Schenectady County Historical Society

A Mabee Christmas Carol
2021-12-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
People have long celebrated the winter solstice, greeting the year’s longest night with songs, drinks, and merriment. From the pagan rituals of Yuletide to the trimmings of modern Christmas, we’ll explore the history of the holidays from the perspective of Mabee Farm. The house, properly decked in festive decor by the Hugh Platt Garden Club, will be open for tours from 5-7pm, and at 6pm, we’ll feature a special performance of historic carols sung by our very own Schenectady Historical Wassailers. Each ticket includes a warm drink of wassail (for adults) or hot chocolate (for kids), best enjoyed around the campfire. This is an outdoor performance- be sure to dress warm!

“A Schoolmaster…under their direction:” Mohawk Control over Preachers and Teachers in the 18th Century
2022-01-20 19:00 - 20:30
This is a virtual talk presented by Dr. William Hart of Middlebury College. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org and we will send you the link!
Throughout the 18th century, a faction of baptized Haudenosaunee League
Mohawks demanded that the English Crown supply them with priests, schoolmasters, and books so that they may join the imagined community of Church of England adherents. This reciprocity held larger implications beyond sharing a common faith; it also implied Mohawk alliance with England in matters political, economic, and cultural. English officials agreed to their requests, but made promises that they could not keep. Despite spotty efforts, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts insisted that Mohawks become new Christians by accepting instruction from ordained Anglican priests and tutoring from pre-approved English-speaking teachers. However most baptized Mohawks knew best how to fulfill the needs of their souls: by contesting who preached to them and by dictating who should teach their children literacy and in what language. Drawing on his book, “For the Good of Their Souls”: Performing Christianity in Eighteenth-Century Mohawk Country (2020), Dr. Hart will contend that Mohawks were not mere compliant pawns in the missionizing project, but rather were pro-active partners with the English. My assertion encourages us to view Native peoples during the colonial period as effective power brokers in the realm of missionization and in other spheres of contact, as well.
William Hart, Professor Emeritus of History at Middlebury College, earned his PhD in American
Civilization at Brown University. At Middlebury, Bill taught a broad range of U.S., African
American, and Atlantic-World history courses between 1993 and 2020. He has lectured and
published widely on Black Americans and Native Americans during the Colonial and Early
Republic eras. In August 2020, the University of Massachusetts Press published Bill’s book,
‘For the Good of their Souls’: Performing Christianity in Eighteenth-Century Mohawk Country.
Bill is currently writing a biography of Alexander Twilight, the first person of color to receive a
college degree from an American college – Middlebury – in 1823.

Podcast Club
2022-01-25 18:30 - 20:00
Join us for the SCHS Podcast Club! If you like the idea of book clubs, but don’t have the time to read, or if you enjoy podcasts and are looking for new content and a group to share your thoughts, this is the program for you. Similar to our book clubs, we’ll listen to a selection of podcasts and meet in person to discuss them. Each month we’ll focus on a different topic, listening to podcasts which fit that theme. Guest facilitators will join us in our discussions, helping us find connections to Schenectady and our local history. The group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, January through May, at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave. Contact Marietta Carr, our librarian, to sign up! Marietta’s email is librarian@schenectadyhistorical.org and her phone number is 518-374-0263, option 3. This program is limited to 12 people. It’s free to take part, but open only to Schenectady County Historical Society members.

Dates:
-Jan. 25 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Feb. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Mar. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Apr. 26 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-May 24 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave

American Founders: How People of African Descent Established Freedom in the New World
2022-01-27 18:00 - 19:30
AMERICAN FOUNDERS reveals men and women of African descent as key protagonists in the story of American democracy. It chronicles how Black people developed and defended New World settlements, undermined slavery, and championed freedom throughout the Americas from the 16th through the 20th century. “American Founders” explores how Afro-Americans shaped every facet of American history; the multitude of events and mixed-race individuals included underscore the fact that black and white Americans share the same history, and in many cases, the same ancestry. American Founders is meant to celebrate this shared heritage and strengthen these bonds.
Author Christina Proenza-Coles, holds a dual doctorate in sociology and history from the New School for Social Research. She has been a lifelong student of American culture and history while living and working in Miami, New York, Havana, and Charlottesville. From 2004 to 2011 she was an Assistant Professor of the Atlantic World/African Diaspora at Virginia State University.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Women’s Work – Shaker Style
2022-02-05 14:00 - 15:30
You may have worn a Shaker stitch sweater, seen a piece of Shaker furniture, or heard the “Simple Gifts” song, but did you know that Albany was the site of America’s first Shaker settlement? Women played an important role in all aspects of this utopian, egalitarian society, serving as religious leaders, dealing with business matters, and shouldering responsibilities for running the everyday affairs. In addition to working on the seed and herb businesses, the Sisters produced a variety of textiles and other items for the Shakers’ own needs and for sale to the World. Lorraine Weiss, Education Coordinator at the Shaker Heritage Society, will present a program on what “women’s work” meant for the Shaker sisters. As reflected in the journals, the Sisters’ craftsmanship evolved to respond to the changing economy and trends over the Shakers’ 162 years in Albany.

