Education > School Farm Tour Program
Weekday, afternoon tours available
For elementary & secondary students
No cost to your school
Informal, agriculture talks
Meet real, local farmers
Hands-on activities
Dedicated, educational planting beds
Coordinated with NYS science curricula
Vegetable samples & gifts
A fun, educational day for all
Call 716.373.0200, ext. 3358 to schedule a tour
Who are we?
Canticle Farm is a local, non-profit, Certified Naturally Grown vegetable farm located in Allegany, NY. We are a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm that sells farm shares to members of the local public. Shareholders “share” the risk with the farmers and the farm because they pay for their produce before it is harvested. Shareholders pick up their vegetables at our farm each week throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Canticle Farm currently has over 200 shareholders and our farm has been producing quality, locally grown vegetables since 2001.
Weekday, afternoon tours available
Canticle Farm is proud to offer local schools the opportunity to visit our farm and get a taste of what local agriculture entails. We currently grow over 40 varieties of regional vegetables and wish to share our knowledge and experience with local students.Vegetables do not come from the grocery store—canned, frozen, or from the produce section. Vegetables come from farms. We feel that the more people who appreciate this, the better.
For Elementary & Secondary Levels
Our school tours are uniquely targeted to elementary grade levels 4 and 5, but can be adapted to any grade level. Grade 4 classes are invited to visit between late May and early June. The tour/instruction will focus on seeding, planting, and soil preparation. Grade 5 students visit in Sept to mid-Oct when the focus will be on harvesting. Ideally, students will have the opportunity to seed and plant in Grade 4, followed by a fall harvest tour as 5th graders.
No cost to your school
There are currently no fees associated with our farm tours. The only cost to the school is transportation.
Informal, agriculture talks
Canticle Farm has two farmers who will actively take part in farm tours. Discussions will be informal in nature, and much of the instruction will take place in our greenhouse, high tunnels, barn, and fields. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and get their hands dirty (if they wish).
Meet real, local farmers
Your students will have the opportunity to interact, side-by-side with real, local farmers. Students will gain a better understadning of where their food comes from and what is required to bring it to the table. Our farmers, Mark Printz and David Schummer, are both local graduates of Allegany-Limestone. Farm Manager Printz has been with the farm since its inception in 2001 and has a B.S. in Marketing from SUNY Brockport. Mark has played a critical role in the success and growth of our farm. Assistant Farm Manager Schummer has a PhD in Philosophy from the University at Buffalo. Farmer Schummer’s academic and agricultural pursuits encompass education, environmental ethics and sustainable living.
Hands-on activities
Students will have the opportunity to seed, plant, and work with soil. Tour groups should come prepared with boots and appropriate clothing. We will provide an area for clean-up before returning to the bus.
Dedicated, educational planting beds
Canticle Farm has set aside 2, 100’x5’ beds for educational purposes only. Students who visit as 4th graders in the spring will have an opportunity to work and plant into these beds during their first visit. Upon return as 5th graders, they will have the opportunity to harvest the matured plants from the very same beds. Canticle Farm volunteers, shareholders, and staff will maintain these beds over the summer months, but students (and parents) are more than welcome to stop by any time to assist.
NYS Science Curricula
Canticle Farm is currently researching NYS science curricula so that our presentations and interaction with students will coincide with State education standards. This will be implemented into our tour plan by the time students are ready to arrive in late spring.
Vegetable samples & gifts
Spring tour students will return with a pot, seeded with a plant of their choice (along with care directions) and a Canticle Farm Stand coupon. Fall tour students bring home a sample of the vegetables that they harvested from our education beds and a Canticle Farm Stand coupon.
A fun, educational day for all
How could an afternoon in the great outdoors, on a farm next to the Allegheny River not be enjoyable & educational?
Come share an afternoon with us at Canticle Farm!
Call 716.373.0200, ext. 3358 to schedule a tour
