Heritage Farm Museum

03/03/2021

Happy Women's History Month! Did you know that according to the USDA 2017 Census, Loudoun had 961 female farmers, comprising 44% of all the producers? We are going to highlight women farmers in Loudoun County this month on Wednesdays.

Today, we are highlighting Casey Wisch of @longstonefarmva
Watch this video of Casey filmed by @visitloudoun. https://youtu.be/-VhZQaP_jJs
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #visitloudoun #womenshistorymonth #womenshistorymonth2021 #womenfarmers #womenfarmer #womanfarmer

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03/02/2021

Ensure the future of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum with your gift during Give Choose 2021! Early giving starts today!
https://www.givechoose.org/lhfm
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #givechoose #givechoose2021 #givechooseloudoun #givingtuesday2021

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03/01/2021

Happy National Pig Day! Enjoy some local pork from Loudoun Growers.
https://loudounfarms.org/local-meat-poultry/pork/
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02/27/2021

Life in Colonial Lanesville is happening right now! We have costumed interpreters, blacksmith demonstrations, woodworking demonstrations and the Workhorse Collection is open. Come on out for our free program. We are here until 3pm!

#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #piedmontheritagearea #claudemoorepark

02/26/2021

Mark your calendars! The Give Choose 2021 campaign will be held Tuesday, March 16th (early giving starts March 2nd). Join us for 24 hours raising funds for nonprofits that serve our local community. Will you be supporting the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum this year? Your gift to Give Choose, no matter the size, will help the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum provide educational programs and other activities for our community
https://www.givechoose.org/lhfm
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #givechoose #givechoose2021 #givechooseloudoun #givingtuesday2021

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/24/2021

Many Black communities in Loudoun County have been lost to development but the western villages of Howardsville, St. Louis, and Willisville remain as testaments to their founders' strength and commitment. Howardsville was established after the Civil War when Jacob Howard and Andrew Cosberry purchased a 4-acre parcel in 1874 from the man who had once enslaved Jacob. The village is located near Upperville. Elzey Valentine and Charles and Squire Robinson bought land several miles away, closer to Middleburg, and the community that came to be known as St. Louis was established. In-between the two is Willisville, a mixed community of free and enslaved Black people that existed before the War. Henson Willis, who was free, probably lived in a small log house that still exists today. Many founders of these villages had been enslaved on nearby plantations. They created new lives in freedom with hopes and dreams of land ownership, education for their children, and a place of their own to worship.

The three communities are featured in new interpretive panels as part of the "A Connection to the Land" exhibit at the Heritage Farm Museum. The panels were funded by a grant from the Clarence L. Robey Charitable Trust.
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02/22/2021

Our new session of the After School History Explorers Program starts next Monday! Don't miss out on out 9 week program where one parent called it "a literal godsend. Homeschoolers and public school kids both benefit." You can sign up for 1 week, several weeks, or all 9 weeks as your schedule allows.
https://heritagefarmmuseum.org/history-explorers
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory
#loudounhomeschool #vahomeschoolers #piedmontheritagearea #piedmontheritage #claudemoorepark

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/20/2021

FFA, formerly known as "Future Farmers of America" was founded in 1928 by a young farmer’s group. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population.

They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting-- it's a science, it's a business and it's an art. FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. So today, they are still the Future Farmers of America. But, they are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs too.

Congress mandated FFA in 1950 to be an integral part of Career and Technical Education. FFA is a required part of the coursework and competencies of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources department in the state education system of Virginia. The Academies of Loudoun Chapter was formed in 1977.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory #ffaweek

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/17/2021

Slavery and Agriculture: Hard Labor, No Freedom, and No Financial Gain

In the 1860 Federal Census, taken the year before the start of our country’s Civil War, there were 21,774 people living in Loudoun County. 15,000 were White; 1,252 were free Black people; and 5,501 were enslaved Blacks. Most people held in bondage were laboring on farms or connected in some way to agriculture. They worked in the fields, planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops on farms both large and small. They cared for the animals, slaughtered hogs, cattle, and sheep, and smoked and preserved the meat.

Although there were ups and downs over the years, overall Loudoun’s agricultural economy was strong. Much of that success was due to the hard labor of thousands of African Americans held in bondage. They worked on farms where they had no freedom and from which they received no financial benefit.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2021 #africanamericanfarmers #blackhistoryfacts #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #africanamericanhistory

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/15/2021

Happy President's Day! Did you know that a President lived in Loudoun County? James Monroe had a house on Route 15. If you missed our previous blog, check it out.
https://heritagefarmmuseum.org/blog
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory#farmhistory #agriculturehistory

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/14/2021

Happy COW-entine's Day to MOO!
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/12/2021

According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2017 Farm Census, Loudoun County has 121,932 acres of land being used for farming. Did you know that 195 of those acres are farmed by Asians? Loudoun is number one in Virginia for farmers who are women, Latino, Hispanic, and Asian!
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/10/2021

