Save time, stress, and mess this Halloween season by leaving the pumpkin carving to the chickens. This fun and inventive way to DIY your fall decor has been trending over the last few years and a few weeks ago our enrichment kids got to try it firsthand!

Start by outlining your desired face on the pumpkin. Then help the birds out by starting the carving process so they know where to follow. Then toss the pumpkin to the coop and let the hens do the rest! 

The enrichment students learned that pumpkins can be a good source of vitamins and minerals for hens and that chickens can have trouble breaking through the outer rind which is why you want to start it off for them.

The kids chose a simple smile design and started by shaving away the outer rind of the mouth and eyes. Then they walked up to the chicken coop and placed the pumpkin in the coop where the hens could access it. 

Eyes widened and students giggled as they watched the birds flock to the orange fruit and begin “carving” the pumpkin in the designated areas.

After some time, a jack-o-lantern was born. 

Bloomfield, CT – Bob’s Discount Furniture and Auerfarm will host a ribbon cutting to officially open the new Crispin Cottage Farmstay, completely furnished by Bob’s Discount Furniture. The ribbon cutting will take place on March 16th, 2024 at 10:30 AM and will be attended by Senator Derek Slap, Mayor Danielle C. Wong, and Councilman Kenneth McClary with remarks from Erica Fearn, Executive Director at Auerfarm, as well as, Nicole Ball, PR, and Community Outreach Manager at Bob’s Discount Furniture, and Scott Wells & Lori Bartone of Options Employment and Educational Services.

Bob’s Discount Furniture embraces community partnership by completely furnishing Auerfarm’s recently opened Farmstay cottage, contributing a $10,000 investment in high-quality furniture and supporting education initiatives.

This partnership transforms a physical space and symbolizes the shared dedication to fostering growth and inclusivity within the community. The farmstays at Auerfarm are managed by the Auerfarm Growing Opportunities (GO) students who are from the Options Employment and Educational Services, Farmington Valley Transition Academy, and West Hartford Transition Program. GO provides workforce development skills to students 18-22 in the areas of hospitality, food service, agriculture, and facilities. These students will work alongside Roca, a program aiding young women aged 18 – 24 who have faced significant trauma, further expanding the scope of the workforce development supported by this partnership.

Beyond the immediate impact on workforce development, the Auerfarm Farmstay is vital to the organization’s social enterprise model. The funds generated through the Farmstay contribute directly to Auerfarm’s educational and agricultural programs, ensuring their sustainability and expansion. This interconnected approach creates a self-sustaining ecosystem, where each element reinforces the others.

Auerfarm’s belief in equal opportunities aligns seamlessly with Bob’s Discount Furniture’s dedication to community well-being. Through this collaboration, both organizations seek to amplify their impact on the community, creating ripples of positive change that extend far beyond the farm’s boundaries.

In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the Farmstay, attendees can participate in the community engagement activities of Auerfarm’s Maple Sugaring Demonstration & Pancake Breakfast, scheduled at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m. at 158 Auer Farm Rd, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit our Eventbrite page.

About Bob’s Discount Furniture

Founded in 1991, Bob’s Discount Furniture is one of the fastest-growing furniture retailers in the country. Keeping true to its founding principle that everyone deserves quality furniture, Bob’s provides unsurpassed value with honesty and integrity. Through all the work that happens behind the scenes, Bob’s engineers this value, offering its discount on a wide variety of stylish, quality furnishings, mattresses, and home accents. The company also offers a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, featuring cafes in each store with complimentary gourmet coffee, ice cream, cookies, and candy. With 171 furniture stores across 24 states, the Manchester, Connecticut-based company has become the 8th-largest U.S. furniture chain according to Furniture Today. The company is also recognized by Plant-A Research Group and Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces, America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents and Families.

Bob’s is committed to supporting local communities through a variety of charitable giving efforts. Bob’s Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation has anchored the company’s philanthropic work for more than 20 years. Additionally, the Bob’s Outreach program was created as a separate entity to help schools and children-related charities. In total, Bob’s and its Foundation donate more than $2.75 million to charities through these programs each year. For more information on Bob’s charitable programs, visit Bob’s Cares, and follow Bob’s on Twitter @MyBobs, on Facebook, and Instagram.

About Auerfarm:

Auerfarm inspires lifelong learning through hands-on, interactive, and innovative experiences that explore agriculture, science, and the environment. Students, families, and other visitors gain scientific knowledge and a heightened appreciation for the world around us. The farm was generously donated by Beatrice Fox Auerbach’s children to 4-H with an agreement to maintain the property as an open space, providing a community resource where children and families can learn about and enjoy the ambiance of the farm. The 120-acre property in the northwest section of Bloomfield, Connecticut was deeded to the non-profit 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm Inc., (Auerfarm) in 1976. For more information visit Auerfarm, and follow Auerfarm on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.