On Sunday, April 22, 2018, we continued our exploration of all things Shelburne. Along the eastern shore of Lake Champlain lies the once formidable estate of William Seward Webb and Lila Osgood Vanderbilt Webb. From 1886 to 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Webb bought 32 farms on Shelburne Point to create a 3,800-acre model agricultural estate. Here we are about to begin our journey back in in time to tour their estate.
We began on the Farm Trail of Shelburne Farms. The Farm Trail led us from the Visitor's Center to the Farm Barn. This five-story barn complex was constructed in the late 1880's as headquarters for the model agricultural farm. Our first view of it was dramatic:
Prominent architect Robert H. Robertson designed The Farm Barn.
The center point is the five-story clock tower.
Before continuing on our hike we stopped at the "O Bread Bakery" in the Farm Barn and purchased some farm fresh bread, cookies and croissants. We also stopped and said a quick hello to some of the residents of the Children's Farmyard Area.
A favorite activity among the younger set is "chase the chickens."
All along our trail, we discovered the split drum sculptures of Jerry Geier. Jerry sculpts ordinary common place people with such depth that the works become expressions of joy and kindness.
Lone Tree Hill is the Farm's highest point. We climbed up to the top to get the great views. Below, Dave looks out over Lake Champlain toward the Adirondack Mountains. The stone bench is a memorial to Derick V. Webb, who donated Shelburne Farms' land and buildings to the nonprofit Shelburne Farms in 1984.
From our perch high above the lake, we looked down upon the Shelburne Inn. The Inn has 24-rooms with a farm-to-table restaurant and formal gardens. Built in 1887-1900 as the home of estate founders Lila and W. Seward Webb, it was converted to an inn in 1987 after the nonprofit owner was created.
As we reached the half-way point of our hike, we searched the shores of Lake Champlain for an appropriate lunch spot.
Kathy took a break from rock hounding to enjoy an AMAZING ginger molasses cookie from O Bread Bakery. Our only regret was not buying more!
Back in the day, this must have been the perfect spot for a campfire!
Shelburne Farms's heyday was short-lived. Beginning around 1910, farming operations and other activities began to shrink, and subsequent generations struggled to find a workable future for this singular farm. Shelburne Farms began a rebirth in 1972, when family descendants founded a nonprofit organization of the same name, dedicated to conservation education.
For 40 years, the organization has offered educational opportunities for children of all ages to learn about sustainability and their connections to the natural and agricultural world. As steward of the property, the nonprofit has placed much of the land under conservation easements, and preserved and rehabilitated the buildings to new uses. In 2001 the property became a National Historic Landmark.
We took one last look at Lake Champlain before starting back to Welcome Center:
As we looked up at the Inn, we could see the weather vane pointing at the moon!
The melting snow has created a virtual inland sea complete with sea gulls!
Since 1952, Shelburne Farms has maintained a dairy herd of puerbread Brown Swiss cows. This breed of cow has second-highest annual milk yield of any breed. The milk contains, on average, 4% butterfat and 3.5% protein, making their milk excellent for production of cheese. Shelburne Farms has won a number of awards for their farmhouse cheddar cheese. How now brown cows!
Just before heading down to the Welcome Center, we took one last look back at the Inn with the Adirondacks in the background:
Ahead of us lay the Green Mountains:
We finished our tour by watching a video on the history of farm.
No trip to Shelburne Farm would be complete without a visit to the gift shop. With our arms full of maple syrup, preserves and Vermont Cheddar Cheese, we happily returned to camp. And so ends another adventure.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.