Little Farmers Preschool and Daycare opening this fall

Decorah will soon be the home of a new preschool and daycare. Little Farmers Preschool and Daycare -- the area's first farm-based, state-licensed preschool -- wil be opening this fall just two miles north of Decorah on Hwy 52, under the direction of Allison and Josh Phillips.

Co-founder Allison Phillips is a Northeast Iowa native with a passion for teaching. She grew up on a farm outside of Frankville, attended school in Postville, and graduated from UNI in 2004 with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She and her husband Josh, along with their four children, have been residents of Decorah for the past 6 years. Phillips says, "Teaching is, without a doubt, my passion, but I've always known I wanted to do more than just teach: I wanted to create and teach a curriculum that naturally encourages children to learn as they play."

In order to bring her vision to fruition, Phillips says, "Little Farmers Preschool and Daycare will have a coop full of chickens, bunnies, flower and food gardens (where the children will harvest produce for some of their meals), and a large natural playground equipped with the fixings for fort-building, slides built into the hillside, and lots more. Age-appropriate, child-driven lessons will be taught daily both outdoors and inside our completely renovated 3,840 sq ft 1967 farm out-building."

Little Farmers Preschool and Daycare is currently finalizing construction and will officially "open their gates" this fall. Phillips says they still have a few openings. To learn more about the programs available visit www.facebook.com/littlefarmerspreschool/, send an email to littlefarmers52@gmail.com, or call 563-380-9848.

The chicken coop

The vegetable garden