Involving Kids in Urban Homesteading

I got a call recently from the Massachusetts program coordinator at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA).  He had read my blog posts about our family's organic whole-diet CSA and our efforts to buy most of our food directly from farms and farm collaboratives, and was curious for my input in a series of urban homesteading workshops he is hoping to design and offer for homeschooled children next year.

We talked about the programs that NOFA/Mass. already offers for "grown-up" urban homesteaders, including classes on soil health, composting, urban gardening, rainwater collection, alternative energy sources, urban bee-keeping and backyard chicken-keeping, cheese-making and food preservation, and more.  It seems to me that versions of these same classes would be perfect for young urban homesteaders as well!  Perhaps less-focused on the "how" and more focused on the "what" and "why" for topics such as solar energy and urban chickens, this class series could create exciting learning opportunities for urban homeschoolers and others who are trying to live more sustainably and self-reliantly.

But that's just my opinion.  Drew at NOFA/Mass. would like to gather more ideas on how such a series of urban homesteading classes for homeschooled children might work for next spring/summer, including input on topics and format.  The classes would take place at various community gardening spots around the city, and would likely be a mix of two-hour morning drop-off classes for older homeschoolers, with maybe some simultaneous programming for those of us with littler sibling homesteaders. (My vote!)

What are your thoughts? Does a series of urban homesteading workshops for kids interest you? What are your suggestions for topics and format?  Please feel free to leave a comment below or on the blog's Facebook page, or click here to email Drew directly at NOFA/Mass. He would love your input!