Newsletter Sept-Oct 14 - Claude Moore Colonial Farm

Family News Letter
of
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm
At Turkey Run
The only privately operated National Park in the United States
~Celebrating its 41st Year of Operation~
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
I
WORKSHOPS: HISTORY IN ACTION
W
t has been a few years since we held our last workshop, so
this year we thought we’d try a couple and see how they
faired.
***
he first was an old favorite, the
Heritage Livestock Workshop, on
the 30th of July. This was the first
program taken on by Lisa Berray since taking the role of our
18th century farmwife in June, and she did a great job!
First, she worked her way through the livestock barn,
explaining the differences between modern poultry and our
heritage chickens, turkeys and geese, and introduced
everyone to pair of our Ossabaw sows, each with a litter of
seven piglets. She then led the group down to see the Devon
cattle and the breeding herd of hogs, answering some very
good questions along the way. The grand finalé was a
chance for our guests to try their hand at goose herding.
e're planning an event for Thursday evening, October
2nd, from 6:30 to 8:30, with great food, drinks and a
Silent Auction. Please put this date on your calendar now
and we'll keep you posted on the details. c
T
;
W
FALL FARM SKILLS PROGRAM
e have six dates this fall for this fun, hands-on
program for children, Sept 25; Oct 2, 9, 23 &30, and
Nov 6 & 13, 10am - noon.
Bring your kids, scout troop or class, and let them learn a
few of the tasks that would have occupied the days of
children their age, in centuries past. Pound corn into meal
for daily dining; dip candles for the year’s supply of light in
the darkness; card and spin wool to use in making warm
clothes for the coming winter; and learn to play period games
for those rare times when they could just be children.
We definitely plan to hold it again next year, so keep an eye
on our calendar.
***
he second workshop we opted for this
year will be the Workshop: From
Flint to Fire, and Beyond!, on the 10th of September, from
6 - 8pm. This one is a first for us, and was suggested last
year by a few of our volunteers. This will be the first
evening program led by our new 18th century farmer, Tom
Harbold.
$5 per person (includes admission to the 18th C. Farm),
Reservations required. Contact [email protected].
T
X
TROUBLE WITH THE WEBSITE
O
ur website at www.1771.org is currently
undergoing renovations. Please be patient with
us as our webmaster works out the kinks as fast as he
can. It should be back in working order soon. c
With neither lighters nor matches, how did 18th century folk
start a fire? What are the three essentials for starting a fire
(fire pyramid)? What’s the difference between tinder,
kindling, and fuel, and what are some of the best woods for
each? What’s the truth behind Native Americans “rubbing
two sticks together,” and can you really make a fire that
way? What was the origin of flint and steel, and why did it
replace the bow drill fire starter so rapidly? For what did
people use fires in the 18th century, and was there a
difference in the type of fire used for each purpose? And
what were some of the hazards of fire in the 18th century, and
what means were used to control those hazards? Finally,
practice making a fire with bow drill and flint and steel. Can
you do it the “old fashioned,” 18th century, way? c
Contact [email protected] for more information.
SAVE THE DATE: OCT. 2ND - PARTY
7
I
1
AMAZON SMILES ON THE FARM
f you shop at Amazon.com, you can now donate to the
Farm at no additional cost to you, just by doing your usual
purchasing. Just sign up with Amazon Smile and type
Friends of Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run, Inc.
in the field for non-profit organizations. After that, just sign
in to your Amazon account through your Smile page and
order in your normal manner, and Amazon will donate .5%
of your total to the Farm. Donating has never been easier! c
ON THE FARM
COLONIAL CORNER
Want to improve your 18th Century knowledge?
Here are a few tidbits to help.
Tobacco Notes
G
reetings to our Friends!
A Tale of Two Piggins
For those who may not know me, my name is
Thomas Thornton, brother of the late James and Lucy
Thornton, and I have been Farmer here since taking over the
lease of our father’s Farm following their sad demise. Please
allow me to express my deepest appreciation for the many
expressions of sympathy I and my family have received since the
untimely death of my brother and sister. Your kindness, and the
grace of Divine Providence, have allow’d me to continue on, and
I shall endeavor to work this Farm as my father and brother
would have wanted.
A
small vessel, resembling a tiny barrel with a long,
wooden handle, is often found in the largest water
barrel near the farmhouse and is regularly used on the farm
site for dipping and transporting small amounts of water.
This very handy little water dipper is known as a “piggin”
