We credit Germany with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century, when “devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.” And, in other countries, it was believed that the evergreens would keep away “witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness.” Fact or […]
Wreaths—a fascinating history and beautiful holiday tradition! The word “wreath” is from an English word meaning “twist, such as in a circle.” And, wreath, translated literally, means “a thing bound around,” from the Greek word “diadema.” In Christianity, the wreath was used to symbolize Christ, the “circular shape, with […]
It’s October, one of Hanley Farm’s “most favorite” months, other than November when we celebrate the onset of the holidays with Santa’s visit and “Holiday Wreath Making.” And there’s December, when we offer after-holiday Hanley Farmhouse tours, that is! And why are we so enthused with October? Because we can conjure up “ghosties” and goblins […]
Hanley Farm’s music festival was GREAT! Hundreds of people attended, making the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s 71st anniversary an event to remember. The forecast for the day was 103 degrees, but the weather gods prevailed and it was a cooler 97 degrees, with a slight breeze. Despite the hazy […]
On August 5, 2017, Hanley Farm presents, “Hanley Farm Music Festival,” a fundraiser for Hanley Farm! In addition to great toe-tapping music from five popular local entertainers, there will be food, a Farmer’s Market, children’s games, a Faerie Garden, soda, mead and more beverages, including freshly-brewed lager from Standing […]
However one refers to the Civil War—the “War to Preserve the Union,” “War of the Rebellion,” “War to make Men Free,” “Freedom War,” or the “War Between the States”—it preserved the United States as one, indivisible, nation.
In an 1889 study, performed by Union soldiers William Fox and Thomas Livermore, it was reported that approximately 620,000 […]
Welcome to Hanley Farm! Up to and including the month of December, the farm hosts a new event every month!
We began our season April 29 & 30 with the annual Heritage Plant Sale. Hundreds of visitors attended, many lining up before the gates opened, to have the opportunity to choose from over 50 varieties of […]
If you have trouble getting your child to help with household chores, try asking them to imagine what it would have been like to be raised on a farm, let’s say during the late 1800s or early 1900s. With no modern plumbing system, how was water transported from the nearest creek? With no mechanized method […]
April is a special month for the Southern Oregon Historical Society and Hanley Farm. SOHS is proud to be the Grand Marshal for the 64th Annual Pear Blossom Parade, April 8. To celebrate the Pear Blossom Festival, Pear Blossom Posters for the past ten years, created by artist Debby Elder, are on display in the […]
160 years ago, Michael Hanley purchased what is now known as Hanley Farm. Originally the farm was called “The Willows,” a name taken from a weeping willow planted in the 1860s, a tree that has “…toppled twice, in 1940 and again in 1986.” But, “…in each instance it regenerated […]
Lured by gold and free land in the 1850s, David Clinton and Archibald Welton were the first settlers to establish a farm at the Hanley site. In 1857 Michael Hanley purchased the 636 acre ranch from Clinton and Welton, and so began the remarkable journey of the Hanley family. […]
6th-Annual Scarecrow Festival, October 8 & 9, 11:00am to 4:00pm—Free Admission. Make your own scarecrow (complete kits cost $15 or $10 for SOHS members), hay rides, children’s activities and games, farm-fresh food for purchase, and tour of the historic Hanley House ($5 or $3 for SOHS members).
A highlight of […]
Are you looking for a fun excuse to get outside with the family this summer? How about a beautiful location that explores the rich history of the Rogue Valley and provides green, shade-covered lawn areas for picnicking? If this sounds appealing, the Southern Oregon Historical Society invites you to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from […]
Learn to Grow Food in Your Own Yard!—The Rogue Valley community is invited to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm to learn how to grow food in a way that is affordable, labor-saving, and requires no irrigation. The Agricultural Manager is excited to lead tours of the demonstration […]
Under the hot mid-day sun at Hanley Farm, I find myself challenged to stay cool during the first 100 plus degree heatwave of the summer. As I walk through the garden, I am taken aback as I observe that the plants surrounding me appear to be unfazed by the […]
At Hanley Farm, we grow food in a way that requires no irrigation, no machinery, and low labor beyond planting and picking food. Our objective is to demonstrate a simple way to grow food that is approachable to the general public. Everyone has the right to grow their own […]
May kicks-off the event season at Hanley Farm with two annual favorites—the Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and the Children’s Heritage Fair.
Mark your calendar for Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8 from 10:00am-3:00pm, for the Hanley Heritage Plant & Garden Fair. There will be a […]
Beginning April 7, 2016 – Hanley Farm will be open every Thursday evening from 4:00-7:00pm, April through October. Bring your family, invite your friends, and enjoy a relaxing evening on the historic grounds first settled by the Hanley Family in 1857.
Thursday, 4:00-7:00pm, April-October, Free Admission!
