Grassroots of Agriculture: Makepeace Plants Seeds of Cranberry Appreciation
June 30, 2005 | Wareham Courier |
Wareham – Last fall A.D. Makepeace’s Harvest Festival attracted people from all walks of life.
Some of the visitors with smaller strides, first-graders from the Hammond Elementary School, absorbed lessons about both cranberries and wildlife.
One class in particular, led by their teacher Maureen Quirk, wasn’t ready to leave the festival and its lessons behind. So they filed away their experiences in a book they wrote and illustrated following the festival – appropriately titled “Over in the Bog.”
But the students’ interest and hard work didn’t end there.
They also wrote lyrics and an original musical composition about the festival.
To bring the experience full circle, the students presented a copy of the book and performed their song last week for Makepeace CEO Mike Hogan at a special dedication ceremony at the Hammond School.
“What an incredible, special honor for the company to be recognized in this way by these students,” Hogan said. “I know it was the best part of my day.”
He was also happy to see this early harvest of the seeds of appreciation for agriculture the company has been planting.
“Doing our part to bring agriculture and the environment to life for young people is an important educational priority for the company,” Hogan said.
After the ceremony, Hogan met with the children in their classroom to answer questions about what happens on local cranberry bogs during the summer.
The students learned that during this time of year thousands of bees are brought onto the bogs to help pollinate the crop.
Hogan has made this part of the company’s educational tour, to give students an opportunity to get up close and personal with both farming and the environment. Interdisciplinary educational materials, developed by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, are also available to teachers..
The length and content of the tours can be tailored to the type and age of a group or organization. The company encourages teachers and organizations interested in visiting the property to contact Susan Lauermann at (508) 742-3104. To learn more about the A.D. Makepeace Company and its community programs, visit www.admakepeace.com.