- Grains
- Vegetables/Greens
- Fruits
- Herbs
- Cash Crops
- Flowers
Finally, many of us have been working to reach our audience virtually since we have not always been able to do so in person. ALHFAM has created a Members Video Page (MVP) where you can link the home page for any video platform you may use. Consider submitting your video page/channel for inclusion! Fill out the form at this link.
As always, if you have information to share, send me an email. Jim Lauderdale.
JULY 2020
The FARM PIG Information Sheets page now includes a link to a google document, created by Erin Bentley, to provide seed resources to members of PIG. The intention of this document is so members can add seeds that they may be growing at their sites in order to share them with others. It is organized with tabs to include:
- Grains
- Vegetables/Greens
- Fruits
- Herbs
- Cash Crops
- Flowers
JUNE 2020
Debra Reid shared details for the Michigan Historic Preservation Network Webinar:
June 11, 1-2:30 pm eastern time - workshop focuses on Agricultural resources, National Trust for Historic Preservation resources to support the cause and a focus on Michigan agricultural resources (but it could apply to other states). For more info on the MHPN, see: https://www.mhpn.org/workshops/
Workshops – Michigan Historic Preservation Network. These workshops are designed to educate historic home owners and commercial building owners on the benefits of historic preservation. The participants will gain a profound understanding of restoration techniques and methods, at the same time, discovering invaluable ways to save money. www.mhpn.org
Ed Schultz shared the Historic Farming Trade at Colonial Williamsburg has kicked into gear to provide food for families in the community during this pandemic. The plot in town called “Prentis Field” will still grow corn, cotton and tobacco, but also sweet potatoes and lots of pumpkins. The gardens (not fields) at Great Hopes Plantation are in full production for the effort. The goal is provide close to a ton of food to the community through this effort.
Claus Kropp and his work site did a digital conference two weeks ago and he presented their work with draft oxen twice, once in German with English sub-titles, once in English with German sub-titles (and quoted Ed and Pete). Here are the links he shared: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwaITArGzo&list=PLUzvtLm28tFz14WqS2IRVGgeGupGcMK_Y&index=31 Here is another short clip we did on the training of our draft cattle (in this case in german with english subs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Mgs-r_VK8&list=PLUzvtLm28tFz14WqS2IRVGgeGupGcMK_Y&index=11.
Rob Flory shared, “Since we have been closed to the public and aren't busy with programming, we have made an extra farming effort to grow food for the community. In addition, we have been bartering surplus feed grain crops for processed edible commodities like rolled oats, corn meal, and flour. Thus far 1.5 tons of those commodities have been donated, in addition to 100 dozen eggs. 10 fleeces have been processed into yarn for knitting into hats, scarves, and mittens for donation. We have planted our usual plot of potatoes for donation, a project we have done for over 30 years. We have also planted an equal area of 3/8 acre in vegetable crops for donation. The kitchen garden was planted in 130 cabbages and an additional plot of potatoes. Reflecting our lack of some modern infrastructure like a walk-in cooler, fairly rugged crops were selected. Planting in the market garden was completed the last week of May and included paste tomatoes, collards, snap beans, sweet potatoes, onions, cucumbers, okra, cabbage(2nd crop), bell peppers, and jalapeño peppers. Farming continues as usual to produce the crops needed for the sustenance of our livestock, and for the programs that we hope we will be running in some form as the year moves on. Some more details and photos on howellfarm.com.”
Finally, the FARM PIG will have a Zoom meeting to replace our annual meeting, but the date and time for this has not been announced. I’ll send emails and post on the ALHFAM Historic Farming Facebook page when the details have been determined.
As always, if you have FARM news to share please email FARM Co-Chair, Jim Lauderdale at Jim Lauderdale.
MAY 2020
As many states are beginning to re-open, historical FARMers are looking ahead to the remainder of this year and many have plans they want to share with you.
Ben Baumgartner, Barrington Plantation State Historic Site shared:
Plowing/field prep was March 14-15th. Corn and cotton planting done the week following, closed due to COVID on the 25th. Winter wheat- growing Russian Beardless(hard red, late 1800's), was plowed, harrowed, broadcast and harrowed in by all ox power, no modern equipment in November, beginning to mature, likely will be ready for reaping in a couple of weeks. Corn- Virginia Gourdseed (white dent, 18th century). Plowed, harrowed, and marked check-rows with combo of ox and horse power. (Done the weekend before we closed) Hand planted with period planting device. Now that we've been closed, we only have had one staff member at a time, animal cultivation not feasible. Been using a modern gas tiller to clean across and down the check-rows. Also experimenting with a pre-emergent for invasive grasses (chemical applied by maintenance team). Will pick up with single ox cultivation when we reopen (next week likely). Cotton- Lone Star (1906, earliest white cotton available, grows like the older varieties) Plowed, harrowed, and ridged same weekend as corn field with oxen and draft horses (horses from a volunteer group). Planted by hand by staff the week before we closed (early for cotton, but for multiple reasons, including potential COVID shutdown, I wanted to have it done.) As cotton has come up, cultivation has been with the tiller during the shutdown, will be ox work only after reopening. In addition to tilling, hand hoe work still required around plants, this has been done by staff one by one, will continue when we reopen. Gardens have been maintained with hand hoes, one staff member at a time.
