As the ranch develops, you will be able to learn about Chandler’s agricultural past, discover how early farming families lived, and how they operated their farms in a desert environment. There will be four main areas of interpretation: home life, livestock industries, crop farming, and early settler experiences. The City's Parks Division and Public History Coordinator are developing a master plan for Tumbleweed Ranch. Look for new events and displays at the Ostrich Festival and throughout the year.

Upcoming Events at Tumbleweed Ranch

• Urban Farming Class
  Backyard farming is a fun and beneficial activity that can put a dent in your grocery budget while adding fresh, delicious food to home-cooked meals. If you want to know what to do with that small unused area in your backyard, the Urban Farming class offered by the Chandler Museum will empower you to cultivate that space to grow your own produce. Participants will learn each phase of planting, while practicing their new skills on a personal 4-foot by 8-foot plot in the City’s Tumbleweed Ranch – all under the guidance of master gardeners. Tumbleweed Ranch is a multi-acre site on the southeast portion of Tumbleweed Park, at McQueen and Germann Roads. The classes are on Tuesday evenings, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. beginning September 7 and concluding November 16 (no classes Sept. 28, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2). The class fee for Chandler residents is $100 and $135 for non-residents. Participants will also be responsible for bringing an irrigation timer and fertilizer. Class participants must be at least 18 years of age and registration is currently underway at www.chandleraz.gov/registration. The class code is 301MU.130. For more information, call the Chandler Museum at 480-782-2717.
  
• Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off
  Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  A slice of the Old West lifestyle will be on display at the inaugural Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off. This old fashioned culinary competition is expected to draw wagon teams from across the western United States. The competitors will prepare their foods from their authentic chuck wagons and use cooking methods and utensils in the style of those used in 1880s cattle drives. Meals will be available to purchase, and the event will also feature stage entertainment, family activities and shopping opportunities.
  Vendor Application (pdf)

Historic Homes at Tumbleweed Ranch

The McCroskey House
This farm bungalow represents one of the many homes built by early farmers in Chandler. The bungalow was a very popular home style, since it was cheap to build, simple in design, and practical. The Edwards family built this home in 1917. Many families built a home similar to the McCroskey House, often ordered through Sears, Montgomery Wards, Aladdin or other companies. At the present time, the McCrosky House is open for tours during special events. If you are interested in a tour, call the Chandler Museum at (480) 782-2717.
 

The Edwards House
This bungalow is the “Maples” model from the 1913 Aladdin Company catalog. Will and Grace Robinson built this home a year after Chandler’s founding in 1912. Located at 160 N. Washington Street, this home was among the first to be constructed in the neighborhood east of Highway 87 (now Arizona Avenue) and north of Buffalo Street. The George Edwards family, who built the McCroskey House, moved into this home in 1923 after George Edwards died. The oldest daughter, Bertha, taught first grade in Chandler for 46 years, living in the house until her death in 1989. The family sold the house to the City of Chandler in 2002, during a period of redevelopment in the downtown area. The house is current under renovation and is not open to the public.