planks below the chair rail in the kitchen and deposit the shoe with a note and
this ... sweaters and the use of printed knitting patterns became popular. During ...
Benner's Farm 56 Gnarled Hollow Road Setauket, New York, 11733
631-689-8172
bennersfarm.com
PRE SORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #38 E. SETAUKET, NY 11733
Current Resident Or:
Shoes We did a great deal of work on our farmhouse this sum-
mer. We’ve been waiting to do some of this for the 37 years we’ve lived here. The foundations were repointed, the roof was taken off, repaired, replaced in one area, insulated and reroofed. Finally the outer walls were stripped, the old insulation from another century cleaned out, new insulation packed in, plywood sheathing applied, a vapor barrier added and finally new cedar shakes were affixed to all of the walls. Quite an undertaking! The house is easier to heat now and critters that periodically made their way in have been excluded.
We were on the lookout for objects that might be in the
walls and were not disappointed. When the front of the house was exposed one of the workmen came to me holding a small shoe that he had found on the front sill just above the foundation. It was well worn, musty and filled with very old insulation, leaves and dirt. It contained no map, gold or jewelry. I put it into a ziplock bag and began to show it to folks who stopped by. After about two weeks the initial excitement died down and the shoe sat on the table in the sunroom to be periodically handled and examined.
One day Judy Wilson of Mommy and Me fame, was told about the shoe and immediately began to question us
about the “good luck shoe”. She related that in times past people would hide a shoe under a window or near a door to keep bad luck out of the house. She further explained that most of them were small well worn children’s shoes! We were dumbstruck.
Immediately Jean went on line, googled, ‘putting shoes in the wall for luck’, and found all kinds of information about Concealment Shoes and shoes in general.
Shoes were depicted in Spanish caves 15,000 years ago, and a 5,000 year old ‘iceman’, wore leather coverings filled with straw. Sandals have been found in Oregon that are 7,500 years old. Around the world shoes have varied cultural significance. In the Bible shoes are considered valueless, Moses was told to shed his shoes as he approached the burning bush. Showing your soles in Arabia is an insult and throwing a shoe at someone is doubly so. Because they touch the dirty ground they are not allowed in Mosques. In Greece an empty shoe signifies death. In our culture there was an old lady who lived in a shoe, Cinderella was found through her shoe, Dorothy wore ruby slippers, and movies have had the shoe as a main plot line. Ten years after 9-11, 3,000 pairs of shoes were exhibited as a memorial. It’s thought that shoes take on not only the shape of the
owner but also become the conduit between the earth spirits and the wearer. The shoes become a sort of storage
Continued overleaf
Continued from first page device for the person's spirit. Concealment shoes have a number of odd similarities that seem to continue these themes. They are always worn out and from the working class. Only one shoe is hidden and most are from very young children. They can be found all over the house but are most commonly found near doors, windows, chimneys, under floorboards or by the foundation. It is thought that these were openings where malevolent spirits could enter a home so the ‘good luck’ shoe might fend them off. However there is no written record of why folks hid these shoes, just conjecture. Sometimes they were hidden with other objects, especially bones, suggesting some ritualistic practice.
T he oldest known concealment shoe was hidden in the 1300’s. Northampton Museum in England has an index of over 2,000 of them from Europe and North America. One of them is our newly discovered shoe. I sent in the information about the find and some pictures and Rebecca Shawcross, the Shoe Resources Officer of the Museum, sent back this description. “It is a child’s leather ankle
Knitting My Nana taught me to knit when I was seven or eight
years old, so I have been knitting for almost sixty years! I’ve knitted during summer vacations, through college lectures, music festivals, faculty meetings and pregnancies. I’ll knit while waiting for doctor or dentist appointments, watching TV, on trains, busses, planes and in cars, (as a passenger mostly, although I have taken it out while stopped in traffic!), on boats and in the the camper. I’ve knitted scarves, hats, mittens, afghans, sweaters, socks and lots of baby booties. I’ve bought yarn at stores, thrift shops, yard sales, and craft fairs. I’ve spun yarn from my own sheep for much of my work, even dying the wool for special projects. I’ve purchased patterns, books, needles, gauges and needle holders. I’ve joined knit chat rooms and learned specialty techniques via the internet. I guess you could say, I love to knit.
