Down on the farm

By: centraljersey.com
Horse-drawn wagon tours of Hopewell Township’s Pleasant Valley Rural Historic District will be offered to the public on Aug. 14, courtesy of Howell Living History Farm. The district, which includes 13 properties, is listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places.
The 30-minute tours will leave the farm on a continuous basis, from 10:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The rides are free, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Organized groups should call ahead to make special arrangements. A handicapped accessible wagon is available.
Featured in the tours are the Pleasant Valley School, five 18th-century farmsteads, a family burying ground, a millstream with archaeological sites, and many elements of the historic landscape including fields, fences and hedgerows, unpaved roads and hill farms.
Tours will be hosted by local historians David Blackwell and Charles Hunter of the Pleasant Valley Vigilant Association.
In addition to the historic district tours, the farm will offer a program for children featuring hands-on animal chores and a craft project, "Kite." Cost is $4.
Howell Farm is located on Valley Road. Parking and admission are free. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.
Howell Farm is accepting applications for parent/child enrollment in its fall Hatchery Program, which begins in September. The program is designed to introduce children to life on the farm, while parents volunteer time helping the Howell Farm staff work with school group visits to the farm and other chores related to farming. One parent must work at the farm as a volunteer in exchange for one child’s participation in the program. No experience is necessary.
The program is for children 3 to 5 and features activities such as feeding farm animals, collecting eggs, storytelling, and taking a hayride and horseback ride. The program runs one morning per week for 12 weeks, on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, starting Sept. 14-17 from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Parents may enroll by attending an organizational meeting on either Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. or Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. Meetings are intended for parents only.
Applications will not be accepted by mail or phone.
The farm is also running a one-week Hatchery session Aug. 23-27 from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Meeting attendance is not required for the one-week session. Interested persons should call the farm at 737-3299.
For more information, contact Kathy Brilla at 737-3299 or visit: www.howellfarm.org.