Bedminster Land Conservancy

“Preserving the Land, Protecting the Future”

Calendar of Events

Get Your Tickets Now for the 3rd Annual Bedminster Land Conservancy Barn & Farm Tour!

Look at all this great stuff going on!

The Third Annual Bedminster Barns and Farms Tour will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2007, 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., rain or shine. This tour of six barns and farms, all located in Bedminster Township, is a wonderful way to experience farms, farm animals and appreciate history. The alternative use for barns breathes new hope in barn preservation. The tour reminds us that Bedminster is indeed a special place and worthy of all our efforts to preserve its rural properties and character. Everyone is welcome to this event, including children who have free admission. There will be music, refreshments and special demonstrations.

The house and the barn at James and Gail Crooke’s “Windybush Hay Farm” date back to about 1785 and are log structures. This farm includes one of the few remaining log barns. There will be hayrides for the children at 4 PM and live music will be played from 11:00 to 4:00.  See below for more information.

Jeffrey Marshall, Vice President of Resource Protection, Heritage Conservancy, will discuss the barns and farms that are on the tour at the Crooke’s farm at noon. He will also be selling the newly published book, The Barns of Bucks County by Jeffrey L. Marshall and Willis M. Rivinus.

The house on the Alfred and Evelyn Cox property was built in 1793 and the original barn was probably from the same era but was destroyed by fire. The reconstructed barn is a bank barn and was built with a gambrel roof. The Cox family has an alternative use for the barn. They buy tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs from Holland that are stored in refrigerated rooms in the barn in order to foster “force” propagation.  During the holiday season, Christmas wreaths are produced at the barn.  There will be demonstrations featuring the production of the wreaths, 4-H Club members spinning wool, and a bee keeper.   Food and barn tour tickets will be on sale.

Four generations of the Detweiler family have farmed the 60 acres of the Detweiler Dairy Farm. There are at least 170 cows of various breeds, of which 90 are “milkers” and 80 are heifers.  This traditional dairy farm has been named “Dairy Farm of Distinction” due to its high standards.

Ronald and Louise Taylor-Kass have owned their farm, “Point of View Farm”, since 1992. Ron is a retired farrier and Louise is a noted horse-show judge and trainer. The farm livestock consists of various show horses and jumpers housed in stalls in the lower level of the old barn that is made of stone. The new barn is actually a large indoor riding facility with a large outdoor jumping area.  Dan Williams will demonstrate the welding of horseshoes together. Brian Murphy, a well-known barn restorer from Ottsville, will give some facts about the old barn.

Sheepherding is back by popular demand. This year it will be held at Eve and Len Marschark’s Ivyrose Farm. Eve is a professional sheepherding dog trainer since 1987 and has volunteered to do this for the third year. She has 6 border collies and Katadhin and Barbadoes Sheep on her farm. Her husband, Len, has donated funds to the Bedminster Land Conservancy from the sales of his beautiful, handcrafted tall case clocks.

A special treat awaits those who stop at Ben Solowey’s Studio. Ticket holders will be admitted free to the studio to view the current display of Ben Solowey’s paintings and art. Ben Solowey transformed the barn into a spacious studio. Today, it is filled with his artwork that his family has organized and preserved.

Tickets are $15.00 each if purchased before October 14th and are available at Doylestown Bookshop, Rogers Roadstand, and Dublin Agway.  Or, call 215-795-2352 for tickets and information.  On the day of the tour, tickets can be purchased for $20.00 each at the Cox farm, 1039 Creamery Rd. in Bedminster Township. Children are free! 

Special Events Schedule

 

You are welcome to tour the properties at your own pace throughout the day and in any order.  Please see map provided with your ticket for complete farm listing and directions. However, there are also special demonstrations at the farms listed below.  Approximate times for these presentations and events are listed below.

Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 on tour day. Call 215-795-2352 to request a ticket be mailed to you.  Leave your name and number so someone can return your call.  For a list of locations to purchase tickets see

Point of View Farm – Ron & Louise Taylor Kass Farm

11:00 AM, 2:45 PM,* & 3:30 PM - Horse jumping demonstration; Welding/Blacksmithing by Dan Williams; Art Show with Impressionist oil paintings by Scott Taylor, a Bucks County Artist. *At 2:45 PM: Brian Murphy, a barn restoration specialist, will give a presentation on barn restoration.

IvyRose Farm – Len & Eve Marschark

11:45 AM, 1:30 PM, & 3:15 PM -  Sheepherding demonstration & oral presentation on training border collies for herding

Windybush Hay Farm – James & Gail Crooke

12:15 PM - Presentation on the history and architecture of the barns on the tour by Jeff Marshall, Vice-President of Resource Protection, Heritage Conservancy.

4:00 PM -  Final tour of the farm and its unique log-constructed barn.  Hayride!

Music venus: Live  music throughout the day, featuring area musicians. Bathroom facilities.

Alfred Cox Farm

12:45 PM & 2:15 PM; Guided horticultural tours; Spinning and wreath-making demonstrations; Bee-keeping presentation.

Lunches sold here, bathroom facilities available

 Proceeds from the tour benefit the programs of the Bedminster Land Conservancy