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April 7,
2000
Oak Glen, California
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The Pear
Blossoms on the
Road to the Upper Green |
Dear
Friends and Family,
Most people visit Oak Glen in the fall, but the truth is they're
missing something--the Spring.
The
pear blossoms on the upper half of our farm are just beginning to
flower. The orchard floor has turned a vibrant
green, and the black oaks are sprouting their rusty buds.
My son, Lockton, and I stole away in the car and took these pictures
just before the sun went down.
At
the end of this month, we're planning a medicine show and a
small-scale recreation of the "shot heard 'round the
world" as part of Oak Glen's Apple Blossom Festival. 
Check back in next week for details.
Meanwhile, don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!
God
is awesome, isn't He?
Don't
Forget...
This
year, over 6,000 school children will take part in our Living
History Field Trips. Click here
to make it 6,001! There are almost no
dates left in May, but there are a few in April, so call us, now, to
make your reservation (909-797-7534). The price is
$12.00 per participant, with one free adult for every 15 students.
This includes lunch and four hours of participatory living history,
covering either the American Revolution, Civil War, or Early
California.
After
an early March visit this year, a fifth grade teacher from San
Diego wrote us to say, "Thank you for the most wonderful
field trip I have ever hosted for children. Your
knowledge of history, the authenticity of your facilities, the
beauty of the surroundings, and the love of history that you shared
with the students are very much appreciated."
Thanks!
Mark
your calendars! We look
forward to visiting with you soon.
Your
Humble Servant,
James
Riley
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P.S.
For the sake of those "web portals" constantly browsing the
internet to update their search engines, we include the following
boiler-plate. (Feel free to read this, if you're new to our site.)
Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm in the Oak
Glen area of Southern California. In addition to farming, we love
history and we have provided a venue for re-enactment units comprising
many different eras. The farm regularly hosts banquets, birthday parties,
weddings, and office parties. Every year, literally thousands of students
participate in one of our school tours, where they experience everything
from weaving, candle-dipping, and cider pressing to the drill and muster
of a Revolutionary War or Civil War battle. Our farm has appeared on the
History Channel and in the recently released feature film, Amistad,
as well as many other film and television productions. (We even try to get
the producers to include us as on screen talent, but that's another
story.) On selected weekends throughout the year, we offer
"farm-stay" weekends, where families can experience--clothing,
wood stoves, muskets, and all--the life of an 18th or 19th century
American farmer. We grow sweet corn, apples, raspberries, pears, and
sunflowers, just to mention a few of our crops. Our nephew, Devon, keeps
some beautiful Belgian draft horses for country hay-rides. We love
America--its traditions, its people, its history, and its cherished
heritage of liberty in Christ. Have we said enough? Well, one more thing:
In the fall, thousands of families make an annual pilgrimage to the farms
of Oak Glen to experience the closest thing to a New England fall
California has to offer. Why don't you stop by and say hello?
P.S.
Stay
Clear of this "Cider House"
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