Maple Celebration Features Sleigh Rides and Torchlight Snowshoe, February 13-21 at Billings Farm & Museum

     WOODSTOCK, VERMONT… Billings Farm & Museum will host its annual Maple Celebration, February 13-21 from 10 am – 4 pm. The Vermont traditions of maple sugaring will be on display – the tools, historic photos and exhibits on the maple sugaring process. Daily cooking demonstrations and samples of two popular maple recipes, Maple Popcorn and Maple French Toast Cookie, will delight your tastebuds.

Meet Camelot, our adorable Jersey calf, and visit the sheep, chickens and goats, all cozy for the winter in the Small Animal Barn and ready to greet guests. Learn about our herd and our dairy operations in the Activity Barn and find the award-winning cheeses produced with Billings Farm milk in the Museum Gift Shop.

Conditions permitting, Billings Farm & Museum will offer horse-drawn sleigh rides Feb. 13-20 to families (socially distanced) from 11 am – 1 pm. Reservations for rides will be taken upon arrival at the Ticket Desk, on a first come, first served basis. The cost is $5 per person in addition to the purchase of a general admission ticket.

Enjoy the winter landscapes with a snowshoe trek through the picturesque snow-covered farm fields and along the Ottauquechee River– bring your own or rent from the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center or Activity Center. Bring your sled to speed down the small hill next to the orchard. Gather round the fire pit and warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores. Families can also enjoy a Story Walk along the pasture fence featuring “Snowflake Bentley.”

Tour the Farm Life Exhibits to see what life on the farm was like in the 1890’s and find the snowpeople hidden within the exhibits. Learn about the families and history of Billings Farm in our Upon This Land Exhibit. A Place in the Land, the Academy Award® – nominee film which chronicles the development of Billings Farm is shown throughout the day. Guests are invited to view re-creations of the Sitting and Dining Rooms and the Creamery from the 1890 Farm Manager’s House, inside the Activity Barn.

Join us for an evening of fun with a special after-hours Torchlight Snowshoe, Feb. 20, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm.  Take a twilight trek along the Ottauquechee, warm up with hot drinks and s’mores by the fire pit and settle in for some Vermont folk stories told around the fire. Additional fee; reservations are required. Find more information at billingsfarm.org.

Visiting safely Billings Farm & Museum enforces safety standards in compliance with Vermont State guidelines. We take the safety of our staff, animals, and our guests seriously. Each person must answer health screening questions including if they have quarantined according to Vermont guidelines. Contact tracing information and temperatures are taken for each visitor. Face coverings must be worn by all guests over the age of 2 everywhere on the site, including the outdoors. For more about visiting Billings Farm safely, updates on our site capacity, and to learn which spaces are open, visit billingsfarm.org/safety.

Plan Your Garden with Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Master Gardener, Ben Pauly
Interactive Live Zoom in the Billings Backyard Series
Saturday, February 27, 2021, 10 – 11:30 am

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT . . .  Get inspired to plan an awesome garden this year! Join Billings Farm & Museum and the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Master Gardener Ben Pauly for a live Zoom presentation as part of the Billings Backyard Series.

Pauly will lead participants through the process of planning and starting this year’s garden using sustainable practices and a holistic gardening approach. Known for his creations at Kelly Way Gardens and for Billings Farm’s Sunflower House, Ben will share ideas for plotting out gardens, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects, and how and when to start seeds and seedlings. Questions are encouraged!

This interactive live Zoom workshop is accessible from anywhere and will be presented on Saturday, February 27th, from 10 – 11:30 AM. Pre-register by February 26th to receive advance instructions. The workshop costs $15/person; $10/BF&M Member. For more information on this Billings Backyard Workshop and to register, call 802-457-2355 or visit www.billingsfarm.org/classes-workshops/.

Billings Backyard is a series of workshops designed to teach sustainable living skills to adult participants and is underwritten by a generous grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust. Each workshop includes hands-on demonstrations and concrete steps for incorporating these skills into everyday life. Upcoming workshops:

April: Basic Breadmaking with Chef Emery

May: Beekeeping and Pollinators with Troy Hall of Hall Apiaries

June: Backyard Goats with Tina Tuckerman, One Chicken at a Time Farm

July: Backyard Grilling with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery

August: Autumn Gardening and Putting Your Garden to Bed with Master Gardener Ben Pauly

September: Making Jam with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery

November: Fiber Arts – Instructor to be announced

December: Holiday Gifts From the Kitchen with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us at billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

The Fight reminds us that not all heroes wear capes

A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary

WOODSTOCK, VT … Billings Farm & Museum’s 11^th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series features The Fight, an inspiring, emotional look at four pivotal cases taken by the American Civil Liberties Union and the lawyers on the front lines.

Directors Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman, and Eli Despres capture the rollercoaster ride of the thrill and defeat in these deeply human battles. When a mother is separated from her child, a soldier is threatened to lose his career, a young woman’s right to choose is imperiled at the pleasure of a government official, and the ability to exercise our basic right to vote is threatened, the consequences can be devastating to us and to future generations. The Fight celebrates the unsung heroes who fiercely work to protect our freedoms.

The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is produced by Billings Farm & Museum with generous support from local sponsors. Lead sponsors include the Woodstock Inn & Resort and the Ellaway Group. For a full list of films, to learn how to view the films, and to purchase tickets and passes, go to www. billingsfarm.org/filmseries or call 802-457-5303.

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us at billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

PHOTO: Brigitte Amiri and Dale Ho in THE FIGHT, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Winter Wonders, Maple and More

in February at Billings Farm & Museum

     WOODSTOCK, VERMONT… February at the farm is a time for celebrating the season and thinking towards spring! Visit Billings Farm & Museum on weekends in February and daily February 13-21 from 10 am – 4 pm.

