The Straw Bale Building
Settlers on the Nebraska plains first utilized straw bale construction over 100 years ago. It is inexpensive and extremely energy efficient. The straw bale building on the George Jones Farm is constructed from timbers cut from the Jones Farm woodlands. There are no nails used in its construction and the walls are made from bales of straw covered with a cement stucco. The 1st grade visits the straw bale building in the lesson on natural resources.
The Compost Pile
Compost is an essential ingredient to any organic garden. The farm maintains a large compost heap which is a constant work in progress. All weeds, leftover vegetables and plant vegetation end up in the compost heap to be converted by microorganisms into rich organic matter to be returned to the garden soil. The farm imports local manure as well as brewer's waste to add more materials to the extensive composting operation.
The Vermi-compost Bins
Inside the greenhouse the farm has created large worm bins for vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is a method of producing rich organic matter using worms to hasten decomposition. Worms are fed garbage and eat it to produce worm castings which is an extremely rich source of organic nutrients.
The Woodlands
The farm contains a 22 acre climax woodland. It contains several species of trees approximately 80 to 100 years old as well as a 1/2 acre vernal pool. The woodland is visited by the 2nd grade for their lesson on Ohio plants and animals and by the 5th grade for their lesson on ecosystems
The Meadow and Native Prairie
On the north side of the farm on the way back to the woodland there is a 3 acre meadow that contains a multitude of organisms. There are native wild flowers and many species of insects and spiders. In addition students can observe the burrows of grassland crayfish that live in the bottom of holes that they excavate to reach the water table. The 2nd grade spends time in the meadow doing observations and collecting specimens to take back to the class room. The 4th grade visits for their study on plants in nature and the garden, and the 5th grade for their study of ecosystems. On the south side of the farm through the woodland there is a 10 acre native prairie that was seeded with native grasses and wildflowers
The Organic Garden
The organic garden comprises 2 acres on the north side of the farm adjacent to Rt. 511 and includes 3 greenhouses. The soil has been carefully amended and contains 7% organic matter. Students in 1st grade visit to study natural resources and 3rd grade visits to learn about the importance of organic material to amend garden soil
The Beehive
There are three beehives on the farm and a beekeeper on staff who is available to meet with classes on an as needed basis. The farm has purchased a visible frame to observe the bees close up. The 1st grade visits the beehive for their study of natural resources, the 2nd grade visits to study the interrelationships of insects and plants and the 4th grade visits to learn about importance of pollination for their study of plants in nature and the garden.
The Wetlands
The farm was originally all a wetland which was subsequently drained for farm land. There is a restored natural wetland on the north side of the farm which is currently inaccessible most of the year. In addition, there are six artificial wetland cells on the south side of the farm. There is also a 1/2 acre vernal pool located in the west side of the woodland. The 5th grade spends most of their study of ecosystems working around the experimental wetland cells.