and has been utilized for so long that its origins have long
been lost to time, though the word likely goes back to
ancient Celtic, as there are similar words for small vessels
in Gaelic (pigean), Welsh (piccyn), and Irish (pigin). A
visitor to the Farm might be enlisted to help the farm
family by “fetching a piggin of water” to assist with
watering vegetables or filling the buckets kept by the
fireplace. It was the rather evocative name of this little
water dipper that inspired the naming of the newest
member of our colonial family: Piggin…
So doing, however, hath not been without its challenges. A harsh
Winter and cool Spring set back our plantings, not least the
Tobacco, and despite a plenitude of thunder-storms, the want of
steady rain hath grievously affected our crops. As if that were not
enough, the Deer, rumored to have been all but exterminated in
these parts, remain in sufficient numbers in the Neighborhood to
have wrought severe havoc among the Tobacco plants of our
more public Fields, as have the Groundhogs in the Kitchen
Garden.
Early on July 17th, our Ossabaw sow, Peggy, gave birth to
a litter of seven piglets, one of whom was smaller than all
the others and struggling to get in enough nursing time. A
few days later, it was obvious that if this little runt was
going to make it, he would need to be hand-raised by farm
staff.
The first night following his removal from his mom, he
went home with me to my little studio apartment. By the
next morning, he was universally loved by all who met
him, and he had been officially named “Piggin” in honor of
the handy little water scooper that time forgot.
Thankfully, the damage is not so great in the more protected
fields, yet ‘tis sadly true that this Harvest will not be among our
most bounteous. We should be able to make our Rent, Taxes,
and Tithes, but there may not be much available for purchases
this year. It is well that the Farm is already reasonably
well-stock’d with essentials! Nonetheless, we hope that many of
our friends will join us for Fall Chores and, of course, the
Autumn Market Fair, always a time of good cheer and
conviviality.
With “piggins-full” of personality and a love for
interacting with humans of all varieties, Piggin now spends
his days at the farmhouse, greeting everyone who visits.
Yr most Humble & Ob’t Serv’t,
Th os Thornton
Feast of St. Aidan, 1771
2
The Family Newsletter is published bimonthly, Jan/Feb through Nov/Dec, by The
Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run. Subscription is by membership. To
join, write the Farm at 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101, or call 703-4427557. Farm-related contributions will be accepted on a space available basis. Submit
typed material by the 10th of Dec, Feb, Apr, June, Aug or Oct for inclusion in the
following bimonthly issue.
Lisa Berray
As Piggin grows bigger and stronger, he will eventually be
trained as a “learned pig” (more on that in future editions!)
and become an ambassador
for the Ossabaw breed to all
those who visit the farm.
Right now though, the staff
enjoys the fun of watching
him discover the world with
new eyes (and snout)… and
the fact that, for now, he can
still fit in his namesake
Piggin in a piggin!
piggin. c
STAFF
Anna C. Eberly, Managing Director
Catherine Anderson, GateHouse Manager
Heather Bodin, Operations Mgr./18th C. Farmer
Lisa Berray, 18th C. Farmer/Garden Mgr
Jon-David Engle, Facilities Manager
Thomas Harbold, 18th C. Farmer
Emma Taylor, GateHouse Assistant
Jackie Whipple, 18th C. Farmer
Melanie Zucker, 18th C. Farmer
HONORARY BOARD: Hon. Frank R. Wolf; Hon. James P. Moran; Hon. Janet D. Howell; Hon. John Foust; Janie Strauss, Fairfax County School Board.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: James Callan, President; Jean Ann Gililland, Vice President; Vance Zavela, Secretary; Theodore L. Gray, Treasurer; Dr. Virginia P.
Norton, Lynn White, Dr. April L. Young, E. Ronald Lara, Presidents Emeritus; Scott Helsel, Legal Counsel. DIRECTORS: Stephen T. Adams, Victoria J. Baker,
David Bossman, Holly Coyne, Gerard T. Gabrys, J. T. Griffin, Peg Jarman, Sue R. Ripley, Alice M. Starr, Stuart C. White, Phillip Zane. ADVISORY
BOARD: John T. Hazel, Jr., Virginia R. Holton, Kathryn A. Maclane, Dwight Schar. EX OFFICIO: Anna C. Eberly
CHANGES AT THE FARM
F
I
f you can help with any of the following needs,
please call the Farm at 703-442-7557 or email
[email protected]
or those of you who
often stop by our "behind
the scenes" area, you
have been watching the
reorganization of our space.
Earlier this year we decided
that after almost 25 years, it
was time to make better use
“The Studio” Volunteer Room
of our buildings and dedicated
outside areas. When our administration building was
constructed in 1989/90, the Farm was a very different place
with fewer volunteers and programs. But 25 years of "you
know what we could do" means we had outgrown what we
had to work with.
Items needed:
Remember, all donations are tax deductible

