Help Spring Valley prepare for winter

The Schaumburg Park District's Volkening Heritage Farm will teach visitors how 1880s families preserved meat for winter.

The annual Hog House to Smokehouse, presented by Whole Foods Market, will be held noon to 4 p.m., Nov. 9 at Volkening Heritage Farm, 201 S. Plum Grove Road.

"Participants will help grind sausage in the farm house and then watch interpretive staff prepare the meat for winter," said Patty Kennedy, farm program coordinator. "This is great for people to learn how meats are processed before it gets to their local grocery store."

Interpreters also will smoke hams, show salt-cured meat and explain how every part of a pig was used (except the squeal). Children's activities will be available throughout the day including hunting for pigtails in straw and making a pig craft.

Admission is $3 per person and $12 per family of six or fewer with additional members $3 each. Children age 3 and younger are free. Refreshments and food will be available for purchase.

Parking will be available at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. A free wagon shuttle will take visitors to the farm.

For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.