Making my 4H fair list, and checking it twice

The girls are prepping their various 4-H projects for the Cumberland Fair. Everything - exhibits and livestock - needs to be at the fairgrounds next Saturday. Every year I think we'll be in better organizational shape the week prior to the fair. But every year something happens before the fair that sends my best intentions out the window. This year it's a work schedule change for me. And, the girls have more show animals than previous years. This year L. has 3 sheep (she had 2 last year) and G. is showing 3 cows (she showed 1 last year).

I have a working packing list so I can regularly add to it when I think of items. I'm posting it on my blog, not so much to share the gory details with all of you as much as a way for me to reference it when I need it in case I lose my original list (which is entirely possible in my currently sleep-deprived brain).

The Almeida's fair packing list (so far - I know I am forgetting something already!):

Livestock
2 pigs, each between 220-250 pounds. 4-H friend hauling
3 sheep (1 yearling, 2 lambs - one lamb that is nearly the size of the yearling). We haul w/trailer and our wanna-be truck (mini-van)
3 cows (1 cow, 1 heifer and 1 bull calf). Farm hauling
4-H livestock forms & livestock insurance cards

4-H hall exhibits
* 14 exhibits for L w/fair entry paperwork attached to each one
* 15 exhibits for G, including baked items made the night before the drop-off and fair entry paperwork for each one
* old computer laptop (to play G.'s movie submission and L.'s robotic club's movie for judging day)

13-foot camper that we are also hauling with our wanna-be truck (mini-van)

L.'s packing list
* grain for sheep
* hay for sheep
* water bucket for sheep
* grain dish for sheep
* hand clippers for sheep
* hoof trimmers for sheep
* brushes for sheep
* 3 sheep halters
* sheep coats
* grain for pigs
* 2 grain dishes for pigs
* 2 pig boards
* shampoo to wash pigs
* wash bucket, sponge and scrub brush for pigs
* powder & baby oil for pigs
* baby wipes for sheep & pigs
* boots for stall mucking
* boots for showing
* show clothes for sheep
* show clothes for pigs - Swiners shirt and extra show pants

G.'s packing list
* show shirt and pants
* boots for stall mucking
* boots for showing
* show stick
* (farm's) show box with brushes, clippers, combs, hair stuff
* baby wipes

Mom's packing list
(check standard camper gear before hauling camper to fairgrounds)
* Breakfast items for 7 days
* Lunch supplies for 7 days
* water bottles & seltzer cans
* paper plates and napkins
* plastic silverware
(We're budgeting to eat dinner at the fairgrounds every night because I can't handle meal prep with shows just about every afternoon/evening!)

* Sleeping bags for the camper
* 4 pillows
* portable heater
* extra hangers for wet clothes - it has rained nearly every day at this fair for the past 3 years we've camped there.

* 4 aprons and hats for our 4-H kitchen volunteer time

And this year not only are we prepping for the fair, I am adjusting to a new night work schedule that I was assigned at the office. I have been an early morning person for the last decade so when the sun comes up, unfortunately so do I even if I've only been asleep for 3-4 hours. Every night I get a little more sleep so I am sure in a couple of weeks my body will have this snoozing thing figured out.

Then there are the kids and their much more demanding school and homework assignments that need to be figured out for our week at the fair.

And there is the third pig to get off for processing *this* weekend and coordinating with friends for the pick-up.

Oh, and G. just took on a new dog to foster two weeks ago.

I definitely have my hands full for the next 8 days. Then there is fair week, which is another whole ball of wax.

As my friends in college used to say, "It's going to be a show!" for the next couple of weeks.

But like every year, the coordination is always worth the effort. The kids learn so many practical life skills with their various activities at the fair every year. And we have some wonderful 4-H friends that make this all do-able - and fun! - for my family.

But if you see me this coming week, or the week of the fair, don't expect much conversation. Or be ready for my sleep-deprived silliness. I'm well-known for the latter and it's even more bizarre coming from a 40-year-old than it was during my college years. Just plan to forgive me now for my weirdness.

Happy upcoming fair week to all my 4-H friends!

Kid Tracks Column: Citizen scientists add vital details to the big picture

Engaging kids in the natural world can be a great learning experience.

My children have always enjoyed making observations about trees, flowers and tracks while we’re hiking on trails around Maine. They like to point out details they think are interesting, amusing or just plain “weird.”

This has led me to consider ways to encourage their interest in environmental science in a more formal way. One of the ways my family does this is with citizen science projects.

Citizen science is a way to help real scientists learn more about a particular area through observation reports. It also helps scientists get the word out about invasive species and teach how to identify them.

These projects help scientists in Maine – and across the nation – understand how the natural world is changing and allow ordinary citizens to have an impact on environmental policy decisions. Volunteers typically are given observation guidelines and a way to file reports.

My busy family has been involved in a few seasonal citizen science projects that I found very do-able. Some projects can go on for years, so you should inquire about how to end your participation in the project before you sign up for one.

Signs of the Seasons: A Maine Phenology Project (umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons): This program documents the effects of global climate change with the help of citizens observing and recording the phenology (seasonal changes) of plants and animals living in their backyards. This has been a convenient project for us, since all we have to do is walk out our door to do it.

