Description

Grain to Oven: Homeschool Discovery Days

A Hands-On Farm-to-Table Learning Adventure

Three Dates to Choose From: 

• Friday June 19, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• Wednesday June 24, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• Friday June 26, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina
985 Johnson Nursery Rd. • Willard, NC 28478

Give your children the opportunity to experience agriculture, science, history, and food production in a way that no textbook can teach.

Join us for one of our special Homeschool Grain to Oven Discovery Days, an immersive educational experience where students will follow the journey of wheat from the field all the way to a freshly baked pizza. Through hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and interactive learning, children will discover how one of the world's most important crops becomes a meal on their table.

This engaging experience is designed specifically for homeschool families who value experiential learning, curiosity, and connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications.

Parents are encouraged to participate alongside their children, making this a meaningful shared learning experience for the whole family.

What Your Child Will Experience

Explore Agriculture in Action

Take a guided tour through our Comparison Gardens and discover the fascinating world of plants and gardening. Students will learn about:

• The difference between annuals and perennials

• Native and non-native plants

• Plant classification, including genus, species, and cultivars

• Plant propagation and how new plants are grown

• The important role of pollinators, including butterflies and bees

• Natural approaches to insect and weed management

• Irrigation systems and how plants receive water

Learn the Grain-to-Flour Process

Watch a live demonstration that brings history and science to life as we explore:

• Agriculture and food production

• Plant growth and cultivation

• Where food comes from

• The role farms play in our daily lives

Follow the fascinating path from field to table as students learn how wheat is:

• Harvested from the field

• Threshed to separate the grain

• Winnowed to remove chaff

• Sifted and cleaned

• Milled into fresh flour

Then experience the process firsthand by grinding wheat into flour and using it to create your own pizza dough.

Hands-On Learning

Every participant will:

• Grind wheat into flour

• Mix and create their own pizza dough

• Build a personal pizza using a variety of toppings

Enjoy the Harvest

Students will top their pizzas with selections including:

• Pizza sauce

• Mozzarella cheese

• Pepperoni

• Seasonal garden vegetables (availability varies)

• Hot honey

Paid participants will also enjoy a dessert and beverage before spending time exploring the gardens.

More Than Just a Field Trip

The Grain to Oven Discovery Experience brings learning to life by combining agriculture, botany, food science, history, nutrition, and STEM concepts into one memorable adventure. Students won't just learn where food comes from—they'll experience the process firsthand, creating meaningful connections between their studies and the world around them.

Event Details

Dates: Friday June 19, 2026, Wednesday June 24, 2026 or Friday June 26, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina
985 Johnson Nursery Rd., Willard, NC 28478

Pricing

$25 per pizza-making participant (ages 6+). Adults only need to purchase a ticket if they would like to make a pizza. 

Children ages 5 and under may attend free.

Your registration includes all educational activities, hands-on experiences, pizza-making supplies, dessert, and a beverage.

Important Registration Information

These special Homeschool Discovery Days require a minimum of 15 paid participants to take place. If the minimum enrollment is not met, the event will be rescheduled or canceled, and registered families will be notified.

Because this is an outdoor educational experience, weather conditions may require us to postpone the event. If weather impacts the program, an alternative date will be provided.

Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another family or participant if you are unable to attend.

Date & Time

Jun 24 - 26, 2026

Venue Details

The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina

The Gardens of Southeastern NC