This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

PHOTOS: Harvest Day at the Lefferts Historic House garden

Just in time for fall, apple fritters and freshly harvested potatoes at the Lefferts Historic House garden.

Brooklynites usually don't have much time to ponder where the butter in their fridge came from. But hundreds of years ago, when people got around on horse and buggy instead of subways and buses, families all pitched in to make every meal—from start to finish.

This past Sunday afternoon during Harvest Day at Prospect Park modern Brooklynites spent their Sunday afternoon getting a taste of the good old days by participating in some butter-churning, apple frittering and potato digging at Harvest Day, the Lefferts Historic House garden harvesting event.

About 600 to 800 people showed up despite questionable weather to participate in the event, many of them returning to dig up the potatoes they planted there last May and to help press apples into fresh, tasty apple cider, handed out in small paper cups.

Find out what's happening in Park Slopewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The apples, which come from the Williams Fruit Farm in upstate New York, were also cut up and turned into fritters by young, hip volunteers, and demonstrations were given by a 19th century impersonator. Dads played Game of Graces with the kids, a game involving two sticks and a wooden hoop.

"We try to get the kids to appreciate where food comes from and how it gets on to their dinner table and into their lunch boxes," said Rich Garr, supervising educator at Lefferts House.

Find out what's happening in Park Slopewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lexy Mayers, who brought her two toddlers said they had "a really good time. The kids made some apple cider and dug for some potatoes, and just got to taste some yummy apple fritters." 

Harvest Day is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $3, and takes place over two days, with the 2011 harvest beginning this past Saturday. The Lefferts Historic house is located at the entrance to the park at the intersection of Empire Boulevard and Flatbush Avenue. Events are free for children.

For more information, visit the Events at Lefferts Historic House page.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?