Dear Members of the Farm,
What would the members like to see
more of here at The Farm?
We welcome members thoughts and
participation as we continue to look for
appropriate, educationally rich and re
-warding ways to enrich our
visitors experience. Send us an
email by using the link at the
top left. Or click here:
http://coggeshallfarmnews.typepad.com/members_voice/
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors
Everyone who was able to visit
for Sheep Shearing got to see
Luis using the 'stanchion' to
hold the sheep steady as op
-posed to 'shearing in the
round' as was done in previous
years.
"This way is really a lot
more comfortable for the
sheep because they can
breath better then if they
were laying on their side"
said Luis Mendes (a long
time friend of The Farm
and dedicated volunteer)
as he demonstrated with
18th century style shears.
'Shears' then were typically
hand forged from one
continous 'ribbon' of metal.
Both 'blades' are connected
in form by a section of a circle at
one end which creates a spring
action return after the cutting
motion is complete and the hand
is relaxed...The design works
so well it can hardly be
improved upon!
photo: lauren lake
If you're interested in participating
in the eagerly awaited Harvest
Fair which takes place in Septem
-ber please contact Board Member
JOYCE BARTON at 401 253-5863 :)
As the restoration continues we owe a special
thanks to the WONDERFUL WORK thus far by Patty
Frye, Justine Squizzero, David Goglia, Kate (for
their hard, knowledgeable and painstaking labor)
and Mike Waters (for donating horse hair
for the plaster).
Much still needs to be accomplished but they have
certainly gotten off to a wonderful start...I deeply
regret though that they did not receive any
mention in last weeks Bristol Phoenix as without
them the work would not have been done!
The Farm (and all it's members!) has really benefit
-ted by Patty Frye's previous experience in Historic
Restoration in Newport as well as Justine's know
-ledge of excellent sources for historic hardware
and the like.
It must also be noted that the Boards activities
during this and the last administration (over
the past two years) which then included Ann
Schroth and Anne Kellerman- as well as a
very generous anonymous donation and
state grant money - has allowed this very
desperately needed restoration to begin.
Also I'd like to include sadly that Linda Rhynard
- who has worked tirelessly this past year as both
President and Treasurer (and for many years pre
-viously as a exemplary volunteer, spinner and
knitter) has had to step down in her board capa
-city due to increasing and demanding work re
-sponsibilities and travel. Her work at and for
The Farm has been selfless, constant and for
genuine love of 'place' and an all but forgotten
way of life that The Farm exists to show us.
She has given much to The Farm and words
cannot adequately express our thanks.
We hope to continue to enjoy her presence as a
passionate volunteer as her schedule permits.
Sincerely,
Lauren Lake
President,
Coggeshall Farm Museum
Sheep Shearing to Happen (rain date)
Sunday, May 28, 2006 -
10:00am - 5:00pm
Come see the Sheep Loose the
Winter Coat!!
The Next Meeting will take place at The Coffee Depot in Warren, 501 Main St., on June 19, 6:30pm!
We're awaiting the confirmation of several speakers for our upcoming
Lecture Series.
Welcome Friends of Coggeshall Farm!,
This 'Blog' is the 2nd attempt at getting
an operational, informative and interactive 'site'
for Board Members, Members, Volunteers and
Friends of the Coggeshall Farm.
The site I put together last year was fashioned
using a very cumbersome and counter-intuitive
software that made fast updating a distant dream.
It was probably a blessing in disguise then that
a major computer crash and shortage of time left
that site in a state of dis-use. My thinking had been
that since it was cheap and 'basic' to use
we could all take turns maintaining it since we are
almost a completely volunteer organization.
The opposite ended up being the case because it
was in a word, 'wanky' to use and caused me
more frustration that it remedied.
Hopefully this will be a better solution (for all of us
upon whom the Farms continued success depends).
Sincerely,
Lauren Lake
President
Coggeshall Farm Museum
