TheArtBarn

Day by Day

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:10:53 -0500

PLEASE NOTE:

We are NOT OPEN every single day - please check the day by day listing below.

Rsvps are always appreciated - walkins are welcome - but be aware...

If we have ZERO rsvps the day before event - it will be cancelled and noted here.

If you have a large or small group and would like to add a day not listed on the Cow-lendar call Farmer Sue to make arrangements.

Events that are FULL or PRIVATE will be noted.

cost is $10 per person. that is $10 for an adult + $10 for a child

farm days are 10 am -- 12:30 with gates closing at 1:00

thanks xxo farmer sue

here's a detailed list of what is going on at the farm DAY BY DAY scroll down and take a look - we are continually adding activities.

There is also a general cow-lendar page in block format

MAY

5/16 Wednesday- Small Field Trip - We can add a few individual friends or another small field trip group

5/17 Thursday - closed

5/18 Friday - closed

5/19 Saturday - private parties all day -- booked solid

we will be closed from Sunday May 20 - Monday May 28th to get ready for summer campers

please join us for a play date on the 29,30, or 31s rsvp please

5/29 small field trips and open play date: RSVP please - $10 per person

5/30 small field trips and open play date: RSVP please - $10 per person

5/31 small field trips and open play date: RSVP please - $10 per person

JUNE

6/2 Saturday: Private party at 10. Private party at 4. We will have the farm open for drop ins 1-3:00

6/3 Sunday - closed

6/4- 6/7 private summer camp week - no outside visitors - thank you

6/8 FRIDAY - small fieldtrips and play date visitors. RSVP A MUST - thank you.

6/9 Saturday: TBA

6/10 Sunday: CLOSED

6/11 MONDAY: 1/2 day drop In camp day 10-1:00 $30

6/12 TUESDAY: 2 small fieldtrips & space for individual friends to join us - please rsvp

6/13 WEDNESDAY: 2 small fieldtrips & space for individual friends to join us - please rsvp

6/14 THURSDAY: FULLLLLLLLLLL

6/15 FRIDAY: 2 small fieldtrips & space for individual friends to join us - please rsvp

6/16: PARTY SPACES AVAILABLE

6/17: PARTY SPACES AVAILABLE

COCKADOODLE DOO
The Farm 5 - things you need to know!

#1
This Weekend is the big BIG Baby Day!
time: 12:45 -3:15 cost: $10 per person
COME CELEBRATE
Baby April our adorable miniature donkey will be 9 years old.
Baby Chicks just hatched on Tuesday -- way cute
and...we are babysitting every girls' dream...
A 14 day old foal from Brownwood Farm.
(I've waited 50 years to see this up close and personal)
We will meet all the babies and the rest of the barnyard crew.
Hop a hayride and make some fun art too.
Time: 12:45-3:15 we have private parties before & after so be on time!
cross your fingers that our little lambs will be born soon too.

#2
THIS FRIDAYstory time & barnyard hulabaloo. 10-12:30
Come enjoy a story in the Haybarn with Farmer Sue then head out to the barnyard to meet the entire crew.

We will hop a hayride and of course... make some farmtastic art too.
RSVP greatly appreciated - cost $10 per person.
Be sure to check the DAILY activity tab on the website for open days
during the week - we've got lots of good things growing on!

#3
summer CAMP CAMP CAMP
we still have some spaces available the following weeks:
** june 4-8 at the farm * june 18-22 in the CITY * july 16-21 **
** weeks not listed above are jammin with field trippers & we are accepting only a few campers as "farm hands" to help run the show -- awesome chance for older friends to experience the farm in a whole new way. - call farmer sue for details

#4
x x o the Nest is Best
a very sweet Mother's Day Workshop
Come with your mom or come with a friend to make this sweet sweet little nest as a special gift for your mom.
We will create a beautiful hand made bird nest, adorned with feathers, flowers & eggs.

These are keepers for sure! This project was featured in TravelGirl magazine a few years back
We will also have time to meet all the new babies on the farm, have time to hop a hayride and visit with your other favorite farm friends.
DO BRING A PICNIC LUNCH TO ENJOY
rsvp only
parent/child combo $30 Saturday May 12th 10-1:00
cross your fingers.... maybe the new lambs will be born

#5
That Farmer Sue & The Barnyard Crew love YOU!
Thank you to each and everyone of YOU for making this
YOUR FAMILY FARM.
All your support and love this spring feels like a giant
farm 5
hawgsnkisses
from farmer sue & the barnyard crew
see you at the farm real soon!

