Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm

MEMBER'S ROOST
Upcoming Events - Membership Renewal - Board Meetings/Rooster's Tale - Miscellaneous

Hi fellow farmhands!

This page is intended to provide information for Members of Quiet Valley between newsletters, etc. If you are not a member and are interested in what that means,
please click here.

Upcoming Events, etc.:

Maple Sugar Day
Saturday, March 13, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wear warm clothes and boots - it's wet and muddy! Park at the gift shop or on the side of the road that goes around the farm (keep to the left at the ticket booth) The sugar house is to the left of the road as you go around the farm, past the parking lot - down in a hollow. Come have a sample of maple syrup on a pancake! There may be eggs, hard-boiled in the sap, and some baked potatoes from the Dutch oven! Come and learn the process of collecting sap and making maple syrup.

Spring Clean Up Day
Saturday, March 20 (rain/snow date March 27)

Help clean up the barnyard, barn, Engel Ed Center, Schoolhouse, wash windows, rake leaves, etc. Jobs for youngsters and oldsters, ladies and gents! Sweep away the winter with friends! Bring your own lunch. Coffee, Tea, Cocoa & Desert will be provided.

BBQ Work Days QV BBQ
Saturday, March 27
8:30am to about 1pm

Time to make the barbeque for our annual Farm Animal Frolic! We need to have 16 gallons of BBQ, several gallons of ice tea and lots of chocolate chip cookies to freeze for May. It's a big job, but many hands make light work so, please plan on coming out at least one of the days to help out. Lunch of our great fresh BBQ, salad and drinks will be provided!

Ice Harvest
We had hoped for a harvest the end of January but the rains and warmer weather washed away the ice. We need several weeks of below freezing. If it happens we will tell you several days ahead.

2/18 update - the ice is now getting thicker. Maybe it will happen in the next week or so!?
2/25 update - another melt this week and now more snow on top of slushy ice! It's not looking good for this year.
3/5 update - two many warm spells - no ice this year!

Hike the Farm !

Hike the perimeter of Quiet Valley at 2pm on Sunday, April 25th. Call the farm at 570-992-6161 to register. This promises to be an interesting, rugged walk, guided by Gary Oiler.

FAF Pie
Calling all bakers!

It's not too early to start baking some scrumptous desserts for Farm Animal Frolic (May 22,23 & 29,30). Start making your favorite goodies that freeze well now. The healthy stuff doesn't sell! Make your best fattening pies, cakes, brownies, whoopie pies, cupcakes and any other great recipes you can think of. The dessert table is one of the most popular spots of Frolic next to the cuddly animals!

FAF hands Lend a hand!

We have a multitude of animal and non-animal jobs available for volunteers of all ages for our Farm Animal Frolic, May 22, 23 & 29, 30. If you have a favorite job, call now before spots begin filling up. The new chairperson is Darlene Repsher. Call her at 421-1634. Check your calendar now and reserve your spot.

ATTENTION - - -
PAST & PRESENT TOUR GUIDES !

~ QV TOUR GUIDE REUNION ~
Saturday, June 19, 2010, 1:00 pm to 9 pm

Reunite with old friends  Reminisce about the good ol’days  Share the farm with your friends & family  Enjoy some of QV’s special goodies & treats  See what’s new on the farm  Take the tour  Enjoy the animals and other fun filled activities for the kids  It’s sure to be lots of fun. Don’t miss it!

For more information, event details, and/or to view photos from the 2005 Reunion, visit the reunion website at www.qvtourguides.com. Or contact Ellen Oiler by way of Quiet Valley at 570-992-6161 or farm@quietvalley.org

Heritage Craft Training Programs

This summer Quiet Valley will be offering 3 heritage craft learning experiences the classes will be held at Quiet Valley using appropriate equipment. Participants will be provided with opportunities to share their experiences at Quiet Valley.

Membership in Quiet Valley is required and period clothing is recommended
Appropriate for adults and teenagers, possibly a teenager with a parent or grandparent
Cost: $50.00 per person for the summer

1. Gardening and Horticulture: The students will learn to prepare soil for gardening, test the nutrients and learn how to apply both organically and inorganically. We will plant various crops and explore methods of weed and insect control. Some plant propagation will be included. Although it is not the proper season, we will demonstrate the method of grafting apple trees and will investigate what is needed to build a successful compost pile.
Group size: 3-6 participants
Dates: Tuesdays-June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27 and August 3
Time: 9-12:30 am
Taught by: Gary Oiler

2. Wool Culture: Wool spinning was an important activity in the homes of early Pennsylvania settlers. The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the pleasures of spinning your own wool. We will learn to card wool, preparing the fibers for spinning, and begin by spinning on a drop spindle, a simple tool and inexpensive way to learn to spin. Drop spindles have been used for thousands of years by many cultures and are still used in many parts of the world today. If interest and time permits we will progress to the walking wheel and finally to a treadle wheel. Equipment will be provided, however, you are encouraged to bring any spinning equipment or cards that you have. If you have wheels that need attention and or parts, bring them along for evaluation.
Group size: 3-6 participants
Dates: Tuesdays -July 13, 20, 27 and August 3
Times: 10:00-12:30 am
Taught by: Sue Oiler

