It was Veteran's Day, a holiday celebrating those who came home from war. Celebrating our nation’s heroes. Veteran’s Day has always reminded me of my great grandfather, who fought in WWII and was in Hawaii during pearl harbor, and of my granddad, who was shipped off to Vietnam.
For the holiday, every year, the Florida State Parks are have free admission. Its a great deal for families, because there is no school on Veteran’s day in Florida, and what better way to celebrate our Vets than getting the whole family together are getting some fresh air?
Normally John and I go out to lunch and then we would go to St. Augustine, but this year we decided to do something different.
The morning air was crisp and smelled of freshly cut grass when I dragged everyone out of bed. Hunter and Amy looked at me sleepily and John was still groggy (needless to say he was cranky to be woken up before noon) when we pulled out of the driveway. I was determined to get an early start on the day.
We were heading to Dudley Farms, a nearby historical state park. Originally owned by Erastus Dudley the farm was built in 1844. The 640 acres of land were farmed and lived on by the Dudley family until 1991 when the last remaining family member died and donated the land to the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Company. The fire company decided to restore and preserve Dudley Farms. In 2002 it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and it has been an authentic working farm ever since.
Dudley Farms
It was just a quick fifteen minute drive from the house to the farm, and by the time we arrived everyone was wide awake. Something about the chill seemed to make the world brighter. The sunlight glistened off of the dewy grass under our feet as we stepped out of the car.
The homestead consists of 21 historical buildings and 325 acres. They have farm animals such as chicken, free roaming turkey, cattle, sheep,and horses. The farm has sugar cane, corn, banana trees, and they even have a small herb garden.
The kids were especially interested in looking at the animals, and one employee gave us some feed to give to the chickens and hens. Amy went especially crazy for the horses, who were close enough to pet. They were mild mannered and she was wide eyed when they let her touch their manes.
Amy’s “Pony”
Personally I enjoyed the family garden, which the guide told me is seasonal. The Dudley’s grew onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes. They lived off of the land and their own work. The Dudley’s had twelve children! (I suppose that means they had plenty of farm hands.) I love the way the freshly turned soil smelled. We had the seasons first frost the day after, but on Veterans day the plants were still bright green. I stopped and talked to a woman who was in period clothing (all of the park’s staff are) and she told me all about the process of making syrup out of the sugar cane. We chatted until John got impatient and dragged me away. He wanted to watch the demonstrations and Hunter was anxious to play with a few old time toys.
Bumblebees in the garden
There are a few trails available but we decided to eat at the small picnic table area that is available to the park’s guests. The day before I had packed up some lemonade, the makings of hot-dogs, and a bag of chips so we could eat at the farm. The farm’s picnic area is nice, they have a few grills available, and John grilled the hot-dogs to a well cooked perfection... very well cooked in fact.
As the day was nearing it’s end we wandered into farmhouse. When you look into the “parlor” room you cant help but be taken back to simpler times. The sight of the original 1840 furniture summons images of a family sitting together on a Sunday morning, reading or perhaps singing around the piano. The rest of the farmhouse is bedrooms and a place for the family to eat. The kitchen was in a separate building nearby- apparently they were worried about a fire.
The last thing we did was visit the gift shop. They have neat arts and crafts from the period and made by hand as well as books about Gainesville Florida and Dudley Farm in the 1800-1900’s. Sitting outside was an elderly gentleman, John and him started talking and all of the sudden he started reminiscing about traveling the United States. He told us a story about his motor home breaking down in New Jersey- a state trooper stopped to help, and ended up on his hands and knees underneath the vehicle's undercarriage with a flashlight. The gentleman remarked on the way we never hear the good stories, and then he said something I will remember for the rest of my life... He opened his mouth and in that slow southern drawl of his he said “You know, you have friends all over that you just haven’t met yet.” Well, to my friends out there: I can’t wait to meet you!
At the entrance
Cost-Entrance Fee: 5 dollars
(Optional) Cash for the giftshop
All in all it was a great day out! Normally the farm is only five dollars a car, a steal when you consider the quality time it gives you with the family. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful! Wandering through Dudley Farm is like stepping though a door into the past, it was a great place to stay in touch with my southern heritage, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting North Central Florida. I left the farm with an almost nostalgic longing to go back to simpler times- and while Antebellum south had quite a few flaws (lack of hospitals, civil rights, and universal suffrage) that world is one I would like to visit again one day.
In a few weeks John and I will start our rambling journey, but until after Thanksgiving (which we want to be home for) we are going to “warm-up” with day trips to local places, like Dudley Farm! Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. I can’t wait for the real trip to begin!
