Category Archives: Activities

Activities, Art, Cellular Automata, Design, Inquiry, Lifestyle, New York, Travel, ◆◆◆

Inquiry: World’s Largest Kaleidoscope

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Mount Tremper, NY | World’s Largest Kaleidoscope – While staying at the Emerson Resort and Spa one of their biggest features is a silo that has been converted into a kaleidoscope show. The show is an interactive display of light, sound and form and tells the story of the universe through this. The display was created by a local film firm in NYC and by two artists. After the show, you find yourself in a gift shop fill of different kaleidoscopes ranging from all sizes and prices. The team at Emerson gifted me a travel-sized kaleidoscope that I now keep on my kitchen table. Not only is it a feast for the eyes, but this experience has inspired me a bit in my own photography.

The above image was taken through a triangle tubular piece and had a mandala panting on the back wall. This image is pretty cool and makes me wonder if I can recreate the effect by creating a kaleidoscope lens. Throughout the shop there were interactive displays where you can look through kaleidoscopes and spin a bowl of marbles to create your own visuals. This activity is complimentary for guests.

Activities, Connecticut, Excursions, Exploration, New England, ◆◆◆

Exploration: NE Balloon Festival

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GOSHEN, CT – I had been meaning to make a post of about this! But not much happened, so I wasn’t sure how to tell the story. July 9th, I traveled to Goshen, CT to meet up with a bunch of GLT sisters/members. GLT is Girls LOVE Travel®, a professional Facebook organization, nearly of 400,000 women who love to travel. They have chapters throughout the world for meet ups and gatherings, and there was a New England chapter. I decided one Sunday to travel an hour and a half to Goshen, CT to meet up with about 6 of us who met up at the festival.

Activities, Biophilia, Excursions, Massachusetts, New England, ◆◆◆

Activities: Mushroom Walk

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WEST CHESTERFIELD, MA – Last Sunday I went on my first mushroom walk with the Pioneer Valley Mycological Society! It was great meeting like-minded people and getting to know the area a bit. We went to Chesterfield Gorge in West Chesterfield. It’s about 35 minutes from work. I actually ran into someone from work who went on the walk as well.  Below are the mushroom species that we found during the walk. It was overall pretty uneventful.

Here is the list of the 45 fungi species found on the June 11 PVMA walk at Chesterfield Gorge: GILLED: Agrocybe acericola, Agrocybe praecox, Gymnopilus sapineus, Gymnopus dryophilus, Hebeloma sp., Inocybe sp., Inocybe calamistrata, Laccaria longipes, Mycena sp., Mycena haematopus, Mycens leaiana, Pluteus sp., Pluteus cervinus, Psathyrella sp., Rickenella fibula BOLETE_LIKE: Leccinum scabrum, Suillus granulatus CORALS: Artomyces pyxidatus PUFFBALLS: Lycoperdon perlatum JELLY: Dacrymyces chrysospermus, Horomyces aurantiacus POLYPORES & STEREUMS: Cerioporus varius, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis betulinus, Ganoderma megaloma, Ganoderma tsugae, Hymenochaetopsis olivacea, Irpex lacteus, Neofavolus alveolaris, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Stereum complicatum, Stereum ostrea, Trichaptum abietinum, Trichaptum biforme, Tyromyces chioneus, ASCOMYCETES: Annulohypoxylon fragiforme, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Cudonia circinans, Kretzschmaria deusta, Xylaria hypoxylon, Xylaria polymorpha: SLIME MOLDS: Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa var. poroides, Lycagola epidendrum, Stemonitis sp.

Activities, Excursions, Exploration, New England, Vermont, ◆◆◆

Exploration: High Meadows Farm

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This week I started a full-time job as a graphic designer at River Valley Co-op! I’m super excited to start this next chapter in my life! The job is also in a town/region that I love. This week has been a whirlwind of understanding and learning about the co-op life. For example, today my manager and I went to High Meadows Farm and did a photoshoot for their advertising and rebranding. I took behind-the-scnes photos which you can see below. So today’s activity post is inspired by my new job!

Discover Local

If you are vacationing in a rural/country region one unique activity to do is visit the local farms and learn about what products they have to offer. Below’s list is from CISA – Community Involved Sustainable Agriculture.