Jay Templin, Supervisor, James Fort shared:
At Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, we've had staff going in to care for the poultry daily. One person at a time, so social distancing isn't a problem, but we've still lost almost half of our flock of Red Dorkings at Jamestown. Mostly it's predation - we closed just as the annual hawk migration was getting started- but one was natural causes. When we initially thought we'd be closed to the public but still allowed to work on site, we started a bunch of seeds. When we were shut down, one of my staff took the seedlings home and took care of them. We fought for permission to maintain the agricultural programs so that when we do reopen, there will be something for our visitors to see, so I have been able to assign a couple of folks to plant and tend the gardens and crops. There are some challenges - the deer are getting as bold as Barbary apes, and we've had wild turkeys in the fields at Jamestown, which has never happened in living memory. Our tobacco for both museums has traditionally come as seedlings from Virginia Tech, but this year we have started a bunch from seed in case that falls through. So all in all, it could be a whole lot worse for us. Hope everyone else is doing as well as can be expected.
Philip Andras, Historic Longstreet Farm shared:
Longstreet Farm has been closed to the public since mid-March. We are bringing in just enough staff to take care of the livestock and that has made it difficult to keep up with our agricultural work. To make up the lost manpower, we have been using tractors to till and prep the soil on our larger fields. To keep our draft teams exercised, we are still using them to prepare our smaller plots and will use them to cultivate our row crops. Our goal is to keep our livestock healthy and grow our crops as we would any other year; all other projects are being rescheduled or the completion goal is being pushed later into the year. When we open to the public, we still want our visitors to see a wheat field and a threshing demo, 12' tall dent corn, inquire about what is growing in our kitchen garden, and to be able to participate in our potato harvest in August. One of the silver linings to this situation is that, during the day, we have been allowing our sheep to graze the main farm yard areas around the barns and farmhouse. It has been fun to see the spring lambs run and play through the yard while we are working.
Cozette Kremer, International Association of Agricultural Museums (AIMA) shared:
This is not pertinent for all of you, but I just read a long article in The Guardian (a UK newspaper that is now entirely online, as well) that the US livestock industry is obligated to “depopulate” millions of animals, especially chickens, because the slaughterhouse employes are ill and that is a total bottleneck in the flow chart. Tyson, the big guy of chicken, has called it a total breakdown and I wonder if there is not a partial famine on the horizon for many people in poor households in the US. I always look at what comes through from the ALHFAM and hope to have more time later on to participate more. Will send you the AIMA report on how people are “coping with crisis” a bit later on. Hope to bring it out early next week. Thanks for all you do.
Jonathan Kuester, Historic Wagner Farm shared:
I have big plans coming out of my site in the near future. We are shut down until at least the end of May and have been told to cancel all programming for the rest of the year but in the meantime we are growing food for our community and plan to produce enough food to feed 50+ families for the next 5 months. It will take me a while to get the specifics out so it may miss this go around but I will try to have details for you by the middle of next week.
Pete Watson, Howell Living History Farm shared:
It's been 37 years since we've plowed, planted and harvested our fields without school children, families and other visitors at our side, watching, helping and learning. This year we're in those fields with only our horses, our tools, and our thoughts. The latter tell us to do everything we can to keep our plows in the ground. With our Park Commission's blessing, we've committed to using our experience, skills and resources to producing as much food and fiber as we can, to give to local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens helping those in need. Today we were able to send 150 bags of cornmeal, 200 bags of oatmeal, 20 dozen eggs and a dozen skeins of yarn to one of our community's 90 food pantries. Many of the recipients are elderly people who, after using their social security checks to pay for housing, have less than $120 a month for food, clothing and other essentials. Two weeks ago, one of them sent us back a thank you, along with a recipe from their family's cookbook. We will treasure it forever.
Jim Lauderdale, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum shared:
The museum has been closed to the public since March 14. Over the next two weeks, staff were able to continue caring for the garden and livestock. On April 1, eleven museum staff (3/4 of our staff) were laid off due to the financial impacts of COVID-19. Two weeks later, three of our four remaining staff were furloughed. Since April 19, there has been one staff person going about “essential” duties which includes animal care and customer service seven days a week. The gardens and fruit trees are getting watered, but no real weeding or planting has occurred. We remain optimistic we’ll be able to begin bringing staff back in June.
Also, One of ALHFAM’s international members, Claus Kropp, is conducting a draft animal survey and has asked for our help. I am forwarding the email he sent, as a web inquiry, to all FARM PIG members in hopes that some will take the time to reply to his email. Please take a moment to review and respond to his email. I have asked him to provide us with the final results so we might post it to the FARM PIG resource page for future reference.
I am working on an overview on the topic of draft cattle in (Archaeological) Open-Air Museums and Living History Farms worldwide. I recently gave a lecture about this topic and as a result, I want to conduct a survey. I want to evaluate the following questions:
1. How many draft cattle do you keep (male,female, breed)?
2. For what purposes do you use your animals (just showing the breed; agriculture; in the forest etc.; community service, skill training)?
3. How do you house the animals (on site in historic context or in modern alternatives)?
4. What kind of harness do you use (yoke, 3pad-harness ...) and why?
5. How important are the draft cattle within your overall didactic concept and for the visitor experience?
I would be happy if you would be willing to answer these questions and send the results to me. If doing so, I would also appreciate some pictures and a general info of the museum/farm you are using the draft cattle on.
As always, you can follow what other ALHFAM FARMers are doing by following our ALHFAM Historic Farming Facebook page. If you have news you would like to share, you may email it to FARM Co-Chair, Jim Lauderdale.
