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| The weeds take over in the early spring |
If you've ever been to Pioneer Village for a tour, you may be saying to yourself, "that doesn't look so tough, wearing a costume, giving tours..." However, when the historical interpreters are not actually giving tours, they are don't just sit around the fire chatting, oh no. Like the times that we portray, there is always some chore that needs to be done at the village. There is constant sweeping, gathering debris and brush, cutting and splitting firewood, building fires, raking leaves, and cutting the grass, shrubs and weeds that threaten to overtake the village on an almost daily basis.
The village is in a constant war of attrition with the surrounding forest. There is constant encroachment by weeds, flowers, vines and shrubs. The elements, including wind rain and salt air, constantly wear on the unfinished wood, roof thatching and daub. There is also an abundance of small critters on the site, birds, rats, mice, gophers, squirrels and insects, not to mention the wear and tear of people walking on, sitting on, and touching furniture, doors, and artifacts, as well as the occasional acts of vandalism by local youths. When you are a tour guide at the village, in many small ways, you actually experience the hardships encountered by our ancestors. The main difference is that at the end of the day, we get to journey back to the 21st century.
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| After a season of hard work |
