03/27/2010 20:04 Filed in:
volunteering | LucyThis afternoon Brea, Beth, and I volunteered in the woods of Stonewall farm. Our job at this year’s annual Sap Gathering was to refill buckets after a team of horses, driver, and helpers had emptied them. It was a nice change from the parking job I did last year because I now have a better understanding of what the contest is all about.
In the olden days sap gathering was done by horse and man together. Now the gatherer uses a motorized vehicle with horsepower to retrieve the sap. Stonewall Farm is known by some throughout New England to be host of the event in which keeps the old tradition alive.
Each team has a driver who directs the two horses through the course, and two helpers who empty the buckets from the trees into their buckets and then dump them into the big container lying on the sleigh. The rules are quite simple. Each team has to get through the woods collecting the contents of the buckets. They are trying to collect as much as possible in the least amount of time. However they cannot rush too fast because there are many ways they can be docked points. If the helpers forget to empty a bucket, put a bucket back on the tree, or forget to replace the lid they are docked.
Beth, Brea, and I were there to refill the buckets and survey them as they passed. We couldn’t point out any buckets they missed or forgot to put back properly. We were merely there to catch any mistakes they made and then get ready for the next team to dump our buckets out again.
It was fun to see the men and women run back and forth between the trees and their containers emptying the buckets. Some teams were very quiet and concentrated while others were loud and yelling instructions to each other as they went. The three hours we were there passed quickly because it was so much fun. The shortest time a team made, I believe, was around 11:04. Next year I hope to be a bucket filler again, because on the course is where the all action is.
Tags: Stonewall Farm
08/01/2009 20:00 Filed in:
volunteering | MinaOn Sunday, July 19th, we volunteered at an event called the National Ice Cream Day at our very own Stonewall Farm. Although the event was called N.I.C.D., there was no activity or anything (besides the ice cream stand that’s always there) pertaining ice cream. The farm, however, did a great job of using the day to attract customers (They also advertised this event on the local radio!). There were a lot of parents with their kids that came to visit and they seemed like they were enjoying the beautiful day as much as we were. So if there were not many activities to do, what did we end up doing? As volunteers, we cruised around the farm giving out chicken and sheep feed to the visitors, worked hard under the blazing sun to scoop dripping deliciousness onto cones or dishes (sometimes we had to use both since it was such a brilliant day out and the ice cream was kind of no longer solid), take a few bucks from the citizens, and finally become consumers of melted ice cream soup (Hey, why let the remnants of heavenly and locally made dairy products go to waste?). All in all, it was a good time, and I must say that I feel bad for the people who missed out, I’m sure they would have enjoyed it a great deal. Tags: Stonewall Farm
05/13/2009 19:16 Filed in:
volunteering | LucyGiving back to the community is a big part of Green Keene Teens and what we stand for. We are regularly volunteering at Stonewall Farm in Keene. Each of our volunteers usually spends about two hours working.
Last Saturday, May 9th, Alishia, Lily, Carolynn and I went to volunteer at Stonewall farm. This was our second (non-event) volunteering as Green Keene Teens. We prepared the garden for Stonewall’s art auction that evening, raked, and stacked wood.
The first Saturday Green Keene Teens volunteered was April 11th. The three girls that joined me on that day were Olivia, Jackie, and Laura. On that occasion we raked huge piles of leaves and brought them to the compost.
By volunteering we not only want to benefit ourselves but also help others. We give back for what we take. Helping others is not only good karma but it is good way to connect with the people who give and receive the help.
Tags: Stonewall Farm
04/04/2009 19:47 Filed in:
volunteering | LucyGreen Keene Teens volunteered at Stonewall Farm March 28th, for their Sap Gathering event. All twelve of our members volunteered! 
(Allie & Brea)
(Mina & Lucy & Beth)
We directed cars to the parking areas, from 8:50 to 2:00. A few of us were bucket fillers, from 12:00 to 4:00. There were hundreds of people at the event, and we were happy to be able to help out.
Tags: Stonewall Farm