APRIL 2020
I hope all of you are well and handling the changes to your daily routine as productively as possible during this pandemic. Living history, farms and agricultural museums have all taken a hit, along with the rest of the country, during this health crisis. The one thing I know for sure is we are a strong community and now is a great time to reach out to your ALHFAMily if you need help. We exist to promote living history and historic farming, but along with that, we have established a culture supporting one another. During this time, I would ask each of you to really consider sharing content on our ALHFAM Historic Farming Facebook page. If you have something you are working on, remotely or otherwise, take photos or better yet video and share that to our Facebook page. The use of social media has gone through the roof. People are looking for distractions, which is one way to deal with the stress of the impact this is taking on us all. Our good friend Ed Schultz also suggested we ask the questions, “How do you farm when you can't farm? What are the ways folks on Living History farms are adapting?” If you have thoughts you want to share about those two questions, please do so. While many of us are working remotely and practicing good social distancing, it’s important to remember we aren’t alone. Take care, remember to get outside and put your hands in the dirt if you can. It’s a great time to start some seeds indoors or transplant those that have already started them. I look forward to seeing you all once this situation has been resolved. Until then, be well! As always, you can share your FARM related news with me at Jim Lauderdale.
MARCH 2020
Spring is around the corner and I’m certainly excited for the changes I’m seeing all around. Trees are beginning to leaf out, flowers are blooming and gardens are being prepared for planting. Below are a few updates from FARM folks that we wanted to share.
Phil Andras, Historic Longstreet Farm, says, “Longstreet Farm will be celebrating Ag Week on March 28. We are offering a mix of educational and hands on programming including helping to plow a field and plant our kitchen garden, learn about keeping backyard chickens and livestock, and a meet and greet with a couple of local farmers who have been working the land in Monmouth County for over 40 years.”
Lauren Muney, ALHFAM Skills Training and Preservation, reminds us that hands on Skillclips instructions sessions will be held at both upcoming MAALHFAM and ALHFAM conferences. Also, she wishes us to know how important it is to pass down historic farming knowledge, via video into our ALHFAM SkillClips Library. You can gain more information about this and also how to make your own site-specific video library during these upcoming sessions.
Deb Reid, The Henry Ford, shared there is one item deaccessioned from The Henry Ford and looking for a good non-profit home: A Minneapolis Moline tractor, 1932. If interested, contact Debra Reid for additional information.
Jim Slining, Tillers International, shares the following: I recently learned of a great resource from Fred van de Geer at the Museum of English Rural Life, Reading; “Guidlines for the Care of Larger and Working Objects”. It was published by the Association of British Transport and Engineering Museums (ABTEM), and is available as a pdf download here. It is also available from ABTEM in print.
Each month, I send out notices to FARM folks requesting information or sharing FARM related information. If you would be interested in being added to this email list, please send your email address and any FARM related information for the monthly eUpdate to FARM Chair, Jim Lauderdale.
FEBRUARY 2020
Happy post Groundhog Day! As you are probably aware, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow on February 2, thus predicting an early spring. I’ve always been interested in learning more about this weird tradition. This year, I did what everyone else does when they have a question about something and Googled it. I found a pretty interesting article from Time Magazine, https://time.com/4650202/groundhog-day-history-2/, that explained the origin of the tradition has roots in an early Christian celebration known as Candlemas Day. Candlemas Day, on February 2, marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It’s on this day that priests would bless candles that would be utilized for the remainder of winter and distribute them to the people. The article goes on to explain the superstition of an early spring or longer winter and how a groundhog got involved, so check out the article for yourself.
Dave Fowler reports, Hunter's Home received an Oklahoma Heritage Grant to purchase our starter flock of sheep. The staff will be raising Merino, the same as the Murrell's did in the 1850s. They have a year from May to complete the project and are very excited. Dave complimented co-worker Jennifer Frazee saying, “she did a great job securing the funds for the project.” Expanding public programming to include livestock is quite an undertaking, but can produce wonderful results with community audience.
Lauren Muney, STP Committee Co-Chair, encourages the FARM folks to take advantage of listing skills workshops on the ALHFAM website, as the eUpdate and other publications are mentioning. This opportunity will be forever hereafter, and available for all ALHFAM members of all levels, from individual to large institution, and all levels in-between. If there is a workshop of any type, please list it. Information on: https://alhfam.org/Skills-workshops
Ed Schultz shares that a two-day Draft Horse workshop will occur at the Southeast Regional ALHFAM conference on February 21-22 in Dothan, Alabama. This is shaping up to be a fantastic immersive workshop that can extend one or two days. Full hands-on participation is encouraged. Everything will be covered from the horse to the harness to driving to plowing and more. Ed is working with the Horseman on this workshop. Contact him for more information.
Have a great month, be sure to vote for the ALHFAM Board positions, and as always you may contact your FARM co-chairs Jim Lauderdale and Phil Andras if you want to include news or items of interest in the monthly eUpdate.
JANUARY 2020
Happy New Year! The FARM PIG is happy to report that the final details of the Farmer’s Boot Camp at this year’s annual conference are almost complete. The conference committee has decided to have a one day boot camp, (Sunday), focus on Cattle in three tracks (Dairy, Oxen and Haying) with a tentative cap of 18 participants (6 per track). This is for a couple of factors: transportation, overlap (foodways), and a lot of interest in staying in the city. We are going to look to incorporate the themes of the other tracks in the site visit day (Horticulture, Land Management & Trade). More to come on this soon.
Check out the flyer on Beautiful Bovines - Farmers' Boot Camp (1).pdf
DECEMBER 2019
Happy Holidays to each and every one of you! In keeping with the season, I hope all of your FARM related activities are fun and festive. We have a few updates for you all to enjoy.
