Farmhouse Love

First published 1/15/2025

We’re looking for a group of volunteers to help steward the Farmhouse. This amazing home, built by Swedish immigrants Hilma and Carl Bergstrom in 1902, is very special to many of us. It is a place that is unique to not only Village Farm, but to Austin. (The only other authentic working farmstead that we are aware of is Boggy Creek Farm in east Austin – well worth a visit.)

We love having such community-building events as our game nights, cooking classes, potlucks, book clubs, and parties there. We’re fortunate to be able to head over there on a weekday for a change of scenery or working remotely. We need to care for this treasure. With an aging foundation, rickety porch, and patched floors, care must be taken. Recently there has been damage to floors and contents; the house has been left unlocked after events; entry codes have been shared with non-VF residents.

In order to take good care of this special place, we’re looking for some volunteers to help us develop a user manual for how to care for our farmhouse. We are fortunate to have several Green Gate Farms’s college interns who are helping with this effort; they are especially interested in creating a sustainable systems guide to reduce waste.

Other areas that this group can tackle:

• Kitchen organization, labeling and stocking
• Revive the Bergstrom garden project (e.g. roses and other 1902 era plants)
• Interface with Roberts management on maintenance issues
• History – maintain antiques, install historical signage, photos

If you’d like to help with this important project, please email Brandy Beverly brandybeverly14@gmail.com