Lincoln farms part of Farm & Barn Tour

Three Lincoln area farms will host events Sunday as part of the second annual Placer Farm & Barn Tour.Among those farms participating in the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are the Lincoln High School Farm, the Lincoln Lavender Farm and Fruitvale School. Other farms are located in Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle and Granite Bay.The event is sponsored by the Arts Council of Placer County."We want to connect residents with local farms so they have an idea of what agriculturally is out there for them, including freshly-picked produce," said the art council's Cindy Fake.A number of different activities are planned at the Old Fruitvale School, said Lindy Grey, noting docents at the school will transform visitors back 100 years.At 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., a schoolmistress will teach classes inside the schoolhouse. Parents and children will get an opportunity to experience school life, using chalk and slates, along with McGuffey readers.Outside, Grey said there will be a large corral set up with farm animals for children to pet. There also will be children's games from 100 years ago, such as "Red Rover, Red Rover."As part of its program, the Fruitvale School site will serve a Bulgarian barbecue from noon to 1:30 p.m., featuring kabobche, a sausage-like dish made from hamburger meat and Bulgarian spices. Bulgarian or Greek salad, French bread and a beverage are also part of the menu.The barbecue is being prepared by Bulgarian farmers who are in Lincoln for two months as part of a farmer's exchange program organized by Grey. (Address of Fruitvale School?)The Lincoln High School Farm also will serve lunch as part of the Barn & Farm Tour. Tri-tip sandwiches headline that menu, which also includes beans. It will be served from noon to 1:30 p.m.As part of its program, Lincoln High agricultural students will offer guided hayride tours of the 268-acre site, said Mike Trueblood, an LHS ag teacher. There also will be self-guided tours where people can walk around and talk to students about programs offered at the farm.Trueblood said some of the welding students will offer works for sale, as will the farm's caretaker, Paul "Swanny" Swanson. (Address of the high school farm?)The Lincoln Lavender Farm is acting as a host barn for several Lincoln area farms, said farm propietor Jerre Hertel. Among the local farms that will be participating at the Lincoln Lavender Farm is Rancho Roble Vineyards.People visiting the Lavender Farm will be able to view the 12 acres where Hertel, his wife, Lesa, and their 11-year-old son, Kelly, have planted 165 varieties of lavender. There are pink, light and dark blue, light and dark purple, Spanish, English and French varieties.They do their own propagation, headed by Hertel's father-in-law, David Hitchman. People will be able to visit the greenhouse, the drying area, and the exhibition area where 65 varieties of lavender are grown for the sole purpose of allowing tourists to pick their own lavender.Lavender is not in season, Hertel said, so people won't be able to see them blooming.Because lavender is an herb, Hertel said there will be some cooking demonstrations for people on the tour. Samples of scones and cookies, as well as lavender lemonade and tea, will be available.The farm also will have some of its products for sale, including lavender soaps, creams and sachets. Lincoln Lavender Farm is located at 1420 Shamrock Lane, abut eight miles northeast of Lincoln near Camp Far West Lake.At other sites, people will be treated to a horse-driven wagon ride, learn about making miniature bonsai trees, watch as old farm equipment is drawn by mules, and watch sheep dogs at their owner's commands move a herd of animals.A large collection of local tractors will be displayed at Horton Farms; many of tractors are antique and recently restored.Several farms will play host to local Placer County artists who will be drawing pictures, painting on canvas, or throwing pots, as well as offering hand-made artwork for sale. In addition, throughout the day four farms will have cooking demonstrations using fresh-from-the-farm produce.Placer County's annual AGROart competition will be showcased at the old Blue Goose packing shed in Loomis. People will be able to watch artists, young and old, craft quirky sculptures out of fresh fruits and vegetables.Tickets for the Farm and Barn are $5 for adults. Students and children are free. Cost for the lunch tickets are $8 apiece.Lunch tickets must be purchased in advance. Tour tickets may be purchased through the Arts Council, or at the Blue Goose fruit shed, 3550 Taylor Road, on Sunday. A map also is available. A limited number of tour tickets will be available at each site, Fake said.For more information, call the Arts Council of Placer County at (530) 885-5670, or visit the arts council at 808 Lincoln Way in Auburn.