Saturday, June 6, the Howell Living History Farm hogs will wade out of their wallows, shuffle into a weighing box, then meet the scale.
The weigh-in is open to the public, which is invited to join farmers as they weigh hogs, slop hogs and call hogs.
From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., children can help farmers by mixing pig feed and filling wallows. Hog weighing will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Prizes will be offered to visitors who come closest to guessing the pigs’ weights.
A hog paper holder crafts program for children will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $3 per craft; projects take 20 minutes to complete. Groups of eight or more must register.
Howell Living History Farm’s summer Archaeology Camp: Participants in the hands- and boots-on camp will assist archaeologists from Hunter Research as they uncover the remains of the 1730s house that stood for more than 100 years at the center of Pleasant Valley where members of the John Phillips family settled on the land that is now Howell Living History Farm.
The dig is funded by grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission and the Friends of Howell Farm in support of the Mercer County Park Commission’s programs in the Pleasant Valley Rural Historic District.
The archaeological team hopes to uncover clues about the structure of the house and the people who lived in it, adding to ongoing research that provides a window into the earliest European settlement of Pleasant Valley.
As dig assistants, students will contribute to this research as they help archaeologists locate and document the foundation of the original Phillips house and assist with the recovery and processing of ceramic, glass, metal objects and other evidence found at the dig site. Participants will receive a certificate upon the successful completion of their work.
Mercer County offers an array of summer camp opportunities for area youngsters.
Among them is a program at Howell Living History Farm. It offers programs for children in age groups 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.
Campers will experience hands-on animal care, helping with chores, feeding, gathering eggs and more. In the garden, campers will plant, cultivate and harvest seasonal vegetables.
Each day will focus on a different farm highlight in a 1900s setting. Campers also will discover nature, searching for animal tracks, exploring various habitats and collecting natural treasures. In addition, there will be time for crafts, stories, games and hayrides.
For more information, call 737-3299 or visit http://www.howellfarm.org/ and click on “kids programs” then “summer camps.
Howell Farm is on Valley Road, off Route 29, 2 miles south of Lambertville at 70 Woodens Lane.
Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Parking and admission are free.
The farm is maintained and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission and can be reached at 609-737-3299 or by visiting www.howellfarm.org or www.mercercountyparks.org.
