Life on the Farm

Focus on Food

Between the manor and stable are rows of corn, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, herbs,  potatoes and so on.  This is the source of the farm-fresh vegetables served in the manor.  Just behind the barn is the chicken coop for breakfast eggs.  Other fields are surrounded by fence to confine grazing cattle - beef for the kitchen.  This is all maintained by hired hands living on and off the farm.

Focus on the Stable

Beyond the open white doors is the breach lined on both sides with eighteen standing horse stalls.   The sliding white doors led to a new addition for a tack room full of saddles and reins - needing regular cleaning by grooms.  There are four box stalls for guest  horses.   Daily, grooms and campers care for these horses: curry comb, saddle, unsaddle and hosing down when hot.   Did we mention daily mucking all of the stalls and laying new straw? Hold your nose!

Focus on Work as Fun

It wasn't all hard work.  The piglets enjoyed attention from the campers but watch out or you'll lose your sneaker in the mud wallow.

The hands, grooms and teens all worked together preparing for the judged horse shows: cleaning and bluing (making their ankles white). Combing and braiding tails and manes.  Horse trailers were loaded and unloaded.   White blouses were starched and ironed.  We were exhausted but proud.