Mark Your Calendars Now!

If you’ve never been to the Biltmore Estates – you definitely need to plan to go to next year’s annual Homeschool Festival on September 19^th and 20^th (that’s 2007)!  It is a must see-must do field trip for homeschool families.

Our family has been on many field trips and many a “homeschool” specific event at many attractions and venues.  I’ll have to say that the event hosted by the Biltmore Estates is one of the most homeschool friendly and best planned events we’ve attended to date.  The festival rate is money well spent and they are so happy and accommodating to everyone visiting.

This was our family’s first time to visit the Estate and we enjoyed every minute.  The Biltmore house leaves nothing but jaw dropping amazement.  I loved the basement best – the kitchen and laundry areas were unbelievable.  Anyone knowing me and my laundry trials can understand my fascination with laundry in the late 1800’s!  It is definitely a one-of-a-kind home and unlike anything you can imagine until you see it in person.

More fun was “over the river and through the woods” at the Historic Horse Barn in the round.  All my men were enthralled with the blacksmith – I on the other hand enjoyed the woman who was making homemade butter.  There were also woodworking and hay demonstrations with lots of the original farm equipment on display that was actually used on the Vanderbilt’s farm.  The barnyard was home to some gorgeous draft horses (Bert & Ernie – they were very verbal, too!), heirloom hens (we were taking notes you might say) as well as sheep and more horses.  I was interested in looking at the barn structure, livestock housing and fencing and so forth.  They raise a sizeable flock of sheep and have mini-donkeys in with the flock to keep coyotes away.

The boys were able to put corn on the cob throught this "shelling gadget" and shell the corn from the cob; it is then poured into a grinder and corn meal is the result!

This is "Ernie" of Bert & Ernie the Estate's resident Belgian Draft horses

My guys LOVED the Blacksmith!

Wishful thinking in the horse stalls? heh-heh

Then came the reality check – the kitchen garden – Y’all, I about died.  Where is my gardening staff of 30?  It was definitely a “Martha garden” complete with some of the coolest built structures and ways for vegetable vines to grow and climb.  We had to critique the compost area also and we were pretty proud of our compost bin – it definitely held its own against the Biltmore compost!

By the time I put the men through the Estate's kitchen garden - they were about done.  Can you tell?

It was really hard to put into perspective the progressive thought of Mr. Vanderbilt when you think about the particular time period in our Country’s history when he built his “Biltmore Estates”.  He had electricity, he had running water, he had central heating, he had an indoor swimming pool and recreation area that included weight lifting and exercise room as well as a bowling alley………..in the late 1800’s!  I’m not sure that progressive actually describes his accomplishment with what he built.  One must remember that there was no automated transportation other than the railroad system and his Estate was built in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina.

Truthfully, it would be well worth planning a week long stay in Asheville to see all that there is to see at Biltmore.

…………then there is the Biltmore Village………ooooooh, another week?

I'd just hate that ~ wouldn't you?

Harriette