Marcella and unidentified boy with new springtime foal. Image: Schumacher Archives
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Springtime at the Farm
Sunday, April 25th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Registration required. Please sign up for an arrival time!
Celebrate spring with some fun activities at the farm park! Look for spring wildflowers on a naturalist-led hike, start garden seeds to take home, play yard games, and kite-flying! Seasoned flyers from the Wisconsin Kiters Club will be here to give tips on flying kites and demonstrations.
Bring a picnic lunch for the family and enjoy the afternoon. We ask that attendees sign up for an arrival time between either 1 - 2 pm or 2 - 3 pm. We are trying to space out when people arrive at the park to allow for social distancing and sharing of kites. You are welcome to stay beyond the hour you choose for arrival.
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2021 Events
We're pleased to report that 2021 events and activities are scheduled to move forward! We're looking forward to the return of our three major events:
Line Dance Lessons return in May! In the late summer/fall, we plan to offer a few workshops, including nature photography, broom-making, and wreath-making, and our beloved Christmas Teas event. More details on these opportunities will be shared in the future.
We will continue to follow Dane County's guidelines for safe gathering, including limits on gatherings, social distancing, and face masks. We are so glad to be able to return to offering these beloved events and look forward to seeing all of our park friends and followers soon!
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Mary Binkley facilitating the popular Maple Sap Workshop in early March of this year.
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Prescribed Burn of Schumacher Prairie
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Staff and volunteers with Dane County Parks conducted a prescribed burn on 12 acres of Schumacher Prairie on a Monday in late March. The burn took just over four hours and the weather was well within planned prescription conditions. The burn schedule for Schumacher Farm Park is every 2-4 years, which is normal for a more mature prairie.
Controlled burns are set in prairies for multiple reasons. Fire is a natural, historic land management tool that our tough prairie plants are actually well adapted to tolerate. The black ash left behind promotes warming of the spring soil for better native plant seed germination, and heat of the fire suppresses the growth of invasive woody shrubs that would crowd out prairie plants if left unchecked. Stop by and take a look as the prairie plants recover and thrive out of the ashes. It's much easier to see the short spring-blooming plants now that all the old, taller summer stems are out of the way. You can also check our Facebook page for weekly updates of plants in bloom.
-Amy Jo Dusick
Images by Rona Neri
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April StoryWalk Featured Book
As part of the " Healthy Parks Healthy You" programming, our partners SSM Health Dean Medical Group and Dane County Parks provided a new StoryWalk at Schumacher Farm Park. Part of it is posted along the wildflower trail in the upper woodland.
If you visit Schumacher Farm Park, or any other Dane County Parks in April, post your pictures on Facebook with the hashtag #HealthyParksHealthyYou for a chance to win parks gift certificates!
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Storywalk book along with spring-blooming wildflowers. Image: AJ Dusick
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Artifact Corner
Monday was washing day and Tuesday was ironing day, as described in Marcella’s book, Papa, Mama, and Me. Monday was filled with washing and hanging clothes out to dry. On Tuesday, the fire was lit in the kitchen stove so the irons could be heated for ironing. Everything was ironed from dresses and shirts to tablecloths and bed linens.
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Laundry Room exhibit in granary. Image: Barb Johanningmeier
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The Historical Committee has been working on creating displays in the granary for future tours.
One of the rooms has been outfitted as a Laundry Room to include artifacts one might use on laundry day in the 1920’s-30’s. The next two rooms will be a Kitchen/Dairy Room with a De Laval cream separator and a Granary Room will include a fanning mill, cradle scythe, corn mill and sheller and related artifacts.
Committee members working on the project include: Rosa Ropers, Sue Manske, Barb Johanningmeier and Rosemarie Hodulik. Sue is working on signage for the artifacts.
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Garage Sale Season!
Our Annual Garage Sale is scheduled for May 6-8.
DONATIONS
After your spring cleaning this year, please consider donating some of those gently used items to the Schumacher garage sale. No clothing, please. Items can be dropped off at the park office on Mondays or Fridays starting April 23rd.
All proceeds from the sale will be used to support the restoration, repair, and display of our historical collection.
VOLUNTEERS
We're looking for volunteers to lend a hand during the garage sale to help set up on Wednesday morning (May 5th) and for shifts during the sale itself between 9am - 3 pm on Thursday and/or Friday. Call or email Amy Jo at the park office to sign up. (608) 849-4559.
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Waunakee Sesquicentennial Specials
In celebration of Waunakee's 150th anniversary, Schumacher Farm Park is offering $1.50 off on our special events ticket price (Music Fest, Heritage Fest, Halloween) for residents that present their keep-sake commemorative coin at the admissions table on day of the event.
Waunakee residents can pick up a commemorative coin at One Community Bank and the Waunakee Chamber of Commerce, while supplies last.
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Upcoming Natural Areas Volunteer Opportunities
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Seeking A Volunteer Coordinator
Are you the type of person that excels at organizing behind the scenes? We need a volunteer to help coordinate volunteers.
The volunteer coordinator would work directly with the Park Administrator and Events Committee to determine volunteer positions for each event and serve as a main point of contact during the first few hours of our major events. If interested, contact Amy Jo at the park office.
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Music Fest Volunteers - June 12
If you like to move your feet and sway to the music while volunteering, then this is a the event for you. Volunteer shifts are about 2 hours long. Help us kick off summer and spread some good times! Sign up HERE.
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Natural Areas Work Party - Friday, April 23rd (10 am - 12 pm)
Drop-ins welcome. Meet at the visitor center parking lot.
Line Dance Lessons, starting in May
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All photos, except where credited to others, provided by
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