIOR LILY STRICKLAND SNIFFS A FRESHLY PULLED RADISH. THE RADISH WAS PASSED AROUND THE GROUP SO THAT EVERY STUDENT COULD SEE (AND SMELL) THE KINDS OF FOOD ORCHARD POND GROWS. ELSEWHERE ON THE TOUR, STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT OTHER CROPS, INCLUDING STRAWBERRIES, KALE AND CITRUS.

“HOOVES-ON” LEARNING. TIM PHIPPS, OWNER OF AYAVALLA RANCH, INTRODUCES THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO HIS CATTLE RANCH. BEFORE GUIDING

PASSING THROUGH THE PASTURES. THE TWO CLASSES TREK THROUGH PART OF THE CATTLE PASTURE TO GET TO WHERE THE COWS ARE BEING HELD. AT AYAVALLA RANCH, THE CATTLE’S GRAZING GROUNDS ARE SEPARATED INTO SECTIONS BY ELECTRIC FENCES. IN ORDER TO SEE THE CATTLE GRAZING, THE GROUP HAD TO TAKE THE JOURNEY THROUGH ONE OF THESE SECTIONS, AND WERE ABLE TO SEE UP CLOSE THE KIND OF GRASS THE CATTLE TRIM DOWN.

DIGGING IN. SENIORS NOAH GREENSTEIN AND JIM MURRAH TASTE FRESHLY PICKED CITRUS. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TASTE MULTIPLE TYPES OF PRODUCE THROUGHOUT THE TOUR, BUT MOST STUDENTS HAD THEIR FOOD NEEDS MET AT ORCHARD POND’S ON-SITE MARKET. THERE, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE NEWLY HARVESTED FOODS, SUCH AS THE CITRUS PICTURED, OR TREATS MADE FROM THE CROPS

UP CLOSE AND NON-PERISHABLE. AN EMPLOYEE OF ORCHARD POND TALKS TO THE TWO CLASSES ABOUT HOW THE LOCAL FARM’S CROPS ARE GROWN.

ORCHARD POND IS A CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM, MEANING THEY USE NO PESTICIDES OR CHEMICALS TO GROW THEIR CROPS. INSTEAD, BLACK TARPS ARE PUT OVER THE ROWS OF PLANTS AND ACT AS THE FARM’S DEFENSE AGAINST PESTICIDES AND WEEDS.

BY SHELBY WATSON PHOTOS BY SHELBY WATSON

GAZING AT THE GRAZING. AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND NUTRITION STUDENTS LOOK UPON THE CATTLE GRAZING AS THE SUN SHINES OVERHEAD AT AYAVALLA RANCH. THE STUDENTS FACED QUITE THE EXPERIENCE WHEN THE CATTLE CHARGED TOWARDS THEM IN CURIOSITY. PHIPPS ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATTLE AND HOW THE RANCH CYCLES THEM THROUGH GRAZING. LATER, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO WALK PAST THE ELECTRIC FENCE AND GET CLOSER, THOUGH ANY ATTEMPTS TO PET THE CATTLE WERE REJECTED BY THE ANIMALS IN FAVOR OF EATING LUNCH.