Fall Harvest Programs at the Homeplace
In fall our garden, orchard, and forest provide food for keeping through the winter. Daily programs on the farm feature harvesting activities such as working with tobacco, shucking and shelling corn, and woodstove cooking from the fall harvest. “Tobacco firing” will also be on-going throughout the fall. Come on out and lend a hand with the harvest, or take a look and see what we’ve got in our barns.
Every Day on the Farm
Feedin’ Time on the Farm | 3:30-4:30pm
Join us daily as we take care of our animal family. Feeding time is a great time for you to see our historic breeds of chickens, sheep, oxen and more up close.
Thursdays in September
Practical Life Skills* | 2-3pm
In September you can learn 1850s harvest skills every Thursday. The kids can step back in time to become a child of the 1850s while learning some practical skills. Children are invited to come in period clothing for the program.
Saturdays this Fall
Look Who’s in the Barnyard* | 10:30-11am
Did you know sheep only have bottom teeth? That black and white feathers camouflage chickens from predators? And our farm animals have something in common with Panda Bears? Drop by the barnyard and get up close to a different animal each Saturday and discover cool facts about our heritage farm animals. See the barnyard in a whole new light.
Sundays in the Fall
Sunday Afternoons in the Parlor | 1-3pm
Step back in time and experience Sunday afternoons in the Parlor throughout the fall. Try your hand at drawing, or reading period magazines and books. Learn how to dress in your 1850s Sunday best, begin your diary and journal the 1850s way. View our calendar of events to see the specific event for the day.
Saturday, September 20
Pumpkin Rific* | 10am-12pm
Come watch a live cooking show by the Homeplace women in a double pen kitchen. Join them as they cook their favorite 1850s pumpkin recipes and discuss the importance of pumpkins “back in the day.”
Woodworking | 11am-12pm
Come out and learn about farm wood working in the 1850s. Back then, the men on the farm made furniture, tools, brooms, plows, and even tools to make tools. Check out the tool barn with its hand and foot operated lathe and see what the gentlemen are demonstrating today.
Sunday, September 21
Blacksmithing on the Farm* | 2-3pm
Check out our Homeplace blacksmith as he bends iron over hot coals to make farm tools. Learn about the design of early forges and bellows while watching our blacksmith at work.
Saturday, September 27
Fall Putting by the Garden | 10am-12pm
Join our live food preparation and storage show by the women at the Homeplace in the double pen kitchen. Join the ladies as they demonstrate how to preserve food for the winter and collect seeds for next year’s garden.
Woodworking | 11am–12pm
Come out to the Homeplace to learn more about farm woodworking in 1850s. Back then, the men on the farm made furniture, tools, brooms, plows, and even tools to make tools. Check out the tool barn with all its hand- or foot-operated tools and see what the gentlemen are demonstrating today.
1850 Floor Coverings | 2-3pm
What’s under foot! As you walk through the houses at the Homeplace, observe the floor coverings under your feet. Some we’ve made from warn-out clothes. Others have been hand-painted on heavy cloth. Come and check it out today.
Sunday, September 28
Handmade Furniture | 2-3pm
Join us and learn the secrets of making furniture using dovetail joinery. Dovetail joinery serves as one of the strongest ways to hold furniture together. Cut mostly by machines today, these joints were cut by hand in 1800s wood shops. After learning our secrets, you will be amazed at how easy it is to create this long lasting wood joint.
Saturday, October 4
Celebrating Corn! | 10am-4pm
Knee high by the 4th of July. This was a measure many farmers used to judge corn growth. A versatile grain for people and farm animals, families often made corn into cakes, puddings, and hominy. Corn can be ground, soaked in lye, or boiled into syrup. Cobs, shucks, and stalks also have a use on the farm. Discover how this grain was used and count how many uses corn had in 1850 on this fall Saturday.
Cooking With Corn | 10am-12pm
We all have eaten sweet “green” corn on the cob. In the 1850s, corn was baked, fried, and boiled. Follow the delicious smells to the Double Pen kitchen as the farm women prepare their favorite corn recipe from, The Homeplace History and Receipt Book. If you like the recipes, pick up our cookbook after your visit, or find it on amazon. www.amazon.com/The-Homeplace-History-Receipt-Book/dp/148007893X
Cornfield, Shock, and Shell | 11am-12pm
In the 1800s, corn was one of the most important crops you could grow. Help us make some corn shocks in the field, and maybe turn the handle on the corn sheller and see how much our hogs like to eat it!
Make Your Own Corn Shuck Doll | 2-3pm
Take part in some good, old fashioned fun and make your own corn shuck doll. Then learn what other ways we can use these leaves on the farm.
Sunday, October 5
Firing Dark Tobacco | 2-3pm
In the 1800’s, dark fired tobacco was a cash crop for the farm. Every step in the process of making tobacco was handled with care in order to make a good profit. Firing the tobacco in order to cure the crop was no exception, especially when burning the barn down was a risk. Come find out what I takes to cure tobacco with fire.
General Admission
- 13 years and older: $5
- 5 through 12 years: $3
- 4 and under: Free
All of these programs are free with Homeplace admission.
*All programs marked with an asterisk (*) make great programs for teaching lessons.
For more information go to: www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/attractions/homeplace/
Take a look at our calendar of events here: www.landbetweenthelakes.us/calendar/
Or call us at: 931-232-6457
