The Children's Metamorphosis
The Met ... a museum for growing children

The Sustainable Farming Exhibit

Farm Exhibit at the Met Children's Museum, Derry NH
Farm Exhibit at the Met Children's Museum, Derry NH
Farm Exhibit at the Met Children's Museum, Derry NH

Farm Exhibit at the Met Children's Museum, Derry NH
Farm Exhibit at the Met Children's Museum, Derry NH

The Sustainable Farming Exhibit sponsored by Stonyfield Farm provides a unique environment where children can learn about organic farming while playing at typical farm activities. Set amidst the peaceful rolling farm fields of a full-wall mural, the exhibit features:

  • a barn with a silo behind and a raised-bed garden in front,
  • a stacked "hay bale" climbing stairway up to the silo and a barn loft play area that connects to the existing Construction Zone exhibit,
  • inside the barn, farmer clothes to wear, and an interactive animal facts display,
  • a milking parlor with a cow ready for milking,
  • a chicken coop with chickens in nests with eggs,
  • in the loft, an interactive farm scene memory matching game,
  • in front of the barn, a garden with seeds and a variety of vegetables to play with,
  • corn to pick from the 3-D mural wall, and a wheelbarrow to cart fresh produce around,
  • and a variety of animals and fun farm features scattered throughout the exhibit.

The Farm exhibit was jointly designed by Keira Chin and her team at Stonyfield Farm in Londonderry — see them at work here on Londonderry Hometown News — and volunteer architect Bill Wolpert of Lavallee/Brensinger Architects in Bedford. It was made possible by materials donations from Benson Lumber and Hardware in Derry, and graphics production donations and hours of display expertise from Steve Young of ImageAbility in Londonderry.

The Farm Exhibit grand opening was Earth Day, Tuesday April 22, 2008. Conducted by the Greater Derry/Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, it featured a ribbon cutting by Derry town administrator Gary Stenhouse and Met board member and Stonyfield Farm director Maureen Wolpert, and was attended by Derry business development director Beth Thompson, several Chamber board members, and over 130 kids and parents. (Click on any photo in the slide show to jump to the web album for downloading and more.)

See Farm Exhibit construction scenes and final details in these slide shows.

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