Farmers can't take a day off from the weather. Their work follows the seasons: when to plant, when the hay is dry enough, when the potatoes are ready. That makes a farm a great way to help kids understand how a year goes around. The months below are only rough guides for the northern half of the world – depending on where you live and the weather, things can shift by a few weeks.
Spring (About March to May): Everything Begins
In spring the days get longer and warmer, and the farm gets busy.
Baby animals: On many farms, lambs, baby goats and chicks are born now. Lambs bounce across the meadow, and chicks scurry after their mom.
Getting the fields ready: The tractor plows and loosens the soil. Then seeds go in – corn, for example, or spring grain – and seed potatoes are planted in rows. Kids love planting seeds of their own, just like in Planting Seeds.
Visitors from far away: In Europe, storks and barn swallows fly back from their winter homes in Africa. Swallows build nests from tiny balls of mud, often right inside the barn. Farmers are happy to have them, because swallows catch lots of flies.
Yellow fields: In spring, canola (also called rapeseed) blooms, and whole fields turn bright yellow.
One picture that brings it all together: Farm in Spring.
Summer (About June to August): Hay and Harvest
Summer days are long, and farmers often work until evening.
Making hay: Hay is dried grass. First the meadow is mowed, then the grass is turned several times so it dries well in the sun. Finally a machine presses it into bales. Rain at the wrong moment can ruin the hay, so farmers keep a close eye on the forecast all summer.
Grain harvest: When the wheat turns golden, the combine harvester rolls through the field (Combine Harvester). It cuts the stalks, separates the grain and leaves the straw behind. The straw gets baled later too.
Out in the pasture: Where there's pasture, cows, horses and sheep spend their days outside. They need shade and plenty of fresh water. Pigs love a mud wallow, because they can't sweat.
Berries and vegetables: Strawberries come in early summer; later, beans, tomatoes and much more ripen.
Color the season with Farm in Summer.
Fall (About September to November): Harvest and Goodbyes
Fall is the big harvest season.
What's picked: Potatoes, corn, apples and pumpkins. Big harvesters work in the fields, and ladders lean against the apple trees. For a colorful pumpkin patch, try Pumpkin Patch.
Harvest festivals: Many towns celebrate the harvest in fall with festivals, fairs and wagons decorated with fruit, vegetables and grain – a way of saying thank you for a good season.
Planting again: Some grains, like winter wheat, are planted in fall. They sprout before winter and keep growing in spring.
Goodbyes: Storks and swallows head south again. In Europe, hedgehogs look for a cozy pile of leaves, because from about November to March they hibernate.
The matching page: Farm in Autumn.
Winter (About December to February): Barn Time
Hardly anything grows outside in winter, but the animals still need care every day.
Feeding: Now the summer's hay comes in handy. Many animals eat hay, silage and grain and sleep on fresh straw. Farmers also make sure the drinking water doesn't freeze.
Inside and out: Cows and many other animals stay in the barn. Some hardy animals stay outside: Shetland ponies grow a thick winter coat, and sheep have their wool. Donkeys, on the other hand, need a dry shelter because their fur isn't waterproof.
Milking every day: Dairy cows are milked on Christmas too. There's never a day on the farm without any work.
Fixing and planning: Machines get serviced, fences get repaired, and farmers plan what to plant in spring.
Color a snowy farm with Farm in Winter.
Craft Idea: A Seasons Wheel
Cut a big circle from cardboard and divide it into four sections. Print one seasonal coloring page per section on US Letter paper, color them, trim and glue them in. Attach a cardboard arrow in the middle with a brass paper fastener, and kids can turn it to show the current season. For more classroom ideas, see Farm Theme for Preschool – Ideas & Printables.
FAQ
Do farmers get winter off?
No. Animals have to be fed, given water and cared for every day, and dairy cows still need milking. On top of that come repairs and planning.
What's the difference between hay and straw?
Hay is dried grass, and animals eat it. Straw is the dry stalks left over after the grain harvest. It's mainly used as soft bedding in the barn.
Why does the countryside sometimes smell like manure in spring?
Manure is a natural fertilizer. Farmers spread it on the fields so crops grow well. The smell usually fades again soon.