From Ed Schultz at Colonial Williamsburg: Work continues on the planning of a 2-day Farmers Boot Camp at Old Sturbridge Village during the 2020 annual conference. Remember that this workshop is meant for all ALHFAMers- curators, administrators, programmers, exhibit specialists, etc… and even farmers! The concept is to create a immersive program that develops intellectual understanding and real hand skills in farm life of multiple time periods.
From Lauren Muney with Skill Training and Preservation: ALHFAM’s Skills Training and Preservation (“STP”) has been been going strong to teach and learn skills of the past as well as skills of living history presentation. Read more in the STP report - and also check out some of the excellent historic farming SkillClips in ALHFAM’s SkillClips Library! To see the videos, simply log into ALHFAM’s website with your password at www.ALHFAM.org , navigate towards the STP section, and visit the SkillClips Library. Are you inspired by our current library to share [your] skills with your ALHFAMily? Visit the SkillClips pages to learn how to make your own SkillClips… and be watchful for the new “how to make SkillClips” advanced concepts (made simple!) which will be coming out presently. ALHFAM’s energetic and inspiring Digital Assets Intern, William Schultz, will be releasing new videos very soon. Also watch for additional sessions on making SkillClips - coming soon! (But don’t wait for an in-person workshop - start making your SkillClips today - and tomorrow, and tomorrow, and the next day!)
Best wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season, as well as, a Happy New Year!
Co-Chairs Jim Lauderdale & Phil Andras
OCTOBER 2019
Philip Andras, Recreation Supervisor at Historic Longstreet Farm in Lincroft, NJ writes: At Longstreet Farm, our efforts to diversify the crops we grow continues. Traditionally, we have grown corn, wheat, potatoes and a small plot of hay. These past two years, on smaller plots, we have tried growing pumpkins, sunflowers, mangle beets and sweet potatoes. Our sunflowers are a hit. The pumpkins look beautiful but hot, humid weather has made storing them an issue. As for the mangle beets and sweet potatoes, the deer thanked us profusely for the bountiful feast that we have provided.
Deb Reid at The Henry Ford Museum, let us know Interpreting the Environment at Museums and Historic Sites is available – https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538115497/Interpreting-the-Environment-at-Museums-and-Historic-Sites.
Barbara Corson, Dauphin, PA shared: the “Farm Based Education Network” conference is coming up in Baltimore on November 8 – 13th. https://www.farmbasededucation.org/conference19 Several sessions are offered that might be of interest to ALHFAMers.
The ALHFAM Historic Farming Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1662787883956432/ continues to be busy with new articles and links to upcoming agricultural festivals. Be sure to check out the post about the first "Skills Training and Preservation" (STP) workshop, which happened to be about plowing. In a partnership with the leader in sustainable skills, Tillers International, ALHFAM held its 2-day Plowing Workshop at Tillers own facility. Thanks to Tillers for its expertise, patience, lodging, and food. Tillers educates people around the world in farming techniques, and runs classes and workshops -in a number of topics- in its own facility in Michigan. The STP is training and educating our ALHFAMily in skills of history and in presenting living history. This first workshop went into more detail than any conference workshop; thanks to Tillers, the experts in the country, the workshop participants were in the best hands of the world. More STP workshops to come.
Please keep in mind the Skills Training and Preservation committee want you to share your knowledge with others in the form of skill clips. The SkillClip Library contains short videos of any regularly-used skill, practice, process or method used at a living history site or museum. These videos can be used for reference, comprehension or brief information before discussing or trying at your site. Longer videos will added to the library's collection as the STP Resource Center grows. Members can sign-in and visit this link to learn more https://alhfam.org/SkillClips-Library.
The Call for Papers at ALHFAM 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts is out. The conference needs FARM session and workshop proposals. Please remember to submit yours by the deadline, December 15, 2019. https://alhfam.org/resources/Documents/ALHFAM%202020%20PROPOSAL_CALL%20FOR%20PAPERS%20FORM%207-17-19.pdf
As always, if you have news or FARM items of interest to share, send them to your co-chairs Jim Lauderdale. and Phil Andras to be included in the eUpdate. Also, if you know of folks that would be interested in being on the FARM email list, send their email addresses to the co-chairs as well.
AUGUST 2019
ALHFAM has partnered with Tillers International to host a MEMBERS ONLY Plowing Workshop on September 7-8, 2019. This is going to be a top-notch experience that is plowing top to bottom. It is limited to ten participants and registration is first come-first serve and ends August 24, 2019. Members interested in registering, visit this link https://alhfam.org/Skills-workshops. Any non-members interested in the workshop are encouraged to join in order to take advantage of this and many other membership benefits.
News that might very much interest you from Pit Schlechter, long involved in the FECTU (working horses’ federation in EU) and now bringing out the DAN (Draft Animal News, see latest AIMA Newsletter N°14 on that) again. Check out the website at http://www.equidpower.org/ for EQUID POWER, now up and running.
The FARM PIG also received an email with the following message from a man named Chips Johnson:
“I have three or four steamer trunks of farm and farmhouse tools and implements. In addition I have large circus-type mallets, wagon wheels and other such larger items. I am wondering if there is such a thing as a non-profit resource center in the Virginia/Maryland area that collects items for other non-profits to outfit their museums, etc. I'm interested in giving my collection a good home. Do you know of such a place or have any suggestions? You may contact me at cpekjohnson@msn.com or 703-532-5831.” I received his permission to post this inquiry, with contact information, in the eUpdate and would encourage those in the Virginia/Maryland area to reach out to him directly.
