They started off by getting to check out the equipment for planting and digging up potatoes. Usually they save a section of potato plants and dig them up while the students are there. The students then get to run around and pick up any remaining potatoes on the ground. However, because it was so cold this year, they had dug out all of the potatoes earlier and were keeping them stored in a warmer location.
Then they took them on a tour of their greenhouses. They told how they grow dill among the tomatoes and also try to grow other things (carrots, cucumbers, etc.) in the spare spaces along the walls of the greenhouse. They said that each greenhouse is made up of 2 giant plastic sheets and each one costs $1000. I was trying to do the math in my head for how many tomatoes could possibly grow in one and how much tomatoes can sell for, and it didn't seem to add up to enough. They must be able to reuse the sheets year after year. It did get me thinking about the cost of farming more. Here in Pocatello we have been able to buy a ten pound bag of potatoes for 88 cents. I know the equipment for the potatoes is very expensive. Then add in the water, and any fertilizer or pesticides or anything like that, and the labor, and it just doesn't seem like it can be profitable.
After the greenhouse, they got to go through a corn maze. It was actually really difficult. We got twisted up a few times, but my group finally made it out.
And here they are playing while waiting for everyone to finish up the corn maze. Even though it looks sunny, you can see they are all bundled up trying to keep warm.
Yesterday we went to the ISU homecoming parade. I think this was the longest parade that we have gone to in Pocatello. We have gone to it every year that we have been here, but this year it seemed twice as long as years in the past. The children came home with a huge bag of candy - just in time for Halloween!
No comments:
Post a Comment