Learn to sew!
Sewing machines became more widespread once Isaac Singer began to mass produce them in the mid-1800’s. Learn about the history of these machines, which appear in our 1890 Farm Manager’s House, and learn two basic hand stitches. Download the instructions here.
Make an Embroidery Sampler
In the 1890’s, embroidery was a way to pass the time, to decorate plain fabric, and to show off your skills. Find instructions here for three basic embroidery stitches.
Make Your Own Lavender Sachet
For centuries, people have enjoyed the smell of lavender. In the Victorian era, people would use potpourris or dried herbs, to scent their rooms, and lavender was a popular choice. Use these instructions to make a sachet of your own!
Lacing Cards
Lacing cards are a fun way to learn how to sew or to practice your skills. You can make your own with following these instructions.
Farmerettes
Most of us have probably heard of Rosie the Riveter, but have you heard of the Farmerettes? During World War I and II, members of the Women’s Land Army of America (also called Farmerettes) tended the United States’ farms while workers were fighting overseas. With food scarce during wartime, keeping farms running and producing food was vital. Many of these women had never worked on farms before but pitched in to do their part for the war effort.
Guess the Artifact Let’s play what is it? See if you can guess what these cleaning tools are and how they were used. Then check your answers here.
Peruse quilts from the Billings Farm & Museum collection and learn about classic quilting patterns such as the Log Cabin, the Crazy Quilt, the Tumbling Block, and the 15-Patch.
Ever wonder how food was kept cold in 1800s? Ice was cut from ponds and lakes in the winter and kept in ice houses. Learn how harvesting ice was done here at Billings Farm and the tools that were used for cutting the ice.
Soap! Can’t get much cleaned without a little, or maybe a lot, of elbow grease and soap. Take a look at these 19th and 20th century soap brands from our Billings Farm & Museum collection.
Matin and Her Calf Let’s look back at one of Frederick Billings’ prized cows.
Chicken Activity Kit Download chicken facts, make a paper chick craft and try the disappearing eggshell trick.
As we celebrate pollinators on Time Travel Tuesday, Emery demonstrates a Fanny Farmer recipe using vanilla, a plant which would not grow without pollination by bees. Accompanying today’s Vanilla Wafers is an oregano herbal tea, an immunity booster also made from plants that rely on pollination. Download the recipes here and watch the video here.
Time Travel Tuesday Mac ‘n Cheese Emery is making Mac ‘n Cheese from the Fannie Farmer 1896 Boston Cooking School Cook Book. Download the recipe, gather your ingredients and follow along!
Oat Wafer Recipe As part of the Victory Garden movement, families were also encouraged to eat “wheatless” and “meatless” meals to save those resources for feeding the soldiers. Download this recipe and watch as Emery demonstrates this sweet wheatless treat that we can still enjoy today!
Stuffed Peppers Check out this Fanny Farmer Stuffed Pepper recipe from her 1896 Boston Cooking School Cookbook – a delicious way to re-use leftovers without wasting. Download the recipe here and follow along with Emery as she demonstrates this easy to make meal.
Whats left in your pantry after the long winter? Download this delicious Fannie Farmer fried pickle recipe and watch Emery as she prepares this yummy treat. Hope this inspires some spring cleaning in your kitchen!
Muffins Learn about cookstoves and make berry muffins from the Fannie Farmer 1896 Boston Cooking School Cook Book.
In honor of Draft Animal Week, Time Travel Tuesday is featuring recipes for some old farm favorites. Today Emery makes Shoofly Pie, a classic treat after a day of plowing fields, and the original farmer “power” drink, Switchel. Download the recipes here and watch the video here.
Time Travel Tuesday -Shoofly Pie & Switchel : In honor of Draft Animal Week, Time Travel Tuesday is featuring recipes for some old farm favorites. Today Emery makes Shoofly Pie, a classic treat after a day of plowing fields, and the original farmer “power” drink, Switchel. Download the recipes, gather your ingredients and follow along!
Time Travel Tuesday – Fried Pickles : What’s left in your pantry after the long winter? On this Spring Cleaning edition of Time Travel Tuesday, Emery demonstrates a Fannie Farmer recipe for fried pickles. Download the recipe here.
Time Travel Tuesday – Stuffed Peppers : In tribute to this week’s 50th celebration of Earth Day, Emery demonstrates a Fanny Farmer Stuffed Pepper recipe – a delicious way to re-use leftovers without wasting. Download the recipe here.
Washing Laundry By Hand : What was laundry like in the 1890s? Lynne, a Billings Farm interpreter shows us how the washing would have been done using a washboard and wringer.
Make Fannie Farmer Berry Muffins : Emery is making Berry Muffins from the Fannie Farmer 1896 Boston Cooking School Cook Book. Download the recipe (along with some cool information on cookstoves), gather your ingredients and follow along!
What to do at Home in 1890? : It’s Time Travel Tuesday, so let’s find out from Christine what folks in the 1890’s did to pass the time at home.
All about Crazy Quilts : Christine explains what a crazy quilt is and shows an example from the collection at Billings farm & Museum.
Billings Farm Victory Gardens: Did you know? Gardening in America was once more than a pastime, it was a patriotic duty! Christine tells the story of Victory Gardens, an amazing wartime effort to encourage Americans to do their part and grow their own food, including here at Billings Farm in Woodstock, Vermont.
All About Soap 
Matin and Her Calf
Oat Wafer Recipe 
Stuffed Peppers 
Time Travel Tuesdays – Fried Pickles
Muffins 
Time Travel Tuesday – Shoofly Pie & Switchel