Flashback - A Farming We Will Go!

Where:      Howell Living History Farm, Lambertville, NJ

More Info: http://www.howellfarm.com/

Trip Assessment:

Ease             ✮✮✮
Expense        $
Family Fun    ♥♥♥
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The history of Howell Farm is long and varied.  Since farming began on this site in the 1730s, just about every type of farming situation has occurred here.  The farm has evolved from a grain producing farm to a dairy farm and over the years various crops have been grown, animals raised, products produced, etc.  The farm has gone through periods of family ownership and occupation and absentee owner/tenant farmer occupation.

We visited back in 2007.  The Farm is free to visit, they often have events and crafts for the children.  When we went, they showed us how scrapple is made from scratch.  This is probably not a good place to go if you can't stomach the sight of a slaughtered farm animal, however.  And especially if you don't want your children to see one.  We didn't mind though, we understand that's all part of farming.

We had lunch in the farm house, which has a kitchen with farm fresh goodies, mmmmm.   From baked goods to entire meals.  Food is not free, of course, but not expensive either. We had a nice sausage lunch (sorry, forgot what it was called) and then we headed out to see what was going on outside.

Our oldest, learning to shuck corn while another tot played in the corn kernels

We walked along the grounds, looked at the animals and watched as the farmers ran a tractor motor in order to run the old-fashioned meat grinder and grind some fresh pork.

Then it was time to do the kids' craft, which was making pine cone bird feeders.  There was a small $3 fee for supplies.

It was really enjoyable, and a perfect outting for this time of year.  In fact, I looked at their website and found the following upcoming activity:

Autumn Hayrides

2009 Date: October 31

Historic Pleasant Valley will show its best colors when Howell Farm offers autumn hayrides to the public. Hayrides will leave the farmhouse every 20 minutes from 10:30am - 3:00pm and will take visitors along laneways with a colorful view of Baldpate Mountain.  The rides are free, and will be drawn by the farm's big work horses Jessie, Bill, Jack, and Chester.  Reservations are not needed.  Rides are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  A wheelchair accessible wagon is available. Children's craft program: Mask On a walk-in basis (Groups of eight or more must pre-register) Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm Approximate time to complete project: 20 minutes Materials fee: $3.00

Check out their calendar, there are more events through November:
http://www.howellfarm.com/calendar/calendar.htm


Hope you are able to check it out this fall!