| “ | Snow White: The Farm isn't a prison. It is a wonderful, thriving, Fable community. Ninety cents of every dollar we spend is right here—to keep the Farm going, Posey. Dun: Spend a thousand times more, so we're all immersed in every possible type of luxury—turn this place into a sybarite's paradise—and it would still be a prison, because we aren't allowed to leave! |
„ |
| ~ Snow White and Dun debating the Farm in Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm" |
The Farm is an annex to Fabletown. Located in upstate New York, it is predominantly home to Fables that cannot pass as human or afford a glamour. It debuts in Fables #4 — "Chapter Four: Remembrance Day."
Description
A map of the Farm.
| “ | Sort of like Old MacDonald meets Walt Disney meets Munchkinland. | „ |
| ~ Rose Red describing the Farm, Fables #6 — "Road Trip: Part One of Animal Farm" |
Overview
The Farm is said to be a day's drive away from Fabletown.[6] Most of the inhabitants on the Farm are Fables who cannot pass as humans[4] or afford a glamour;[7] and are therefore required to live there, because Fabletown laws strictly forbid anything that might reveal the Fables' magical nature to the mundys. However, some are humans who opt for the rural life instead of city living, or end up laboring at the Farm due to their transgressions against Fabletown's regulations.[4]
The diversity in population[4] results in a variety of dwellings; from houses and huts, to dens and nests.[8]
Animal dwellings
Reynard's den is home to Reynard the Fox.[9]
Brock Blueheart lives in a cozy set.[10]
Ms. Magpie's house is nestled within a tree, with a set of stairs built for non-avian Fables to climb up and enter. The dwelling is filled with adornments that the owner has collected, as she is a magpie and has a natural affinity for shiny things. After Ms. Magpie leaves for the Homelands, Pussy Cat takes over the space and uses it to store a collection of postcards and souvernirs from various locations in the mundane world.[11]
Baba Yaga's hut
Baba Yaga's hut is an item kept under strict control at the Farm.[12]
Farmland
To the east of the main village are the farmlands, the grasslands, and the livestock fields.[13]
The Great Woods
East of the main village is the Great Woods.[13]
Smalltown
Inside the woods is Smalltown,[13] a town for diminutive humans, such as Lilliputians and Thumbelina.[14]
Main village
The Farm's main village
Many of the Fables live in the main village,[13][15] also known as the town,[16] just off the road.[13] It is a quaint, rural village of huts and houses, barns and stables.[4]
André Gardens
André Gardens is a cul-de-sac where Mister Sunflower resides along with Alderman Poppy, the Dormouse Juggler, Old Maid Hollyhock and Snapdragon. In the center, the bees reside in their own Bee Hive.[17]
Barn
The barn is located on the left-hand side of the main building and serves as a storage space for hay,[2] crops,[2] tractors[12] and plows.[18] It is also used for the milking of cows.[12][19] It sometimes doubles as a meeting room for animal Fables.[2][18][20] As Snow White settles into the Farm with her newborn cubs, Papa Bear excitedly announces that they've prepared a big celebration for her in the barn tonight.[21]
Blacksmith's forge
The blacksmith's forge,[4] also known the blacksmith's lodge,[19] is the workshop of Weyland Smith,[22] who was assigned the job of adapting mundy firearms for use by non-human Fables after he lost his position as leader of the Farm.[23] Besides the primary workshop, the edifice also boasts a modest living space, featuring a solitary leaded window, a bedroom, and an outdoor toilet. The workshop features an open ceiling with sturdy oak rafters supporting slate tiles, and the roof is held by huge beams, anchored in the thick, dry stone walls from which the entire building has been constructed. In the center of the workshop is the forge, with a huge stone chimney. One part of the room was set aside for woodwork. Following Weyland's passing in the battle of Fabletown, the forge has largely been left abandoned.[22]
Giant shoe
The giant shoe inhabited by the Old Woman[4] is located on the right-hand side of the main building.[2]
Goat pen
Nestled in a small hillside,[24] the goat pen[4] houses the Three Billy Goats Gruff in their underground dwelling. Its entrance is marked by a circular door.[24]
Kitchen garden
The kitchen garden is located next to the barn.[2]
Main house
The primary hub of the Farm is referred to as the main house,[4][25] or the farmhouse[24] or the main building.[25] This is where Weyland Smith used to sleep during his time as the leader of the Farm,[24] and where the current leader Rose Red resides in her own room[26] on the third floor.[27] The administrative office[12] is where she, along with Stinky and Mustard Pot Pete, manage the Farm,[12][26] and where Mustard Pot Pete lives in a comfy mustard pot.[12][28]
The main house also houses a single VIP guest room for visitors: Due to space constraints, the Farm cannot afford to have more than one VIP guest room unoccupied.[2] within the same building.[9] Boy Blue's Room, a little attic space, is located on the third floor. This is where Boy Blue lives during his years of community service at the Farm.[22]
The building also included a porch entrance, a short corridor, and a main staircase.[22]
Mary's cottage
Mary resides in a quaint little cottage complete with a white picket fence. The building is situated behind the small castle with two towers and the black and yellow house with a red roof,[29] both of which are to the west of the main building.[2] Following the heart-wrenching loss of her precious Little Lamb,[29] she seeks solace in gardening and nurtures a beautiful garden.[19]
Pumpkin House