This is an in-person talk presented at Mabee Farm Historic Site as part of our “Crafted in Schenectady: the Building of a Community” exhibition. Admission is $10, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org and we will add you to our list. Tickets also available the day of the program.

What's So Special About Rare Books?
2022-02-12 14:00 - 16:00
Interested in learning about the history of printing? Curious about what makes one book valuable and another not? Please join Sarah Schmidt, Director of Archives and Special Collections at Union College, for an informal discussion on book history and rare books.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Museum at 32 Washington Ave Closed
2022-02-16
We will be closed today as we host a private event.

Patriotism and Our Shared History
2022-02-16 11:45 - 13:00
Historian and author Dr. Cheryl Renée Gooch will present “Patriotism and Our Shared History”
discussing her newest book, “Hinsonville’s Heroes: Black Civil War Soldiers of Chester County, Pennsylvania”, an interpretation the lives of men from this free Black community who served in the war to end slavery, and their families’ efforts to ensure that they are remembered for their role in re-unifying this country. This event, free to the public, is being held February 16th at11:45am to 1:00pm in SUNY Schenectady’s Stockade building, room STK101. Copies of “Hinsonville’s Heroes” will be available for purchase and signing.
Dr. Gooch currently serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Schenectady.
In addition to her professional academic duties, Dr. Gooch has partnered with the Schenectady County Historical Society to present a lecture for Women’s History Month 2022, “Mrs. Mary Potter of Schenectady”. Potter served as Secretary for the Presbyterian Board of Missions for Freedmen-Albany, NY and raised money for the Mary Potter Academy of Oxford, NC, in 1889 to educate African Americans, including some of Dr. Gooch’s ancestors.

A Midwinter Night's Walk
2022-02-16 18:00 - 20:00
This is an in-person program at Mabee Farm. Admission is free and open to all; no advance tickets or registration required.
Join us this night of the full moon for a candlelight walk through the woods of the Woestyne (that’s Dutch for wilderness). The path will be illuminated and a guide will lead you on a short half mile walk along the Mabee Farm’s nature trail. The historic farm buildings will also be open where docents will share colorful stories and tall tales from our local area. Warm drinks will be available to fight off the night’s chill.

Iroquois/Haudenosaunee Material Culture, 1700-1815
2022-02-24 19:00 - 20:30
Material culture provides wonderful opportunities for studying aspects of the past that we cannot examine or understand fully through other means. In this richly illustrated presentation, Dr Carl Benn will explore the material culture of the Six Nations Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois, between 1700 and 1815. He will focus on how Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas, and Tuscaroras presented themselves to the world through their clothing. Key questions will centre on what clothing did they have? what did they want to communicate through their dress? how did outsiders understand what they saw? what does it mean for appreciating Haudenosaunee history? and how does material culture enhance historical understanding?
Before coming to Ryerson University in 2008, Dr Carl Benn worked in the museum field for 34 years, latterly as Chief Curator of the City of Toronto’s Museums and Heritage Services. There, he fulfilled senior curatorial and managerial duties, restored historical properties, curated exhibits, and produced other public resources. Carl has published extensively, including six history books, the most recent being “A Mohawk Memoir from the War of 1812: John Norton– Teyoninhokarawen”. His current book project is a history of the Royal Ontario Museum. Carl’s teaching at Ryerson focuses on museum history, curatorship, heritage management, material culture, and archaeology.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Memories of Black Schenectady
2022-02-24 19:00 - 20:30
A Virtual Celebration for Black History Month. Watch live at facebook.com/schenectadyhistorical. A Facebook account is not required to watch. Hosted by the Schenectady African American Historical Records Project.
Join us for a conversation with Miki Conn, Walter Simpkins, and Adonis Richards about their lives and memories as Black Schenectadians. This event is part of the Schenectady African American Historical Records Project, a public history project focused on preserving the heritage and historical records of African Americans in Schenectady. We’re launching a community survey which will ask a range of questions that we hope will help expand the community’s knowledge of the history of Black people in Schenectady and illuminate the historical records preserved within the community. We invite you to attend our virtual conversation and learn more about the project, survey, and community memories. Your participation will be an important part of developing the history, legacy and memory of the Black community in Schenectady.
For questions and more information, contact Marietta Carr, librarian/archivist at Schenectady County Historical Society, at librarian@schenectadyhistorical.org or 518-374-0263 x3.

