A Visit To Ross Farm

      On May 1st, we drove to Ross Farn, about an hour away from home. Ross Farm is a part of the Nova Scotia Museum system, and is a wonderful place to visit. Here is the website
                                  http://rossfarm.museum.gov.ns.ca/

This farm was settled in 1816 by Captain William Ross, who was asked to settle this area, along with other disbanded soldiers, who were given land for their service. The settlement was called Sherbrooke, but is now New Ross.

Five generations of the Ross family have lived and worked this farm, from 1816 until 1969, when the New Ross District Museum bought the property, and turned it in to a museum.

It is a working farm to this day, open year round, and visitors are treated to a life-style far removed from present day. The interpreters are dressed in period costume, and work on the farm as it was done in the 1800s.

I have been there several times over the years, and have always found it an interesting place. As it says on the farm brochure, "Every day is Special", and indeed, this is true. I have only been there in the warmer months, but they hold various activity weekends throughout the winter. There are lots of hands on things for visitors to do, and many school classes take advantage of this.

On the farm, there are heritage breeds of animals, that would have been common when the area was settled.

There are not many black sheep born, usually they are white.

This little one's special. I should have written down the breed to be sure

but I think they are Cotswold. Their wool is very long.

Not a heritage breed, but very friendly.

No working farm should be without one.

This fellow was strutting his stuff

I had a great long chat with these fine feathered friend.

Actually, they did most of the chatting (read honking)

Horse team and wagon, with driver Andrew.

Had a great talk with him, as he explained how different things

were done, and what work was accomplished in the winter months.

It was the first day out for the team, and the younger horse, (on the left), was feeling

quite spritely. Andrew figured he'd settle down a bit after lunch.

 

A wagon ride through the woods down by the lake.

Very nice.

This is Rose Bank Cottage and was lived in

by the Ross family and descendants from 1817 - 1969

The summer kitchen

At Rose Bank Cottage we were invited to have a cup of tea and

a delicious piece of molasses cake baked in the summer kitchen

stove oven by Vanessa.  A pleasant surprise.

Vanessa shared a lot of information with us as well.

This is the store where folks would have purchased or perhaps

traded for needed supplies. Definitely not a Walmart.

One of the rooms in the house, probably the parlour

This is the workshop that stands beside the store where we were given

a lot of information about the wood used to make the various things, and how they were made.

Aubrey was the interpreter on hand to share his knowledge.

 

 

            The oxen were not out that day, but they would soon be out and working on the land.

 

This is a picture taken a couple of years ago.

 

A great day with friendly people and lots to learn about our Nova Scotia

Heritage. A living museum.

I know I'll be going back.

 

Have a great day.