Every year we plant a number of demonstration crops in the field in front of the Heritage Centre. These usually include cereal crops such as oats, barley and wheat, root crops such as potato and turnips, and leaf crops such as kale and cabbage. Some of the cereal crop is cut in September using old farm machinery from the museum collection and the sheaves stacked to form "stooks".

From August through to November, groups of up to 25 children are taken into the harvest field and introduced to the various crops, their uses and how they are grown. Children get the chance to dig, pull, cut and pick the crops and take them back to school. Children (and teachers) are advised to wear welly boots, although all pathways are paved or grassed. In the event of absolutely terrible weather, alternative harvest related activities can be offered in the mill.

Suggested curriculum links

This session is directly aimed at children working at Levels A - C. The information given is in accordance with the 5 - 14 Environmental Studies Guidelines.

Attainment Outcome: Living things and the processes of Life
Strand: Interaction of living things with their environment
Learning Outcome: To give examples of seasonal changes in crops e.g from seed (spring) to plant (autumn) (Level A)

The above outcome is also related to the Renfrewshire Guidelines for Science P1- Unit 3, Lesson 3.

Attainment Outcome: Living things and the processes of Life
Strand: Interaction of living things with their environment.
Learning Outcome: To understand the changes which take place in the life cycle of a seed to harvest e.g. from planting to harvesting (Level B)
Attainment Outcome: People in the Past
Strand: Change and continuity, cause and effect
Learning Outcome: To make a comparison between lifestyles and farming in the past and present e.g manually flailing as opposed to mechanical farming (Level C)

More advanced classes might link a visit to historical studies e.g. Highland
Clearances or as an illustration of biological diversity.