In my home, Wool is a four letter word.
It elicits a groan from Bob and the kids as it is ever present in our home: in bags, being washed or drying on trays, being spun, knit or just waiting for attention. Having a dozen or so sheep who have to be shorn yearly gives me an excuse for having a large quantity of wool. But even when I bite the bullet and package
boot / shoe with simple lace fastening. It has a cloth lining. It is quite crudely sewn and would have been hand sewn. It may have had a one lift heel now missing. It has all the hallmarks of a concealed shoe being extremely well worn. A large number of children’s shoes have been found as it is thought the spirit contained in a child’s shoe is pure and less diluted, and so more powerful at warding off evil spirits. Given your dates, I do think it could be that early, 1820s – 1840s.”
I also gathered information about what to do with the shoe once found. Some are on display in museums or in the homes they were found in, but most are put back in order to continue the benefits of the luck. By the time we found out about the significance of our shoe, the house was closed up with layers between the outside and where the shoe should be. It is still hanging around in the sunroom but I’ve decided to cut a hole in the old planks below the chair rail in the kitchen and deposit the shoe with a note and this article in the place where it was found. It will not be easily visible there and somehow we will feel a little safer for its return.
up 80 or 90 pounds of fleece to send or bring to a woolen mill to be processed, then made into blankets or skeined yarns, I end up buying more from them in the form of dyed rovings or warp thread to be woven, spun, felted or shared with friends and family…I can’t help myself. Hand made items are part of my world and would be whether I lived on a farm or not. And wool, needle work, lace making, quilting, embroidery and the like are passions I’ve had my whole life.
by men, women and children as vocation and avocation, as necessity or pure enjoyment.
Friends and family use me as a resource for questions,
problems, and basic skills and I have helped a number of people learn to knit. My Norwegian grandmother taught me the continental method of knitting. Unlike the English/ American method of holding the yarn in the right hand and and wrapping each stitch before pulling through, I hold the yarn in my left hand and pull it through in one step. To me, Continental is faster and smoother. The basic stitches, pearl and knit, are the same no matter which you choose. Stitch by stitch, row by row, a garment grows imparting a sense of satisfaction to the knitter. Bob finds it tedious and has offered to buy a knitting machine so I could crank out sweaters in half the time. What he doesn’t get is that I like to knit. I am not a production oriented person and have no desire to make more or be faster. Knitting to me is a relaxing, tactile, and enjoyable process that also happens to result in beautiful handmade finished projects which can be worn, or given with love and a sense of accomplishment.
E arly
in my tenure on the farm, I dreamed of having a little cozy shop I could retreat to when the kids were in school. Warmed by a pot belly stove, supplied with coffee and tea, comfy chairs, rockers and pleasant company to knit with, I could teach, sell delicious yarns and equipment, and generally share my passion. This spring, almost forty years after moving to the farm, I am finally offering some classes in beginning knitting, (I have a friend who may also offer beginning crochet), to kids and adults 8-80.
