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05/18/2017 12:01 AMBushnell Farm will be open to the public on Saturday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the farm’s annual May event at 1455 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. This year the focus will be on the Rites of Spring & Sea Farming. The event is free and open to the public. There is on-site parking at the farm.
There will be sheep shearing at noon with demonstrations of flax processing throughout the day. The Bushnells, who lived at the farm from 1678 until 1874, were weavers. They raised sheep for their wool and grew flax for making linen. The original Loom House, one of eight buildings on the 22-acre farm site, will be open with demonstrations.
Valley–shore farmers, like the Native Americans before them, counted on fin-fish and shellfish to get them through the year. Throughout the day there will be demonstrations of net-making and rope-making, the latter needed in making nets useful. The farm blacksmith will be at work making tools for gathering shellfish.
Native Americans were sea farmers as well and there will be examples of Indian fishing tools and cooking down in the Grove by the wigwam. The fireplace in the Bushnell House will be live with fish dishes on the hearth.
The Bushnell Farm is family friendly, with no admission and many opportunities to look, ask questions, and try various tasks that made spring a busy time at the farm. For more information, call 860-767-0674.