Village@work

Gabrielle McMahon-Csaki, Preserve Technician

The end of summer at Shaker Village brings blooming goldenrod and white wing stem at West Lot, monarchs flitting over the milkweed on their migration southward, and flushes of bright white mushrooms in the woods along Shawnee Run. The seasonal change also marks the beginning of a new period: the Snapshot USA field season.

Snapshot USA is a collaborative nationwide mammal survey affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. For the past seven years, organizations across all fifty states have deployed trail cameras with standardized protocols to collect wildlife data that can be used for conservation management and research studies. Last fall was Shaker Village’s first year as a participant.

A Perfect Match

Shaker Village’s “3,000 acres of discovery” are incredibly well-suited to participate in the survey – there is a gradient of mixed grass prairie, deciduous hardwood forest, and xeric cliffs of the Palisades, a diversity of habitats that suggests that the nature preserve would be host to a healthy northeastern mammal community. Coyotes howl in the evenings, white-tailed deer scamper out from beneath the sycamores each twilight, and the occasional possum shows its toothy smile in the Historic Village.

There is also a possibility that some of Kentucky’s rarest mammals could call the preserve their home. Cane-breaks on the property could provide habitat for golden mice and least weasels, and the limestone crevices on the cliffs above the Kentucky River could hide Alleghany woodrats and their middens of nuts and seeds. Golden mice, least weasels, and woodrats are all highly secretive in their habits. Trail camera surveys allow members of the preserve team to look out for these sensitive mammals with minimal disturbance to their habitats.

Location Matters

Trail camera locations across the Village were selected to encompass a variety of forested habitats, from the heavily invaded bush honeysuckle thickets along forest edges where we host Stewardship Saturdays, to the pawpaw understories along the Kentucky River. Locations away from the trail system were selected to ensure hiker privacy.

After trail cameras are retrieved, the images are uploaded to an artificial intelligence software that sorts them based on when the camera was triggered. The AI generates a suggestion for the species and number of animals that are in each image sequence. The researchers for each site must painstakingly confirm each of these suggestions to ensure that each observation is accurate. Many rainy or snowy winter days were spent checking over our camera images and confirming identifications of raccoons, possums, and hundreds of eastern gray squirrels dashing up trees and over the leaf litter.

Over the course of the two-month survey period last fall, Shaker Village was able to capture more than 3,000 trail camera image sequences – that’s roughly 33,000 images of wildlife on the preserve. We detected at least fifteen species of mammals, including bobcats, coyotes, and southern flying squirrels. While Snapshot USA is focused on mammal activity, the preserve’s trail cameras also captured twelve species of birds, including the preserve’s honorary mascot, the bobwhite quail.

This fall, Shaker Village is participating again in Snapshot USA, with four additional camera locations in the hopes of continuing to collect data on the animals that reside in this historic corner of the Bluegrass.

The first set of trail cameras for the 2026 rendition of Snapshot USA have already been deployed on the preserve. We hope that we can collect and share even more information about Shaker Village’s wildlife!

To learn more about the preserve at Shaker Village click here.

HP Lovelace, Farm Manager

It’s been an amazing year for growing grass. Looking out at the lush green pastures and lawns, I’m surprised it’s late September and not late June. And of course, I’m grateful for this bounty as are the fattened livestock and the myriad of creatures that call this grass home. There are, of course, places where I sometimes wish the grass might take a break such as along stone or wooden fencerows and particularly beneath the bee hives.

Beyond any aesthetics, tall grass compromises the health of the bees. Tall vegetation increases moisture, reduces ventilation and creates an ideal habitat for the dreaded hive beetles which can and are devastating colonies in the southeast United States. For that reason, all but three of our 39 hives are elevated above concrete. For the remaining hives, the grass must be cut.

Unfortunately, bees are not privy to these noble intentions and have been known to retaliate with fierce attacks. Bees are sensitive to noise, vibration, and changes in air quality. So, herbicides that broadcast toxins, along with mowers and weed eaters that shake the ground and release CO2 are probably the wrong tools for the job.

At Shaker Village, we elect to use a scythe, as the Shakers probably did. The scythe is nearly silent, and it’s possible to complete the task without alerting the bees to our work. We still wear protective equipment, arrive before the sun tells the bees it’s time to fly, try to hold our breath or at least refrain from talking, and consciously avoid any accidental contact with the bee boxes. And we are always prepared, if necessary, to run!

Bees are amazing—their ability to pollinate the flowers and then create honey and beeswax is nothing short of a miracle. It is a joy, in our small way, to lend a hand. 

You can taste the fruits of our labor by purchasing a bottle of Shaker Village Honey online or in our onsite Shops.

Amanda Birch, Development Coordinator

For more than 200 years, Shaker Village has been shaped by people who returned again and again — to work the land, to care for one another and to preserve something larger than themselves. That spirit still guides us today.

This March, we are proud to introduce Membership at Shaker Village — an evolution of our Annual Pass program that reflects not just how people visit the Village, but why they return.

