Pioneer Living

Life as an early pioneer living on a Florida pineapple plantation wasn't an easy one. Today we went to the Savannas Preserve Park in Port St. Lucie which is near an area that years ago used to be a pineapple plantation. The kids got to experience what life was like back then and truly have a greater appreciation for the comforts and conveniences that we have today. They learned so many things, and I did too, but in a nutshell, we learned about pineapple farming by hearing stories and seeing a slide show, and learned about pioneer life by various activities that the kids participated in. They gave them a number of chores that needed to be done, so off to work they went...

Colton and his friend Christian, scrubbing the clothes

This sweet lady actually grew up on the Treasure Coast so she had so many neat stories to share with us.

Scrub it girl!

Fletch and his little buddy Wyatt playing in the soapy water

They learned how to ground coffee and corn. It was smelling good around there!

"Am I doing it right?"

As the kids were doing their chores, Fletch had fun too!

Fletch and Wyatt coming back from a little hike

Fletch and his little mischievous face that he gives me when he knows he's doing something he shouldn't be.

Hi sly little fox!

Gobble, Gobble!

The kids played several games that the pioneers used to play. This game their playing is called Game of Graces (seen here: http://fairetymetoys.com/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Graces). The girl in the green tank top that's playing the game with Colton, is Sherice. She is the granddaughter of my midwife Lori Nelson, who delivered Gracie and Fletcher.

We went on very long hike through the Savannas to gather things that we needed back at "home". We gathered spice for the soup, veggies for scrub chicken stew, a sedge to mend the broom with, something for the fleas and even something to dye the clothes with.

While on our hike, we came across this wild blueberry bush. The kids ate all the blue ripe ones and said they were yummy!

Always take the time to stop and smell the flowers.

Just before leaving, we stopped to check on the clothes then we headed to Langford park for a little more fun!