If you have any FARM related news you can always contact FARM Chair, Jim Lauderdale. or FARM Co-Chair Phil Andras .
July 2019
The Crops Survey, conducted by the FARM PIG this Spring, has been consolidated and made accessible to ALHFAM membership on the FARM page. The intent is to update this with a new survey every 3-5 years to stay current with historic farming within the association. The FARM PIG met during the annual meeting and conference in Midland, Ontario. Minutes from this meeting may also be found on the FARM page of the website.
Here’s the link to the most recent edition of the AIMA newsletter, https://www.agriculturalmuseums.org/news-2/aima-newsletters/. Highlights of this edition include: AIMA 2020 at The MERL – Museum of English Rural Life; Vice-President’s Message – Agriculture and the environment; AIMA Members’ and Friends’ Events and Reports; Special Bonus – CARTS AND WAGONS from around the world; News about Food and Agriculture; and Resources.
Cody Jolliff at Nash Farm reports black eyed peas and some bicolored sweet corn just picked. Corn was blown over in a bad storm late in its production but most of it stood up and finished out to some really nice sweet corn. A large amount of the corn was stored away for the annual Nash Farm Supper, our fundraiser meal in the Spring. The shucks were strung on a line and being saved and dried for other projects such as mattress filler. The black eyed peas are coming on nice with their first picking and continue to produce. Many of these will be saved away for meals at the farm throughout the year. A few pics are included.
Ed Schultz at Colonial Williamsburg reported his tobacco has suckers almost a foot long, but other than that all is well.
Joel Johnson at Fort Nisqually reported that vegetable harvesting continues into the summer and the wheat, while a little small, appears to be shaping up for a good harvest.
Matt Schofield at Genesee Country Village & Museum reported this spring as been a damp one for Western NY. It has rained more than it hasn’t and haying has proven difficult, but slowly and surely we are putting some up. Corn went in late, just like all of the modern farmers in our area, and it is doing well. Our wheat crop has been growing wonderfully. It was planted on our most gravely side slope plot, so the extra rain has been helping it along quite well. The livestock are doing well and are always eager to rotate through their pastures. We are at our maximum carrying capacity for livestock, or maybe just beyond it, so very soon our lambs, extra ewes, and extra rams, will need to go to sale. Fence mending is a continuous thorn in our sides, but we are nevertheless striving forward.
Finally, Phil Andrus has answered the call and volunteered to serve as co-chair for the FARM PIG. Thanks to Phil for stepping up to help this PIG be as active as it can be!
As always, if you have news to share, you can email FARM Chairs Jim Lauderdale. and Phil Andrus.
FARM PIG MINUTES 6-9-19.docx.pdf
Crops Survey (Responses) 2019.pdf
May 2019
A new Plowing Match Standard Operating Procedure document has been written by FARM Chair, Jim Lauderdale. This document has been added to the FARM website here. This may serve as a resource for members looking to plan future plowing matches. Additionally, there are judging sheets, how to judge the plowing match, and the description of the ALHFAM ribbon archived on the FARM page as well. Candice Moreau, conference committee member for this year’s annual conference, reports “We are very excited that we have a line on a Suffolk Punch horse team and an Oxen team for this year’s plowing match. In addition to the field we have lined up, it looks as if the plowing match may be coming together in great fashion.” The FARM PIG looks forward to a great plowing match this year!
Joel Johnson, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, reports the fields around Fort Nisqually were sown with Sonora White Wheat around April 13 and are coming up well. Most of the fruit orchard has now bloomed and the garden has been planted with various garden vegetables.
Cody Joliff, Nash Farm, reports the farm received mail order Kentucky Red Bourbon Turkeys last week. Staff there plan to roast a few over the holidays to share with their big sponsors. The winter wheat is standing tall and the fall hatched chickens are laying nice eggs now.
Cozette Kremer shared, “For any ALHFAMers who happen to be in the Alsace region of France, there is an annual oxdrivers meeting at the museum with demonstrations of ox-driving, as well as horse-drawn equipment and vehicles, milking and cheese-making that runs over the long Ascension weekend from Thursday 30 May through Sunday 2 June this year. This is set in the museum’s general program “Theatre of Agriculture” involving fields specially planted in traditional local crops, a highly interesting explanation in-the-field of soils, water control, working techniques, historical plants, etc. See the museum website athttps://www.ecomusee.alsace/en/.”
One final note, the agenda for the annual FARM PIG meeting is in development now. If you have an agenda item that you would like to add to the agenda for discussion, please email Jim Lauderdale by Monday, May 6. A draft of the agenda will be emailed out to the FARM PIG members list after that date. If you do not currently receive emails regarding the FARM PIG, but would like to be added to the list, please email Jim with the email address you would like to use to receive these communications.
As always, thanks to those that submitted material for the eUpdate. If you have news or information to share, please email FARM PIG Chair, Jim Lauderdale.