Knitting is the art of using two or more needles to loop yarn into a series of interconnected loops in order to create a finished fabric or garment. Samples of knitting reach back centuries to the Romans and Egyptians who made toe stockings from silk or cotton threads. The technique was known as a type of knotting but the results resemble our loopy knitting or crocheting. Like many crafts, it is not rocket science. It is just a process that takes a few minutes to learn and time to practice. It has been enjoyed
Knitting has risen and fallen in popularity through the ages. Irish and Scandinavian fishermen wore knitted mittens and sweaters with patterns particular to their family or village which acted like dog tags if they went overboard! In the 1920’ s the vogue was knitted neckties and sports wear. Sweaters with stripes of color were associated with tennis and cricket clubs and Faire Isle and Argyle knits became popular for golf. During the First World War knitting rose in popularity as folks made socks for soldiers fighting in the trenches. Again during the Great Depression necessity powered a revival. Zippers were incorporated into sweaters and the use of printed knitting patterns became popular. During World War II wool was in short supply, so folks began to pick apart unwearable woolen items and reuse the wool. Again, many items were made for the men in the Armed Services giving those on the home front a sense of helping the ‘boys’. During the 50’s and 60’s knitting had a huge boost in popularity due to the resurgence of printed patterns. This demand brought new yarns and colors to the commercial market. Fashionable sweater sets became vogue and girls were taught to knit in school. By the 70’s and 80’s synthetic fibers and machine knits became much cheaper. The popularity of track suits, sweatshirts and tee shirts using polyester fibers replaced knitwear in sports and leisure wear and traditional knitting became more of an art form. By the 90’s the suppliers of yarn and knitting patterns declined. Craft fairs and those who had grown up knitting kept the process alive. Our 21st century resurgence parallels
the growth of the internet which makes worldwide practices available for today's knitter through internet chat rooms, knit lists and blogs, plus easy access to natural plant fibers, cotton, linen, bamboo, and marino, alpaca, angora, silk and exotic animal wools. Novelty dyed yarns which create their own patterns, and ribbon and feather yarns give inspiration and instant-gratification to beginning knitters to turn out beautiful products without years of experience. Celebrities who knit for relaxation have also helped to popularize the craft, and men are taking up knitting again. During the 2006 Olympic Games, 4,000 people took up the challenge to “cast on” a knit project and complete it within the 16 days of the games. The online community has resulted in millions of new and re-interested knitters.
I think I could help a few more of you get into this craft. Come and spend an hour or two learning how to knit (or crochet), visit with our sheep, watch a shearing, even learn to spin or weave. It’s all possible on the farm this spring.
Comings and Goings Hello again and happy almost spring!
Last year was a busy one as we tackled projects around the farmhouse that had been put off for many years. The old place has a new look for the new year! When Bob and I moved to the farm in 1977, there was much to do to keep things from literally falling down. We had to straighten and strengthen the structure of the main barn and construct a new roof on the caved-in north side. The house, which had last been updated in 1929, got an electric service upgrade from 30 to 200 amps as we began to make plans to make it more comfortable for a family of five. Within two years we were almost a family of 6, (Sammy was born in February of 79), so we hired a contractor to close in the porch, create a new entry through the summer kitchen, extend the roof across the summer kitchen and back room, and then shingle the whole roof. We eventually extended that back area, poured a floor and enclosed it. It is now our farm office. Over time both of the main chimneys were razed and rebuilt allowing us to heat the whole house with a huge wood stove. For the most part, that was the way it remained (with some inside finishing, appliances and the addition of another bathroom with a shower!) for the next 35 years!
season. This spring we have to paint trim, do some landscaping around the house, finish the mud room entrance and landing and hopefully finish Bob’s rock garden and water feature. I think the house is smiling at last!
In November we sold off some of our spring animals, then bred for next year's lambs and goat kids and sadly said good bye to Honey, our big old sow. She is buried up on the hill overlooking the farm where she lived for almost 16 years. Our sons will be refurbishing the pig pen in preparation for a new resident piggy this spring. As the December chill set in, the rabbits were winterized and many animals were relocated to the warmer main barn. Our family traveled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for Christmas with our daughter, Kirsten, husband Brian Hunter, and our grandsons, Kelan and Reilly. Many thanks to Erika and Chelsea for taking care of the farm for the few days we were away. Bob and I leave for Florida each year, secure in the knowledge that Ben, Dave, Sam and Cassie are there taking care of everything for us. When we all want to get away together, there is much to take care of and you girls, and Erika’s sister, Krista, made that possible! Thank You!