In the News

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:02:40 -0500

We've Certainly Got More Than A Few Things To Crow About!

BE SURE TO CATCH SOME AIR WITH PAUL MILLIKEN OF FOX5 ATLANTA & TheArtBarn Crew:

A Visit to Farmer Sue's Art Barn: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Good Day's Paul Milliken traveled to Canton to visit Farmer Sue's Art Barn! It combines farm activities and adventure with art for kids of all ages!

One of our Latest COCKADOODLE DOOOs IS right here in BEST SELF MAGAZINE

fabulous photos by Amy Hunsinger & heart warming story by Jeyme Colodne

Farmer Sue & The ArtBarn at Morning Glory Farm

Dreams of a City Farmer

By Jeyme Colodne

When Susan Shaw decided to leave her hectic graphic artist career behind for a farm in Canton, GA., she did so without regret and hasn’t looked back since. Her amazing journey has led her to become affectionately dubbed, Farmer Sue. She admits she loves every minute spent sharing her love of animals and the great outdoors with her friends and guests.

Morning Glory Farm is open year-round and plays host to plenty of afterschool classes, fieldtrips, workshops and parties. With the endless activities that happen on the farm, it doesn’t seem as though her life has slowed down at all, but Shaw is quick to explain that she wouldn’t have it any other way. “We are so busy in our days, school, shopping, work, that our life becomes a busy blur,” says Shaw, “What the farm has to offer is the simplicity of a moment.”

How long have you owned Morning Glory Farm?
Twelve years physically, but in my heart much longer. I have moments now and then when I am with a child or planting or painting something and I blink and shake my head with the feeling I have already seen this amazing moment before.

Have you always wanted to be a farmer?
Since moving here, I have always jokingly called myself 'The Accidental Farm Girl.' In my previous life - I had nice nails, cute clothes and I loved to dabble in the garden but never had enough sun or space for more than a box of herbs and a few flowers in the front yard. After moving here with the simple goal of slowing down, putting my graphic design studio in the old barn and maybe just maybe getting a horse one day, somehow I was magically transformed. At the time I had been teaching some afterschool art classes and started incorporating the animals into the projects. The next thing I knew, I was Farmer Sue after a few of my students started calling me that. I laughed and said, ‘Wow, now I am somebody!’ Next came the pearls, pink shirts, overalls and big straw hat!

How did you come up with the concept for The ArtBarn?
I had moved in and been here for a year and decided to throw myself a 40th birthday party complete with barbecue, outdoor music and fun. I invited all my friends most of whom had kids. I set up a table with random art supplies to keep the kids busy while we got dinner ready. Next thing I know everybody, adults included, are taking time to make a little art. It was a wonderful evening.

Months and months later when a friend was debating what to do for her child’s birthday, I suggested doing it at the farm. All the kids had a blast at my party! We went for a nature walk, petted the old pony, met the rooster and made great art - they loved it. Next thing you know, the kids were calling it The ArtBarn. After a glass of wine and some sketching, the cute little logo came together and voilà, The ArtBarn was born. We’ve been partying like crazy ever since!

What can people experience when they visit the farm?
A true family farm. A day filled with laughter, learning and love. A day that feels like a visit to your favorite aunt or uncle’s house! Warm eggs, fuzzy chicks, a symphony of barnyard sounds, honey bees buzzing in the garden, and giggles as you tickle a pig’s tummy or the love you feel when the littlest donkey snuggles into your arms or a tiny lamb lays it head on your shoulder. Learning about the animals and how things grow in the garden. Creating a piece of art in the barn and simply making a memory your family will never forget.

What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from the simple beauty of nature and animals and seeing the world through a child’s eyes. Morning Glory Farm is the place I would have loved to have been able to hang out when I was a child. I would never have gone home and the good thing is now I don’t have to!

How have your life experiences and background contributed to what you are doing today?
My whole life has contributed to the joy of this farm in so many ways. I liken them to colorful threads floating in the breeze then suddenly something happens and they all tangle up into this beautiful, sometimes messy, yet amazing tapestry that is your life or is this farm!

How do you lead a healthy lifestyle?
Living on the farm has been a major life changing experience in so many ways. As far as healthy lifestyle goes, in the beginning it was giving up TV because there were so many things to learn and do. Then it was experiencing delicious farm fresh eggs. Next, it was home grown tomato sandwiches, trading sodas for water with mint from the garden and it just kept growing from there.