At its heart, much remains the same. Membership continues to offer complimentary access to The Historic Centre, The Farm and The Preserve. It provides the freedom to walk the trails, attend signature events and return as often as you like throughout the year. The value that passholders have come to rely on — access, flexibility and ease — continues unchanged.

What has evolved is the way those benefits come together.

Membership brings greater intention to how people experience the Village. In addition to the access members already enjoy, the program now includes new ways to deepen that relationship — from preferred member benefits across the site to thoughtfully designed member-only experiences throughout the year.

These experiences are designed to slow the pace and invite return visits. They create opportunities for members to linger, learn something new and experience the Village in ways not always possible during a single-day visit.

Membership also reflects a rhythm of return. Through frequent visits and shared experiences, members become part of the ongoing life of the Village—shaping how it is experienced today and carried forward over time.

Membership at Shaker Village is not a departure from what people know. It is a refinement of what has always mattered. It is about access, made easier. Connection, made deeper. Stewardship, made visible.

We invite you to explore Membership at Shaker Village — and to continue making this place part of your life, season after season.

Learn more about Membership at Shaker Village by visiting our website and reach out to our team at [email protected].

Amanda Birch, Development Coordinator

Every year Pleasant Hill unfolds in its own rhythm. In 2025, that rhythm was shaped by moments of renewal, community and connection from the first bright days of spring to the final celebrations of the season. Across the Village, guests explored, learned and shared in the simple joys that make this place feel like coming home.

As we reflect on all that happened this year, we’re grateful for the steady work that continues to strengthen the Village and carry its spirit forward.

A Year Filled with Shared Experiences

One of the most joyful parts of 2025 was welcoming guests back for traditions both new and old.

• Our nine signature events created moments of celebration, creativity and togetherness throughout the year.
• Explorer Summer Camp filled the Village with curiosity and confidence, with scholarships helping local students join in the fun.
• Families returned for hands-on programs, guided walks and opportunities to discover the Village through fresh eyes.
• Music drifted across the Village all year, including standout performances by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Louisville Orchestra.

Preservation Work That Honors the Past

This year brought meaningful progress across the historic site, with careful stewardship guiding
each project.

• Preservation efforts continued at the East Family Wash House, helping ensure this building remains part of the Village’s story for generations.
• The 1839 Trustees’ Office feasibility study concluded, and the project entered the design phase, shaping the vision for preserving and reimagining this landmark of Shaker hospitality.
• The Carriage House was fully restored after an unprecedented storm caused a tree to fall onto the building, using as many original materials as possible to complete the reconstruction.
• Fresh paint brightened the Stables, Preserve Barn, run-in sheds and the Old Ministry’s Workshop, preserving these working spaces and keeping them welcoming for staff, animals and guests.
• Restoration continued at the West Lot Timber Frame Stable, protecting this rare surviving structure with historically grounded attention.
• Work kicked off at the North Lot Dwelling, beginning a significant chapter in restoring one of Pleasant Hill’s most important structures.

Hospitality Rooted in Tradition

Warm hospitality is a defining thread of Shaker Village, and this year brought new improvements that made the guest experience even more memorable.

• Family-style dining returned to The Trustees’ Table, featuring dishes inspired by Shaker tradition and crafted with produce grown right here on the Farm.
• The Inn strengthened its guest services through dedicated leadership, focusing on the thoughtful touches that turn a stay into a cherished memory.
• A refreshed administrative workspace created a more comfortable and efficient environment for the teams who support every corner of the Village.

Caring for a Living Landscape

From the Preserve to the riverfront, the land at Pleasant Hill continued to flourish through
mindful stewardship.

• Long-term ecological work including bird banding, butterfly tagging and habitat monitoring remained central to caring for the Preserve.
• Prairie restoration progressed alongside plank-fence replacements, strengthening the health and safety of the landscape.
• A new, sustainable effort brought goats into the work of invasive plant control, blending agriculture, conservation and creativity.
• The Farm continued its seed-to-table tradition, nurturing the ingredients that supply the Trustees’ Table with fresh, seasonal flavors.
• Two grants-funded investments helped replace the riverfront boat ramp, creating a safer and more accessible experience for guests exploring the waterway.

Sharing the Shaker Story Every Day

Throughout 2025, visitors connected with Pleasant Hill’s history in meaningful and memorable ways.

• A temporary Carol Peachee photography exhibit in the Centre Family Dwelling offered a fresh look at Shaker life, craftsmanship and belief through photography.
• Daily tours and school field trips brought stories of community, innovation and resilience to life for guests of all ages.
• Volunteers arrived in record numbers, especially during It Takes a Village Volunteer Day, helping tackle projects that keep the Village strong.

Looking Forward

As we close out 2025, we do so with deep appreciation for the people who walk these paths, share in these experiences and care about this special place. This year’s work in preservation, hospitality, education and stewardship reflects the ongoing story of Pleasant Hill. It’s a story still unfolding, carried forward by a community that believes in what this Village offers the world.

Here’s to the year ahead and to all the moments of discovery, connection and renewal still to come.