Last August, we hired a mason to re-point and seal the
stone and cement block foundation. Then, the roofers took off the roof we had put on decades before, the one under that and the cedar shingles from who knows when! Starting with the original feathers, they insulated, plywood covered, and applied new long lasting asphalt shingles. They also re-angled the pitch of the roof over the office so that the water would shed easier, and replaced the skylights.
By
September we began on the siding. The crew took off the old cedar shakes and again insulated, plywooded, sealed and re-shingled the house on all sides. (Read Bob’s lead article about the concealment shoe they found). Both the old barn and the little house in the back got new roofs as we began our busy fall
Now it is 2015 and we are writing this newsletter, preparing for Maple Syrup weekend, and booking guest presenters and musicians for weekends at the farm. The boys are repairing tractors and rototillers for use in the fields, fixing pens and fences and generally preparing for our busy spring season. There are lots of indoor things to tend to as well while the weather is cold and snowy. Ben is reviving our Friday evening concert series beginning the end of June. He is scouting bands to play in the back field on five consecutive Friday evenings beginning June 26th. Check our calendar and website for more information.
Andre' Jr. are so excited! Bringing in the new year, Aidan and Emily (Cavanagh) Foley had James Gavin on January third. Big sister Evie and grandparents Joe and Janet Cavanagh are delighted! Welcome to all of you and I hope to see you at the farm soon. On a sad note we lost Joe Jacobs an old friend from our Northport days and father to Matt and Claudia. We will miss him.
We have begun filling
Benner's Farm
56 Gnarled Hollow Road Setauket, NY, 11733
Spring 2015, vol. 29:1 On August fifteenth,
Christopher and Alexis (Torchio) Wiederman, had their first daughter, Phoebe Maria, who weighed in at eight pounds fifteen ounces! I hear we may have our first farm christening this spring and Phoebe's great grandmother, at 102 years young is looking forward to it! While working in the pumpkin field on October 17th, Ben received a cell phone picture of the very new James Michael Armbruster. His proud parents, Curt and Kristina were married here on the farm the summer of 2013! Just a few minutes old, his picture was sent from the delivery
room in Virginia to our field in Setauket. What a world we live in! December eighteenth, the birthday of both our daughter Kirsten and friend Holly Wilson, is now also the birthday of Holly's new granddaughter, GraceAnn. Proud parents, Andre' Wilson and Jenny Althouse and big brother
thousands of Easter Eggs for the hunts on Easter weekend. There will be three egg hunts on both days, at 1:00, 2:30 and 3:45. If you would like to help out we could uses some egg hiders, crowd guiders and someone to fill our bunny suit…come on, you know you always wanted to be an Easter Bunny! Call the farm if you, your scout troop or friends and family are available either day. We will be selling herb and vegetable starts again this spring and are looking for a new garden intern or volunteers to help with planting, weeding and maintaining the garden and strawberry fields. We keep a list of young volunteers who help with baby animals on Saturdays and Sundays. If you are 14 or older, (13 with a parent willing to stay), and would like to volunteer, send your name, age and contact information to Stacey in the farm office.
W e’ll be busy this spring and s u m m e r with courses, classes, camp, and s p e c i a l events. Be sure to mark your calendars. Registration begins on February first, online, by mail, or dropped off in our parking lot Kiosk. I hope to see you in February for our Maple Syrup Demonstrations, or sometime this spring! We hope all your comings and goings are happy ones!
Garden Corner: Tomatillos One bright Autumn day I found Susanna and her Mom cleaning the husks from a half bushel basket of tomatillos. They stood next to the young pigs who were eating the leaves and paper-like coverings of the fruit. A couple of weeks later we were the happy recipients of some green salsa made from that garden harvest. Yummy! W e’ve r a i s e d these tomato family vegetables for a long time as they are the basis for so many of our spicy relishes and salsas. Like most of the nightshade family that includes eggplants and tomatoes, the plants like full hot sun and well drained composted soil. Like tomatoes they can be germinated six to eight weeks before the last frost, hardened off and planted where they can spread three to four feet wide and tall. Plant them deeply as their stems will grow roots. They are prolific so you will probably only need a few plants. We will be selling young plants during our spring plant sales.
