The Pawling Farm is part of Valley Forge National Historical Park and sits on the Perkiomen Peninsula, which is created by a bend in the Schuylkill River near its confluence with the Perkiomen Creek. This area played a critical role in the winter encampment of George Washington’s troops in 1777-78. It was a strategically important avenue of approach from the north to the encampment on the south side of the river and also served as the site of a commissary function that saved the troops from starvation. The National Park Service brochure on the area can be found here.
Currently the property’s main buildings include an old barn, a small home (which currently appears to be in use), a privy building, and the remains of the old mansion. The mansion was lost to fire in 1967 and is now a ruin. There are hiking trails which connect to the rest of the Valley Forge system and a mix of habitats including meadow, forest, wetlands, and vernal ponds.
The old barn is an impressive structure.A view of the house and barn. You can see here that the barn is a bank barn like the one in Sugartown in my previous post. The house that remains on the property, apparently the only building still in use.The area immediately around the buildings is meadow which is cut for hay.More hay bales, just because I like hay bales.According to my research, this building was used as a privy.The privy with the remains of another building behind it.
Here are some overview shots and other views of the farm.
Adrossan Farms and the Ardrossan Estate were once part of a 800 plus acre estate in Radnor Township, Delaware County. The estate was built by banker Robert Leaming Montgomery and features 50 room Georgian revival mansion designed by architect Horace Trombauer in 1911. Parts of Ardrossan have been subdivided over the years, and now the bulk of the estate is in the process of succumbing to this fate. The play and film The Philadelphia Story was inspired by the stories of the Montgomerys.
Part of the estate was, and still is for now, a working farm with cattle and hay and corn fields. The farm was also was set this section of Radnor Township apart from surrounding suburbia. It made travel along Darby Paoli Road a treat, rather than a chore.
One of the barns on the property.Still harvesting hay.“Progress”Afternoon light on harvested hay.A woodpile left to dry.A pair of redtail hawks enjoys the view.A small shed nestled against the woods.Very traditional looking farm equipment.Corn not yet harvested in November.Cattle call along Darby Paoli Road.Grazing peacefully.Sunset glow on the cattle.This is a beautiful little pond.
Pennsylvania’s first ever Farm Bill was recently signed into law and provides $24 million in funds to support the agricultural industry. It is designed to increase opportunities in areas such as dairy, hemp and organics and remove barriers for young farmers’ entry into the profession. The bill also decreases some regulatory burdens on farmers.
The bill is comprehensive, so I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of the areas that might be of most interest or immediately helpful. Here are some of the most interesting parts of the bill:
Funding for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Business Development Center to serve as a resource to help farmers create a business plan, transition plan, or succession plan.
A realty transfer tax exemption for any transfer of preserved farmland to a qualified beginning farmer will be available.
Funding for the dairy industry in the form of research and development, organic transition assistance, value-added processing, and marketing grants.
Center for Animal Agriculture Excellence funding to support the animal agriculture industry by expanding processing capacity, technical assistance, providing resources for food safety compliance, and assisting with the establishment of hemp as an approved animal feed.
A program to reimburse federal meat inspection costs and subsidize the first-time purchase of equipment needed for federal compliance to access to new and expanded markets for small or new producers will be established.
Agriculture linked investment program to re-establish this low interest loan program for the implementation of best management practices.
Resource enhancement and protection tax credits to increase the lifetime cap and increase availability.
Expansion of the allowable width for the use of implements of husbandry on roads, such as farm tractors and combines, from 16 feet to 18 feet.
Farm Bill amends the Ag Area Security Act to allow for subdivision of preserved farms.
Funding for agricultural and youth organizations.
Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account to allow for a quick response to agricultural disasters, including utilizing animal or plant health officials to contain an outbreak or threat, or providing an immediate response to a food borne illness.
Increasing market opportunities through funding of the PA Preferred Organic Initiative to make Pennsylvania the nation’s leading organic state, the PA Preferred Program to support the overall program and to bolster enrollment in the Homegrown by Heroes Program, and the State-level Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to invest in and encourage farming of high-priority horticultural crops like hemp, hops, and hardwoods.
There is a lot to take in with this bill, and we will see what the future brings in terms of implementation. In the meantime, more information can be found here:
I had promised my cousin that we would take a camping trip to Codorus State Park in Hanover, Pennsylvania over the July Fourth holiday. I decided to stick with the plans despite a weather forecast calling for high heat and humidity with the added bonus of regular thunderstorms popping up. I went back and forth between calling this post “The Camping Trip from Hell” and “Silver Linings.” Ultimately, I couldn’t decide if it was good or bad.
I’m more of a fair weather camping kind of girl, I don’t mind a little rain, as long as I can set up when it ‘s not raining and everything has a chance to dry before I pack up. I was frustrated because all my trips last year were affected by rain, despite being out only 1-2 nights each time. I didn’t get my wish for fair weather on this trip. Everything was wet and/or dirty prior to departure. Pennsylvania is getting record rain, and it kind of stinks. At least the corn is high.
The park itself did not disappoint. I went primarily to see if I could get a glimpse of the newly fledged bald eagles that hatched in an oak tree above Lake Marburg this Spring. They are quite the web cam stars. I did not see the fledglings, but I did get my first look at the parents in flight, having only previously seen them in the nest or resting in a nearby tree. The weather prevented much else in the way of activity.
Nonetheless, it was not a complete loss. On the way to Hanover, I stopped briefly at Samuel S. Lewis State Park. It looks like a great place for a picnic and has a nice scenic view of the Susquehanna valley. The website also recommends kite flying and sledding, and it seems really well suited for those activities.
The flag was still trying to fly proudly on the 4th despite the hot and damp weather.Here’s the view toward the river.
I arrived at Codorus and immediately started to set up camp.
Here is a look at lovely Lake Marburg,
From the band shell area.
On the way home, via Lake Redman, I made a few stops. The first was to photograph this hay field that was harvested just the day before.
Newly harvested hay.
I also took a few pictures of some of the lovely farms of southern York County.
Although it seems that fall color was late to arrive and short lived, Valley Forge National Historical Park has non the less supplied some nice views. Here is a sampling from a recent visit.
Knox Covered Bridge, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County.
Another view of the Knox Covered Bridge.
View of General Knox’s Quarters from the Philander C. Knox Estate.
Recently baled hay near the Knox estate.
Historic pony truss bridge on Wilson Road over Valley Creek.
Lafayette’s Headquarters, later used as a farmhouse and inn. Interesting to see three sections from different time periods.
View of the hillside from the model airplane field at Valley Forge.
It looks like the much delayed Autumn color has finally arrived to Chester County this year. I just hope the season isn’t brief. Here is a sample of some of this year’s color.
A corn field seems to be on fire in Glenmoore.
It looks like this is what was growing on those stumps in the previous picture. This and another tree were next in line with the stumps but had not yet been cut.
A beautiful farm in Coventryville. I always love the star on the barn.
Another radiant fall cornfield and treetops.
Scotts Run in French Creek State Park. It’s apparently a red and orange free zone.
Although Columbia County likes to tout their 23 covered bridges, it has much to offer the visitor.
The countryside near the Creasyville covered bridge. Note the pumpkins on the hillside.
Merry October. Christmas trees “on the hoof.”
This clever sculpture immediately caught my eye.
Cattle grazing near my family’s farm.
The side entrance to my grandparent’s old farmhouse. This is door people used most often.
The graveyard down the road from the house my grandparents built after they sold the farm. It’s small patch surrounded by fields. No church in sight. My brother, cousin and I used to walk up here often as kids.
