McCloud Girl Scouts visit the Homestead

October 20, 2025 4:58 pm

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McCloud’s Girl Scouts got to enjoy a day on the farm to learn about gardening, raising animals, and working a wood mill.

This is the 3^rd year of Troop 70081, which is made up of Juniors, seniors and Cadets, ranging from 9 to 14 years of age. They were fortunate to visit the farm called ‘Hogs and Hoes’ on the outskirts of McCloud, owned by Dave and Jessy Meeker-Moore.

First, they got to visit the pigs and all got to hold three-week-old piglets. They got to learn about the Kuna breed that originated from New Zealand and that in the Māori language, the name Kuna means, “fat and round.” They learned that pigs are intelligent as the mother of the piglets named Teensy, would sit on command.

This was the first time for a couple of the 6 girls to be around pigs. Alicia says that it was fun though she thought the pigs would be bigger while Fiona and Kaya said that they were surprised that the pigs were so big.

Next, the girl scouts learned about chickens and got to hold them also. Some of the girls were surprised that pigs and chickens both eat about the same foods as both are grazing animals along with the sheep on the farm, and that they are called omnivores.

Girl Scout Elicia said, “I didn’t know that all the different farm animals can live together and get along.” As she watches, the pigs, sheep, chickens, and even the farm dogs all mingle together around the girls.

Then they not only visited the garden, but they got firsthand experience planting garlic in the raised bed. The wording ‘winter sewing’ means planting the garlic in the fall before the first frost.

After their experience with gardening, they walked over to see the wood mill which is also on the farm.

Dave demonstrated cutting a board of wood from a round tree and explained how he builds the houses for the animals.

Jessy says of her farm, “I love showing this way of life that is totally sustainable.” Dave says, “Living in the forest is a lot of work but very rewarding.”

Outside of their farm, both Dave and Jessy work full time jobs. One more thing that the couple does is make knobcone jewelry on the side and sell it at the festivals to help supplement their homestead.