Hanley Farm is excited to host the Family Nurturing Center’s “Farm and Food Program” for its fourth consecutive growing season! The Farm and Food Program is an outreach component of the Family Nurturing Center, Jackson County’s Children’s Relief Nursery. Families visit Hanley Farm in order to grow, harvest, prepare […]
Is it possible to maintain a home garden in a way that is low-maintenance, conserves water, and meets the nutritional needs of a family living in the Rogue Valley?
The Hanley Farm agricultural program plans to conduct a research project during the 2016 growing season, seeking to answer this question […]
In 1605, a “…tree in Strasbourg…was brought indoors and adorned with paper roses, lighted candles, wafers, nuts and sweets.” Throughout the centuries decorating for the holidays continued, and in the 1880’s, F.W. Woolworth began importing German ornaments. On December 27, you have the opportunity to travel back in […]
Kick-off the Yuletide Season at Hanley Farm! Begin by creating your Holiday Wreath using bases made from all natural materials cut fresh from the farm. And, a special treat, straight from the North Pole – Santa Claus accepted our invitation, AND he’s bringing his favorite helper-Elf with him! In addition to Santa and wreath-making, browse […]
With only a few weeks left to enjoy Hanley Farm produce for sale at the Jacksonville Farmers Market, we are gearing up for the cooler weather and seasonal changes at the Farm. With the new school year in full swing, field trips to the Farm have already begun and […]
It’s been a full and rewarding summer thus far, with many new and returning visitors to the Farm enjoying its many offerings. All three sessions of summer camp went-off without a hitch as campers learned about their local heritage through the Hanley family’s story, as well as homesteading, farming […]
What a great time we had last month at Hanley Farm’s first Community Pizza Night. It was a great success – thanks to everyone who attended, enjoyed great food, music and friends. We invite you all to return, and those of you who missed the first pizza night, be sure not to miss this one!
Before […]
What better way is there to spend a lovely August evening than a concert on the lawn at Hanley Farm?! This affordable, family-friendly event has all the components of a perfect summer evening: farm-fresh food from the Farm Kitchen, local craft brews on-tap, live music, horseshoes, badminton, and plenty […]
Beginning a new partnership between the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Cascade Civil War Society, we are excited to offer Living History Days on July 11 & 12 from 11am-4pm. This family-friendly event features costumed interpreters across the farm with hands-on activities for all ages and a civil […]
With two successful events under our belt that kicked-off the season, summer is now in full-swing at Hanley Farm. The annual Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and Children’s Heritage Fair seem to improve each year, with more community support than ever. We hope you had the opportunity to enjoy […]
May kicks-off the event season at Hanley Farm with two annual favorites, the Heritage Plant & Garden Fair and the Children’s Heritage Fair.
Mark your calendar for Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, from 10:00am-3:00pm, for the Hanley Heritage Plant & Garden Fair. There will be a wide […]
This month we had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Worcester of Daisy Creek Farm. Now in their 4th season of leading the agricultural activities at Hanley Farm, we learned more about no-till agriculture and what we can expect to see at the Farm this season.
What is no-till agriculture?—No-Till […]
Our days are finally feeling longer as spring begins to show herself at the Farm. The field of daffodils greets us under the front walnut trees and green buds abound. The Volunteer Garden is actively taking shape as we tenderly care for over 200 heritage plants that were recently […]
During these normally quiet months of winter, a special new garden is developing at Hanley Farm. In response to the alarming population crash of the iconic monarch butterfly throughout North America over the last ten years, a small group of concerned local citizens began establishing Monarch Waystations throughout the […]
Milestone in Hanley Restoration – Southern Oregon Historical Society’s (SOHS) Associate Curator of Collections, Tina Reuwsaat, a decorative arts historian who specializes in recreating original period furnishing plans for historic interiors, has overseen the completion of the restoration of the Historical Hanley Farmhouse Foyer. Using the probate records from the Michael Hanley estate inventory and […]
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by taking a tour of the historic Hanely House Museum! Here, the past come to life with a fully-furnished and beautifully-embellished holiday exhibit of decorations, toys, ornaments, and clothing from the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s collection. Each […]
The annual October events at Hanley Farm thrilled hundreds of local families and provided a festive starting point for the holiday season. Hayrides touring the farm captivated visitors with valley views and Hanley highlights at this year’s Scarecrow Festival! The Crater Renaissance Academy Drama transformed the farm into a full-featured theatrical production that awed and […]
As the cooler weather rolls in and the colorful change of autumn arrives, an impressive bounty is being harvested and processed for winter at Hanley Farm. Amidst the harvest, time is made for planting garlic and hardy winter greens, mulching garden beds, shearing sheep, collecting walnuts, and breeding the […]
Farm dinners are one of the hottest dining experiences in Oregon this year, with Portland Monthly magazine devoting a full issue to them in April. Everything from dining in vineyards, to 30-mile bike rides ending at a long farm table, to river trips with farm-fresh meals served. Here in the Rogue Valley we are lucky […]