A Day in the Life on the Farm

It is a hot summer day in Florida, the flies are buzzing, and your hands are dirty from a morning spent doing various chores around the farm. Since it is time for the noon meal, you amble over to the hand pump located in the farm yard knowing that you will not be allowed at the table until you are clean. Thank goodness for the hand pump - a welcomed convenience in many households throughout the world that delivered fresh water without the hassle of going to a pond or well.

Have you ever pumped water from a hand pump yourself? The fresh water is delivered from underground by a few quick pushes of the lever. Work your arm muscles to bring that precious fluid up out of the earth, seeing the liquid sparkle as it floods into the trough or a pail. It might be harder than turning a faucet handle, but it is satisfying work. 

The peaceful rush of water brings you back into a time when families all over Florida worked hard for their living.

Look around. How would they have used the water on the farm? Would they have watered the crops? Filled the troughs for the cattle, mules and horses?

Certainly, as well as a myriad of other chores. Fruits need to be picked. Eggs must be collected. Gardens need to be pruned and tended to. Firewood needs to be chopped, clothes need to be washed and dinner needs to be prepared. Every one of these chores were a part of daily life on Dudley Farm and still are today. Try your turn at the pump, watering plants, washing food or just getting a nice cool drink for the farm animals.

Connect yourself to a part of history and help keep this authentic farm running.