Easter Egg Hunt Easter Weekend- April 4th & 5th, 1:00, 2:30 & 3:45 pm Bring your own basket, and a camera so you can capture your little ones as they discover bright eggs filled with treats hidden just for them! Free with admission to the farm.
Strawberry Fair Weekend Join us on June 6th and 7th for an old-fashioned fun-filled
and delicious celebration of one of nature's finest treats. Our organic strawberries will be chocolated, sundaed, jammed, waffled and available by the pint or quart. Try a sample of Bob’s famous strawberry ice cream and spend the day on our farm playing old-fashioned games with your children, listening to homemade music, enjoying the farm, the animals, and having some good old-fashioned fun!
Tomatillos are an ancient vegetable domesticated by the Aztecs three thousand years ago. The tangy citrus like sweetness intensifies as they ripen. Varieties are marble to hard ball sized and ripen to be yellow to purple sticky fruits inside their paper like husks. Many folks pick them green and early for the zesty aftertaste they add to their culinary handiwork. They can be stored for a couple of weeks on the counter or in the fridge. Try this Central American vegetable to add its distinctive taste to your meals.
Tomatillo Salsa from Susanna Gatz makes about two pints, can be doubled or tripled 5 c Tomatillos, husked, cored and chopped 2 c Peppers, use a variety of spicyness and color 4 c Onions, chopped 1 head Garlic chopped 1 c vinegar or lime juice, or blend both 1/2 bunch of Cilantro, chopped 1 T Salt
Husk, wash and core the tomatillos. Chop into small pieces or pulse in food processor to desired consistency. Wash and chop peppers Chop Onions, Garlic and Cilantro Add all ingredients to a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently for about 20 minutes. Pack into jars for canning or let cool and refrigerate. Enjoy!
Special Barn Concert Sunday May 24th from 7-10 We are pleased to present England's master songwriter and guitarist, Steve Tilston during a rare US tour. He is one of acoustic music’s most acclaimed song-smiths; widely recognised within the world of folk and contemporary music. His words, arrangements and subtle, quite superb guitar playing could be no one else.
Friday Night Concerts Thanks to Ben, we welcome back our Friday Night Concert Series from 6 to 10PM! June 26th: Jellyband, July 3rd, The Little Wilson Band, July 10th, The Scofflaws and two more bands the following weeks. We'll be Rockin' on the Farm!
Mayday Celebration Our 25th May Day Celebration will be held Sunday, May 3rd. Bring the family and celebrate the coming of spring with live music, dance, and flowers! Dance around the Maypole, enjoy live music feed and cuddle our baby animals, and enjoy the traditional crafts, vendors and food at our old-fashioned festival. Proceeds support Homestead Arts Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching our cultural heritage.
Fiddle and Folk Fest Three Stages, Great Music, Dance, Food and Fun. This year featuring the Kennedys, Brooks Williams and another act to be announced.This end of summer treat is held on Sept. 13th, 10 - 7
Spring Break Fun...on the farm! (children ages six to ten) Designed for those of you who are not going on vacation over the spring holiday. What better way to spend your spring vacation than joining in the outdoor fun we have planned here on the farm! Kids will start seeds for their own gardens, watch chicks hatch from eggs, help with farm chores, and care for the new little goats and lambs, play lots of games, make unique crafts and enjoy tractor rides and trips to the big swing. The days will fly by and the memories will last for years to come! (9AM.-1PM. $200) If you are busy part of the week, you may register for a day or more at a daily rate. ($50) April 6th - 10th
Summer Camps Programs are available by the week, half day (AM, 9-12 &
PM, 1-4) or Full Day (9-4) for kids 3-16. With a different theme each day, campers are busy learning about animals, plants and nature, history, science, crafts, and food. With fun and games of all kinds, special guests, and creative endeavors, our campers are assured of a wonderful and entertaining summer experience. Eight full weeks are available this year. Every camper gets a special limited edition farm T shirt. Snacks are provided morning and afternoon. Full-day campers must bring their own lunch.