FARM WHAT’S GROWING DISTRIBUTION TOWN
Barberic Farm Herbs, Dairy + Eggs, Meat, Spreads, Specialty, Baked Goods, Dry Goods, Fiber, Breeding Stock Farmers Markets Shelburne
1 mi
Johnson Hill Farm Herbs, Family Fun Buckland
2 mi
The Atherton Farm Vegetables, Herbs, Nursery + Flowers, Grains + Feeds, Specialty
integrated pest mgmt		 Farmers Markets, Farm Stand Buckland
3 mi
Kenburn Orchards Fruit, Nursery + Flowers, Family Fun Farm Stand, PYO Shelburne
3 mi
Wheel-View Farm Meat, Nursery + Flowers, Pet Food, Breeding Stock Farm Stand Shelburne
3 mi
Spring Water Farm Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Wood, Nursery + Flowers, Spreads, Specialty, Baked Goods, Fiber, Family Fun
chemical-free		 Farmers Markets, Farm Stand, Restaurants, Wholesale Ashfield
3 mi
Pioneer Valley Popcorn Dry Goods Restaurants, Wholesale Shelburne
3 mi
Hart Farm Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Honey + Maple, Dairy + Eggs, Meat, Nursery + Flowers, Beverages, Specialty
chemical-free		 Farmers Markets Conway
3 mi
E & J Scott Orchard Fruit, Vegetables, Dairy + Eggs, Wood, Beverages, Breeding Stock Farm Stand Buckland
3 mi
Apex Orchards
profiled farm		 Fruit, Vegetables, Honey + Maple, Nursery + Flowers, Specialty, Family Fun
integrated pest mgmt		 Delivery, Pickup, Farmers Markets, Farm Stand, PYO, Restaurants, Schools, Wholesale Shelburne
4 mi
Graves-Glen Farm Honey + Maple, Nursery + Flowers, Grains + Feeds Farm Stand Shelburne
4 mi
Pine Hill Orchards Fruit, Vegetables, Beverages, Family Fun Delivery, Pickup, Farm Stand, PYO, Schools, Wholesale Colrain
4 mi
Wilder Brook Farm Vegetables, Honey + Maple, Dairy + Eggs, Nursery + Flowers
chemical-free		 CSA Charlemont
4 mi
Wilder Hill Gardens Fruit, Vegetables, Nursery + Flowers, Specialty Farm Stand, PYO Conway
4 mi
Foxbard Farm Meat, Wood, Grains + Feeds Farm Stand Shelburne
4 mi
Open View Farm Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Meat, Fiber, Family Fun
some organic		 Conway
4 mi
Shinglebrook Farm
profiled farm		 Meat, Nursery + Flowers, Breeding Stock Shelburne
4 mi
The Pieropan Christmas Tree Farm
profiled farm		 Nursery + Flowers, Specialty Ashfield
4 mi
Good Bunch Farm Vegetables, Herbs
chemical-free		 Pickup, Farmers Markets, Restaurants, Wholesale Conway
4 mi
K & L Organic Growers Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Dairy + Eggs, Nursery + Flowers, Grains + Feeds, Specialty, Dry Goods, Pet Food
chemical-free		 Delivery, Pickup, SideHill Farm, Pine Hill Orchards, Avery’s Market, Farm Stand, Restaurants, Wholesale Colrain
4 mi
Stonegate Farm Honey + Maple Conway
4 mi
Clark Brothers Orchards, LLC Fruit
integrated pest mgmt
GAP certified		 Farm Stand, Wholesale Ashfield
5 mi
New England Wild Edibles
profiled farm		 Vegetables
some organic		 Farmers Markets Colrain
5 mi
Red Gate Farm Education Center
profiled farm		 Vegetables, Honey + Maple, Dairy + Eggs, Meat, Nursery + Flowers, Spreads Buckland
5 mi
Sunrise Farms Vegetables, Honey + Maple, Meat, Wood, Grains + Feeds, Specialty Farmers Markets Colrain
5 mi
East View Farm Dairy + Eggs, Meat Colrain
5 mi
Lyonsville Farm Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Dairy + Eggs, Nursery + Flowers
chemical-free		 CSA, Farmers Markets, CSA, Restaurants, Wholesale Colrain
5 mi
Burnt Hill Farm Fruit Pickup Heath
6 mi
Clarkdale Fruit Farms Fruit, Vegetables, Beverages
integrated pest mgmt		 Farmers Markets, Farm Stand, PYO Deerfield
6 mi
Cranston’s Tree Farm Honey + Maple, Wood, Nursery + Flowers, Grains + Feeds, Family Fun
integrated pest mgmt		 Farm Stand, PYO Ashfield
6 mi
Natural Roots Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs, Dairy + Eggs, Meat, Wood, Nursery + Flowers
chemical-free		 Delivery, Pickup, Farm Stand, CSA, Restaurants, Wholesale Conway
6 mi
The Benson Place Fruit, Spreads, Family Fun
organic certified		 Farm Stand, PYO Heath
6 mi
Martin’s Farm Compost and Mulch Nursery + Flowers
organic certified		 Farm Stand Greenfield
6 mi
Whitney Acres Farm Dairy + Eggs, Grains + Feeds, Fiber, Family Fun Ashfield
6 mi
Bear Swamp Orchard Fruit, Honey + Maple, Dairy + Eggs, Beverages, Wine + Liquor, Spreads, Specialty, Baked Goods, Fiber
organic certified		 Pickup, Farm Stand, PYO, Restaurants, Wholesale Ashfield
6 mi
Sidehill Farm
profiled farm		 Dairy + Eggs, Meat, Breeding Stock
some organic		 Delivery, Pickup, Most Pioneer Valley CSAs, Farm Stand, Restaurants, Schools, Wholesale Hawley
7 mi
Steady Lane Farm Meat, Pet Food, Fiber
chemical-free		 Pickup, Farm Stand, CSA, Restaurants, Wholesale Ashfield
7 mi
Bug Hill Farm Fruit, Nursery + Flowers, Beverages, Family Fun
organic certified		 Farmers Markets, Farm Stand, PYO Ashfield
7 mi
Wandering Brook Farm Fruit, Vegetables, Grains + Feeds PYO, Restaurants, Wholesale Greenfield
7 mi
Boyden Brothers Maple Honey + Maple, Nursery + Flowers, Specialty Farm Stand Conway
7 mi

See more here: http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farms.php?zip=01370

Snapshots