It’s Hay Cutters & Summer Pasture at Historic Mill Creek starting Sunday, July 21 and running through Saturday, July 27. Through the week, special programs will explore historic hay making at the Straits of Mackinac. Learn about sedges, rushes, and other wild plants which fed the King’s cattle in 1781. See which tools were used to harvest “tame hay,” and hay-making artifacts uncovered at Historic Mill Creek. You may leave humming the barley-mowers’ song, with fresh appreciation of plants which thrive under the hot summer sun. 

“Though it isn’t obvious today, growing hay was important at Mill Creek from about 1790-1840,” shares naturalist Kyle Bagnall. “During the special week visitors can learn all about the plants, tools, and people of hay making at the Straits. Search for sedges in the pond, hunt for 4-leaf clovers, and see a swinging scythe during daily programs. Also join in the chorus of rhymes that celebrate humble plants of the meadow and summer work of hay cutters in the 19th century.”

Special programs will take place at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., replacing the regularly scheduled Farming at Mill Creek programs. In addition, trained naturalists will also highlight the theme of hay cutting and summer pasture in their regularly scheduled programs.

Guests are encouraged to explore the three-plus miles of hiking trails available at the site. In addition, regular sawpit and sawmill demonstrations will take place throughout the day. All special programs are included with regular admission.

The site opens for the day at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m., with last admission/last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. The site features a working water-powered sawmill, pitsaw demonstrations, naturalist programs, guided walks, artifact-rich exhibits, and more than three miles of hiking trails.

More information on the event can be found hereTickets can be found here. A downloadable version of this release can be found here. Additional pictures available upon request.