W is for Where does our food come from?

Last week on our camping trip the threefootcooks had the chance to visit a working dairy farm, Maleny Dairies and a cheese factory, Maleny Cheese. Apart from the excitement of patting and feeding calves and kids (the baby goat kind) Bear and Bee also got to see first hand where milk comes from.  The farm tour took us through the entire process from milking the cows to producing milk and milk products such as custard and yoghurts. 

While I am sure the girls didn't fully understand that milk can be made into all these wonderful products they will certainly remember that there is a link.  And the expression on Bee's face when she tried the fresh milk that was squirted into her hand was priceless! 

They were also fascinated by the yoghurt packaging that they could sit and watch at the Maleny Cheese factory.  Bee was quite happy to indulge in a cheese and crackers plate for lunch and the Three Cheese and Caramelised Onion Tart I had was superb.

Making sure that our children understand that our food doesn't just come from the supermarket is an important step in their appreciation of and connection to their environment.  You may not have the opportunity to visit a working dairy farm or raise chickens in your backyard but their are plenty of other options available including travelling farms that allow children to interact with baby farm animals, a visit to an agricultural show or even just borrowing books from your local public library that explain where our food comes from.

A couple of crazy calves!

Have you taken your children to see farm animals? Where did you go?