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14118 Peach Rd, Plymouth, IN 46563 |
Phone: 574-936-9262 |
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About Us |
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All our family, in-laws and out-laws want to know just when we went around the bend. Most of all they are worried that it's catching. The only ones that understand are our grandchildren so we thought we would put our story in the form of a fairy tale that has come true. So everybody listen closely now.
Once upon a time about ten years ago, Sue became a Purdue University Master Gardener in Lake County. Indiana. Her love for heirloom plants both ornamental and edible, led her to Buckley Homestead Living History Farm in Lowell, IN., which has an 1850's Homestead cabin and also a complete early 1900's dairy farm. There she happily volunteered in the gardens. It wasn't very long before she was asked to join the staff as an historic interpreter. At that time at the urging of her loving husband she applied for, and was accepted, for the Thomas Jefferson Institute of Historic Landscape, held at the University of Virginia. In the next two years , with John's love of history, she got him to," come out", to Buckley and help with a couple of programs. (she now has the hook set) Over time, Sue realized while she knew how to interpret "gardening", she did not know anything about "horse farming". The "quest" was on! Four days and three nights of intensive hands-on training with veteran draft horse teamsters at Tiller's International in Michigan was just the thing! From that experience a new quest emerged. It was not simply knowledge but a desire to own and farm with draft horses. At this point I expect all you ladies out there are wondering just how she was going to get this one by her 30 year Railroad husband who just finally had enough seniority to hold a day job with the week ends off. (she now begins to reel him in) After two years of talking, taking him along to conferences where she would take every opportunity to work with draft horses and a little help from the Buckley Park Manager, John succumbed to the same hands-on training. What happened next was beyond anyone's wildest dream, not to mention John himself. One of the teamsters told John he was a natural. Something that he had never heard in his life. John and Sue then joined together to find their own team of horses and their own farm on which to work them. (she now has him safely in the net. Our team of Belgian draft horses, Pete and Joe, were purchased and put to work at Buckley Homestead. We gained confidence and valuable experience from our "gentle giants". John and Sue attended numerous workshops on farming with horses in the following years. Now you would think that the final "quest" of finding a farm would be just a pie in the sky dream. John and Sue had resided in urban settings all their lives never having lived on a farm. But dreams do come true if you believe. One day Sue picked up a homes magazine and read John an ad. The very next day they took a look at the place and made an offer. The ad left out a few details. The farm was surrounded by friendly and helpful neighbors in a warm and friendly community. Childs' Farm was established in 2006, Opened to the public in 2009! Come, Watch Us Grow |
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QUESTIONS E-MAIL US AT info@childsfarm.net |