The swarm

The Swarm

By Terrie Gifford and Bradley Gifford

They call it “a swarming,” much like bees around a hive, but that’s how the Gifford family of Hart Haven refers to their annual spring clean-up and construction project weekend.   Utilizing school vacations  the entire group of 22 converge to complete tasks ranging from cleaning leaves out of gardens to complex jobs like erecting fencing and replacing an entire garage roof.

The Gifford clan consists of the matriarch and patriarch: Mary Lee and Walter Gifford, four children:  Peg, Chip, Bob and Kath, four spouses:  Kurt, Terrie, Cynthia and Brian, ten grandchildren:  Sarah, Michael, Elizabeth, Everett, Bradley, Rebecca, Victoria, Andrew, Emily, and Richard, a grand daughter-in-law, Chenoa, and one significant other, Ben.    The family has owned the 95-year-old home, originally built by Howard H. Hart, for over thirty years.  The house was in Lee’s family before that.  Each year presents more maintenance issues.

The swarming originated as a thank-you gift.  When Lee and Walt invited the family to three nights at Mount Washington Resort in December of 2001, the children wanted to show their gratitude by offering some kind of organized labor to offset the expense of hiring contractors at Martha’s Vineyard.   The Gifford children grew up on a farm and are considered very handy, so the idea made perfect sense.  It is now the tenth anniversary of that brainstorm and the family becomes more enthusiastic about the benefits of gathering with every get-together.

Just ask some of the grandchildren what they have learned about swarming.  Here are some remarks:  Victoria (18), “I now understand how much work it is to keep an older home functioning.  For every job you cross off the list, there are ten more behind it!”  Andrew (16), “I’ve learned to have more respect for older things, especially things that can’t be replaced or have sentimental value.  My grandfather taught me that epoxy can repair just about anything!  Also, to get a job done more quickly and efficiently, it’s important to cooperate and work as a team.”  Emily (14), “We learn skills from the older generation that we can’t learn from books.”  Richard (13), “Everybody respects what the other can do.”  Bradley (17), “It’s important to finish a job once you have started.  Don’t quit until you’re done…and then clean up.”  Rebecca (13), “At home we don’t do this kind of work because we have so many distractions like school and sports.  It’s a chance to get away and learn different skills.”

Every child agrees the best part of swarming is being with the family.  “It’s unanimous!” they shout.   Other favorites include spending the night in sleeping bags in front of the stone fireplace, playing board games when the work is done, and listening to stories as the family crams in the warm kitchen for meals and drinks.

And they believe the Gifford values are different than other families.  “I think we’re closer and we have more personality,” states Victoria.  “We certainly preserve things a lot longer than other people,” remarks Andrew.   “Instead of throwing things out we fix them up,” agrees Bradley.  “And we make work fun!” exclaims Richard.

All the effort pays off for the individual families from New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts since they all take turns staying at the house throughout the warm weather months.  “It’s a win-win situation,” concludes Bradley.  “I don’t ever want this to end.” 

Chore list for “The Swarm”

(left to right)  Bradley Gifford, Michaela Benefit (2nd Cousin), Richard Sherras, Andrew Sherras, Emily Sherras, Rebecca Gifford and Victoria Sherras enjoy "camping" during the swarming work weekend