There were 80 blacksmiths in Loudoun County in 1850, according to the Federal Census, 7 of whom were Black or Mulatto. That number stayed relatively constant in 1860 but changed significantly in 1870, the first census in which formerly enslaved people were recorded. Out of 90 blacksmiths identified in Loudoun, 25 were Black or Mulatto. The increased number of Black and Mulatto blacksmiths in the 1800s implies many of these men had labored in the trade while they were enslaved. During the time of slavery, some enslaved Black men were taught the blacksmithing trade to produce tools and parts needed on the plantation. After Emancipation, they could charge for their skilled labor, something they were not able to do when they had been held in bondage.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory #blacksmithing
#africanamericanfarmers #blackhistoryfacts #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #africanamericanhistory #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2021

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/09/2021

The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum will be one of the nonprofits who you can choose to donate to during the 24 hour day of giving. A little as $10 would benefit.

#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #GiveChoose

Mark your calendars! Give Choose 2021 is Tuesday March 16th. Join us in 24 hours of giving to benefit local charities serving our community. Who do you plan to support this year?

02/08/2021

Check out our website for a variety of programs that you can register for now including our cursive class, After School History Explorers Program, Historic Encounters Day, Dirt Day, and Bunny Bonanza. You can also register for our appointment only daily programs in the museum.
https://heritagefarmmuseum.org

#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/05/2021

Happy Black History Month! Check back on Wednesdays when we will feature some posts about blacksmiths, slavery and agriculture, and a few African American Communities in Loudoun.

This was a milking stool that was used on the Edds Family Farm, Pidgeon Hill, that was most likely the largest African American dairy farm in Loudoun County. Most of the land is now what we know as the community of Countryside.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory
#farmhistory #agriculturehistory #africanamericanfarmers #blackhistoryfacts #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #africanamericanhistory #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2021

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

02/03/2021

Bazil Newman was a remarkable man who lived during a time when few opportunities were available to African Americans, even if they were free. Born in 1779, it is not known if Bazil was born free or emancipated later.

Bazil was a farmer and successful businessman who owned land along Goose Creek south of Leesburg in what are now the communities of River Creek and Lansdowne. He operated Edwards Ferry at the intersection of Goose Creek and the Potomac River and owned a warehouse on the west side of the creek. He might have been a part of the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people on their journey to freedom by ferrying them across the river.

#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory #blackhistorymonth2021 #blackhistorymonth #edwardsferry

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

01/30/2021

National Seed Swap Day reminds us that spring is on its way. It’s also an ideal time for gardeners to gather and swap seeds in preparation starting seeds indoor.

The seed swap is a fundamental part of human history. Seeds were one of the first commodities valued and traded. Today, modern gardeners collect and exchange seeds for many reasons ranging from cultivating rare, heirloom varieties to basic thrift. The exchange of seeds perpetuates biodiversity.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #farmhistory #agriculturehistory #seedswapday

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

01/29/2021

Spots still available - weekly cursive class starts on Tuesday! You don't want to miss out. The kids who took it during our last session had a blast and couldn't wait to come each week. Register today at https://heritagefarmmuseum.org/cursive
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #cursive #cursivewriting #cursivehandwriting #cursiveletters #loudounhomeschool #vahomeschoolers

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01/27/2021

Not all farm work is done in the fields. Farms are a business and winter is the perfect time for catching up on bookkeeping and gathering all the necessary documentation for tax preparation.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory
#winterfarming #agriculturelife #winterplanning

01/23/2021

It's National Handwriting Day and so rather than quickly type out and email or text, slow down and put pen to paper and write your friend a letter or practice your cursive and calligraphy. Teach your child cursive or better yet, enroll them in our Penmanship and Paper class starting in February and have us teach cursive. This photo is from our last session when the kids were outside practicing their cursive.
https://heritagefarmmuseum.org/cursive
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #cursive #cursivewriting #cursivehandwriting #cursiveletters #nationalhandwritingday

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

01/22/2021

Watch a video about our temporary exhibit on the Waxpool General Store at the Thomas Balch Library. This is a photo of the store before it came to the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum.
https://youtu.be/Of_ese2b-Vk
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory #generalstore

#reston #restonva #restonvirginia #sterlingva #sterlingvirginia #ashburn #ashburnvirginia #ashburnva #ashburnmoms #leesburg #leesburgva #leesburgvirginia #dullesmoms #southriding #southridingva

01/20/2021

In the winter, farmers attend farm conferences to learn about the agricultural industry, farming innovations, network with other farmers. This particular winter many of the farm conferences have gone virtual.
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#loudounheritagefarmmuseum #loudounfarms #loveloudoun #loveloudounhistory
#winterfarming #agriculturelife #farmconference