The Pumpkin House,[3] a furnished miniature building which looks like a carved-out pumpkin,[10] is located on the left-hand side of the main building, behind the barn.[2] The magicians of the 13th Floor took up residence there while handling the animal Fables' requests for glamours.[3] They also utilized this space for their meetings during the time of crisis posed by Mister Dark.[10]
The square
The main village's open space is referred to as the village center,[24] the main square,[4][28] the town square,[30] the Farm square,[17] the main village square,[15] or just the square.[16][29] It is sometimes used for important gatherings.[3][15][24][30]
Stables
The blacksmith's forge is attached to one of the stables.[4]
Three Little Pigs' house
Just down the lane from the shoe-house,[4] on the right-hand side of the main building,[2] is a piggy-sized house of bricks[4] inhabited by the Three Little Pigs;[2][4] originally Colin, Dun and Posey,[2] then their "successors," Johnny, Donny and Lonny.[23] Their mistake of constructing houses using different materials taught them a valuable lesson long ago.[4]
Tom Thumb's castle
Tom Thumb lives in a miniature castle keep with a tiny moat and curtain wall,[4] next to the Pumpkin House.[24]
Well
In the Farm square, there is a well accompanied by a water trough where the animal Fables quench their thirst.[17]
New Camelot
With King Cole's financial support, Rose Red builds a new castle on the Farm specifically for her new Round Table and its knights.[31] The castle is aptly named New Camelot.[20][32]
Valley of the Big Sleepers
To the southeast of the main village is a valley.[13] It used to be the Valley of the Big Sleepers, a home for the three giants (Johnny, Donny and Lonny) and the dragon Clara,[33] whose large sizes required them to be put under a sleep spell to avoid their detection in the mundane world.[24] After they leave, it is separated from the Farm and given to Bigby Wolf as Wolf Valley.[34]
History
Foundation
An idyllic view of the Farm
Fabletown was formed centuries ago, when the land was untouched fields and forests, in the area which is today known as New York City.[4] At the time, Fabletown was far enough from mundy civilizations that all Fables could live together, but as the city grew around it, it became clear that the more noticeable Fables would have to leave.[35] A piece of land was bought in upstate New York to become the Farm. Powerful spells were put into place to prevent mundys from ever finding the Farm's location.[2]
Revolution
Recently, many of the Fables living on the Farm, led by Goldilocks, try to take control of the village for themselves,[5] overthrowing Weyland Smith from his leadership.[24] Their revolution fails due to Snow White and Rose Red's involvement. Defeated, the revolutionaries' ringleaders are executed, while all other participants were imprisoned or sentenced to hard labor.[23]
Following the revolution, Rose Red is given the responsibility of leading the Farm.[23]
Threat of Mister Dark
The inhabitants of Fabletown are forced to relocate to the Farm[36] after the Woodland apartment building collapses; a result of Mister Dark's quest to bring retribution to all the Fables residing in the mundane world,[6] In the end, everyone, both animals and humans, must migrate to Haven after Mr. Dark uncovers their position.[8]
Known inhabitants
Among the known inhabitants of the Farm are:
Other media
The Wolf Among Us
The Farm is frequently mentioned in The Wolf Among Us, and Bigby has the option of sending Colin and Toad there during "In Sheep's Clothing" for not using glamour. Colin can be allowed to stay in the Woodlands, but Toad and his son will be sent up regardless of the player's actions. Additionally, if the Crooked Man was spared and turned into a raven by Aunty Greenleaf, he is also sent to the Farm.
The Farm also has an entry within the Book of Fables.
The Farm is home to Fables who cannot pass as human — giants, goblins, animals, etc. It is located in upstate New York, far enough away from the mundys to avoid detection. Some of its residents resent their confinement to the Farm, despite its size and comforts. To them, the Farm is a prison. They would be allowed to leave The Farm if they could purchase a glamour, but many don't have the money for something so expensive. Though some, like Colin, sneak out into the city anyway.
Original source
The Farm is based on Manor Farm from George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. The animals in the novel come together to stage a revolution on the farm, ultimately driving away the human owner. Under the leadership of two pigs, a communist system is introduced, leading to the farm becoming a dictatorship.[38]
References
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fables #70 — "Kingdom Come" — note that Porky Pine, Chicken Ripple and Mr. Ginger may be tough to spot: They can be seen in the two-page spread where Boy Blue starts addressing the Farm's inhabitants; Porky Pine is seen in the lower right hand corner, while Mr. Ginger appears in the middle of the bottom of the image, with Chicken Ripple's head, also seen from behind, on his left.
See also
| Fabletown | |
|---|---|
| Governing body | King Cole • Snow White (formerly) • Prince Charming (formerly) • Beauty • Ichabod Crane (formerly) |
| Inhabitants | Beast • Bigby Wolf (formerly) • Flycatcher (formerly) • Trusty John • Grimble • Bufkin • Cinderella • Mowgli • Hobbes • Pinocchio • Briar Rose • Doctor Swineheart • Rapunzel • Kay • Edmond Dantès • Crispin Cordwainer • Thrushbeard • Fairy Witch • Frau Totenkinder • Ozma • Fairy Witch • Morgan le Fay |
| Places | Grand Green Florist Shop • Chateau d'If Fencing Academy • Edward Bear's Candies • Ford Laundry • Nod's Books • Lewis Antiques • I Am the Eggman Diner • Yellowbrick Roadhouse • Web 'n' Muffet Market • The Woodland Luxury Apartments • The Glass Slipper Shoes • Branstock Tavern |
| Unique items | Magic Mirror |