Blog Archives

The Poor Man Gets His Ice in the Winter

1/16/2013

Howell Farm gets its ice!
Because of poor conditions, the living history farmers at Howell Farm have purchased ice to store in their ice house.
During its January 26, 2012 Ice Harvest program, Howell Farm will interpret how farmers in 1890-1910 experiencing a mild winter would have resorted to purchasing a delivery of ice. This program is a personal favorite because of its unique historic and life lessons.

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Tar and Feathers

1/10/2013

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Tar paper and a chicken house. A possibly dubious combination. In this instance however it marks more maintenance progress at Howell Farm as farmers re-paper the hen house roof. Tar paper was chosen over asphalt shingles for historical accuracy.
Left: Howell Farm carpenter Ian Ferry tacks on the drip edge. Below: Farmers Gary, Don, Jonathan, Andi and Ian lay the first new sheet of tar paper.

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Ice Report

1/7/2013

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What would you do without your refrigerator?
At Howell Living History Farm, the January 26 Ice Harvest program is a unique living history event that reflects how Americans in 1890-1910 used ice to preserve their food when electric refrigerators were not available.
On Monday, January 7, Howell Farm staff measured one inch of ice on Belle Mountain Pond. However, four inches are necessary to harvest and to allow anyone to walk on the ice. With more freezing temperatures and despite the warm days, Howell Farm manager Gary Houghton is hoping to harvest ice without resorting to buying commercial ice as farmers 100 years ago had done during mild winters.
Also at Howell Farm during the winter months, maintenance projects progress as Jonathan and Don continue work on a new chicken yard fence.
Pictured below, Howell Farm sheep and horses graze together in one of last year's hay fields.

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About

The Furrow is the online newsletter of The Friends of Howell Living History Farm. We will be updating this site about once a week with crop reports and other insights into life on a horse-drawn living history farm.

Howell Farm is owned by Mercer County and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission.

Funding for the Howell Living History Farm Furrow is made possible in part by an operating grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

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