Last week the William Harris Homestead participated in Lettuce Cook! A Garden to Table Summer Camp. The camp took place at the Field Garden and the Ag Center for most of the week and the William Harris Homestead on Thursday. While at the Homestead, campers learned about early food preservation and agriculture practices of the nineteenth century. The campers also learned about bees and beekeeping from Bold Springs Apiary and went on an herb walk led by Anne-Marie Bilella of Bella Vista Farm. The day was rounded out with crafts! Campers made a rosemary infused vingarette with rosemary from the Homestead’s herb garden, corn husk dolls, and kindness rocks.

Check out the Walton Wellness Instagram page for more information and pictures from Lettuce Cook! 
https://waltonwellness.org/

The Colonial Dames of America Georgia Piedmont Chapter XXXIII held one of their monthly meetings earlier in June at the William Harris Homestead. The Colonial Dames of America Georgia Piedmont Chapter XXXIII are huge supporters of the William Harris Homestead, and even adopted the Homestead as their chapter’s philanthropy project. The Colonial Dames are responsible for many of our interpretative signage, including the smokehouse and entrance signs.

We love The Colonial Dames Georgia Piedmont Chapter XXIII! 

Join us at the William Harris Homestead on Saturday, May 4, 2019 for Primitive Skills Day! Come watch, learn, and experience the way people used to live hundreds of years ago. Primitive Skills Day will be lead by Andrew Minnick of Authentic Primitive Living.

Activities will include lessons on Stone Age tools, friction fire demonstrations, an edible plant walk, and much more! The day will be rounded out by atlatl throwing demonstrations and the William Harris Homestead signature hayride. Experience the Homestead’s first Primitive Skills Day on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
General Admission: $6.00 | Seniors (60+): $5.00 | Children 5 and under: FREE!

The Homestead was excited to be a part of the Walton County Conservation District’s Grazing Field Day on March 28th. The field day covered topics such as grazing management and soil health, and also highlighted programs and services provided by the University of Georgia, the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The William Harris Homestead has been an active farm since 1836, so we know firsthand how important, helpful, and beneficial these topics and programs are. Thank you to the Conservation District for letting us be a part of the Grazing Field Day!

On March 30, the Young Historians of the William Harris Homestead had their first workday of the year! Grant and Mark Tribble (along with their parents) worked hard to cultivate an area for an heirloom dye garden to be planted later this spring. Some time was also spent laying out the path for an interpretive trail/hiking path at the historic site. This trail will be the first of many planned for the William Harris Homestead in the coming years.
To learn more about the group, their goals, and their projects, and to meet the Young Historians, make sure to come visit on April 6, 2019 for Archaeology Day!
If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll be able to spot our newfound warty friend, too! 🐸

The William Harris Homestead, 3636 GA Hwy 11, Monroe, will host “Blacksmith Day” on Saturday, March 16, 2019, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Our resident blacksmith, Doc Watson, will be on site with his apprentices to teach about the history of blacksmithing and demonstrate his skills at the forge and on the anvil. Tomahawk Hank and the Colonial Frontier Life Team will also be on site to teach about frontier skills. Spend the day enjoying hayrides, craft demonstrations, and celebrate spring at the Homestead! General Admission: $6.00 | Seniors (60 years+): $5.00

Gather your holiday spirit and get your taste buds ready…Historic Christmas Food for Thought returns on Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  Experience a Country Christmas at the William Harris Homestead and enjoy Clarissa Clifton, our open-fire pit cooking historian, who will be preparing popular dishes from the nineteenth century using methods, implements, and recipes handed down to her by her ancestors.

Docents, dressed in the style of the day, will also be on hand to talk about customs and traditions of Christmases past. Other highlights include the opportunity to make corn husk dolls or Christmas ornaments using natural supplies from the Harris woods and farm.

Admission is $6.00 and children under five are FREE!

Many thanks to Clare Weaver, Jane Henley and Sherry Abney from the Iris Garden Club in Atlanta for making the log house beautiful and festive for the season.

Miss C, we missed you!

Don’t forget, we are open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 10am to 2pm!

Merry Christmas!