Holy Bat Boxes, Batman!
October is Bat Appreciation Month! Welcome these marvelous mosquito-munching mammals to your yard with a custom bat box!
A quarter of the endangered mammal species in NC are bats— and nearly all the other ones are whales! Bats face a number of challenges, but especially habitat loss since a bat’s ideal home is a standing dead tree—not the sort of thing most home owners want in their yards!
But fear not, bat lovers! Bat boxes are effective and less likely to demolish your house. Join us for a hands-on bat box building workshop, as well as a walking tour of our 47 acre regenerative farm (including visiting with goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and more!). As we walk we’ll talk about bats’ and other native flora and fauna interact with agriculture to enrich depleted soil and create balanced ecosystems.
YOU’LL MAKE:
A 17 x 31” four-chamber nursery bat house, based on a design approved by Bat Conservation International . I’ll pre-measure and cut the components and you show how to assemble them. Then we’ll paint the houses in high contrast colors most appealing to our sight-challenged bat buddies. (Just one of many cool bat factoids you’ll learn!)
In addition to a fun, relaxing afternoon on the farm you will receive:
Exterior grade materials so your work lasts for years
Printed instructions—including hanging suggestions
Refreshments (locally sourced when possible!)
BAT BOX WORKSHOP: Saturday, October 17, 1-4 pm
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS: $85
Individual attendees will make their own bat box to take home.
COLLAB TICKETS: $110
Two attendees will build one deluxe bat box together.
DETAILS
Workshops will take place outside and/or in our barn, depending on the weather. Participants should dress for the weather with sturdy footwear appropriate for farm and muddy conditions. The tour will cover approximately 1 mile of walking.
Workshop size is limited to 15 participants.
Ages: Appropriate for participants ages 13 and up. (Minors must be accompanied by an adult for the entirety of the session.)
Refunds: because supplies must be bought in advance, no refunds will be issued. Tickets can however be transferred to someone else (and make wonderful gifts!). If I have a waiting list for a class, I’m happy to help arrange a transfer. In the event of extreme weather, workshops will be rescheduled. In the event that the new date does not work for you, you will have the option of attending another workshop of your choosing even if it is already sold out..
PRIVATE GROUPS
Slow Farm workshops make for memorable family events, corporate team building exercises, birthday gatherings, and even special bridal or baby showers. Workshops can be tailored to fit your occasion and color palate. Group size 5-18 people. Please email us to schedule a time for your family, coworkers, or friends to come out to the farm!
INSTRUCTOR
This workshop will be led by Rachel Herrick, a third generation farmer and co-owner of Slow Farm. In addition to her passion and experience as a regenerative farmer, Rachel also has a Master’s in Fine Art and has taught art at UNC Chapel Hill, Maine College of Art, Town of Cary, and been a guest lecturer at University of Alberta, Eastern Carolina University, and Meredith College. She is also a professional artist with a full resume of exhibitions in the US, Canada, and Europe.
THANK YOU
When you attend a Slow Farm workshop, you’re supporting our efforts to restore this 47 acre former tobacco farm using historic and holistic farming methods that mimic nature. No chemicals, no shortcuts.
Why do we do this? Because working with nature produces generational fertility and a brighter, more abundant future. Sure it’s is a slow process, but in the long run regenerative farming creates resilient food systems that can feed communities AND contribute to the health of the planet.
It’s a labor of love and hope. We’re so happy you’re a part of it.