Submitted by Emily Moore, Chef and Camp Director

It was a very rainy day in October, 2007, when I first walked onto the great front meadow at 21 Acres and met Brenda, Steve and Vincent (marketing director, volunteer coordinator and resident farm manager) who were greeting and feeding folks dropping by during the King County Harvest Farm Tour.  We chatted about my idea of starting a summer camp on a farm, where urban kids could grow food, cook it in its season, keep chickens and find their eggs, bake pizza in their own wood-fired oven, find joy in the farming life and learn how to feed themselves well along the way.

I was inspired to open a farm camp when, as a long time fine-dining chef and recent culinary arts teacher, I began to realize that as obesity, diabetes and anorexia plague children at earlier and earlier ages, a new and dynamic connection needed to be forget between children and the foods they eat. With farming and sustainable living part of my background and my inspiration to become a chef, I began to conceive of a joyous, fun, educational and wondrous way to connect children with good, fresh food:  a camp on a farm!

It wasn’t until January, 2008, that I once again contacted 21 Acres to see if my idea actually could be brought to fruition on their available acreage, a proposal was made, a deal struck and “The Farm Camp” at 21 Acres was on its way!

Since then, the wonderful group of people who run the various parts of the 21 Acres non-profit operation have been absolutely inspiring in their support of my idea: supplying two acres on which to establish the camp; the offer of creating an umbrella relationship with me while my own non-profit status comes through; volunteers to help begin the clearing of the land; information about how to use goats to continue the clearing; and, cogent and necessary advice on the best ways to lay out the camp and establish kitchen gardens.

The camp will be geared for kids aged 9 through 12 (“tweens”) and will open for week-long day sessions beginning in Spring, 2009.

Stay tuned for updates on camp progress and watch for calls for volunteers to build the “tractor” chicken coop and the outdoor wood-fired brick oven!  Thanks in advance for your interest, participation and help!