3. Quiet Valley Bake Oven: Join head baker Lou Di Pasquale this summer for four weeks of instruction in the art of baking. Participants will learn to make bread from scratch, use our outdoor brick bake oven, prepare desserts, and cook an entire lunch which they will then enjoy. Classes will be scheduled for 4 weeks, but students will be invited to come and help at the bake oven other days if they are available.
Group size: 3-6 participants
Dates: Saturdays in the summer when the bake oven is in operation and will be held: (to be announced)

Summer 2010 Volunteer Opportunities

Mark your calendars now!! We can use help for all these:

Summer Garden Party - Saturday June 26th - our third annual
Lots of garden and herb lore as well as “how-to” information will be shared. We will once again host a Garden Tea Party.

Music in the Valley - Saturday July 10th - our fourth annual
New this year - Sunday the 12th enjoy learning about music traditions and more. Good old-fashion, traditional music played around the farm. There will be hands-on opportunities and sing-a-longs for the children.

Heritage Craft Day - Saturday August 7th - our fourth annual
A day to watch heritage crafts being demonstrated and an opportunity to try them out for yourself.

Pocono State Crafts Festival - Saturday & Sunday August 28 & 29
Quiet Valley is the host site for this event. There will be no regular tours these days, but lots of fine art and crafts. There is an admission charge for all attendees including Quiet Valley members.

Down on the Farm - - -

Spring/Summer Garden Tenders - Help in this area is always needed especially as we get into the weedier part of the summer!
Junior Volunteer Program - for Quiet Valley members 13 and up. This is a chance to be more involved on the farm in the summer, helping with chores, exploring the history of Quiet Valley, learn about heritage crafts and trades, and about museums and tours. There are a limited number of spots available for responsible young men and women.
Tour Guides - Adults who are interested in learning more about this special opportunity should contact Cheryl Statham or Deb DiPasquale to get further details. You don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy this job!

Summer Highlights - - -

Heritage Craft Demonstrators - If you have a heritage craft skill you are willing to demonstrate during summer tours please contact me to get on the schedule.

Please contact Deb DiPasquale with any questions about these volunteer opportunities or others you may think we need. Remember - Quiet Valley can’t succeed without our wonderful volunteers. You can reach me at deb@quietvalley or 570-992-6161.

corncobs Corncob Dart Help Needed !

Looking for a project for these winter days? Try your hand at making Corncob Darts for us to sell at the Gift Shop. They are extremely popular with the youngsters who visit us on school tours. This can be done at home or at the farm. We provide the needed materials as well as teach you how to make them. Please call the farm at 570-992-6161.

Upcoming Workshops

Please check The Rooster's Tale newsletter and the Web site Workshop Page

Etc.

Harvest Festival Chair Opening - We are looking for a well organized, people oriented person or persons to work with Deb DiPasquale, Marketing and Events Director to coordinate Harvest Festival.

Duties would include but not be limited to:

Leading Harvest Festival Committee meetings
Contacting outside groups that help with HF, ie.: Boy Scouts, EMT's, etc
Prepare newsletter articles
Contact area chairs to help with coordination of each area, ie.: Food, Entertainment, Craft Demonstration
Help recruit volunteers by making personal calls
Help with setup and cleanup
Work with staff and area chairs to order needed supplies
Coordinate and help at preparation work days, ie.: Pie Making, Sausage Patty Making, Apple Peeling

If you have questions or are interested in applying, please contact Debra Seip at 992-6161 or E-mail.

Gifts - Remember you can give Gift Certificates to family and friends for any occasion to the Gift Shop, Gift Memberships or Gift Passes to our Events. Please contact the Office at farm@quietvalley.org or 992-6161 or Jean Lee at jilee@ptd.net Check out our Farm Animal Friends Program - great birthday or holiday gift for kids of all ages!

Donations - Contribute to the future of Quiet Valley by donating to the Endowment Fund. Please make checks payable to Quiet Valley and send to 1000 Turkey Hill Road, Stroudsburg PA 18360.

Board Meetings/Rooster's Tale/Web Site:

Board Meetings
All at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays:
Feb. 10, Apr. 14, Jun 9

Rooster's Tale Newsletter
Mailed 5 times a year. We welcome membership contributions and will include them as space allows.
Send information to: Jean I. Lee, 484 Youngwood Drive, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 or E-mail to jilee@ptd.net
Next Deadlines: Mar. 8, May 10, Jul. 12, Oct. 18
Next Mailing Dates: Apr. 2, Jun., 4, Aug. 13, Nov. 12

Web Site
If you have an article for the good of the members and any articles for the Newsletter, please send a copy to farm@quietvalley.org for inclusion on the Web site.

Miscellaneous:

It pays to shop Weis Markets – make that, “it pays Quiet Valley.” In 2008, Weis Markets, Inc. donated over $540.00 to Quiet Valley because you members turned in your Weis Markets cash register tapes to the farm. So far this year, we have received over $450.00. Please keep turning in your receipts. They very generously donate a percentage of their sales to non-profit organizations such as us. Thanks to you and thanks to Weis Markets!