Brooms & Dust pans

Computer (Laptop or PC)

Paper grocery & shopping bags
(It’s a farm and we heartily believe in
embracing the dirt, but not in the kitchen or office.)
(Many thanks for the last donated
computer, Heather’s desk truly appreciates the relief. We would like
to put one in the BookShop however, so if you have a fairly fast
computer but are feeling the need to upgrade...)
(Helpful for Market Fair
costuming & at the Farm BookShop.)

Pet crates, large or small. Small ones carry animals to the vet or
to & from the 18th Century Farm, large ones keep chickens separate
during introduction of new birds until they get used to each other.
We started with getting rid of what we no longer used or
needed. Then we looked at how we worked and our access
to areas, tools and materials. The final result is a big work
room with clean storage above, a secure library with twice as
much space, a dedicated meeting room, new inventory,
receiving and processing area, guest room for volunteers and
interns, more office space, an archive/copy room, expanded
support space for the 18th century farm site and the start of
the Market Fair support kitchen.

Shovels, yard rakes & garden rakes

Small, quality items for auctions or for selling at
the GateHouse Shop (Things like old jewelry, artwork,
(We can never get
too many so if you’re cleaning out that old shed or garage...)
dishware, glassware,
tchotchkes, etc.)

kitchen
items,
linens,
knick-knacks
Woodworking tools for the woodshop
&
(...back to that
old shed or garage.)
In addition, many of the wooded areas that had been full of
old fencing and debris have been cleaned up and cleared to
provide great outdoor work areas for handling logs, firewood
and rail splitting, the sawmill, composting wood handling
debris, animal waste and storage of construction materials.
Sorry, we can no longer accept televisions, other electronics
or baby items such as strollers, car seats & cribs
X
It has been hectic getting
this accomplished while still
doing all that must be done
to keep the Farm operating,
but we are pleased with the
progress and are already
enjoying our newly recovered
and improved space. c
NEWS FROM THE FARM BOOKSHOP
A