Watching a chicken in its natural state and finding out how long it takes for a chick to be at your grocery store will really change your thoughts on some super market things. I am so excited that there is a huge push for Farm to Table information at school these days. Teachers are asking for more gardens and growing emphasis in their farm fieldtrips.

Farm to Table has really helped me re-boost my own commitment to a better lifestyle and to see how much further I can push what I do here at the farm. I try my best to eat better and smarter. I’m trying to pay more attention to sugars and see what I can replace with honey now that I have the bees. Growing things makes you want to cook more things! Salad straight from the garden is amazing.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Listen to your heart. Follow your dream. Don’t let anybody tell you what you can or can’t do or what you are capable of. I do have days where I shake my head and think back to my old life and look at what I’m doing now and say, ‘Who would have ever thunk it?’ and it always makes me smile.

Other news....

• Recently Featured on CNN's Thanksgiving Special on HAPPINESS!
• Featured on The Weather Channel's Road Crew - Getting Ready for Winter
• UGA Alumni Magazine featured a fantastic 5 page story all about the farm
• Travel Girl Magazine features cool ArtBarn Projects 2 years in a row
• Voted Cherokee Co. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Month
• AJC - Birthday Palooza highlights ArtBarn Party
• Cherokee Tribune - Lifestyle Article - Farm Livin is the Life
• Cherokee Ledger
• Noted by AJC as Canton's Hidden Gem
• Bob, King of the Barnyard, goes big time on Cartoon Network Commercial for Robot Chicken
• Barbara makes the front page of Cherokee Tribune

Olivia Our Talking Piglet Reporter Says Please Check Out Our Tour & Blog Above

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What's New

1/12/11 Summer Camp

1/12/11 Fieldtrip

1/12/11 PARTY DETAILS

1/12/11 Mission Statement

1/12/11 Welcome

1/12/11 Meet Farmer Sue

1/12/11 Directions to the farm

1/11/11 Farmer Sue Bio

10/26/10 PARTY SPACE AVAILABLE

10/26/10 BOOKED: PRIVATE PARTY

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hip hop hooray - the farm is open on saturday!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:43:33 -0500

Hip Hop Hooray

TheArtBarn at Morning Glory Farm - where good things grow

will be open on Saturday April 7th

from 10-1:00

for visiting with barnyard buddies,

crusin the farm on our hayride pulled by Matilda our 1957 Ford Tractor and

making some great art - we will be painting pigs, roosters, bunnies and more.

So hop on over between 10 & 1:00 for Farm-tastic morning.

we have a small number of rsvps

- so we are just flinging open the gates - and telling friends to get on over here with or with a rsvp

COST: $10 per person

(10/adult + 10/child. no charge for babies in strollers who are just along for the ride!)

pack a picnic lunch, your CAMERA & do print the directions from the web

some GPS will drop you off around the corner.

HAWGSNKISSES love

farmer sue

ps: we still have just a little room for the Sheep Shearing & Family Farm Day Sunday April 15th

how it all works!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:37:57 -0500

FIRST PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT OPEN EVERYSINGLE DAY

you must check the day by day listing in the pull down menu

WE ACCEPT CASH OR CHECKS AT THE FARM

-- CREDIT CARDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR LARGE GROUP DEPOSITS ONLINE & SPECIAL PRE-PAID EVENTS

Hey Guys -- Please take a moment to read this. (to see day by day - select DayByDay Tab)

It seems there is some confusion as to when we are open.

Here is the deal. We are not open every single day. Our days vary during the week & during the season. The hours are generally 10-12:30 ish.

Farmer Sue does fieldtrips & playdates during the week which are listed on the DayByDay Tab noting which ones are full & which ones have room to drop in.

We always appreciate rsvps - but... If we have ZERO rsvps the day before - activity will be cancelled. So please check the DayByDay Tab to see that we are good to go.

If calendar says we are OPEN we will be OPEN if it says FULL or PRIVATE we can't take outside friends.

Weekends are generally reserved for private parties - which are pretty jam up as far as booking goes - in that it is the best party around town!

We are posting 1 Saturday Morning each month as a family day that can also be used for small parties that do not wish to book a full private party.

If you would like to book a private event or fieldtrip call Farmer Sue & she will put your group on the Cow-lendar.

hawgsnkisses

Farmer Sue & TheArtBarn Crew

Remember - You are welcome to come with a group or just you and your child.