Our Kinder Kamp group is specially designed for tots and early school-aged children. We maintain a 6:1 camper to counselor ratio with this group. This active hands-on program will surely delight your youngsters as they experience and learn about the animals and plants of the farm. Crafts, snacks, music, and lots of fun will be had by all. Classes are small, so register early! Ages: 3 up to 6 years. Our Explorer group follows children through most of their elementary years. It is the largest group of campers and they participate in a range of exciting farm, nature and craft experiences. Ages: 7 to 11 years. The Senior camp group is designed to accommodate our 12-16 year-old campers. These older campers will spend their time delving deeper into the workings of the farm as well as exploring interests in our ecological historical and natural surroundings. Additionally, they will be encouraged to participate in creative independent and group projects and presentations All of these groups will be in close proximity to one another and we are sensitive and flexible with siblings and friends who wish to interact with one another. Counselor In Training (CIT) program for select 15 through 16 year-olds who apply and meet our criteria. (Call for information)
Before and After-Care Available! 8-9AM or 4-5PM
Workshops for Kids Bunny Blast (kids 4 and up), April 4th
This hands-on bunny workshop allows children to hold and snuggle with some of our new baby bunnies. Children will learn about the care and feeding of rabbits, make a soft bunny craft and more. Taught by Judy Wilson 10-12 $35
Caterpillars & Critters (kids 3 and up), April 11th
Make and take home a foot-long caterpillar that will grow into a flower garden. Learn about the bugs and critters that live in the garden. Taught by Erica Heilman 10-12 $35
Barnyard Babies (kids 3 and up), April 18th & May 16th
Our popular introduction to the new baby animals on the farm will run twice. Children will be introduced to all of our baby animals and discover what they eat, how they grow and how we take care of them. Choose the best one for your schedule. Taught by Angela Montana 10-12 $35
Grow and Taste Garden (kids 5 and up), April 25th
It's Spring! Let's get our hands dirty and plant some seeds! We'll plant an edible vegetable and flower garden to take home, pick from our early spring garden and taste what your seeds will grow to be! Taught by Judy Wilson 10-12 $35
Feather their Nest (kids 5 and up), May 2nd
The Baltimore Orioles have returned to the farm! Help all our feathered friends build the softest nests ever by filling a mesh bag with all sorts of surprising materials to take home. Watch to see what the birds chose and see if you can find where they built their nests.Taught by Judy Wilson 10-12 $35
Sensational Strawberries (kids 4 and up), May 30th
Join us as we hike to the strawberry field, pick ripe fruit and make delicious goodies to eat, take home and enjoy. Help transform our delicious strawberries into jam, ice cream, cupcakes and more. Farm Staff, 10-12 $40
Workshops for Adults Easter Centerpiece Workshop March 28th
Wow your family and friends by creating a unique Easter Centerpiece crafted with a variety of natural flowers and materials. Cassie Benner, 4:30 - 5:30 $35 Knitting Workshop May 23rd Learn how to create your own knitware using this wonderful process! Needles and yarn will be provided. Jean Benner, 10-12, $35
Milking to Cheese Dairy Workshop May 16th
Learn about dairy animals, milk a goat, prepare the product, make butter and simple cheeses 10-11:30 $40
School Field Trips We are booking now for both spring and fall school trips. Our
hands-on programs allow children to pet and cuddle all our farm babies and learn about life on a farm. Extended trips allow time for group demonstrations and a more involved tour. We also provide hands-on Colonial farm programs for elementary children both in school or on the farm. Experiences are designed to show how folks lived many years ago and allow children to try their hand at doing some of the chores and crafts of yesteryear. Call us for more information.
