Traditional Sheep Shearing Today at Howard Hall Farm

(from the morning session:Michael and Fred using an antique hand-crank shear)

Bring the kids. Two sessions: 10-1, 1:30-5
$7 at the door

Fred DePaul, a notable sheep farmer, who hails from Vermont will come to Howard Hall Farm to demonstrate shearing on our flock of Shetland Sheep using techniques from three separate centuries. His presentation will include wooly tales, and an antique hand-crank machine. This presentation is suitable for children and adults who are interested in observing or learning the traditional art of sheep shearing.

Fred is the farm manager of The Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth, Vermont, and has given demonstrations at numerous historic sites and schools, including Clermont, Hancock Shaker Village, and the Tappantown Historical Society.

About Shetland Sheep:

The Shetland experienced near extinction when the industrial revolution and synthetic fibers decreased the need for all wools, and especially the colored wools. The decline in the need for fine "natural" wools resulted in a drastic fall-off in the Shetland's numbers. In Great Britain, several conservancies were established to help in the Shetland Sheep's recovery.

In 1980, Colonel Dailley of Canada joined in the effort to save this breed. He introduced the first flock of Shetlands into North America.

84 Howard Hall Road, Athens, NY 12015

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS.

PLASTER RAISING PARTY

THREE COAT LIME PLASTER ON RIVEN LATHE

Come and learn the materials and methods of lime plaster on wooden lath.
Howard Hall will have a plaster raising party for two successive
Saturdays, scratch coat then the intermediate coat on the main parlor
ceiling and walls.

(A time will be set up for the finishing coat in the near future.)

We will be:

• mixing lime plaster
• plastering
• celebrating
  

Joining in is free as a learning workshop,
but you will have to work with a trowel. Lunch is provided.

Booking in advance is required. 
Call 518-945-1253
or email: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

Open to people in the trades as well as homeowners eager to learn.

This is a unique and free opportunity to learn about historic lime plaster
in a workshop setting.  We will be practicing on the ceiling of the parlor
at Howard Hall Farm in Athens, New York.


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Related events:
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REMAKING LIME CROWN MOLDING
in July with Rory Brennan, the plasterer from  "This Old House".
This is a structured as a paid class with fee limited
number of students.  Click the classes tab for more information
or contact us: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

PRIVATE MORTAR CLASSES
with Reggie Young on exterior pointing with lime mortars.
We will cover mixing of mortar, proper prep of the area, pointing and curing.
Whitewash recipes and appilcations can also be covered.
For more information, contact: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

House of Fire

Unless I've missed some significant advances in quantum mechanics, it is not yet possible for the average historic home-owner to travel back in time and take digital photographs of the past, but last Saturday we did the next best thing. We invited Mercy Ingraham, The Open Hearth Cook to visit us here at Howard Hall Farm. Completely clothed in Federal garb, Mercy Ingraham arrived on the steps of our Federal Home looking like she had just emerged from a Vermeer painting to teach us how to cook on our recently restored historic hearth. *Note the similarity: Wearing Dutch linens and bearing an armload of iron and brass cookware, she lit a roaring fire, and proceeded to charm the hell out of all of us. She is a fascinating and intelligent woman, and one of the most incredible teachers we've ever had here. The workshop was filled with people from vastly differing fields, yet they all had some strange tie to historic buildings, so we all had plenty to talk about. We met a lot of incredible people. Clothed by references to rare films and literature, historic images, and odd chemistry facts (ex: ash+ saliva= lye, which I almost learned the hard way), Mercy gave us a treasure-trove of information....and as far as I'm concerned, it was the very best kind of knowledge: The sort you can eat afterward! ******************************************************************* Among other things, we made and had: Shirley Plantation Mushroom Soup (which was so delicious it was gone before I could take a picture), String Roasted Chicken (Literally: it was roasted by hanging from a string), Southall Cabbage Pudding, Ember-Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Yam Pudding, Dover Cake, and more.... **************************************************************** Mercy just finished her latest book, and signed copies for all of us after the class. For all of you who were here, thank you for making this weekend such a scintillating experience. And Mercy, you are truly a wonder. I can't think of a better way to have brought the light and life back to our hearth. For the first time in probably a century, this house had a blazing, open fire and good company to enjoy it. I hope you'll all come back soon. ******************************************* *********************************************************** If you participated in this workshop, and have pictures, please send them to us! We'd love to add them to our collection... howardhall.farm@gmail.com To view a complete listing of our 2008 classes and workshops: CLICK HERE