Friends of Slate Run Farm

The Quiet Season

12/26/08

The weather this week has ranged from frosty and frigid with below zero wind chill to warm and wet and almost springlike.  Yesterday it was sunny and clear in the mid 20's and tomorrow it's supposed to reach a high near 70.  It feels like Mother Nature is trying to squeeze as much weather as possible into a few short days. 

This week also marked the passing of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.  From now on, each day will be slightly longer than the day before as slowly our world moves toward spring and another season of renewal.

Life on the farm is tied to the seasons.  December begins one of the quieter seasons at Slate Run.  Visitors are still very welcome, but fewer choose to visit when the weather is cold.  This month, Karl F, a photographer and a regular visitor to the farm, has created a slide show of images that he has taken at the farm over a year's time.  The link to his incredible photos is http://www.lensandleaves.org/slaterun/ Oh,and Karl's photo show is like the seasons.  Enjoy it while it's here, because in a few months it will be gone.

Just click on each small image to see it.  Here are my thoughts on some of images that I particularly enjoyed:

The parlor fireplace with the clock on the mantel
---the parlor has never been one of my favorite rooms, probably because the colors and patterns overwhelm me.  But oh, how wonderful it looks in this photo in black and white.  My eye goes right to the clock and then up to the chimney cap and out of the top of the photo.  At second glance you see the portraits on the left and those on the mantle.  It's almost as if the photo is emphasizing the power of time.

The lady on the fireplace screen in the dining room
 ---I've dusted her many times but have never really seen her so clearly before.  Again, the power of the black and white image is so strong.  It lets me see details that I've never noticed before.

The corn dollie
---I think this is the image that I like the most.  It just makes me smile when I look at it.  I almost expect her to start dancing and sweeping.

The cups and the tall canister
---wow, they're 3 dimensional!  I feel like I can reach through the photo and touch them.

The photo of the stove
---again, this is something that I've cleaned and cooked on many times.  To me, it's always felt like a live thing.  I wrote a poem about learning to cook on it on my blog.  But this image lets me see it as if I've never seen it before.  I had no idea how beautifully detailed it is with all its lines and whorls and swirls.  Even the knobs are patterned.

The smooth wooden handle against the rough hewn wall
---I feel like I could look at this one for hours.  The contrast between the smooth handle and the textures of the wall just attract my attention and makes me want to examine every detail.

The clothespin basket and laundry line
---three is such a powerful number and this image works it so well.  The contrast between the texture of the woven basket, the rough crackling of the faded paint the the delicacy of the printed fabric is wonderful.

The farmers' clipboard
---this is a very simple object and yet in this image it has great beauty and dignity. 

I hope you enjoy your visit with Karl's photos as much as I did.  Thanks again Karl, for sharing these with all of us.

 

Most of the work in the fields has finished.  The crops have been harvested and preserved or sold.  The baby animals have all grown up.  The daily chores continue of course, and now there is time to repair and maintain machines and buildings, to stop and think about what worked well this year and to begin to make plans for the coming seasons.

 

In the house the women, like many of us, are taking down the Christmas tree and putting away the handmade
 ornaments for another year.  Soon there will be time for sewing and mending, cleaning and repairing, dreaming and planning.

 

Feel free to come down and visit during this "quiet season".  You're welcome to visit and lend a hand or just do some planning and dreaming of your own.

Farmlady

 

 The Fruits of Fall

10/17/08

from "The Slate", October 2008

"Fall has once again arrived at the Farm. The leaves are changing colors and the temperatures are perfect with clear blue skies and bright sun.  After the slow days of September, the school groups are here in force every weekday and the weekends are booming with visitors.  Come on out and join the fun!"

I'll second that.  Fall is one of my favorite times of the year at the farm.  The shorter days, cooler nights and sharper scents seem to act like a tonic on humans and animals alike.  Fall also produces one of my very favorite crops--apples!  Here's another excerpt from this month's Slate that you might find interesting.

