May Brings Bustling Merriment to Billings Farm & Museum
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT…Like the buzzing of the busy bees, Billings Farm & Museum will be teeming with excitement in May. Get Ready for Draft Animal Day, Date Night Cooking Class, Fiber Arts Classes for adults, Pre-K Story Time for kids & more.
Teamsters from all over the state and beyond will convene for the raw power of Draft Animal Day on May 8, 10AM – 5PM. Visitors can try their hand at plowing the fields, enjoy the Parade of Oxen and Working Steers from the bleachers, and get up close to a beautiful draft horse with a Harnessing Demonstration. In celebration of Mother’s Day, mothers receive free admission. Children can earn a ribbon in the Hobby Horse Barrel Racing or make wearable art with a Huck’s Ears headband. Historic farm recipes including Shoofly Pie and Switchel will be presented throughout the day in the 1890 Farm Manager’s House.
The TRAILBREAK Taps + Tacos Trailer will be on site from 11AM – 4PM serving tacos, street corn, chips and salsa, and Jarritos Mexican sodas. Guests will also enjoy the beer garden featuring draft beer and margaritas.
Dynamic Programing throughout the month:
The Billings Backyard Series presents “Use the Whole Chicken” on Saturday, May 14 from 10AM – 12PM. Farm to Table Manager, Chef Emery Gray will introduce several methods and recipes using the whole chicken. From roasted chicken to soul-soothing chicken broth, this class will teach techniques to break down the bird for cooking or freezing and make a delicious broth from food scraps. Save money, cut down on food waste, and savor the tasty results. billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard/
Date Night Cooking Class, Thursday, May 19, 5:30PM – 8PM. Led by Farm to Table Manager, Chef Emery Gray and using local, seasonal ingredients, this Date Night Cooking Class will feature a pan-Asian menu. Couples will prepare a multi-course meal featuring an appetizer of Kimchi Pancakes, a Spring Roll Salad, and Sticky Maple Orange Chicken or Vegetables for the main entree. Couples will have a chance to dine on their delicious creations on the Billings Farm Terrace. The evening will conclude with a delectable dessert prepared by Chef Gray, former Pastry Chef de Partie at the Woodstock Inn & Resort. The Date Night Cooking fun will continue with Mediterranean food on August 8 and Italian cuisine on November 3. billingsfarm.org/datenightcooking/
Fiber Arts for Adults: Three-Part Quilting Series, May 31, June 7, and June 14 9:30AM – 11:00AM
Upper Valley native and fiber and textile artisan Tiana St. James will be sharing her quilting knowledge in a three-part Fiber Arts Class for Adults. This class is an introduction to hand-sewn quilting. Participants will learn about materials, tools, and measurements and how to lay out and cut patterns and sew patchwork rows. Students will emerge with finished quilt squares and a deeper understanding of the quilting process. billingsfarm.org/fiberartsquiltingclass/
Pre-K Story Time Thursdays, 9:30AM – 11:00AM in May, July, and September
Enjoy programming for the little ones with stories, snacks, and a visit to the farm. The class is designed for preschool aged children (3-5) and their adult companion. billingsfarm.org/prekstorytime/
Grow with us! Make positive progress with initiatives, growth, and a chance to get involved:
The Farmstead Garden expansion is underway. Designed by Creative Director of Landscape and Design, Ben Pauly, the 7,300-sq-ft site doubles the space for guests to learn about food systems and techniques for home gardening. When it opens in late June, guests can wander the meandering pathways through five distinct gardens, under trellises and arbors and past hundreds of varieties of plants and flowers.
Take the Eat Local Billings Sustainability Challenge. Reduce your carbon footprint, support local farmers and producers, and promote responsible agriculture. Visit billingsfarm.org for resources, ideas and recipes made with local products.
The Billings Farm Volunteer Program offers opportunities to make meaningful connections with the Billings community on a daily basis. Volunteers make new friends, learn new skills, and share enthusiasm for farming, rural life, and history. For more information and to get involved, please visit billingsfarm.org/volunteer/.