Register Online for Courses and Camp, www.bennersfarm.com
Calendar February, Violet 1 Online registrations begin 2 Groundhog Day 3 Full Snow Moon 14 Valentines Day 21 Maple Sugaring Demonstration 20-22 Workshops/visits for scouts March, Daffodil 5 Full Sap Moon 8 Daylight Savings begins 20 Vernal Equinox, Spring begins 6:45PM 28 Easter Flowers Sales begin, Easter Centerpiece Workshop, Adults April, Daisy 1 April Fools Day 4 Baby Barnyards Begin, open Weekends 12-4, Kids Workshop 1 Bunny Blast, Full Egg Moon 4-5 Easter, Easter Egg Hunts at 1:00, 2:30 & 3:45 6-10 Spring Break Fun on Farm Camp starts 11 Kids Workshop 2 Caterpillars and Critters 14 1st session of Mommy and Me and other courses begin 18 Kids Workshop 3 Barnyard Babies 22 Earth Day 25 Kids Workshop 4 Grow and Taste Garden May, Lily 2 Kids Workshop 5 Feather their Nest 3 Mayday Celebration, Full Flower Moon 12 2nd sessions of Mommy and Me and other courses start 9-10 Mothers Day Herb and Plant Sale Weekend 16 Kids Workshop 6 Barnyard Babies, Dairy Workshop, (10-adults) 23 Sheep Shearing, Knitting Workshop, Fiber Days 24 Fiber Weekend, Barn Concert with Steve Tilston 30 Kids Workshop 7 Sensational Strawberries June, Rose 2 Full Strawberry Moon 6-7 Strawberry Fair Weekend 21 Summer Solstice 12:38PM 26 Friday Night Concert, other concerts on July 3, 10, 17, and 24th 29 First week of camp, other weeks start, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10 and 17th. July, Larkspur 1 Full Heat Moon 4 Independence Day 31 Full Blue Moon August, Gladiolus 12-13 Perseid Meteor showers 29 Full Grain Moon September, Aster 13 Fiddle & Folk Fest
E-Mail address:
[email protected] Web site: www.bennersfarm.com Register for Courses and Camp online!
Saturday Events Benner’s Farm is open to the public Weekends 12-4 P.M. from April 4th through our Strawberry Festival weekend June 6th and 7th. Our nominal fee of $8/Adult and $6/Child, (tax included) entitles you to visit with our animals, walk through our nature trails and participate in special events and public talks. Our Baby Barnyard will be featured throughout the spring to introduce you to all our new animals. Birthday Parties, Weddings and Private Parties can be arranged by calling our office at 631-6898172 or email:
[email protected]
After School for Kids Mommy and Me Our popular program for 2 and 3 year olds in which parent (or care giver) and child explore their senses as they learn about the farm by seeing, touching, smelling, hearing and even tasting. A snack, a song and activity complete the fun of each session. Farm Fun is for young farmers aged 4-6. Meet and learn about a new animal each session. Learn about spring on the farm by growing plants and holding and feeding farm babies. Down on the Farm Boys and girls 7and up learn about farm life through hands-on experience with animals, gardens and chores. This spring we will study baby animals, incubate and hatch eggs, plant seeds and grow food. This active hour reinforces responsibility and group cooperation.
CALL FOR DATES AND TIMES 631-689-8172 or bennersfarm.com
The Little Store A large assortment of seasonal goods: seedlings, produce, eggs, t-shirts, jams, honey, soaps and other farm products. Open weekends in the spring, noon till four
Directions to Benner's Farm
Exit 62 L.I.E. North, (Nichols Rd.), to 25A, East 5 lights, Right on Old Town Rd. (at Apple Bank). Right at Stop sign, (Gnarled Hollow Rd.). Second and Third driveway on Right side.
