Dandelions and runners covered the fields at Brunswick’s Heritage Farm

BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- The Brunswick Area Historical Society's Heritage Farm was one of five stops on this year's Dandelion Drive, a Journey to History, sponsored by the Historical Council of Medina County.

The event coincided with the finale of the five-week Healthy Kids Running Series. That brought together history lovers, animal lovers and more than 150 runners between the ages of 2 and 14.

Uncle Dave's Traveling Farm, from Spring Mist Farms, welcomed families to an enclosure created by a snow fence provided by the City of Brunswick. The fence was put up (and taken down) by alumni and older members from St. Ambrose Boy Scout Troop 513.

Sheep, goats, cows, a calf and a flock of birds garnered a lot of attention, especially from the youngest people who came to pet some of the animals.

Jeff Nau, who was recently named curator for Heritage Farm, demonstrated his hobby -- blacksmithing. He was able to use some of his copper smithing tools, so no one had to drag out the old anvil and other equipment housed in the farm's carriage house.

The farmhouse museum was open, as was the milk house, where Geri Jolly showed people the cream separator and other dairy artifacts.

Scott Miller manned the equipment shed that houses the 1943 International Tractor and an electric chicken feather-plucking machine, among other interesting early farm tools.

In the big red barn, spinners showed how wool is spun into yarn. Nancy Page, a regular at the summer farmers markets, along with Melissa Rusnak and Claire Bourguet, attracted the attention of a wide range of ages and were happy to tell them about spinning and weaving.

Dandelion Drive sites included Liverpool, Hinckley, Granger and Weymouth, and people could spend as much time at each place as they liked.

Meanwhile, 159 runners and their families packed the back of the Heritage Farm buildings for the fifth and final week of the spring Healthy Running Series. Kids ages 2-14 ran and were cheered on. They also enjoyed healthy snacks courtesy of Meijer, Pulp and other local sponsors.

The fall series will begin sometime in September.

Now the Brunswick Area Historical Society will get ready for the start of its market season, with a new name -- Sunday at the Farm -- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays starting June 11.

To learn more, go to https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091503420952 or www.brunswickhistory.com.