Details

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:36:18 -0500

PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT OPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY - you must check the day by day listing on the pulldown menu

we accept cash or checks at the farm.

credit card payments can be processed on line prior to event or at the farm with a smart phone

who can come: individual moms & children. Families. Playgroups. School Fieldtrips.

Everybody is welcome!

A Family Farm Day or Barnyard Hullabaloo

will be offered each month. These are great for family fun, Scout activites, or if you don't need one of our big big birthday parties... you can always reserve a table at family farm or use a morning Hullabaloo date to CELEBRATE!

At each activity the animals are always out for snuggling, petting, holidng and brushing and lots of picture taking. Farmer Sue and Miss Debbie will answer questions about the animals and tell you about each animals' job on the farm.

DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!!

ALWAYS Pack a picnic along with beverages & paper goods. There are lots of big new picnic tables under the huge old magnolias.

$$$ Eggg-stras for your day: please bring folding money for these - thanks!

• hand led pony rides are usually available on weekend events at $5 each. During the week it depends on staffing

• farm fresh eggs will be for sale when available $4 a dozen

• Farmer Sue & Miss Debbie are working on some cute crafts that celebrate each animal and will go towards the feed bill.

New this year:

• on some of our special days we will have a cool caricature artist - Darlene Lauth - whipping up pictures of you with your favorite barnyard buddy for $10 each. Darlene is an Atlanta native, raised in Decatur. She has been doing caricatures for over 24 years and LOVES working with children! Check out the one she did of our BEST SELF MAGAZINE COVER GIRLS Farmer Sue & Vera Bradley! cute cute cute

GOT MORE QUESTIONS... call or email farmer sue & she will get right back to YOU. If you don't hear back right away... leave a 2nd message - sometimes our system drops a call.

Want to put together your own special farm event - Can Do Says Farmer Sue - I will be happy to chat with YOU!

CRAZY BUSY - It is a good thing!

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:59:41 -0500

Wow -- never a dull moment here on the farm that is for sure. Spring is busting out all over - the pasture is green green green and filled with lucky four leaf clovers. The fruit trees made beautiful flowers and I found figs starting on our fig trees.

I just finished making a list of workshops to get on the list for the next 2 months -- take a look at them under the daily tab and let me know if you are interested in getting a group together for any of them... They are perfect for a parent and child to work on together or as a Ladies Night Out.

pictures photos great shots -- am trying to figure out what to put up tonight. This past weekend we attended a wedding in the Seaside/Destin area - it was gorgeous. I even got in a quick tour of the Charter School at Seasides way cool community garden -- will most certainly put some of those great ideas to work at the farm.

If you are headed down that way be sure to check out Red Bay Grocery for some awesome BBQ and the yummiest home made toasted coconut I cream I have ever eaten. The shelves are loaded with home style goodies -- the place was picture perfect -- thanks ya'll -- and oh I forgot to mention the peanut brittle - worth every calorie.

FISHIN did you say fishin.... we went out with Captain Larry -- his boat was named Dead Fish -- ok I guess that is funny if you are a fisherman -- but any way Captain Larry was amazing - we weren't fishin... we were CATCHIN! Every cast brought in a fish -- loads of them went back because they were not in season or were too small -- they were beautiful and I had a blast.

Which reminds me... anybody up for a fish printing workshop -- let me know!

eeek it is midnight 58 and I've got to be up bright and early to wake up the roosters - off to bed. Hope you enjoyed ramble and the photos. More tomorrow.

hawgsnkisses - farmer sue

Wednesday Play date & SPRING BREAK DATES - woowhoo

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:05:46 -0500

Hey yall.

Just a couple of quick notes from me - your friend Farmer Sue

• Thank YOU to all our friends who came to The Chattahoochee Nature Center

- we had over 1000 visitors. WOW

• Wednesday March 28 we have room for a few more friends in our morning activity 10-12:30 ($10 per person) you'll meet all the animals, hop a hayride, make some great art, see the BABY CHICKS & DUCKLINGS and have time for a picnic -- so pack a picnic & don't forget your camera! no rsvp needed

• The SHEEP SHEARING is finally set for SUNDAY APRIL 15 from 10-2, this is a RSVP ONLY DATE. Tickets to this special event are $12.50

• CAMP CAMP CAMP: We still have a few places in our CITY CAMP and lots of spaces in FARM CAMP

• Our friend Courtney has 2 kittens for adoption - they are spayed and neutered & have their shots - beautiful little grays - Courtney is moving and is heartbroken she can't take them with her. If you are interested contact me & I will forward photo & email info.