April 2019
Deb Reid shared that later this year, 3-4 October 2019, an international scientific conference, “Livestock and Traditional Crops in the Cultural Heritage of Rural Areas,” will be held in the Szreniawa Palace at the National Museum of Agriculture and Agro-Food Industry in Szreniawa, Poland. The Call for Proposals outlines five themes: 1) Humans as part of the ecosystem in the process of domestication of plants and animals over the centuries; 2) The influence of animal husbandry development and crop cultivation on shaping the tangible and intangible human needs. 3) The use of farm animals and arable crops in education, therapy, tourism, rehabilitation, recreation, and sports; 4) Human ecological awareness fostered by traditional animal breeding and plant cultivation; and 5) Educational farms as a promoter of biodiversity and cultural heritage. To participate, Complete this Application Form and submit no later than 19 July 2019. For more information, https://www.agriculturalmuseums.org/news-events/coloquia-aima-partners/
Barb King shared that Barrington Living History Farm in Washington, Texas has finished their curing process for the pork, tested it in the kitchen, and found it to be very tasty! They’ve also started a new Myth Busting Monday series for Facebook, beginning with “Kitchens were placed separately to prevent houses from burning down”. They anticipate it will be fun to explore those myths with visitors.
Ed Schultz shared the Historic Farming program at Colonial Williamsburg is undertaking a short training program for the some of the site’s “Nation Builders” through a series of hands-on experiences. Interpreters portraying important people of 18th century Williamsburg like James Madison, Aggie of Turkey Creek, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington engage in real work activities to develop a better cognitive and visceral understanding of the work underpinning the 18th century lifeway. Activities include plowing, hilling, planting, weeding, and picking worms off tobacco.
Plans for the annual plowing match at the International Conference in Ontario are coming along. A site has been selected and the conference committee are working with the FARM PIG and local farmers to solidify all the details.
Join us for a moderated discussion on the hopes and future of historic agriculture during the annual conference sessions. Farmers Schools, Institutes, Boot Camps and the FARM PIG provide resources and training for people that preserve the skills of the past for the future. Find out how you can be part of this critical initiative. The title for this discussion will be, “Steadying the Plow: Skills, Training and Preservation in Historic Agriculture.” It will be moderated by Ed Schultz, Colonial Williamsburg Historic Farmer and ALHFAM Skills, Training and Preservation Development Manager and presented by Cody Jollif, Site Manager of Nash Farm and developer of the Farmers Institute; Dave Fowler, Site Manager of Hunters Home of the Oklahoma Historical Society; and Jim Lauderdale, Museum Supervisor of Fort Nisqually Living History Museum and ALHFAM FARM Professional Interest Group Chair.
Finally, there have been sixteen responses to the FARM PIG’s Crops Survey. Thanks to all those that have taken the time to submit their information in this quick and easy to complete survey. Sites that have participated include Colonial Williamsburg, Hunter’s Home, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Exchange Place Living History Museum, Mahaffie Historic Site, Montgomery Parks Agricultural History Farm Park, President James K Polk State Historic Site, Homestead Prairie Farm, Long Mountain Living History Center, Panhandle Pioneer Settlement, Barrington Living History Farm, Wolf Gap Education Outreach, The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Ross Farm Museum and Texas A&M University. The link to the survey is still open and the FARM PIG asks that anyone growing heirloom or heritage crops submit the survey.
As always, if you have news or announcements to share with the FARM PIG, please send your information to FARM PIG Chair Jim Lauderdale.
March 2019
The main piece of news this month is in regards to the Crops Survey that is currently being conducted by the FARM PIG. We are conducting a Crops Survey to learn what heritage crops are being grown by ALHFAM members and non-member living historical farms. Please complete the survey to help us be successful and share with all those who might also be able to contribute.
You'll find the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/yxs2sgep
Thank you for participating in this survey and promoting the growth of heritage crops!
February 2019
The FARM PIG is conducting a survey on crops. Please follow this link to complete the survey.
December 2018
The Texas Living History Association and Mountain Plains Region have teamed up to host a two-day (Thursday & Friday) Farmers Institute at Nash Farm in Grapevine, Texas this January.
All are welcome, and registration will open next week. The Farmers Institute at Nash will be led by David Fowler of the Oklahoma Historical Society along with some other great historic farmers. Focus will be on winter work on the farm including trimming hooves on sheep, poultry care, tool care, plowing with draft horses and more.
Gulf coast ram for sale at Nash Farm, Grapevine, Texas. Contact Farm Manager Cody Joliff at 817-410-3558 for more information.
Ed Schultz, Dave Fowler and Jim Lauderdale will be contacting FARM members to conduct an heirloom grain survey this winter. This will only be successful if we can get good support from our membership. If you are interested in participating and letting us know what heirloom grains you are growing, please contact Jim Lauderdale.
Plans are underway to present some excellent hands-on workshops at the ALHFAM 50th Anniversary Conference at Old Sturbridge Village. Currently, there are talks about three days of hands-on farming workshops that cover many different disciplines and specialties. Stay tuned for more details.
AIMA Board members along with the staff of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Director of INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Division, Nerupama Y. Modwel, explained that the mural (installed at the INTACH headquarters on Lodi Road in New Delhi, India), is a Gond painting by an artist from the Gond tribal community, predominantly from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Photograph by Piret Emily Hion (attendee to the AIMA meeting from Estonia) taken November 26, 2018.
Photograph by Piret Emily Hion, Estonia, November 26, 2017, taken at the headquarters of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Director of INTACH’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Division Nerupama Y. Modwel explained that the mural behind is a Gond painting by an artist from the Gond tribal community, predominantly from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
November 2018
Nash Farm will host a Farmers’ Institute for the upcoming Mountain Plains Regional Conference in January. The two day program will be led by David Fowler of Hunters’ Home in Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, along with others in the field. Activities will include poultry care, sheep care, draft horse harnessing and driving, and winter preparation on the farm. The conference is January 24-27, 2019 in Grapevine, Texas. The two day Farmers’ Institute will be on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th. Other sessions at the conference will also focus on farming. Dallas – Fort Worth International airport is in Grapevine and just a 5min drive from hotels and Nash Farm. We hope you’ll consider attending!