The Library
I
FARM NEEDS
fter long deliberations and careful considerations, the
folks at the BookShop have decided on the Following:
Mass market paperbacks will be 25¢ or 5/$1
There will be a special display on WWII through the
month of September
For the month of September, all books in the Fiction
section will be 50% off !
Special Themes
CHANGES IN COMMUNICATIONS
Sept 3:
f you would like to keep up with what’s happening
at the Farm on a daily basis, check out our
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Claude-Moore-Colonial-Farm/129096038111.
Sept 17:
Sex, Drugs, & Rock ‘n Roll; The 60s; Football
Japan
Sept 20, 1-5pm: Japanese Tea: Sample traditional
Japanese teas & food while browsing through our display of
books on Japan.
;
W
e are also making some changes
with the distribution of the Farm
Family Newsletter. We will no longer
be sending multiple newsletters to the same
address unless you contact us and let us know that there is a
reason to do so, and we will start sending out a PDF copy
with our e-mail news bulletins so, if you would rather not get
a hard copy, you can opt out. c
Oct 1: Golden Books; TV, Broadway & Hollywood; Old
Tomes; Christmas Crafts
Oct 15: Furniture, Antiques & Collectibles; Photography;
Transportation: Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Oct 29: Law & Economics; Politics; Halloween:
Ghosties & Ghoulies & Things That Go Bump In The Night
7
3
Office: 703-442-7557
GateHouse Shop: 703-903-9330
2014 SPECIAL EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
F
ARM BOOKSHOP OPEN
Wed
12 - 7pm
Wed--Sat, Sept 33--27
Browse through books for history lovers,
travelers, gardeners, cooks and kids. You'll find
fiction, nonfiction, first editions and some rare
and special volumes, videotapes, CDs and records. These
books are 100% donated and all proceeds benefit the Farm’s
educational programs.
F
F
ARM BOOKSHOP OPEN
Wed
Wed--Sat, Oct 11--31
ARM SKILLS
Thur, Oct 2, 9, 23 & 30
A
D
D
EADFALL DAYS
Sat, Sept 6
10am - 3pm
Come help clear fallen trees and branches from the
verges of the forest surrounding the Farm’s fields,
pond, roads & paths. This will keep them safe for
people and livestock, increase the 18th C. Farm’s firewood,
build up the brush fence at Market Fair, keep the drainage
ways clear, decrease the ready fuel for forest fires and
split new rails for fences. Eat a hearty breakfast, dress for
the weather and bring work gloves, a water bottle and a bag
lunch.
Contact [email protected] to sign up.
12
12--7pm
10am
10am--12pm
UTUMN PARTY
Thur, Oct 2
Details to be announced
EADFALL DAYS
Sat, Oct 4
M
6:30
6:30--8:30pm
10am
10am--3pm
ARKET FAIR SET
SET--UP
Sat, Oct 11
10am
10am--3pm
Help us clean up the fairgrounds and get them
set up for our autumn fair. We’ll even serve lunch!
Contact [email protected]
A
UTUMN 18TH CENTURY MARKET FAIR
Sat & Sun, Oct 18 & 19
11am
11am--4:30pm
Warm yourself by the fire and
enjoy the splendor of autumn with
crisp apples, warm meat pies and
hearty breads. Let Market Fair
entertainers, tradesmen and the militia amuse and educate you. Be enticed with the wares at the
Dry Goods and the Gentlemen's Goods stands. Dip a candle
or turn a piece of wood on the carpenter's lathe. Stop by the
Tavern for a cup of mulled wine before you begin your holiday shopping at the many tradesmen's and merchant's stalls.
Period food, beverages and wares are available for purchase.
Adults - $7, Children 3-12 & Seniors - $3, Members - Free
F
IRE WORKSHOP
Wed, Sept 10
66--8pm
How did 18th century folk start a fire?
Learn what the difference is between
tinder, kindling, and fuel, and what some
of the best woods are for each, then practice making a fire
the “old fashioned,” way with a bow drill and flint & steel.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
ALL CHORES
Sat, Sept 20
1pm - 4pm
Come help the Colonial farm family prepare for
winter with 18th century autumn chores. Clear
brush from the fields, stack wood for the coming
winter, help repair old fencing or participate in
other colonial farm tasks, critical for the coming winter
season. The Colonial farm family welcomes all extra hands!
Regular admission fee
F
NOVEMBER
F
D
F
C
G
F
arm BookShop Open
Wed - Sat, Nov 1 - 29
ARM SKILLS
Thur, Sept 25
10am
