*The Homestead opens Saturday, May 28th, 2011. The season runs through October 10th, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A Bitter Past: Hop Farming in Nineteenth Century Vermont
Saturday, October 22nd, 7:00 PM, Homestead Education Center, $5
Join Adam Krakowski, of the Vermont Historical Society, for a discussion of the hops plant and its history in Vermont.
In the late 19th century, Vermont ranked #2 in the US as a hop-growing state, behind only New York. A grass-roots effort to re-vitalize the cultivation of hops in the Northeast, and in Vermont in particular, coupled with a surge in homebrewing, has led to a desire to grow hops here and there, throughout the region.
Adam has researched and written extensively about the hops industry in Vermont.
For information, please contact director@morrillhomestead.org, or call 802-765-4288.
*19th Century Apple and Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 9th, 11:00-4:00
Press cider in an antique press, sample cider, taste heirloom apple varieties, play period games, hike the lookout trail, play Valley Quest, lunch. Rain or shine.
Wagon Rides 12:00 – 1:30
Apple Pie Contest 12:00
$8 adults – $3.00 under 14.
* University of Nebraska Students visit the Morrill Homestead, Sept. 2nd-5th
Labor Day weekend the Friends hosted eight students from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln at the Homestead. The UNL School of Agriculture’s Morrill Scholars spent four days in Vermont, this year in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Students spent all day Saturday shoveling rocks and cleaning up damage from the storm. They also restored the underground irrigation canal in the garden- it looks beautiful now. We spent Sunday making soap the old-fashioned way, and then pressed cider with apples from Morrill’s orchard. This was our fifth year hosting students from Nebraska’s Land Grant College. You can find out more about the UNL Morrill Scholars program here:
http://casnr.unl.edu/ProspectiveStudents/GettingInvolved/JustinSmithMorrillScholars
*Natural Art Hike on the Coburn Trail, Saturday, August 6, 1pm – 4pm
Please join us for a fun and inspiring afternoon of making earth sculptures and fairy houses along the Coburn Trail! During the program, we’ll meet at the Morrill Homestead to look at the work of other environmental artists before walking to Coburn Farm, where we’ll explore and make our own natural object artworks. We’ll also pause at the scenic overlook for a sit-down craft and a snack. There is a $3 suggested donation to cover the snack and craft supplies.
The program is for children in elementary school, but parents and caretakers are welcome to attend!
This event is brought to you in partnership with the Upper Valley Land Trust, www.uvlt.org.
To reserve a spot for your child, please email Ally Bernstein at uvlt.intern1@uvlt.org or call 603-643-6626 x121.
*Drawing and Watercolor Workshop, July 11-15, 2011, 9 a.m.-12:00
With Jennifer Brown and Anmari Kicza
Explore the fantasy of nature and architecture through drawing, writing, mapping,
watercolor painting and more. Make your own handmade books for sketching and
finished work. A great opportunity to imagine history while creating something new!
For kids ages 8-14, $75
*Gallery in the Garden, Friday, July 1st, 2011, 6:00 PM
Reception for the opening of “A Sense of Place”, an ongoing exhibit of work by local artists celebrating the 250th anniversary of Strafford. The Morrill Memorial and Harris Library book sale takes place next door on the same evening at 5:00.
Mini-Morrills, 3″x3″ paintings done by artists in the show, will be sold as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Homestead during the reception only. They are spectacular!
The exhibit will be open weekends from 11:00 to 5:00, Saturdays and Sundays until the 17th of July.
*Rustic Furniture and Trellis workshops
Saturday & Sunday, June 11th & 12th
In these one-day workshops at the Morrill Homestead you will take saplings and with simple joining techniques make an outdoor trellis or piece of furniture. No woodworking experience is necessary. Presented by Mark Ragonese and the League of NH Craftsmen. To reserve a place or for more information, email: director@morrillhomestead.org.
$120.00, materials included. 10:00 – 5:00 PM
*Hops Planting, Sunday, May15th, 2:00 p.m.
In the late 19th century, Vermont ranked #2 in the US as a hop-growing state, behind only New York. Diseases and pests forced commercial hop growers to move to the Mid-west and then on to the Pacific Northwest, where the industry thrives today. A grass-roots effort to re-vitalize the cultivation of hops in the Northeast, and in Vermont in particular, coupled with a surge in homebrewing and commercial craft brewing, has led to an opportunity and a desire to grow hops here and there, on small and medium scales, throughout the region. We plan to plant a small hopyard at the Justin Morrill Homestead, to demonstrate planting and harvesting techniques of this unique crop.
Planting will be done on Sunday, May 15, starting at 2:00. Scott Russell of Tunbridge, brewer, author and Home Brew Guru at the South Royalton Market, will supervise the planting, along with Adam Krakowski, of the Vermont Historical Society, who has researched and written extensively about the hops industry in Vermont. There will be ongoing work on the hopyard throughout the summer and a harvest gathering in late August or early September.
Please RSVP to director@morrillhomestead.org.
*Open-Up-the-Garden workday at the Homestead will be Saturday, May 14th, beginning 9:00 a.m.
Bring your gardening tools, a lunch, and I’ll provide drinks and snacks.
Questions? Contact Margie Carpenter – gardener@morrillhomestead.org
