Kids in the kitchen

Children can easily join you in the kitchen. And, with supervision, they can even

use kitchen appliances from 5 years of age. Make it a habit to involve your kids
with specific tasks when you prep food, cook and wash. This way, children develop

a good understanding of food and where it comes from and a natural desire to
eat the results if they are involved in the cooking process. All the while, you will
also have spent valuable time with your ​​children - incredibly, one of the major shortcomings in today's families. Our children are aged 5 to 22 and they can all 

cook. Molly at 5 is able to make a bread dough from scratch, chop vegetables,

peel potatoes and there's a whole lot more she does with snacks in her own kitchen.
Research from DPU has shown that it is through projects like our own Garden to Tummy that children get their first encounter with culinary craftsmanship.

The gardens are all about cooking with 10,000 meals per year for children.

Everything from potato soup to wok dishes - and the interesting thing is that they

eat it all. They get to use real kitchen tools, like sharp knives (under supervision)
and it is essential that they do. When children feel that they are being taken
seriously, they feel that what they are doing is valuable. So, start straight away and

let your kids into the kitchen. It may be tiring at the end of a long stressful
work day, but the energy that you give your children when you spend time together
in the kitchen, you get back tenfold. Remember, of course, to watch the

boiling water and sharp objects - always supervise.

Christmas at the farm

It was a cold and windy morning in Humlebæk for the second day of the Aarstiderne Julemarked or Christmas market. A respite from the pouring rain and the sun shone upon the fields and barns as visitors flocked for the festivities.  Children climbed on hay bales, there were sleigh races and straw doll crafts, Christmas trees a plenty (all from the Aarstiderne FSC certified forest in Jutland) and, of course, the lure of something tasty to eat in the gaardbutik.

With sunshine streaming in through the windows, it was hyggelit indeed to sit on the benches and enjoy the baked goods fresh from Charlie's bakery in the farm kitchen.

 And at the cake school there was a chance to try your hand at making honey heart cakes! There was plenty to inspire and the delight.

 And the menu today had a delicious selection of soups and a beef and ox stew - tasty and warm us up after playing in the chilly outdoors.

Back outside Danmarks Naturfredningsforening or the Danish Society for Nature Conservation brought along many furry friends for the children (and adults!) to meet: including badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and a seal...