armlessbear.com

This morning Adam and I went to visit Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, VA. This was probably a stupid move because the entire weekend is under a heat advisory with 100% humidity and temperatures in the 90s. We went anyway because it sounded interesting and I had an ulterior motive to go, but more about that later.
So the whole farm is run like its 1771 and has crops and livestock and the people who work their run around in bare feet and period clothing. One lucky guy gets to stay in the air conditioned gift shop — the rest are literally working out in the fields. The had 3 geese running around which Adam called DUCKS. They also had pigs, and tobacco fields, and turkeys, cows, and a poor shorn sheep attempting to keep cool in the shade.
The terrifying thing about the farm that they fail to mention is that it backs up against the back entrance to the CIA. So as you’re driving down this narrow road there are signs that remind you that you are only to be on government property with proper authorization. I started remembering all the stories I’ve heard and read where people innocently get lost around the CIA and stop or turn around and are met at gun-point. At which point I’d be thinking run away! I nearly turned around and did just that, but then I noticed a tiny little red sign directing me to Claude Moore farm straight ahead. Whew!

So anyway, I went there because I had read recently that a college friend, Jan Tilley, was working there as the farmer. A brief phone call to the farm confirmed it was exactly who I thought it was, although there probably aren’t a whole lot of Jans running around.
It was a bit awkward at first. After all, what do you say to someone you haven’t seen in 8 or 9 years? Anyway, after being ridiculously hot and sweaty and needing some lunch, Adam and I took off for Arlington in a nice air conditioned car.
It has to be said, those people who work on the farm 8 months a year are brave people. They wear period clothing, no one had any shoes on, they cook in an open-hearth stove in their hut, and everything that has to be done on the farm they do by hand.
I know they get a salary and benefits with that, but you’d have to pay me waaaaay more to do that then I’m sure they’re getting paid.