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The Fra's Favorite Animal

East Aurora was a particularly “horsey” town in the late 1800’s. Nationally known trainers, horses and breeders were based here and horse racing was a popular spectator sport all across the country. Everyone had an interest in horses since they were the mode of transportation at the time. The faster your horse, the sooner you arrived at your destination. 

Elbert Hubbard was not unusual in his love of horses, but it made picking East Aurora as his new home in 1884 the natural choice. He could take the train to work at Larkin Soap Co. in Buffalo and be in the country for his rides when he was home. 

Here is an early morning horse portrait from my farm.

- Sue

Llamas Rule--Literally!

Clare, Tina and I had such fun at the Knox Farm Fiber Festival this past Saturday.  The view of the farm enabled us to watch the sheep and the guard llama.  At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks.

However, Tina said that some sheep herds are actually guarded by a llama, instead of a dog. 
Watching the llama standing in the meadow looking about and being protective was incredible.  When the llama was standing, the sheep were standing.  When the llama felt comfortable and secure, he rested in "meatloaf" position ( if you have ever seen a cat come down on his back haunches and then tuck his front paws under his chest, this is "meatloaf" position).  The sheep followed the llama's example and lay down to rest. 

All this and still inviting our new festival friends to visit the Roycroft Campus, made for a very happy day!  Good llama.

Claudia

Roycroft At The Knox Farm Fiber Festival

Come visit us at the Knox Farm Fiber Festival this Saturday, September 26, and learn more about the Roycroft Arts and Crafts movement and information about "The Copper Shop" with Clare Root and the Aurora Historical Society.

  As you can see by the photo above, Elbert Hubbard, once a sales rep for the "Larkin Soap Company", farmed and raised sheep at the Roycroft Campus site.  This year's highlight at the Festival will be a demonstration of weaving on the "Larkin" Historic Barn Loom.  There will also be sheep, llamas, angora goats, demonstrations, workshops, and childrens crafts.  This festival is a terrific learning experience for children young and old.  What a wonderful way to spend an Autumn day!

See you there,
Claudia

Roycroft Farms Then & Now

Tuesday, June 17th

The fields are planted in western NY and first cuttings of hay are in the fields. The scent of lilacs have come and gone, and newborn fawns can be seen in the field at dusk with their mothers. It is a beautiful time of year with the sun setting late and the warm summer days beginning. Just the kind of days Elbert Hubbard would be encouraging his guests and Campus employees to get out to the farm to help and get some “honest exercise”.

      There were 12 farms associated with the Roycroft in its “hay day” - pun intended - of 350+ employees. The 500 total acres of these farms provided food for the Inn, as well as produce, cheese, meat, preserves and maple syrup for the Goodie Boxes sold. 

Only one of the farms, Arden Farm,  has been in continuous operation since starting in the early 1900's. It is located at Bowen & Billington in East Aurora. Arden Farm was given by Elbert Hubbard to his wife, Alice. He understood that land ownership was an important step toward helping women achieve equality with men and demonstrated his conviction by this gift to Alice.

      The farm passed down to their only daughter, Miriam, and it is her youngest son, Mark Roloefs, his wife Sarah, and their son, Dan, who are continuing to farm the land and planning future markets for their produce. Some of this produce will be served at the Slow Food Dinner for the Roycroft Connections Conference in October, reminiscent of Arden Farm’s original purpose of supplying the Inn with food. 

      Enjoy your first fresh strawberry, tomato or corn cob of the summer and remember the farmers’ hard work that brought it to your table. 

- Sue