"Apples, as we know them, are not native to North America.  The earliest colonists were agriculturalists and brough familar things from home, such as apple trees.  Our "American" apple varieties were developed from the Old World strains and bear distinctive names, few of which you will see in modern grocery stores.

Each strain of apple was developed for a different purpose such as cider, drying, cooking and long season keeping qualities.  Many of the old varieties have been replaced as farmers chose strains suited to the changing needs and tastes of the general population, and improved strains that suit the modern consumer in taste, looks and shipping qualities.  There is no doubt that some of the antique apples in the old orchards may have fallen from favor, but many are still delicious and have unique characteristics that are still appreciated once tried.  Our Apple Days gives people a chance to try some of the antique varieties."

 

An Overnight at the Farm
9/30/08

This month thirty lucky visitors who made advance reservations for a special Slate Run Farm program got a chance to spend an overnight at the farm. 

I didn't sleep over, but I did spend the evening and had a chance to meet the campers and participate in some of the evening activities with them.

Campers began arriving after the farm had closed, around 4:30.  The park provided each family with a tent and bedrolls.  Families began their adventure by setting up their tents and carrying their sleeping bags and personal supplies in from their vehicles.  Folks who finished early helped the farm ladies with last minute meal   preparations.

 

An almost full moon shining through the trees at Slate Run Farm

 

There was a get to know you game where everyone was given some common tool from the 1880's and each one had to mingle to find someone who had another tool that could be used with their tool.  We laughed as we discovered that some pretty strange looking objects were once used to perform everyday tasks.

After that, the farm ladies set out a delicious supper of macaroni & cheese, green beans, applesauce, pickles and biscuits.   (In the 1880s, the main meal was served around noon and was called dinner.  A lighter meal was eaten in the early evening and was called supper.)   After everyone had had enough to eat, we all helped wash up. 

Then we all walked back to the barn where the farmers divided us into two groups.  One group got a tour of the barn while the other group got a lesson in driving a draft horse.  A short while later the groups switched.

 

A young visitor gets her first driving lesson

Our next activity was learning and playing "parlor" games from the 1880s. 

When it was good and dark we went on an "Owl Hike" through the woods.  One of the park staff used an "owl caller".  Although we didn't see any owls, we did hear one respond very close. 

After a campfire and a snack, it was time for everyone to turn in. 

I didn't stay for the overnight but am told that the rooster in the chicken house started crowing about 4 a.m.  The campers were up early for a hot breakfast again cooked by the farm ladies.  The visitors got to help the farmers with the morning chores before taking down their tents and packing up to return home.

I would like to take a minute to thank all of the Metro Parks staff who worked so hard to make this program available.  Thank you to the ladies who slaved over the hot stove all day on an unusually hot and muggy September weekend and to those who taught us the games and shared their knowledge.  We loved the food and enjoyed the games.  I heard one youngster say that this was more fun that watching tv!  Thank you also to the farmers who helped us to know more about the animals who live on the farm and appreciate what they do and what they provide.  And finally, a great big thank you to the Metro Park staff who took us on the hike and spent the night with us.

This overnight camping trip has been offered once a year.  If you're interested in attending next year, you'll need to look for the fall edition of the Metro Parks quarterly schedule, Parkscope, and follow the instructions to make reservations.  There is also a fee for each camper.  This year the cost was $12 and the campout was limited to families with children over 6.  Call early, as this popular program fills quickly. 

For those of you interested in learning more about the wonderful horses that work at the farm, keep checking the current schedule.  Several times a year. the farm offers draft horse workshops where you can learn more about these special animals and have a chance to learn to drive one yourself.  Again, register early, as these are popular and fill quickly. 

 

Farm Lady

"B" is for Beautiful

9/1/08

The monthly newsletter , "The Slate" arrived today and I enjoyed reading Stephanie's article about what will be happening this month, so I thought I'd share it with you.

 

"The Slate", September 2008

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  September is beauty month at the Farm. 