As always, if you have any FARM news, send it to FARM Chair Jim Lauderdale.
October 2018
Cody Joliff reports, “Nash Farm has an opening for a part time Living History Interpreter / Maintenance Tech to help with both living history tours and programs along with general farm chores. Email CJolliff@GrapevineTexasUSA.com for more information. Apply online at www.GrapevineTexas.gov."
Lauren Muney reports, “The Mid Atlantic ALHFAM meeting is featuring skills workshops and sessions for the first time, including many farm-related sessions, such as “Assessing Livestock Health and Wellbeing”, “Udder to Butter”, “Corn Maze Experience”, "Scrapple, Sausage, and Bacon", and “Round Pen [Horse] Training”. These workshops and sessions are three hours each session, so the attendees will gain a good overview of the subject matter, encouraging deeper learning down the road. Registration is open until Oct 5.
Jim Lauderdale reports, “The final draft of the 2018 Western ALHFAM Regional Conference Packet with updated session and registration information has been posted. If you have not yet registered, and plan to attend, please submit your registration by October 18. Please also note that the deadline to book a room at the hotel is October 10. On behalf of the conference committee, we thank you for considering the conference and look forward to seeing you all in less than a month.”
As always, if you have anything you would like to share with the FARM PIG, please email FARM Chair Jim Lauderdale.
September 2018
September is showing no signs of slowing down for us in the FARM world. Here are some updates and things of interest that FARM members have asked me to share.
Joel Johnson at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum reports that there will be a Harvest Home event on Saturday, September 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Celebrate the end of summer with a traditional 19th century Harvest Home, a daylong event on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum in Point Defiance Park. As the weather begins to change, the historical interpreters at Fort Nisqually turn their attention to the harvest and winter preparations. This year’s Harvest Home celebration will feature apple pressing, tours of the heritage garden and the opportunity to sample seasonal treats made in the period kitchen and bake oven. Visitors can learn to make corn husk dolls, weave wheat straw, play popular Victorian games, and help decorate the hock cart that will carry the last sheaf of wheat through the fort to the granary. The Puget Sound Revels will sing and dance to harvest songs and a harvest king and queen will be crowned from among the fort’s teen volunteers. The public is also invited to enter the fort’s jam and jelly competition. A panel of judges will sample all entries and award a special prize for the tastiest preserve. Event admission is $8 to $10, and children 3 and younger are free. For more information visit www.fortnisqually.org or call (253) 404-3970.
Debra Senese at the Historic Longstreet Farm in Lincroft, NJ reports there will be a Harvest Home Festival on Sunday, September 30 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
This old-fashioned country fair takes visitors back to the 1890s, when neighbors gathered to work, harvest, and enjoy each other’s company. Explore your past and join us for a day of fun, featuring wagon rides, games, corn husking and pie eating contests, craft demonstrations, and live music. Submit your needlework, baked goods and homegrown vegetables for judging and you may take home a ribbon! Admission and parking are free. For more information, please call 732-946-3758.
Gail Richardson reports that Sauder Village will host a Fowl Butchering 101 Workshop on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The workshop will occur from 8:00am to 12:00pm. The cost per person is $50. To register for the workshop, call 1-800-590-9755 ext. 3034. There is a maximum participant cap at 10 people. Here’s the description of the class: This hands-on class will teach students historic techniques in fowl butchering. Each participant will be able to have a hand in the process of preparing fowl for the table, learning how to humanely dispatch fowl, pluck feathers using a scalding kettle, neatly eviscerate a fowl carcass, and prepare the meat for the freezer. For more information, visit www.saudervillage.org.
Kim Breed at Barrington Living History Farm reports that they recently had an Ossabaw Island Hog sow give birth to eleven piglets. Barrington has been involved in the preservation of historic breeds for several years and has always produced good breeding stock. Here’s a photo of the piglets, (see attached).
As always, if you have information that you want to share with other ALHFAM and FARM members please email the FARM Chair at Jim Lauderdale.
August 2018
Hopefully the summer event season has been a successful one for you. August typically marks the last month of those summer events and many places/living historians begin to look forward to the autumn events that are right around the corner.
On August 11 and 12, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum will host the annual Brigade Encampment. While the main focus of this event is on the fur trade as it relates to the historic Fort Nisqually, there will be an agricultural focus on saving seeds from the summer harvest.
On September 1, Howell Farm in Lambertville, New Jersey, will host their annual plow match during Labor Day weekend.
A fun note that was shared by Barbara Corson included the fact that Landis Valley Museum in Lititz, Pennsylvania, has a new ox, four year old cross-breed named Sable. Sable joins the museum’s ox in residence, Patrick, a seven year old Randall Lineback.
Finally, Lauren Muney reported the following: “ALHFAM has started on a new initiative, Skills Training and Preservation (“STP”), designed to help our ALHFAMily document and preserve important skills, details, and training needed for working your sites and passing down vital interpretation, trades information and/or even activities needed to make your site work well. These skills are especially important on historic-farm sites as well as village- and trades- sites. The initial ideas are being formed now, and will be ready for presentation to ALHFAM as a whole in early 2019. Look for this exciting and vital new addition to ALHFAM’s mission to bring history to life.” Hopefully, members of the FARM PIG will support this new initiative in any way possible.