Workshop: Painted Slate
2022-02-26 11:00 - 14:00
In this in-person creative workshop, we will hand paint pieces of slate roofing using acrylic paints. Salvaged from SCHS’ very own Brouwer House in the Stockade, these vintage slate tiles protected one of Schenectady’s oldest homes for a century! Each tile has its own unique, natural age and character. Your bespoke piece can be used as a personalized gift, a decorative art piece at home or in the garden, or even as an address plaque or placemat. This workshop is designed for all skill levels- just bring your own creative spirit. Limited to 8 people, tickets are $40.

Mabee Maple Day
2022-02-26 12:00 - 14:00
This is an in-person program at Mabee Farm. Members and kids under 5 are free. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email educator@schenectadyhistorical.org and we will add you to the guest list.
As winter cold begins to recede, the ground unfreezes and the sap starts to run. On a New York farm, the first harvest of the year was always maple syrup. In this family-friendly program, you’ll learn the process for yourself from colonial techniques to later innovations. And of course, we’ll be able to taste the results! COVID safety will be observed and face masks may be required, pending NYS mandates. This is an outdoor event in so be prepared for winter temperatures!

Mrs. Mary Potter of Schenectady, New York
2022-03-05 14:00 - 15:30
An historical marker in Oxford, NC, describes how the first school founded there in 1889 to educate African Americans received support from Schenectady, NY benefactor and advocate of equitable educational opportunity, Mary Potter, for whom the school was renamed in 1892. Potter served as Secretary for the Presbyterian Board of Missions for Freedmen-Albany, and donated and raised money for the school which continues to operate within an integrated, public school system. A descendant and relative of many Mary Potter School alumni, historian Cheryl Renée Gooch, Ph.D. explores the intriguing work of Schenectady’s own hidden figure who levered her Presbyterian and social affiliations to garner financial support for the education of African Americans.
This program will be presented in a hybrid format: in-person presented at 32 Washington Ave and streamed virtually to registrants. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members and all paid registrants the day of the virtual program.

The Archaeology of Indigenous Plant Use in the Mohawk Valley
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
Food and cuisine shape our regional and ethnic identity. These food preferences were/are informed by access to certain ingredients and their associated cultural meanings. In the Mohawk Valley, archaeological data from Mohawk Native American sites can help researchers understand Mohawk cuisine preferences and how the arrival of Europeans in this area impacted Native American communities. Scott Ferrara will examine how archaeologists use plant remains to understand food preferences and discuss what specific local plants Mohawk communities were using nearly 500 years ago.
Scott Ferrara is an archaeologist and PhD student at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. He specializes in the study of colonialism in the Northeast United States by examining past plant use. Recently, his research has focused on understanding the changes in plant use of Mohawk Native American communities in the Mohawk Valley, from before and after the arrival of Europeans, by examining seeds from archaeological sites.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

A Night at the Museum: Schenectady's Irish-Americans
2022-03-15 18:00 - 19:30
This is an in-person program presented at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org.
Fáilte! It’s (almost) St. Patrick’s day, so come and celebrate the history of the holiday with us. Tonight, educator Michael Diana will present a special talk on Irish history in Schenectady. How did this small Dutch and English town respond to Irish immigrants? Find out with us! Light refreshments will be served, and the Museum exhibitions will be open late.

New York's Contemporary Native American Art Collection
2022-03-19 14:00 - 15:30
Dr. Gwen Saul will discuss the unique foundational history of the New York State Museum’s ethnology collections and present a preview of recent art acquisitions to the contemporary Indigenous art collection. In 1996, the NYS Museum began an initiative to collect Indigenous artwork from artists whose ancestral lands lie within what is now New York. Twenty-six years later, the contemporary Native Art collection numbers over 150 artworks that speak to Indigenous histories and artistic practices. This talk is presented alongside the exhibition opening of “Hobby to History.”
Bio: Dr. Gwen Saul curates the ethnographic collections at the New York State Museum (NYSM). Over the past 18 years, Gwen’s research has encompassed collaborations with Indigenous communities on multi-method community engaged and museum collection-based projects. Currently, she works with Indigenous artists, communities and Nations across what is now New York to curate and develop the state museum’s contemporary Native American art collection.