There are 14 indicator species you can choose to observe and my kids each chose a red maple tree. They started this project in early spring and have spent 10 minutes once a week sitting in front of their tree recording its changes and any visitors (bird or mammal) that stop by.

My older daughter is really enjoying this project because she is a photography enthusiast. She believes her camera helps her be a better observer, because it’s more active than simply sitting down and watching a stationary tree.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant coordinate the program in partnership with the USA National Phenology Network, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Audubon, climate scientists at the University of Maine and several other organizations.

My family signed up for a training program after finding out about the phenology project through a 4-H connection. There are also online resources for volunteers to get involved at any time.

Invasive Forest Pest Outreach, BugWatchME (www.albmaine.org): My family spends a lot of time on a variety of trails, so we decided to take a class last year with some Maine Department of Agriculture folks to learn about invasive insects.

The “Leave Your Firewood at Home” and “Buy It Where You Burn It” bumper stickers and posters you see have been created because invasive species can move easily and efficiently through firewood.

Right now, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is a big threat to Maine’s hardwood trees. The beetle first arrived in wood-packing material used to import goods from Asia about 20 years ago. Worcester, Mass., lost 25,000 trees from an infestation of these bugs a few years ago. Officials hope to keep these insects out of Maine and have enacted a law that prohibits bringing firewood into the state.

This citizen science project is more about learning about invasive insect species and how to look for signs of them. My kids have taken a closer look at many trees – dead and on the ground as well as alive and standing – looking for signs of insects. We’ve never seen any ALB signs (and as of this printing, none have been found in Maine) but we have greatly expanded our knowledge of native Maine insects.

If you coordinate a youth (or adult) group, you can request a free presentation by an invasive insect volunteer, including games and activities.

CoCoRaHS – the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network

(www.cocorahs.org): Volunteers in this network measure precipitation (rain, hail and snow) in backyards in all 50 states. Becoming a weather watcher for this project required an initial investment of $25 for a specific type of rain gauge that measures to 1/100th of an inch. A yardstick for measuring snow is also needed and can be purchased at any hardware store for a few dollars.

My younger daughter and I attended a training program at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick last year, taught by staff from the National Weather Service in Gray, to learn how to measure precipitation accurately for this project. There are training videos on cocorahs.org also, so in-person training isn’t required.

My daughter trekked out every morning at 7 a.m. to empty the rain gauge and measure the precipitation (snow was a bit trickier than rain). Then she posted her measurements on the website. She did this for eight months and made a bar chart poster for her 4-H environmental science project to compare all of her recorded findings for the most notable storms during that time period. It was a great hands-on science project for her.

CoCoRaHS is affiliated with the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation and Colorado State University.

Great Backyard Bird Count (www.birdsource.org/gbbc): This is held for four days every February (Feb. 17-20 in 2012) and my family has done it for years. It’s a simple weekend project for families, and even very young children can help with the observations.

And although we love being outside in winter, I have friends who like this bird count because it’s a good way to teach their kids about the outdoors without actually having to be out in the cold.

You simply set up a chair by a window in your house and watch your backyard (or front yard in our case) to see which birds stop by. Then you record the time, type and number of birds you see and submit your report at the end of each day to the GBBC website.

If you’re not sure you’ve identified the bird you’ve seen correctly, there are some great online resources on the project’s website.

Maine Audubon Wildlife Road Watch (www.wildlifecrossing.net/maine/map/wildlife): Audubon scientists hope to collect data from citizen observations of wildlife on roads, whether it is alive or dead. The information can help scientists understand more about habitat fragmentation, where creatures are trying to cross roads and what can be done to reduce road kill and make the roads safer for people and wildlife.

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram September 11, 2011.

Homework has begun, good thing it's fun

G. started school this week and already she has two assignments due next week in her film history class. They don't mess around with 10th graders and homework assignments!

The film history class kicked off with a study of silent films this week. One of G.'s assignments due next week offered a choice - write a paper about silent films or make your own. I actually think the instructor meant for the students to script how they would make their own film, the elements they'd use, etc. But G., being a movie making enthusiast, decided to take the assignment the extra step and make her own silent film. There was not even a moment's consideration to write a paper. G. is all about the visual art of communication.

She came up with a plot for her movie, solicited her sister to co-star and asked me to take the video footage. Once the video was shot (with much hilarity about exaggerated hand gestures) she then edited it in the style of a silent movie. This included abrupt transitions and adding effects to change the footage to black & white with an "old film" low-quality feel to make it as authentic with 2011 technology as she could (using free movie editing software and a cheap digital camera). She then tracked down some old silent film music to match up to the "action" in her story.

For those who follow my blog you will likely recognize some of the 'characters' have grown. The pigs are far from little anymore and neither are the lambs. The chickens haven't changed much though.



Disclaimer: I would like to note that no animal was harmed during the recording of this film. The only one in any distress was the camera person (me). I was bitten by one of the pigs while filming in their pen. No blood was drawn and no footage was taken of the incident so it was otherwise not noteworthy... except this is my blog and I can lament (again) that I am the furthest thing from an any-kind-of-animal whisperer there is. I am the source of pity and amusement at my house. It's a good thing I retain my sense of humor about being the receiver of "love-bites" ... well, after I whine a bit about it.