Bittersweet Farm LLC

08/06/2025

Dyeing fiber to use in my next Sheep and Fiber class. If you have a group who wants to do the Sheep and Fiber adult retreat, I'll custom dye some based on your color preferences.

06/06/2025

New sheep! Come meet me lambs by taking a Sheep and Fiber class.

04/06/2025

Being in nature is good for developing brains. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/exposure-to-greenspaces-linked-to-better-brain-health-and-academic-success-in-adolescents-400565?utm_content=334713657&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-479163965435700&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKtjE5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsnx3GsQJ7cpm80aCDXDRDBoIT1hWSMO5BsMt41fHFuvTzgEMnR4pwoDv4Dl_aem_0WW3xsKb76hF2HC3VZT-yg

A study finds that greenspace exposure during early adolescence is linked to structural brain changes. These changes are associated with better academic performance and mental health outcomes.

01/06/2025

The next installment highlighting the various offerings at Bittersweet Farm is the Mitigating Sibling Rivalry Program.

Equine Assisted Learning – Sibling Conflict Resolution Program

This program was developed for my post-grad certification in Equine Assisted Learning. It is designed to help families manage sibling conflict through skill building and working with horses. The program is six, hour-long sessions and focuses on emotional awareness, self-awareness, self-regulation skills, conflict management skills, and working with horses. Children participate alongside one of both of their parents. Because this was part of an action research study, I have data to show that families experienced improvement on a variety of factors after participating. For example, the frequency of disagreements between siblings.
(See graph below)

Sessions can be scheduled on weekdays or weekends (no evenings). The total cost for the program is $360, which is $60/hour. I am not a therapist, so cannot bill insurance, but I try to keep my fees as close to a co-pay as is feasible. Feel free to message me to schedule a program or to ask me any questions. Contact information and additional programs can be found on my website: www.bittersweet-farm.com

(5 = Very often, 1 = rarely)

01/06/2025

Meet Luke, the newest member of the Bittersweet Farm herd. Luke is a 16 hand thoroughbred and we're very excited to have him here.

28/05/2025

I'm going to spend some time this week highlighting the various options available here at the farm. First up is Pony Phonics.

What is Pony Phonics?

Pony Phonics is an individualized reading support program which pairs phonics and reading skills with equine interactions. It differs from traditional reading tutoring in several important ways.

• It is highly experiential and employs embodied learning. Children learn best when they are physically engaged in a task. Pony Phonics makes use of not just reading text, but reading and pre-reading activities which involve movement and physical manipulation of objects.
• Pony Phonics takes place in nature, both inside and outside the barn. Multiple scientific studies have shown that being in nature can significantly lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. A brain that is too flooded with cortisol will not be able to learn. Being in an environment which reduces cortisol enables learning.
• Working with animals has been shown to help children learn. Equines (of all sizes) have a particularly calming effect on humans and can therefore aid in learning, especially things that might feel challenging for the child. Ponies don’t care if you read a word correctly the first time or the third.
• Being in the barn and interacting with horses can disrupt a child’s default mode network (DFN). The DFN is the script-writer in our brain. It was what is behind habits and habitual ways of thought. Consider it the brain’s auto-pilot. If a child has experienced struggles in reading, the DFN can easily become a factor by giving rise to negative thoughts before reading is even attempted. Being in an environment that is significantly different can disrupt the DFN script and allow a child to approach reading from a different angle and with a different attitude.

I have years of teaching experience and have developed a large bag of teaching tools. Each child’s session will look different as we figure out together what areas are challenging and what is effective to mitigate those challenges. Work on phonemes, rhyming, word families, sound blending, vocabulary, and fluency among others are all possible areas to explore.

Yes, Pony Phonics is priced slightly higher than traditional tutoring, because horses need to eat and receive care. They also provide a key component to this form of learning and interacting with and learning about horses can be beneficial all on its own.

Sessions are one hour and the cost is $60/hour. I have both weekday and weekend times, though I do not work past 6:00 pm. There is no minimum number of sessions. We meet regardless of weather as we can be inside the barn when it is inclement. More information can be found on my website: https://www.bittersweet-farm.com/

27/05/2025

Have you ever thought about training to become an Equine Assisted Learning facilitator? Now's your chance!

This June in the USA:

https://athenaherd.org/event/trading-as-accelerated-insights-in-the-usa-onsite-certificate-in-equine-facilitated-interactions-module-one-new-hampshire-usa-june-2025/

Stacia Langille Ancora Imparo Equine Center and Elizabeth Curry Bittersweet Farm LLC

Stacia runs a boarding facility over in New Hampshire and has a degree in clinical mental health counseling: https://www.ancora-imparo-equine.com/about-1

Elizabeth has been over to Athena (trading as Accelerated Insights in the USA) in the UK and trained up to a Level 7 PG Cert in Equine Assisted Services working for many years with children and parents in the space.

🗣️Elizabeth represented the Athena Herd Foundation at the beginning of this year speaking at the Horses and Humans Research Foundation conference over in Texas.

Graeme Green had the pleasure of spending time over at Stepping Stones Farm & Retreat Center with Boo who recently joined us on the externally accredited Foundation Certificate in Equine Assisted Services 💕 watch this space. 🙏 to Iahaio_official Michael Kaufmann Green Chimneys

https://athenaherd.org/event/trading-as-accelerated-insights-in-the-usa-onsite-certificate-in-equine-facilitated-interactions-module-one-new-hampshire-usa-june-2025/

22/05/2025

Have you ever thought it was too bad that activities at Bittersweet Farm are just for children and families and you'd like in on some of the fun? Well think again. There are both sheep and horse options.

Sheep and Fiber for Adults - This is held in a three hour, retreat-like format, making it easier for people traveling from farther distances. You will meet the sheep, learn about fiber processing, and learn to spin and play on a suspended spindle. I provide the fiber and coffee and tea. Three person minimum.

Guided Journaling and Equine Assisted Learning - Spend time in nature relaxing with friends. This option is also three hours, and there will be time for guided journaling, walking in nature, and working with the horses. This also has a three person minimum.

Message me with questions or to schedule. Get a couple of friends and give yourself the gift of taking a break and learning something new. https://www.bittersweet-farm.com/

19/05/2025

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to help your child's reading skills this summer? I have room for clients in my Pony Phonics program. Students will work on phoneme awareness, vocabulary, and other literacy skills while learning about horses and interacting with them. The ponies love to hear a good story! https://www.bittersweet-farm.com/learning/p/ponyphonics

04/05/2025

Don't forget I offer corporate and organizational team building as well as individual and group leadership development. See my Xanthos: Equine Assisted Leadership Development website for details.

Equine Assisted Leadership Development Home About Services offered Meet the horses Xanthoswas one of the immortal horses in Greek mythologywho was given the gift of human speech. While horses in equine-assisted work do not speak to us in words, they do reflect our state of being back to us, providin...

08/04/2025

This! Understanding the why behind a child's behavior is the very root of my parent coaching practice.

A thought for the day.

22/02/2025

And done! The presentation on The Ethical Foundations of Well-Being for All went well.