We are beautifying the spaces that make up the Farm.  Broomcorn harvest is around the corner, so beautiful new brooms will abound in our closets.  New brooms equal house cleaning:  windows washed, sashes scrubbed, rugs beat, porches mopped, cobwebs swept and furniture dusted.  The farmers harvest bright orange pumpkins and shiny red, yellow and green apples.  Garden produce, canned and displayed on the root cellar shelves, beautifies the dark root cellar.  New fences now line the summer kitchen, garden and chicken yard area.  Men, women and children wear newly made clothes thanks to the farmwomen's efforts.  There are so many ways to beautify and behold the beauty of the Farm.

A program on September 6, hosted by Amanda H. and Janeen P. focuses on beauty in the 1880s.  Ladies have a chance to try out the 1880 "spa treatments."  These treatments lead to a beautiful, rosy appearance, bright shiny teeth, flowing tresses and smooth youthful looking hands.  Come on out to receive your spa treatment on that weekend.

We invite you to come behold the beauty of the Farm and the wonders of cool, crisp early Autumn air...

See you soon,

Farm Lady Stephanie

================

9/10/08

Stephanie is right.  This is a beautiful month at the farm.  I was lucky enough to be volunteering last Sunday when our afternoon program featured objects and "beauty treatments" that were popular in the 1880's.  I had a chance to chat with quite a few visitors and it was interesting as we explored the photos, objects, catalogs and "treatments" together.  As one visitor said, looking at all this does give you the feeling of "what goes around, comes around." 

Some common products and popular styling aids from the 1880s

 

 

Here the ladies mixed up some popular home beauty treatments that our visitors and staff had a chance to sample.  I understand the "buttermilk hand soak" was quite popular and made your hands feel soft and silky.  I tried the mouthwash which was made with baking soda, water and anise (licorice flavor).  It was quite nice.

 

 

Summer:  Busy and Bountiful

08/28/08

Has it really been over a month since I've had a chance to sit down and update this blog?  Wow.  Summer is really flying by.  Well, to give you an idea of what's been happening and keeping us so busy, here is an excerpt from the August "Slate."

            The “dog days” of August are here.  Hot, humid, still weather saps energy quickly, but the pumpkins still need to be hoed. And while the beans are finally done, here come the tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbages.  The horses and cows are bothered by the flies and are not always interested in “visiting” when people want to pet them. 

Beets were the first vegetables to be ready to harvest and preserve.  They were soon followed by beans, cucumbers and tomatoes, and when I was last down at the farm about two weeks ago, the ladies were busy preparing to can some Damson Plums from the trees in the chicken yard.

 

 

 

"Bringing in the Sheaves": A Successful Wheat Harvest

7/20/08

 

In mid July, Slate Run Farm harvested the wheat crop that had been growing in the left side field near the entrance to the farm.  I wasn't able to attend this year's harvest as I was out of town, but the farmers tell me that it was a nearly flawless harvest:  the weather cooperated and and so did our vintage horse-powered machinery.

Wheat is grown in the fields until the seed heads ripen.  We plant a heritage variety from the late 19th century that grows quite tall. 

 

Wheat growing in the field about a week before it is ready to harvest.

 

 

Just like in the song, these "amber waves of grain" swayed and undulated when the wind passed through the field.

 

Once the wheat was fully grown, it is cut and then stacked in shocks to dry.

 

 

 

 

Once the wheat is dry, the shocks are then loaded on the wagon and taken to an area between the grainary and the barn.  The wheat is then tossed off the wagon by one man, while another feeds it into the horse-powered threshing machine.  A third person monitors the output of the machine to minimize jamming.  The machine is powered by one of our workhorses who is lead around in a circle (by another person) to power the thresher.  The threshing machine then removes the seeds from the chaff (or stalks) of the wheat plants.  The seeds are loaded into grain sacks (which hold about 30 or 40 lbs if I remember correctly.)  The whole process involves lots of cooperation and plain hard work.

