Yesterday I went to Ardenwood Farm in Fremont California to record some 360 videos and test out a new device we are working with at work. Oh, and I hit my 50th video on YouTube yesterday after uploading my recordings.
This is a description of Ardenwood Farm taken from their website:
George Washington Patterson came west in 1849 to seek his fortune in the goldfields of California. Instead he “struck gold” in the fertile farm fields of southern Alameda County.
This farm was originally owned by the George & Clara Patterson family from the 1850s. It was turned over to the City of Fremont in 1978, and the East Bay Regional Park District has operated the property as a fully functioning, turn-of-the-last-century farm since 1985. A visit here is a journey back to the time of the 1850s Patterson Ranch–a prosperous, 19th-century country estate with a beautiful Victorian mansion and elaborate Victorian Gardens.
The farm still grows the same kind of produce that was grown in the region in the last 100 years, utilizing agricultural practices from the 1870s to the present, demonstrating the transition from horse-powered to horsepower farming. The interpretive staff and volunteers, attired in Victorian clothing, guide guests through the Victorian house, demonstrate farm chores, and explain what life was like in the early 1900s. From December to mid-February monarch butterflies overwinter here.
This is a picture of Fremont. While there is definitely more green space than a lot of places in the state there is still a lot of pavement to be seen. It also doesn’t look like that right now. There is a lot more brown than green.
It was a beautiful cool morning with the sun shining bright and birds chirping and all sorts of other animals to be seen. Ardenwood is without a doubt an oasis in a sea of pavement. As you turn off of Ardenwood Boulevard it is like traveling back in time to a simpler era. The grounds are amazingly accessible with paved paths to get pretty much anywhere of interest on the farm. There are beautiful gardens, even this time of year and the beautifully restored farmhouse from the 1850s is still there and can be toured. Unfortunately, it was closed when I was there but I got to see the outside and had an unexpected close encounter with some peacocks on the entrance ramp. You can see that video here: https://www.gobeyondthefence.com/youtube-360-videos/
I also toured the gardens and took a train ride which was very peaceful and relaxing. Those videos are also on my YouTube page above. The older men that run the train definitely look like they could be railroad men. The engineer was a bit worried that the ramp wasn’t up to code and explained that it used to be until they changed the law. He said they make a law then figure it out later and change it. He is right but I told him not to worry about it. I am not that concerned with things being perfectly accessible as long as I can make it work than its accessible to me.
I am glad Don Kimber suggested I visit Ardenwood. I found it a very beautiful peaceful place in a fast-paced world. I bet it would be a great place to visit through all seasons of the year to see the different changes in wildlife and crops. If you are ever out this way you should plan to visit especially if you have little kids or even if you are a little kid at heart.
Links of interest:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10157400280205224.1073741911.748825223&type=1&l=2fd80b5eb0
budget jan
Your overview of Fremont shows a very regimental or neat layout. I am happy that you could use the ramp and like your can do attitude.
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Hi Jan thanks for the comment. I am hoping to get better at this blogging thing but am just trying to figure things out now. I will be doing a lot more though soon.