Activities at the farms

The open air museum does not sleep during the winter season. It is a place to enjoy fresh air in the middle of a historic village. You can also use an opportunity to take a seat in one of the farms and talk with the mistress of the house. In winter season the museum park is open as well as the following buildings: Härjapea, Sepa, Seto farms, Peipus-Russian dwelling, Kuie School, Kolu Inn, Lau Shop and handicraft shop.

On Sundays and Saturdays Large stoves are heated at the Seto farm where one can get warm even in a freezingly cold weather. On Saturdays and Sundays the room is filled with good aromas since delicious Seto dishes are cooked in the big oven and on the cooking range. At the barn a photo exhibition “We, the Roma” by Annika Haas is displayed from October 21.

In the 1930s only those who were well-off could afford such a luxury item as a radio. Those who had managed to get one for the household wanted to share their joy and would often invite village folk to have a look at their new radio and listen to the shows. Likewise, the saleslady of Lau village shop will be glad to have visitors over to listen to modern music or the news of the day together on her brand new radio.

Samovar was the centerpiece in the everyday life of the Old Believers. Making and drinking tea was a ritual that was taken time for and enjoyed. At Peipus-Russian dwelling you can learn to drink tea according to the customs of the Old Believers. The housewife gives tips on how to prepare delicious boiled sugar. Children can try to make rag dolls traditional to the Old Believers. At the barn you can find two she-goats bleating and two rabbits nibbling hay. In the adjoining film room you can watch movies about the life of the Old Believers in Estonia.

The schoolmistress of Kuie School teaches how to write neatly with a dip pen. In addition, visitors can buy old-fashioned postcards and send best regards to their loved ones.

On Saturdays the housewife of Härjapea farm is busy knitting woolen socks, mittens, hats and sweaters. Patterns and necessary techniques will be provided to everybody who is interested. Anyone who is struggling with knitting a sock heel or darning a glove can get good advice from here.

The Härjapea housewife can’t sit idle even on Sundays. Good old as well as fascinating new preserves, roasts, cookies and desserts are made right in front of your eyes. As customary to the 1930s, the housewives use seasonal food products for cooking.

Such a load of work has the smith had on the manor this year that he hasn’t had time to saw and split firewood for the winter, so some work will promptly be assigned to anyone willing to have a go at sawing timber with a two-man saw or chopping some wood. The smith’s wife shows how farm children crafted fun toys from handy materials.

At 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon we set the leaven to ferment and have the dough ready for the first rise. Leaven will be sold in Kolu Inn for any housewife to make bread dough at home.