SE Michigan homeschoolers?

[miss_nikki]

Are there any homeschoolers near Manchester, Mi? I have a 9y/o dd starting 4th grade. A 7y/o dd starting 2nd grade. A 3y/o ds starting preschool and an almost 1y/o ds. We are supposed to be moving to Manchester, Mi the middle of next month. I'd love to know about any groups, get togethers, etc in the area. If need be, we can travel further like to Ann Arbor or something. Any advice for someone new to the area? Places to go, things to do, etc?

Thanks in advance! 

[Natalya]

Hi!  We are here in Tipton, which is about a 15 minute drive away from Manchester. We moved to Tipton this April, so we are pretty new to the area too.  I have a 7 yo son and a 7 month old son, we are unschoolers.  We have not met or hung out with many people besides ones connected with our work... we live on a farm and our summer has been packed full of work.  I'm hoping to get more time with the boys as the season winds down.  However, we LOVE the Irish Hills, it is a beautiful area with fun old timey tourist attractions and lots of lakes.  Ann Arbor is cool too, and there are a lot of crunchy people in that area.  We do our grocery shopping there a lot, that's where you can find organic/all natural good quality food.  Anyways, it'd be fun to get the kids together and compare notes on homeschooling experiences.

[miss_nikki]

That would be great :) Maybe when we get there we can plan to meet up at Irish Hills! I'd have to say we're probably eclectic homeschoolers.

We're hoping to start a "hobby farm" next spring, if we get the house we're trying to. We were talking about a small orchard and a garden with at least chickens. Maybe goats too. Not sure what else. Our girls are in 4H. They want horses.

Are there many farms there that you can purchase food from, directly? We're interested in doing that when possible.

[Rodeo Mama]

We are just north of you in Grass Lake and have lots of family in Lenawee, so we go thru Manchester often.  My kids are almost 6 yo (K), 4 yo (Pre-K), 18 months old.  Would enjoy meeting up with you guys as well.  We are part of Jackson Area Home Educators (www.jahe.info).  I know Lenawee has a couple of homeschool groups as well.  Not sure what you are looking for, but I believe they are both Christian based.  Ann Arbor/Washtenaw has some secular groups if that's what you are after, although I don't know much at all about whats available for homeschoolers in Washtenaw.

We buy a lot of the produce that we don't grow ourselves from a couple local farms near us.  I'm sure there are some in Manchester as well.  The farmers market in Ann Arbor is great, tons of vendors and so many choices.  We do a decent sized garden and can some, we also have chickens.  We hope to eventually add more critters, too.  DS (6 yo) wants goats and we'd like to raise a couple beef cows someday.

[miss_nikki]

Hopefully we get news about our move soon. I'll keep you both posted and plan a time to meet at Irish Hills, or something, once we get there :) It'll probably be later in September or the beginning of October.

[Natalya]

Good!  I'm looking forward to it!

[miss_nikki]

Well we made it to Michigan. I was thinking of getting together at Irish Hills sometime during the week. What day and time would work best for you ladies? Monday won't work for us, but I think pretty much any other day will be fine.

[Rodeo Mama]

I think any day but tuesday is okay for us.

[Natalya]

I just wrote you all back, but Sunday and Wednesday are both good, however this Wed we are going to be out of town, so Sunday would be best for us.  

[miss_nikki]

How about next Wednesday (not this week). Have you been to the Nan Weston Preserve? Do you think that would be a good place? I'm open to checking any of them out.

[Natalya]

Ok, I as wrong about us being out of town this week, it's next week!  Argh, I'm sorry!  I'm fine with hanging out tomorrow, or the week after.  

[miss_nikki]

We can move it to the week after. No problem :) I can't this week because we already have plans. So how about Wed the 19th at 10am?

[Rodeo Mama]

The 19th should work for us.  Where is the Nan Weston Preserve at?  Is that where we are thinking about meeting?

[miss_nikki]

Nan Weston Preserve is located at Easudes Rd at Jacob Rd in Manchester. http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/michigan/placesweprotect/nan-weston-nature-preserve-at-sharon-hollow-1.xml this was the most informative link I found about it. If that isn't of interest, we could meet at park or something too. Just let me know.

[Rodeo Mama]

DH said he's been over there and didn't think it was a great place to hang out with kids, but I dunno.  I'm not that familiar with the parks in the Irish Hills area, so no other great suggestions.

[miss_nikki]

Oh.. I don't know anything really about the parks and stuff around here either.

[HannahMR]

I would love to join you! I have 3 boys, 4, 2 and 5 months and also live in Grass Lake. I am not sure if we are going to homeschool yet...but I would love to meet some mothers who are! Have you ever heard of Timbertown in Chelsea? Its a great park to play at. There is also an apple orchard out by Manchester that I went to last year, I cant remember the name of it right now. Is everyone still planning on meeting on wed?

[miss_nikki]

Are you talking about Alber farm? I would Love to meet there. so how about we do that. Wed the 19th we will meet at Alber farm in Manchester.
Edited to add: I originally put 10 but after rechecking their site this morning I realized they don't open until noon on weekdays. Would 1 or 1:30 work better for everyone for a meeting time?
Edited by miss_nikki - 10/10/11 at 5:50am

[Natalya]

I just found out I am going to be busy for the next two Wednesdays.  My parents are coming to visit, and we are going out of town again.  I guess I'm out til the next time.  :(

[Rodeo Mama]

I'm not sure if we'll be available wednesday either.  We've got some appointments next week to take care of.