Fall Harvest Celebration

Earth Dance Farm held its annual Fall Harvest Celebration open house for its members on Saturday, October 2, 2010, from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.  Below is my family's experience during the hour and a half that we were in attendance.

My family and I arrive at 5:00, and we just miss Laurie and Adriana's event with the horses and ponies in the horse arena. They both are just coming down from the arena, and we pass them as we are heading up to the pumpkin patch.  

The party is in full swing as we arrive with the front yard filled with members and their families' cars. A gorgeous Fall day ... in the 50s and sunny ... perfect for all the festivities!

Norm and Mark are already taking members up to the pumpkin patch ...

... via tractor-pulled hay rides!

Norm lets the members off in the pumpkin patch ...

... where each person searches for the perfect pumpkin.

My husband and I find ours!

Once the pumpkins are chosen, everyone heads back to the hay wagon ...

... for the ride back down to the farm.

These members huddle around the campfire while making s'mores and engaging in fascinating conversation.

My daughter, Amanda, and her husband, Chris, even find a cat to hold ... who seems to be loving the attention.

In between the outdoor activities in the crisp Autumn air, Norm and Laurie have created a welcoming place inside to warm up with hot apple cider and hot chocolate ...

... with places to sit and enjoy salsa & chips, steaming vegetarian chili, and good conversation.

Once we get the chill off, we take our food and go back outside to the patio area. Here is my family, enjoying hot bowls of homemade chili.

Norm is very happy to see that Bushra (one of his 2010 summer interns) has made the trip from Duluth to come to the Fall party.

I was happy to see Bushra, too!

Adriana and Stephanie have been quite busy with high school and volleyball, but they made time to be here today. Where do you think they were when we left? They had organized a game of volleyball with their friends in the front yard.  Of course! : )

I certainly wasn't able to get pictures of everything that went on this day, as my family was only in attendance from about 5:00 to 6:30, but this is a small sample of what we did get to experience.  Apparently, we had just missed Genna, who had been there earlier in the day ... AND, I was disappointed that I didn't get a photo of Laurie (again!), as she had really put in a lot of hard work to help make this event the success that it was.

Bushra also told us that Matt (another 2010 intern) had wanted to attend but that school was keeping him too busy at this point to be able to break away for a visit.

All in all, the Fall party seemed to be a great success.  What a wonderful way to say thank you to the members ... it was nice to get to meet some of you! 

And ... Thank You to Norm and Laurie for your gracious hospitality!