• Here are a couple of workshops that we are planning.

all activities are here at the farm and will have ample time to snuggle animals and hop a hayride of course! If YOU have an idea for a workshop you'd like to see on the farm - let me know and we will give it a try!

- create a hand painted hummingbird feeder - great for kids or adults. all supplies included $20 per person

- get farmy and come plant a potatoe tower - super easy to grow & You'll learn about some other very easy gardening ideas you "CAN DO" as farmer sue likes to say - right at home. $30 parent child combo

- the nest is best! come make a delicate little birds nest filled with dried flowers, feathers and tiny eggs from clay along with a chicken or bird -- great for a mother's day gift - we will even make a special card. It is also great as mom&me time working together: $30 parent/child combo

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE FARM REAL SOON

BIG SLOPPY HAWGSNKISSES

from Farmer Sue & TheArtBarn Crew

Farmer Sue's Crazy Chicken Coop -- The Pull-it Palace

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:14:31 -0600

Ok - Rumor is Farmer Sue has gone totally CRAZY.

and it is probably true! I will be posting the details of my craziest idea every... The PULL-It Palace. I just purchased a tiny travel trailer that was falling apart. Painted Santa Fe blue or turquoise. See Sketch above. A couple of my tiny friends have helped me round up all the chickens who have decided to demolish the new landscaping up front...(note to all feathery friends: this was not a good idea)

I have been working non stop since Thursday on this crazy thing. Got it painted and a large percentage of myself... note oil based paint is hard to remove from lots of things... like my face! I have spent the last 2 days building a mobile 10'x20' foot run that will give my feathery friends 200 square feet of square dancing room. It is very very cool. The trailer will be used for sleeping and egg laying... They all went in last night and just this morning the hens laid 5 beautiful eggs in the cupboards! EGG citing to say the least -- I did a little happy dance.

Just a little more work on the runs to make sure they are safe and secure and then they are done. The trailer will get big white daisies painted on it with black chickens -- and then finally all new interior decorating. Cute colors on perches and wall - great art & new curtains. These girls will travel in style.

I can't wait to share it with you. I will post some Pull-it Palace Progress report photos in just a bit.

The name makes me laugh -- A pullet is a young hen who has just entered the egg laying age -- so i thought since you have to pull the trailer with the truck or tractor and it is going to be sassy cute it was perfect.

It will say Pull-It Palace on the outside with a cute hen wearing a tiara!

hawgsnkisses from farmer sue.

ps: garden update - asparagus already popping up. arugula is growing like crazy. strawberries are looking good. sad news Honey Bees swarmed and took off - we will get a new bunch next month -- loads and loads of honey to process for spring fling - yummy. Just planted potatoes, carrots are next along with radishes & more.

Me O My I do love sweet potatoe pie!

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:25:16 -0600

Ok here's the deal - as I've mentioned before I have this amazing friend - Pattie Baker --- yes she does bake really good bread but what she is really really really good at is -- GROWING - she grows and grows and grows - in her yard, in community gardens, in school gardens, she sees potential everywhere -- check out her website www.FoodShedPlanet.com -- she inspires me every week to try one more new thing. thanks pattie!

Pattie says NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT POTATOES -- so I did. I followed her very easy tutorial -- you will find it 1/2 way down the page -- you'll get quick instructions on how to start your organic sweet potatoes & other potatoes. I could not help myself... I had to glam mine up a bit with a sprig or two of flowers. I will be looking forward to all kind of delicious sweet potatoe recipes.

AND...Yep you did do this back in kindergarten -- place sweet potatoes in water, use toothpicks on any too narrow to sit in mouth of jar. keep in a sunny place. change water frequently. wait for sprouts. break off leafy sections and plant in your garden in a month or so once soil warms up.

Tomorrow I will prep the red potatoes following Pattie's direction: yummy

FROM PATTIE'S BLOG: Next, potatoes. Here in Atlanta, it's time to plant them now, no matter what else you're being told. If you wait too much longer, our spring gets too hot too soon for them. Click here to view the 4-minute tutorial about planting potatoes I taped for you on what I do.

hawgsnkisses --

and hey check out a copy of Pattie's book -

FOOD FOR MY DAUGHTERS

-- there is a link at the bottom of her blog -- great read.

CAN DO farmer sue