Those are all of the updates that were shared by the time the eUpdate was published. As a reminder, if you have news about things happening in your area, please send those details to FARM Chair, Jim Lauderdale by emailing Jim Lauderdale.
July 2018
July is here and hopefully you enjoyed an Independence Day celebration of your own.
The old saying, “Knee high by the fourth of July,” doesn’t apply to our friends at Hunter’s Home – our host for the national conference. Their corn was over head high within two weeks of the conference. Thanks again for hosting a great conference.
A big thank you to the staff at Pawnee Bill’s Ranch for allowing us to host our plowing competition. We appreciate the boulders you planted for us too! ;) Below is a list of our plowing competition winners by class:
Novice Plowing Competition –
6th Henry Crawford
5th Kelsey Patton
4th Victoria Haynes
3rd Heather Gilreath
2nd Sonrisa Crespin
1st Debra Reid
Apprentice Plowing Competition –
6th Lauren Muney
5th Cody Joliff
4th Matt Koch
3rd Ellen Gasser
2nd Betsy McCabe
1st Nick Frazee
Expert Plowing Competition –
2nd Kevin Lynch
1st Dave Hruska
Congratulations to all of our winners and thanks to all competitors for keeping this ALHFAM tradition alive and well!
The Farm PIG supported Farmer’s Boot Camp: Poultry 101 was also a great success during the conference workshops. A big THANK YOU to Barb Corson, Victoria Haynes and Dave Hruska for leading the workshop and to the staff of OHS and Hunter’s Home that led the building of the chicken coop.
Thanks to the FARM PIG members that attended the annual PIG meeting. I have attached those meeting minutes here for all to view.
Stepping away from the conference now, Cody Joliff at Nash Farm in Grapevine, Texas commented that he is looking for a list of Wagon Makers. Nash Farm is interested in buying a hotel taxi, wagonette style perhaps for hauling a small group, which would be horse drawn.
They are also looking for chuck wagon box plans & hardware. Contact Cody Jolliff if you have information to share.
As always, if you have news, updates, questions or concerns, you may contact the FARM Chair, Jim Lauderdale.
June 2018
Ben Baumgartner, Barrington Living History Farm, reports that Barrington has a new team of Durham (Milking Shorthorn) oxen. Three total, the pair are Marco and Polo, and as a single we have William. Having just arrived to our park from Kentucky in the middle of May, they have already settled in well and have been put to work cultivating the fields of cotton and corn. We hope to rejuvenate our historic farming by exclusively using draft animal power (no behind the curtain cheating with the tractor.) We’re starting with cultivation for now, but are hoping to incorporate plowing by the fall.
May 2018
By now, I’m sure many of you are well on your way to having your crops planted or at least having your fields prepared.
Joel Johnson, Fort Nisqually, reports that garden peas, lettuce, potatoes, leeks, beets, carrots, and a few other vegetables have all been planted and are coming up quite nicely. Additionally, barley and peas have been planted as field crops. This will be followed up with turnips and Coleseed soon. The poultry yard is being worked and refreshed now using historic farming practices.
Matt Schofield, Genesee Country Village, reports “We are hard at work spreading compost and gearing up for spring tillage. It is hard to believe we had snow and ice two weeks ago, but we’re hitting the ground running. Animal “Run Ins” are getting resided after 40 years and our Hog Island Sheep are due to lamb any day now. I think the ewes will wait for the cold rain later this week.”
Debra Reid coordinated a working group on Agriculture and Public History for the National Council on Public History with agricultural historian, David Vail, and other NCPH members committed to engaging the public with agriculture and the environment. For case studies submitted and comments they generated, see http://ncph.org/phc/agriculture-and-public-history-2018-working-group/
Reid also blogged about the group work at: http://ncph.org/history-at-work/agriculture-and-public-history-working-group/
Take a look at these resources before ALHFAM 2018, where the conversation will continue during sessions on “Agriculture and Public History,” and “Interpreting the Environment.”
Happy Historic Farming Everyone!
A quick reminder to register for the Annual Conference in Tahlequah, OK, if you have not already. The Farm & Livestock PIG is looking forward to the annual plowing match and hope you are too! We will also host the annual meeting of the Farm & Livestock PIG during the conference. If you have items to add to that meeting agenda, please send to Co-Chair Jim Lauderdale.
April 2018
April is here, spring is in the air, and many ALHFAMers are busy planting or making preparations to plant this year’s crop. Here’s a few words from FARMers around the country.
Cody Joliff, Nash Farm, reports two ram lambs (Gulf Coast Native) were born recently. Nash Farm is interested to know what GCN breeders are in their region (Mountain-Plains) as they are looking to buy, sell, or trade for a new ram. For those that do not already use this site, The Livestock Conservancy posts heritage breed information including breeders on their website. Nash Farm will also host their annual Spring into Nash event on April 21. For more information, visit https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/nash-farm/events/spring-into-nash/.
Joel Johnson, Fort Nisqually, reports that the spring garden is well underway with potatoes, peas, and greens all being planted. Coleseed, turnips, and barley are also slated to be planted at Fort Nisqually’s annual Sewing to Sowing event on April 14. For more information, please visit https://www.metroparkstacoma.org/fort-events.
Ed Schultz, Colonial Williamsburg, would like to remind everyone that the ALHFAM Seeds and Plants Committee was absorbed by the FARM PIG during the annual meeting last year. Anyone interested in heritage seeds/plants are encouraged to reach out to the FARM PIG by email or on the Historic Farming Facebook page.
As always, if you have news you want to share or a question to ask the group, please email co-chair, Jim Lauderdale.