Once the grain is bagged, it is carried and stored on the second floor of the grainary building.  The stalks of the wheat plants are now called "straw".  The straw is heaped into a huge pile.  Later it will be tossed back onto the wagon and then the horses will pull it into the barn where it is unloaded, stored and eventually used for bedding for the animals.

Many folks wonder what is the difference between "straw" and "hay".

Here's how I remember it.  Straw is tough and strong (think "straw" hats).  It is the stalk of the wheat plant and has little nutritional value.  Farmers use it for bedding for the animals or as cover in the garden (think "mulch").  Straw is a dull yellow color and feels scratchy to the touch.  Straw is just stalks.

 

Hay is dried grasses and plants like clover and alfalfa.  It is grown and harvested as winter food for the animals.  Hay is softer to the touch and when you look at it closely, you can see leaves and flowers as well as stems.  Because it is made up of grasses, when you hold a handful to your nose, it smells like a freshly mown lawn.

 

The next time you're down on the farm, take a look around in the barn and see if you can find some straw and hay.  I bet you'll be able to tell the difference in a jiffy!

Farm Lady

 

Cool Drinks for a Hot Day

7/7/08

 

Yesterday was another warm and humid day at the farm.  Our afternoon program was "Cool Drinks for a Hot Day".  The farm ladies made several bottles and pitchers of drinks that were popular in the 1880s and shared them with our visitors.  The drinks available for sampling were:  root beer, lemon beer, lemon balm tea, strawberry water and switchel.

Switchel was the beverage whose taste seemed to surprise most of our visitors.  Folks either seemed to love it or hate it.  No one felt ambivalent toward this tangy punch.  Switchel has many variations.  Ours is a traditional recipe made with molasses, ginger, brown sugar and vinegar.  Switchel works much like modern day energy drinks such as "Gatorade" to refresh and replenish the body after exercise.  Switchel was also called "Haymaker's Punch" as it was often served to folks working long hot hours in the hay fields.

One of the farmers drinking switchel after a hot afternoon working in the fields.

Strawberry water (strawberries, sugar and water) was a big favorite among our tasters.  It is light and refreshing.

Lemon balm tea is a simple drink made by steeping the leaves of the lemon balm plant (which we grow in our herb garden next to the summer kitchen)

July

7/1/08

July already?  It hardly seems possible, but the "Slate" (monthly volunteer and staff newsletter) arrived this morning so it must be true.  I've been so busy at home and at the farm this past month that I haven't had a chance to give you an update on what's been happening at the Farm.  Here's an excerpt from this month's newsletter to bring you up to date.

--the "Slate", July 2008

The astronomers don't necessarily agree, but for most of us, July IS the middle of the summer.  It's the time to relax, enjoy summer activities, and maybe take a vacation.

On the Farm, July is anything but relaxing!  (There are)...lots of day camps and summer childcare groups using the farm for their weekly field trips so there are kids and couselors here most weekdays. 

The "farm wives" will soon be canning and pickling every day, along with keeping the garden free of tomatoes, getting dinner done and washing dishes.  Back by the barn, the wheat harvest and threshing will take place, along with cultivating corn, pumpkins and broom corn, cleaning the stalls and hauling manure, all while making sure the animals have fresh water and getting the daily chores done.  Whew!

Some of the farm ladies cut and clean beets to get them ready to be canned.

Summer

6/19/08

The weather has been lovely this week.  Lots of sun, huge white clouds hanging in a blue sky like laundry hanging on the line to dry and warm days in the 70's.

 

 

"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary....How does your garden grow?"

 5/30/08  from "The Slate", June 2008

The soil is still rather cool so there has been no real push to plant the warmth loving cucumbers, green beans and other more tender vegetables.  We are enjoying the first of the garden's bounty, with lettuce and spinach ready for the table.  The asparagus and rhubarb are on the way out now.

