Read how Arbor Day was celebrated at the Pleasant Valley School in the 1890s when students planted trees and named them.

Read the story of a portable saw mill in Pleasant Valley in 1904 and how sawmills have been a part of Pleasant Valley life since the 1700s.

Howell Farm invites visitors of all ages to get a grip on history by grabbing a shovel, saw, drawknife, or cant hook when helping hands are needed to plant trees, cut firewood, make barn pegs and ready logs for the sawmill.

The work will begin at 10:00am when farmers use a portable sawmill to cut lumber for barn repairs and restoration progects. Visitors can help by using spud bars to de-bark logs and cant hooks to roll them to the mill.

Those who like working the old-fashioned way can use a two-man saw to cut rounds that will then be split into firewood, wheel chocks and barn peg blanks. Mallets, froes and draw knives are among the tools that visitors can try. Youngsters can make and take home a barn peg like the ones used to hold together a timber frame barn.

Beginning at 1:00pm, visitors can help farmers plant trees to replace the ones that are used for building materials and fuel. Shovels, picks and shale bars will be on hand for those who want to help by digging holes for the new trees.

Children's craft program: Pine Needle Pouch
Place: On a walk-in basis (Groups of eight or more must pre-register)
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Approximate time to complete project: 20 minutes
Materials fee: $2.00