Podcast Club
2022-03-22 18:30 - 20:00
Join us for the SCHS Podcast Club! If you like the idea of book clubs, but don’t have the time to read, or if you enjoy podcasts and are looking for new content and a group to share your thoughts, this is the program for you. Similar to our book clubs, we’ll listen to a selection of podcasts and meet in person to discuss them. Each month we’ll focus on a different topic and choose podcasts that fit the theme. In our discussions, we’ll explore the topic and look for connections to Schenectady and our local history. The group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, January through May, at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave. Contact Marietta Carr, our librarian, to sign up! Marietta’s email is librarian@schenectadyhistorical.org and her phone number is 518-374-0263, option 3. This program is limited to 12 people. It’s free to take part, but open only to Schenectady County Historical Society members.

Dates:
-Jan. 25 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Feb. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Mar. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-Apr. 26 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave
-May 24 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave

Finding the Law - Tips for Genealogists
2022-03-24 19:00 - 20:30
Time and time again, we’re told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? Judy Russell, JD and Certified Genealogist, will provide resources and specific examples from NY to help genealogists find the laws and legal information relevant to their research.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Kids Craft Day: Corn Husk Doll
2022-03-26 10:00 - 12:00
This is an in-person program geared towards families and kids. Admission is $10, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email educator@schenectadyhistorical.org and we will add your name to the guest list.
In the Colonial past, the Mabees had to be self-sufficient. What few toys the Mabee children had, had to be made by hand with easily available materials. For children across centuries and around the world, a simple strand of corn husks could be fashioned into a precious doll. In this workshop, we’ll teach the history and the practice of making your very own corn husk doll. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $10 per person, members are free. Limited to 25 people.

Crafting Guitars: an Intro to Luthiering with Roy Watson
2022-03-26 14:00 - 15:30
Played at home by both men and women, guitars and fiddles were the instruments of choice for early rural America. Lightweight and easy to carry, these musical tools were expertly handcrafted by specialized craftsmen known as “luthiers.” Today, in a world of mass production and manufacturing, only a handful of artisans still practice this ancient trade. Join us at the Mabee Farm Historic Site as we demonstrate and discuss the ins and outs of the trade with local luthier, Roy Watson.
A lifetime guitar player, Roy shares his passion for music with his family, though it wasn’t until retirement that he was able to devote his time to building and constructing these delicate instruments. Roy specializes in crafting guitars, banjos, and other stringed acoustic instruments out of locally sourced wood.

This is an in-person talk presented at Mabee Farm Historic Site as part of our “Crafted in Schenectady: the Building of a Community” exhibition. Admission is $10, or free for members. No advance registration necessary.

A Night at the Museum: Schenectady’s Leading Ladies
2022-03-29 18:00 - 19:30
This is an in-person program presented at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org.
In Honor of International Women’s Day, we’ll be taking a look at women’s history here in Schenectady. Join us for a special presentation by our educator Michael Diana focusing on some of Schenectady’s leading ladies. We’ll meet intrepid women on the frontier, brilliant physicians, pioneering politicians and more! Light refreshments will be served, and the Museum exhibitions will be open late.

Socialist Schenectady: Birthplace of the Hedge Fund?
2022-04-01 12:00 - 13:30
Alfred Winslow Jones (1900-1989) created the first hedge fund in 1949, but his motives may seem peculiar in retrospect. This “lifelong Democrat or (Norman Thomas) socialist” thought hedge funds — far from becoming bywords for inequality — might stabilize markets, produce conditions of common prosperity, and encourage socialist-style policies of wealth redistribution. Where and when did Jones learn his socialist ideals? As a schoolboy growing up in the G.E. Realty Plot during Schenectady’s Progressive Era turn to municipal socialism. Socialist Schenectady’s effects, it turns out, have reached far beyond the banks of the Mohawk…just not in the way its champions hoped.
David Huyssen is a U.S. historian and Visiting Scholar at the Free University’s J.F.K. Institute in Berlin. He is author of Progressive Inequality (Harvard U.P., 2014) and has taught history at Yale, Wesleyan, the New School, NYU, and the University of York (UK). His writing and commentary on capitalism and class relations have appeared in numerous U.S. and European venues — including the Los Angeles Times, BBC, Le Monde, and Deutsche Welle — and his latest academic article, “The ‘Background Conditions’ of the Hedge Fund in General Electric’s Schenectady” appeared in Transatlantica’s March 2021 issue. Huyssen grew up in New York.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Navigating the Records From The War of 1812 with Brian Rhinehart
2022-04-02 14:00 - 15:30
From bounty land to pensions, there are no shortages of genealogical records for soldiers from the War of 1812. Brian Rhinehart will discuss why these records were created, how to make sense of them, and what those records can contain for your ancestors.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Local Education: How Schenectady is Like Home
2022-04-14 19:00 - 20:30
Jakubowski’s recent research delves into the history of Schenectady’s schools — how reforms over the last 200 years affected Electric City schools and the once rural but now suburban schools around Schenectady County. He will explore how the local Schenectady County area was part of rural, urban, and then suburban growth, decline, change, and practice and policy implementation.
Casey Jakubowski, PhD is the author of two books, Thinking About Teaching, and A Cog in the Machine. After 20 years of K-12 experience, Dr Jakubowski now works with education students at the college level. He teaches courses in history, and is working on a manuscript on the history of education reform in New York State.
This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