The carpet beds are planted out front and potted plants are on the porch.  The hanging baskets on the back porch are fuschia, also known as "Ladies Ear Drops" in the nineteenth century.  Look at the flowers next time you are out and you'll see the resemblance to women's earrings.

By the front porch are Black Eyed Susan vines, also called Thunbergia.  Soon they should be climbing up the front porch, showing orange and lemony colors with a dark center. 

The Victorians loved vines.  It is an experiement to try them up front this year.  This type of plant has decorated the back porch for many years and always receives many comments.

 The garden as it looked on Saturday, May 24th.

 

  

 

Some of the farm women working in the garden sowing seeds.  You can see the oxen grazing in the orchard pasture across from the kitchen garden.  The white fence around the garden is there to keep animals out.

 

As Lovely as a Day in June

5/29/08

The weather has been lovely the last few days.  Ok, so it's not June yet, but we're almost there. 

I can't wait to get a chance to get back down to the farm to visit.  So many things are happening at this time of year that even when I'm away for only a few days, I'm astounded by what has bloomed, grown, been repaired, been replaced or given birth while I've been away.

That's why I always look forward to the latest copy of "The Slate", the farm's newsletter for staff and volunteers.

The June edition arrived this morning so I thought I'd share some with you.

Ah....June at last!  Warm sunny days, cool clear nights, flowers and birds all around--life doesn't get much nicer than a day in June.  At the Farm, the first of June brings a short break on weekdays with school groups ending and the day camps not yet in session.  That's good timing since the corn needs cultivating, hay needs cut and brought in, the garden needs attention--and so on!  The weekends are bringing lots of visitors, (1700 over the Memorial Day weekend!) many of them for the first time...

 

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

5/24/08

As soon as I arrived at the farm this morning, I knew it was haying time.  I smelled the fresh cut hay when I stepped into the welcome shelter and started walking toward the house.  The cool morning air was fragrant with its sweet green scent.

It lay in mounds in the front field near the hen house.  It was nearly dry and was ready to be pitched onto the hay wagon and brought into the barn.  Haying, like most heavy labor in the farm fields, is usually done by the men.  Today there were only two farmers working, so some of the women joined in to help.

Hay is an important crop on the farm.  Although people don't eat it, it is winter food for the animals.  The farmers need to grow enough hay to feed the animals through the winter.

Hay is grass that has been allowed to grow tall until it goes to seed.  One this happens, the hay is cut and then raked and allowed to dry.  Next it is raked into mounds in preparation for pitching it onto the hay wagon.

 

 

Farmer Dave, Sailor (left) and Kate  (right) with a wagon full of hay heading to the barn.

 

Once the wagon is loaded with hay, it is brought back to the barn to be unloaded.

The farmers discuss the details of how to get the hay from the wagon to the loft

 

The hay needs to be moved from the wagon to the the hay loft on the second story floor of the barn.Once the hay is taken to the barn, the wagon is positioned in the back of the barn under a large hay hook.  The horses are unhitched and lead away from the wagon.  A farmer positions the hook under a large bunch of hay. 

 

 

 

One of the horses is then lead outside the barn. 

 

The horse is attached to a rope that goes through a pulley on the outside of the barn to the hay hook above the wagon.  When the farmer has the hook securely attached through the mound of hay, he calls to the horse handler who has the horse begin pulling on the rope.

 

 

 

When the hay reaches the mow (rhymes with now--this is the upper story of the barn where the hay is stored until it is needed), the horse is then lead back to the barn to lower the rope back to the wagon bed.  The process is repeated until the entire wagon is unloaded.  This is done in a matter of minutes--much faster than it would have been if the farmers had had to carry the hay upstairs themselves.  Here you can see the mow once it has been filled with hay.

 

 

The entire process is then repeated until all of the hay is brought in from the field.

If you're interested in learning more about haying, or would maybe like to help out in the hayfields, come and visit on Sunday, June 8th from 2-4pm.  Haymaking is our scheduled program that afternoon (weather permitting).