10am--12pm
This program is designed to give hands
-on experience of several skills
necessary for an 18th-century farm.
The activities are set up in stations around the Market Fair
grounds, and participants may go from station to station as
they choose, spending as much or as little time as they wish
at each activity. This program can accommodate up to 200
people, so unless your group is exceptionally large, you will
be sharing the grounds with other groups of varying ages.
Additional Fee required; Weather Permitting.
Contact [email protected] for more information
eadfall Days
Sat, Nov 1
arm Skills
Thurs, Nov 6 & 13
hew the Fat
Sat, Nov 15
ateHouse Holiday Shop
Wed - Sun, Nov 19 - 30
X
4
12 - 7pm
10am - 3pm
10 am
am-- 12pm
1 - 4pm
10am - 5pm
CLAUDE MOORE COLONIAL FARM AT TURKEY RUN
MEMBERSHIP FORM
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or
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6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
703-442-7557 d www.1771.org
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run (52-1216556) is a Federal tax-exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code. Membership contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Contact the Farm office for specific amounts.
The Farm’s financial statements are available in the Richmond Office of the Virginia Department of Consumer Affairs.
WELCOME JACKIE
THE PAVILIONS OF TURKEY RUN
O
n a visit to see the 18th
Century Farm this
summer, you have probably
met Cousin Silence busily
working in the fields or
garden. Jackie Whipple,
Silence’s 21st century alterego, came to us this year as
our Farmsite intern, having
just graduated from the
University of Maryland,
with her BA in History and Anthropology. We are pleased
to announce that she has agreed to stay on with us full time.
“No Spring nor Summer Beauty
hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face”
~John Donne
There are many warm summer days left, but before
long autumn will be blowing into The Pavilions of
Turkey Run. The crisp cool air and colorful hued
leaves will surround the Pavilions in a blanket. Wood is
being chopped for the large stone fireplaces. Nothing
says fall festivities like a crackling fire, hot apple cider,
and hot food served up to delight the senses.
The next few months present us with some ideal event
opportunities including:
Jackie has been doing 18th century interpretation in the
Maryland/Virginia/Pennsylvania region since she was twelve
years old, and is an experienced 18th century dancer. She is
a volunteer fencing instructor at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,
in Old Town Alexandria and, for the last three years, has
been an intern/field-archaeologist with Mount Calvert
Historical & Archaeological Park.
When next you visit, be sure to give her a very warm “Good
day!” c
End of summer picnic
Fall celebration
Oktoberfest
Family movie night on the lawn
bvc
SEWING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
K
If you would like more information on the Pavilions
and what we offer, call us at
(703) 707-8559
or visit our web site at
now how to hand stitch and have a
little extra time on your hands? We
can really use your help to mend, patch and
reconstruct some of the garments in our
eighteenth century clothing collection,
and repair cotton tents & wool blankets for our
Environmental Living Center programs. Some of the
necessary work is fairly detailed, so experienced seamsters &
seamstresses are preferred. c
Contact [email protected]
;
www.jrspicnics.com
“We do all the work, you have all the fun!”
5
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run
6310 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
Return Service Requested
SEPTEMBER
Farm BookShop Open
Wed- Sat, Sept 3 - 27, 12 - 7pm
Deadfall Day
Sat, Sept 6, 10am - 3pm
Fire Workshop
Wed, Sept 10, 6 - 8pm
Fall Chores
Sat, Sept 20, 1 - 4pm
Farm Skills
Thurs, Sept 25, 10am - 12pm
OCTOBER
Farm BookShop Open
Wed- Sat, Oct 1 - 31, 12 - 7pm
Farm Skills
Thurs, Oct 2, 9, 23 & 30 10am - 12pm
Deadfall Day
Sat, Oct 4, 10am - 3pm
Autumn Market Fair
Sat & Sun, Oct 18 & 19, 11 - 4:30pm
Fall Chores
September 20, 1 - 4pm
&
Autumn 18th Century
Colonial Market Fair
October 18 & 19, 11am - 4:30pm