The Preservation & Dissemination of Knowledge
Hello Folks, Aunt Eunice here. Now that our final fundraiser of the year Old Time Christmas is over, we enter Quiet Valley’s only truly quiet phase. The end of December and the month of January are the staff’s time to reflect, to evaluate the past year and to look ahead. This is when assessment on the programming and events of 2020 will take place. What worked, what didn’t? Are there programs that just don’t serve a purpose anymore, can they be tweaked or is it best to set them aside. Are there holes in the programs and activities we offer? This kind of review is what brought about offerings such as our Preschool program which takes place each spring and fall. It brought about the Farm to Table Experience which eventually morphed into the Farm to Table Dinner. Small summer events came about more than a decade ago due to this process. The one in June focuses on something we do very well here at Quiet Valley and has been of growing interest to the public for a number of years, Gardening. Raising your own food is a very rewarding and tasty hobby and for the early homesteaders it was a necessity. In July we added a day to focus on the traditional music of the 1800s. In August we started to hold a day dedicated to the heritage crafts and folk art of the 19th century. Demonstrators shared their specialties and there were some chances to try the process out for themselves. Quiet Valley has existed to not only preserve the life skills and history of rural farm life of the 1800s, but even more importantly to teach it to others.
Persevering Despite a Worldwide Pandemic
As I look back at 2020, it is like looking at a picture of yourself that is underwater. It’s somewhat familiar and yet not quite what we would normally expect to see. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted our programming and events into something different, something new and yet at the same time a bit familiar. It was a confusing process, frustrating at times and a challenge. I am proud to say the Quiet Valley staff, board of directors and volunteers were up to the challenge. We had some great ideas on new ways to present activities and events. What we offered may have been different, but it stayed true to our mission. We shared what life was like on a small family farm in the 19th century. We taught visitors how it would have been for those early settlers who were willing to face hard times to own their own land and to be free to make their own choices. We helped the public make the connection from the past to the present and offered lessons on how this knowledge can be relevant in their lives today.
Forging Ahead with Confidence
As the year winds down second by second I am glad to have this time to reflect and review and to plan and to assess, but to also rest in the knowledge that we “did good”! As January arrives, we will hit the ground running, eager to face the upcoming challenges with hopefully at least some of the courage our forefathers had. What new thing needs to be added, what else can we share with our visitors, what would you like to learn?! I can’t wait to get started. See you in 2021! Best Wishes for the New Year and take care. Aunt Eunice