Shovels, rakes and hoes.
These were standard tools of the trade for the typical teen 100 years ago in Southold Town, an agricultural land of potato and vegetable farms.
But in a world where "real" work for teenagers consists of linking up to Facebook and playing the Wii exercise game, it was unique sight in Southold to see some 25 junior and senior high school students from Mattituck, Southold and Greenport volunteering to spend their afternoon working on the newly preserved 23-acre Charnews Farm on Youngs Avenue.
The event was organized by Southold Town and Peconic Land Trust to celebrate Global Youth Service Day, when, according to its Web site, "millions of youth around the world organize community service projects to address the needs of their local communities."
Members of the land trust -- a 26-year-old organization committed to land preservation on the East End -- said they wanted to give the kids a taste of what life is like on this farm, which hasn't changed much since its creation in 1889.
"It's a great community farm for this sort of activity," said Maura Doyle, the events and volunteer coordinator for the land trust.
Ms. Doyle said Friday was the first time volunteer teens worked on this particular piece of land, something she would like to see as a "community mecca."
The kids had a choice of picking up litter along the road, digging, raking or washing trucks and tractors. PLT volunteer Pamela Thompson showed Southold seventh-graders Bobby Becker, Will Richter and Ali Gursoy how to dig holes and plant hibiscus along the property's tree lines.
Ali, a 13-year-old Boy Scout, said he enjoyed getting out in the sun, but he was certain he didn't want to be a farmer.
"But he does," he said, pointing to his friend Will.
Will, 12, responded by shaking his head "no" and continued to dig.
"It's good for the North Fork," said longtime Cutchogue resident Barbara Taylor, who was also supervising the crew. "We're preserving a little land, and the kids are learning how to do different things."
Orient native Tim Caufield, vice president of the land trust, said volunteers have been working for a couple of months to get the farm ready, adding that he wants to see the Charnews property preserved as an educational resource to protect regional agriculture and local food production.
"It only makes sense," he said.
Last April, the land trust acquired the 23.4 acres from the Charnews family, who farmed the property until the early 1970s. The acquisition included the 1889 farmhouse, barn and accessory buildings.
Before the kids got down to work, Supervisor Scott Russell told them how the Charnews Farm preservation makes Southold a special place to live.
"Everything you see here looked exactly like it does today," he said. "And when you're my age, and you have kids your age, you're going to be able to say the same thing."
