LOCATION
1185 9 Mile Road NW
Sparta, Michigan 49345
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Open Seasonally August-October
SEASONAL HOURS
Closed for the season
INTERACTIVE FARM MAP
School Tours
During the months of September and October, Schwallier’s Country Basket will open the orchard to give school groups a firsthand opportunity to visit a working family farm. Weekday apple tours are led by our knowledgeable staff members and are a great educational experience. Students will learn about the farm, pollination, growing and raising apples, harvesting apples, and other fun farm facts. Group tours are $9 per person. (One teacher and aide are free. All other teachers/chaperones must be included in the paid count.) A $25 deposit is required at a time of booking. Final payment may be made in-person the day of the tour.​
Each tour includes:
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Educational talk on the apple cycle from pollination to harvest.
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Time to visit with the farm animals, including baby goats.
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Fun time on the slide and play yard.
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A snack time consisting of a fresh donut, apple, and a cup of cider for each student.
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A trip to the pumpkin patch to pick a small pumpkin.
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Note to teachers:
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Please arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time and take your group to the front of the market to wait for your tour guide.
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Please bring a plastic bag for each student to carry their goodies in. Also, paper towels in case of mud, hand sanitizer, and a marker to label bags.
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The Tour is rain or shine so please have the students dress for conditions.
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Allergy warning: our facility does use eggs, wheat, tree nuts, and peanuts. If a tour participant has allergy issues, please have the person bring his/her own snack.
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Please include in your reservation the total number of students AND chaperones. We must know how many people total are part of the group so that we can prepare donuts and cider accordingly.