On a farm, autumn is the time of harvest, a culmination of the year’s hard field work and a period of preparation for the cold months ahead. Visit Kline Creek Farm, an 1890s living-history farm in West Chicago, to lend a hand during “Corn Harvest” on Oct. 9 – 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Help with the real farm work of harvesting and storing corn that will feed the farm’s cows and sheep this winter. Use authentic techniques of the era to try shocking, or stacking bundles of corn to let them dry; shucking, or removing the ears of corn from the stalks; shelling, or removing the corn kernels from the cob; and storing the corn in the corn crib.
As was typical of the era, staff and volunteer farmers will work through the day, pausing only for a noon meal prepared at the farmhouse and brought to the field. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic lunches to join in this afternoon respite.
The farm has several acres of corn, so there is room for many hands to share in the work. Groups are welcome. Activities are ongoing and take place outdoors, so dress for the weather. Work gloves are recommended. Registration is not required to attend this free program.
Kline Creek Farm is owned and operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. It is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday and is located at 1N600 County Farm Road. Admission to the farm is free. For information on programs and events, call the farm at 630-876-5900.
For information on the Forest Preserve District, call 630-933-7200, or visit dupageforest.org.
Media Contacts: Sue Clark, Kline Creek Farm, 630-876-5900
Bonnie Olszewski, Office of Public Affairs, 630-871-6402
News Release Date: Sept. 20, 2010