Market Farming

["Robin Follette" <marketfarmers AT thymeforewe.com>]

Schools in Aroostook county (northern Maine) start in early August so that 
the kids can be out of school for three weeks to harvest potatoes.  Ten year 
olds are raking blueberries on barrens here.  The legalities are worth 
looking into.  I'd do it, legal or not, and use it as a teaching/learning 
experience.  Kids are usually eager and willing to learn.  I am the garden 
coordinator for a local elementary school.  You might be pleasantly 
surprised by how hard 11 year olds work.

The girls had enough ambition to knock on your door and they have new 
bicycles as a goal.  My 11 year old doesn't work as quickly as I do but she 
works hard, accomplishes a lot, makes a lot of money over the summer, and 
does it with a lot of enthusiasm.

Robin Follette, Editor
Farm & Garden  www.farm-garden.com
A Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Living Resource


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marie Kamphefner" <kampy AT grm.net>
To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 3:00 PM
Subject: [Market-farming] working kids


> Regards to the list:
>
> Two eleven-year-old girls have approached me, asking to pick
> strawberries for us to earn money for new bicycles.
>
> Is it legal to hire kids this young?  I would love to give them a
> chance, but would it be legal to do this?  I don't even know who to ask.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Marie in Missouri