| APRIL 30, 2010 -- The Kelley Farm, located in Elk River, Minnesota, will be hosting a series of workshops and events this May.
May 8th and 9th is annual Baby Animals Weekend at the Kelley Farm. Celebrate the farm's new baby animals on this Mother's Day weekend event. Meet the baby chicks, lambs, calves, kittens and piglets, and go on a horse-drawn trolley ride to explore the farm as it springs to life. Mothers are admitted free when accompanied by a paying child. The cost is $8.00 adults, $6.00 seniors and college students, $5.00 children ages 6-17. Free for children age 5 and under.
On the weekend of May 22nd, the Kelley Farm is hosting two events. May 22 and 23rd is Animal Power Weekend, where spring plowing and planting is in full swing at the Kelley Farm. Help the staff and their oxen, Toby and Coulter, along with the draft horses in completing the spring field work. In the house, help make treats to feed hungry hands, then head outside to the horse drawn trolley for rides along the nature trails. The cost is $8.00 adults, $6.00 seniors and college students, $5.00 children ages 6-17. Free for children age 5 and under.
May 22nd is also the 'Harvests to Remember' Community Garden Planting and Open House, with planting from from 10:00 a.m. to noon; and a garden tour from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The public is invited to help plant part of the Elk River Community Garden. This event is Free to all who wish to attend.
For several months, a group of students and seniors have met to discuss food, gardens and memories while planning and preparing for this new plot. With visitors help, they will transplant and direct seeding the gardens. All produce grown will be donated to the CAER Food shelf. This community service project is produced in partnership with the Great River Regional Library System, University of Minnesota extension division, Minnesota 4-H, the State Grange of Minnesota, Guardian Angels on the Lake Senior Community, Volunteer Bridge and the Oliver Kelley Farm.
This event will be held at the Elk River Community Garden, 13337 Business Center Drive, Elk River (next to the YMCA). It is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Oliver H. Kelley and his wife Lucy began farming the land on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1850. Kelley was the founder of the first successful national farming organization, the Patrons of Husbandry, better known as the Grange. The Kelley Farm is recognized as "The birthplace of organized agriculture in America."
The working 1860's farm is located at 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., 2.5 miles southeast of downtown Elk River on U.S. Hwy. 10. It is a National Historic Landmark operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. For more information, or to make reservations for the workshops, call 763-441-6896.
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