Meet Our Farm Animals. The sheep, pigs, calves, chickens and goats are all cozy for the winter in the Small Animal Barn and ready to greet guests. Learn about our herd and our dairy operations in the Activity Barn and find the award-winning cheeses produced with Billings Farm milk in the Museum Gift Shop.

Outdoor Adventures Beckon. Venture through the picturesque snow-covered farm fields and along the Ottauquechee River on snowshoes – bring your own or rent from the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center or Activity Center. Bring your sled to speed down the small hill next to the orchard. Gather round the fire pit and warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores.

Explore Vermont’s Rural History. Tour the Farm Life Exhibits to see what life on the farm was like in the 1890’s and find the snowpeople hidden within the exhibits. Learn about the families and history of Billings Farm in our Upon This Land Exhibit. A Place in the Land, the Academy Award® – nominee film which chronicles the development of Billings Farm is shown throughout the day in the Visitor Center Theater. Guests are invited to view re-creations of both the Sitting and Dining Rooms from the 1890 Farm Manager’s House within the Activity Barn.

Maple Celebration ~ Special Events the week of Feb. 13-21

• Join us for our Maple Celebration including maple recipe demonstrations and learn about the maple sugaring process.
• Reserve a Sleigh Ride Conditions permitting, Billings Farm & Museum will offer horse-drawn sleigh rides to families (socially distanced). Reservations are required. Visit our website at www.billingsfarm.org or call 802-457-2355 for more information and to schedule your ride.
• Winter Wonders Camp, Feb. 15-19, 9 am-12:30 pm. “Fun”tastic winter activities for ages 7-10, including outdoor cooking, snow sculptures, winter crafts and a scavenger hunt at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. Visit our website for more information and to register.

Torchlight Snowshoe, Feb. 20, 4 pm-6 pm. A special after-hours snowshoe by torchlight. Take a twilight trek along the Ottauquechee, warm up with hot drinks and s’mores by the fire pit and settle in for some Vermont folk stories told around the fire. Additional fee; reservations are required. Find more information at billingsfarm.org.

Woodstock Vermont Film Series.  Cozy up at home and watch these feature films: The Fight (Feb. 4-7), Life in Synchro (Feb. 11-14), and The Booksellers (Feb. 25-28). Each film is available for streaming over a four-day period. Tickets and additional information are available on our website at www.billingsfarm.org/film-series

Plan Your Garden with Master Gardener Ben Pauly. Saturday, Feb. 27, 10 – 11:30 am. Join Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Master Gardener Ben Pauly live by Zoom and get motivated to plan an awesome garden using sustainable practices and a holistic gardening approach. Known for his creations at Kelly Way Gardens and for Billings Farm’s Sunflower House, Ben will share ideas for plotting out gardens, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects, and how and when to start seeds and seedlings. Questions are encouraged! Registration required. Find more information at billingsfarm.org.

Virtual Education Programs. Students can learn about farming, conservation and Vermont’s rural history from anywhere! Teachers and schools register now for Virtual School Programs for students in grades K-5+. Slots available February 1-26. Draft Animal Power is also available as a Virtual Homeschool Program on Feb. 23 and 25.

Visiting safely Billings Farm & Museum enforces safety standards in compliance with Vermont State guidelines. We take the safety of our staff, animals, and our guests seriously. Each person must answer health screening questions including if they have quarantined according to Vermont guidelines. Contact tracing information and temperatures are taken for each visitor. Face coverings must be worn by all guests over the age of 2 everywhere on the site, including the outdoors. For more about visiting Billings Farm safely, updates on our site capacity, and to learn which spaces are open, visit billingsfarm.org/safety.

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

John Lewis: Good Trouble
A Chronicle of the Legendary Civil Rights Activist and Congressman
Streaming Online, January 14-17
A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary

WOODSTOCK, VT … Billings Farm & Museum’s 11^th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series features John Lewis: Good Trouble, produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, Thursday through Sunday ahead of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Using interviews and rare archival footage, this timely film chronicles John Robert Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using recent interviews with Lewis, then 80 years old, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. In addition to her interviews with Lewis and his family, Porter’s primarily cinéma verité film also includes interviews with political leaders, Congressional colleagues, and other people who figure prominently in his life. An interview with Dawn Porter by Film Series Curator Jay Craven is included with the film.

John Lewis: Good Trouble is available for streaming from the comfort of your home January 14-17. The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is produced by Billings Farm & Museum with generous support from local sponsors. Lead sponsors include the Woodstock Inn & Resort and the Ellaway Group. For a full list of films, to learn how to view the films, and to purchase tickets and passes, go to www. billingsfarm.org/filmseries or call 802-457-5303.

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us at billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

Winter Wonders Camp

Billings Farm & Museum

Feb. 15-19, 2021

Join us for a “fun”tastic time!

Woodstock, Vermont…Billings Farm’s Winter Wonders Camp will host youth ages 7-10, February 15-19, 9 AM – 12:30 PM for a variety of engaging winter activities, indoors and outdoors.

Campers will explore the wonders of winter including making ice globes, studying snowflakes under the microscope and identifying animal tracks. Other “fun”tastic activities include:

• Making hot cocoa and popcorn over an open fire
• Sculpting animals and people out of snow
• Scavenger hunt in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
• Making a bird feeder from oranges and tasting sugar on snow
• Meeting our farm animals and learning what animals do in the winter

We take the safety of our staff, animals, and our guests seriously. Winter Wonders Camp will follow the State of Vermont guidelines, including health screenings, face coverings and physical distancing. The group size will be kept small, consisting of a maximum of 15 campers and 3 counselors.

For pricing information and to register: https://billingsfarm.org/winter-wonders-camp/.

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.