Art Exhibit Opening: "Painting Forward: Past to Present" w/ Tina Johnston
2022-04-16 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for the exhibition opening of “Painted Forward: Past to Present” at the Mabee Farm Historic Site! Artist Tina Johnston will discuss the nature of her artwork and the catalyst for this body of work. Light refreshments provided.
“Painted Forward” presents paintings from the 1860s to 1920s repurposed in silk and reimagined with the figures holding digital devices. The luminosity and soft texture of silk, along with the gentle lines and melting colors provides visual serenity and adds new meaning to these historic images.
Local artist Tina Johnston is mesmerized by the radiance of silk; the capricious movement of liquid dyes is infectious. Johnston lives and paints in the Capital District of NY and is a member of the Schenectady Art Society.
$10 or FREE for members

Earth Night
2022-04-22 16:00 - 20:00
Earth Night is an evening celebration of sustainability and living in harmony with the planet. Gather together with friends and neighbors as we present down-to-earth music, art, and workshops that honor Mother Earth and our natural surroundings. The fun starts at 4pm, and we’ll be on site until 8, finishing the evening with a campfire and stories from the Earth.
These times are subject to change.
Raptors of the Northeast (5-7pm): Meet the birds of prey! Three to four live hawks, owls and falcons will come for a face-to-face exploration of what it takes to be a raptor. The optional slideshow enhances the program with a wider range of species and topic possibilities. Presented by the Vermont Museum of Natural History.
Forest Bathing (6-7pm): Walk our trails with Diane Kavanagh-Black and experience the healing and wellness-promoting effects of forest bathing! Awaken your senses and reconnect with nature during this mindful walk. Together, we’ll experience a series of guided, gentle invitations to open the senses, cultivate presence, and invite healing interactions between people and the natural world.
Music by Earth’s Children (5-8pm): Refined tones plucked from raw land. Earth’s Children is an improvisational rock collective with members on the east and west coasts. Each performance is a unique combination of players and styles. Earth’s Children have been recording and cataloguing their music independently since 2013.
Aquatic Life (4-7pm): Come explore the mysterious organisms living in a pond near you! Educator George Steele has brought various aquatic samples for young biologists to study.
The Secret Lives of Herbs with Cornell Cooperative Extension (4pm-7pm): Mabee’s herb garden sprang back to life in the last few years, thanks to the help of Cornell Master Gardeners, who welcomed the idea of sprucing up the long-neglected area. Over the course of a year, they cleared the area of weeds, exposing a lovely stone border and path through the garden. There, they found inspiration for their herb garden design, and planted herbs and flowers common to the 1700s. Master Gardeners will be on site to discuss herbs in the garden, including betony, borage, calendula, chamomile, dill, mountain mint, penstemon, sage, sweet woodruff, tansy and wild quinine, answer gardening questions, and do free soil testing.
Farm Management (4-7pm): Meet Farmer John, who will introduce the farm animals, talk about compost, and then tour the fields and orchards, pointing out his sustainability tips.
Kids Crafts (4-7pm): Explore our educational raised bed garden and help us get it ready for this season. Search around for signs of spring, and meet the new additions to our goat and sheep family while saying hello to old friends like our chickens and cats. Help us harvest rocks from the field, and then get creative with painting a rock craft to take home!
Campfire (7-8pm): Savor the pinks and purples of Mabee’s twilight while enjoying a beverage around the campfire. Our educator will spin stories of the Earth, and participants are encouraged to bring their own tall tales.

Workshop: Hooked on Blacksmithing
2022-04-24 10:00 - 16:00
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at forging, this is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics of blacksmithing in a fun, inclusive environment. Starting with building a coal fire, you will learn about the various tools of the shop and progress to hand forging functional objects. Spend the day exploring your creativity…and walk away with some finished pieces showcasing your new skills! This workshop is $150 and open to students 16+.
Since 1985, blacksmith John Ackner has been making historical and restoration hardware, decorative pieces, and custom weaponry.

Test
2022-04-28 08:00 - 17:00
