The National Park Service and the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation will be kicking off the Buckner Homestead Centennial Celebration this week with an open house at the Golden West Visitor Center on October 8 and the 2nd annual Harvest Festival at the Buckner Orchard on October 9.One hundred years ago this November, William “Van” Buckner purchased what is now the Buckner Orchard in Stehekin from Bill Buzzard and began a long legacy in the Stehekin Valley. Son Harry and his wife Olive continued farming the orchard maintaining more than 700 trees and raising three daughters at the “Buckner Ranch”. This historically registered district still contains mostly Common Delicious apples, a sweet and historic variety of apple.
The National Park Service now manages the Buckner Orchard as part of North Cascades National Park Complex, but not without help from the Stehekin Community and the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation. Recently the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation donated a mower/shredder and tractor to the National Park Service to aid in orchard operations. The machinery shreds pruned branches allowing large amounts of brush to be processed in a shorter amount of time and the saving physical labor of hand piling.
Members of the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation also accomplished a great deal of volunteer work during a weekend at the Buckner Orchard in July.
"Private philanthropy has always played an important role in the national parks," said Chip Jenkins, superintendent. "We are honored by the support the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation is providing."
For more information on the Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation, visit http://bucknerhomestead.org/
Photos of the historic Buckner Orchard can be found at http://bit.ly/bSwBye
Please join the Stehekin Valley in their celebration of this historic site.
October 8: Buckner Orchard Centennial Kick-Off Golden West Visitor Center, Stehekin 7-9 PM – photographs, stories, letters and sharing
October 9: Harvest Fest 2011 Buckner Orchard, Stehekin 10 AM - picking apples and cider making 1 PM - community potluck, with chili, beverages, and table service provided. Bring something to share, containers for cider, and lawn chairs.
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