What a disgusting, lovely cockroach (Illustration)
צילום: רויטרס
What a disgusting, lovely cockroach
The Beit Haikar farms in kibbutz Beerot Yitzhak is trying to familiarize urban children with village life: Milking goats, picking fruits and close encounters with cockroaches
Why are cockroaches worthy pets? They are clean, small, live on lettuce and have very lovely characteristics like the special hissing sound they make.
That's the message conveyed by Shmulik Gilckman of the kibbutz community near Petach Tikvah.
The Beit Haikar farm spreads across 1.5 acres and offers families a real experience of nature, which includes wandering between goats, camels, donkeys, rabbits, snakes and pigeons.
Visitors learn the sounds made by each animal and experience the village feeling, not the villa type but the farm.
Glickman thought of setting up a farm near urban centers two years ago. Since he has been expanding the place and adding new experiences.
"I wanted to kill two birds with one stone – to give children an experience of nature which includes learning and broaden their knowledge of ancient agriculture," Glickman said. "In the beginning the children came to the farm in the framework of school and kindergarten visits and they were fast to return with brothers and family."
Glickman, who built the farm, found out that a large number of children living in urban areas have no clue, for example, as to the difference between a dog and a camel. "Once, a child milked a goat and asked why her udders don't produce honey."
After firsthand experience in various stations there is no chance that children will think that camels and donkeys are born from the same mother, as the farm's 16 stations are organized in a logical manner, and each has a guide who tells original stories.
Children are invited to caress the animals and learn about their lives in natural environments.
"I discovered immense and unfounded fear of insects and reptiles among children," Glickman said. "During tours we explain how to behave with poisonous snakes, why bees should not be feared, and how insects are helpful."
Glickman revealed secrets about Maklon and Yitnami, two female grasshoppers at the insect section. Feminists would be glad to hear that when their eggs hatch, only female newborns see the light. If their legs are torn away, they grow anew.
The pigeon's courage
Children also get to milk goats, press wine, are introduced to olive oil production, bake bread, ride donkeys, release carrier pigeons and hear about their acts of courage in many wars, caress rabbits, and there is also a horse carriage for tours around the farm.
Children aged over 12 get to participate in land navigation workshops, which include various field activities, survival exercises and archery.
Water slides are available to visitors in summer. Picnics and private events can be held in a grove situated near the entrance to the farm.
Beit Haikar, Kibbutz Beerot Yitzhak (on road 40, south of Petach Tikvah). Entrance fee for children over 2 is NIS 33 (USD 7.5). Activities last four hours at least
