2010 Calendar

Click here to find out what's happening at Howell Farm in 2010.

Crop Report

Check the crop report to get the latest update on what's growing in Howell Farm's fields, forests, and ponds or to find out what your favorite horses and oxen have been up to.

Farmhouse Updates

View photos and progress reports of the ongoing restoration of Howell Farm's historic farmhouse.

Photo Gallery

View photos of the latest happenings at Howell Farm.

Motion Pictures

Now Playing: Up-Close with a Cultivator. See the McCormick-Deering culitvator in action. More choices are available in our video archive.

Barnyard Stories

Deep thoughts about farming and farm life from some of Howell Farm's finest writers.

Ask A Farmer

Ever want to know something about Howell Farm? Here's your chance to ask, or just read the answers to questions other people asked.

Farm Map & Tour

Howell Farm's self-guided tour map is available for download. Click above to get your copy.


Wednesday
03Mar2010

Howell Farm's 2010 Maple Syrup Is Here!

Maple syrup, bottled March 2, 2010, for sale in Howell Farm's gift shop.Since last November, Howell Farm's shelves lay bare of its most precious commodity- maple syrup. The last four bottles were sold at Howell Farm's live auction and there has been none for sale since then. This unique Howell Farm product is now back on the shelves with the sugaring season in full steam and the first run of sap collected. The first run syrup is known to be the lightest and sweetest tasting, as the season progresses the syrup will become darker and more "mapley".

The making of maple syrup at Howell Farm is unique in itself. Classes of school children led by farm staff, participate in tapping sugar maple trees in the sugar bush. Howell Farm horses, Jack & Chester pull bobsled loaded with sap.Sap is then gathered by these visiting children and deposited in large milk cans carried by a horse-drawn bobsled. The sap is transported directly to the sugar shack, where rests the evaporator. There the sap is cooked down into almost finished maple syrup, it is finished and bottled in one of Howell Farm's kitchens and then brought to the visitor center for sale. So this product does not leave the farm until you take it home with you!

Saturday
20Feb2010

Volunteers at Work!

One of Howell Farm's newest volunteer has wrought wonderful advances behind the scenes. Bob Walker is a dedicated volunteer who has lent his proficient carpentry & mechanical skills to bring about some amazing restoration on farm equipment and furniture. From chairs to hand-tools, disc harrows to sleighs, Mr. Walker has spent many hours in Howell Farm's workshop repairing the numerous broken items that Howell Farm has in their collection of antiques. The disc harrow that Bob is "modeling" above took weeks of intense labor to bring it to its present, almost new, condition.

Thursday
11Feb2010

Howell Farm in Snow

Howell Farm fared well in the two blizzards just passed. The knee high snow adorns the farm's fences, barns and trees beautifully.

So far the only damage known is a fallen osage orange tree branch. The lower ford bridge is blocked off as a result.