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Harvest Day at Shirley Plantation
"From Dirt to Dishes" |
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For centuries harvest time on a Virginia plantation meant weeks of hard work followed by days of celebration. The 21st century is no different at Shirley. Saturday, November 17, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., step into the past and learn first hand how the planters, the slaves and the servants planned ahead for the winter months during a time without grocery stores, convenience stores, refrigerators and freezers. Learn how they preserved a variety of foods and the roles of the plantation master, mistress, slaves, and servants during the harvest. Discover the important function Shirley’s nine original Colonial outbuildings played in preparing and storing food for the harsh winter months.
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Harvest Day will be chock-full of activities, food, costumed interpreters, demonstrations, and guided tours throughout the day. Harvest Tours will include costumed interpretation around the grounds with historian Farmer Frank telling the story of how foods transitioned from “the dirt to the dishes.” Felix Simmons, a costumed cooper from Williamsburg, will be hand crafting barrels, buckets, and other items for food storage and preservation while sharing stories from slaves. Have an old barrel or wooden bucket that needs mending? Bring it to Felix on November 17 and have it repaired at no charge! Costumed interpretation will also include Paul Fritz from Charlottesville demonstrating the art of blacksmithing. Costumed interpreter Carrie MacDougal from Williamsburg will be spinning wheels in the spin zone turning wool into thread. Find out how these two crafts were vital to food preservation. Worked up an appetite? From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. lunch can be purchased on site. Hot dogs, fried fish, hamburgers, fries, chips, snacks, and drinks can be purchased. All proceeds from food sales will benefit the St. John’s Baptist Church in Charles City. St. John’s Church was lost to fire on February 9, 2004. Visitors can wind up their visit at Shirley’s redecorated gift shop where they can purchase fine dining and entertaining wares and educational children’s toys. Cross-stitch and seashell art, blue Canton-ware, old-time games and toys, holiday gifts, and a variety of unique historic merchandise await wanderers from the forecourt. The Hill Carter family continues to own and operate Shirley Plantation as America’s oldest family-owned business since 1638; their business is agriculture. Regular admission to the house and grounds is $10.50 for adults and $7.00 for youth. Discounts are available for AAA members, military, and seniors. No additional fee for the activities, tours, and demonstrations. Food must be purchased separately. Shirley is located on Scenic Route 5, just 10 miles east of Richmond and 35 miles west of Williamsburg/Jamestown. For more information call 1-800-232-1613. |
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| Click on image to download flyer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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© 2007 Shirley Plantation. All rights reserved. Website: First Graphics, Inc.