Check out hands-on workshops, like harvesting and processing flax for linen; making butter, yogurt, and cheese; how to hatch chicks; needle felting and spinning; preserving the summer harvest; garlic braiding; tool sharpening; make a flower crown; and create rock art.
Be sure to visit the full event listings (linked below) for all the details, including registration & fees, if applicable (though many are free!).
Sunday, August 8th
Textile Flax to Linen: Part 2 at Smokey House Center, Danby
1:00pm - 3:30pm
In Part 2 of the Textile Flax to Linen series, join Andrea Myklebust of Mountain Heart School of Craft in Danby, VT in harvesting textile flax for linen production. Following a field harvest, participants will learn how to source and use the hands tools needed for traditional flax processing: the brake, scutch, and hackle, as well as the process of retting the flax. Andrea Myklebust is a shepherd, artist, and educator who has been growing flax for linen since 2012.
$20/person. Register here.
Butter, Yogurt & Cheese Making Class at Earthwise Farm & Forest, Randolph
1:00pm - 4:30pm
Learn how to make delicious butter, yogurt, ricotta cheese, and Fromage Blanc cheese from organic, grass-fed raw milk! The class is set up in the farmer's very own humble kitchen for hands-on learning, food tasting and discussions that can take the group all over the place...from the nutrient value of farm fresh milk and the joys of homestead farming, to having a family cow, buying local, and more. Class participants will make enough cheese and butter to bring some samples home. For your personal home creations, Earthwise will have some citric acid, butter muslin cloth, and yogurt and cheese cultures for sale. Lots of fresh organic raw milk will also be available so you can go home with all the ingredients to get started. There will be a handout for the class with directions for everything you'll make.
$45/person. Limited to 10 participants. Book here!
Q&A Session: How to Hatch Chicks at Wundorwoven, West Wardsboro
4:00pm
Have you ever thought of hatching chicks? Or maybe it never crossed your mind?! Join Wundorwoven for a presentation and informal Q&A session during Vermont Open Farm Week about how hatching works and their educational programs!
These sessions will be held Sunday, August 8th at 4:00pm and Sunday, August 15th at 11:00am.
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm
Cynefin Farm VT raises top quality wool from happy sheep. Visit Shepherdess Shiloh and Farmer Liza to discover how raw sheep's wool can be transformed into beautiful yarn and needle-felted creations! Shiloh will demonstrate each step from washing (scouring), carding and combing, spinning, and needle felting - and you're invited to try your hand at any and all of it, too. The demonstrations will be taking place between 9:00am and 5:00pm each day during Open Farm Week.
Monday, August 9th
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Tuesday, August 10th
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Food Preservation Workshop at Smokey House Center, Danby
3:30pm - 5:00pm
Preserving the summer harvest is one of the best ways to enjoy and ensure a stocked larder through the winter! Join local food preservation enthusiast Kat Zemmel for a hands-on workshop sharing tools, tips, tricks, and safety measures in preserving some of the August garden abundance through pickling and canning.
Kat Zemmel has been teaching and preserving food for over a decade and homesteads in Danby, Vermont with her partner and two young children. This workshop will take place outdoors at Smokey House Center.
No cost to participate, donations accepted.
Wednesday, August 11th
Pop-Up Art on the Farm: Painted Rocks at Retreat Farm, Brattleboro
10:00am - 12:00pm
Put your imagination and creativity to work as you transform rocks into our smallest woodland creatures during Vermont Open Farm Week!
Free. All supplies provided. Donations welcome & appreciated.
Garlic Braiding Workshop at Last Resort Farm, Monkton
10:00am - 12:00pm
Garlic braiding blends beauty, spice, and wellness! Join Farmer Eugenie Doyle for an on-farm garlic braiding workshop! $30/person includes instruction and enough garlic and flowers to make a 16-bulb braid. If you have your own materials, it's just $10/person for the instruction and farm tour. No fees or charges for self identified members of BIPOC community.
Register online at www.lastresortfarm.com or by phone 802-453-2847. It's preferred, but not required.
While you're at the farm, be sure to purchase some of LRF's certified organic produce, jams, pickles, and more to take home!
Small Tool Sharpening Demo at Smokey House Center, Danby
10:00am - 11:30pm
Stanton Sears will demonstrate how to sharpen knives, chisels, and other hand tools from 10:00am - 11:30am on Wednesday during Open Farm Week, using a range of sharpening tools and processes. If you have a knife or chisel you would like to have sharpened, pack it carefully and bring it to Stan! Stanton Sears is a sculptor who prefers to work with sharp tools and enjoys teaching others how to keep their blades in good condition. He lives and works in Danby.
By donation.
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Thursday, August 12th
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Flower Crown Making with Unity Farm & Sweet Roots Farm, Charlotte
10:30am - 12:30pm
Celebrate Vermont Open Farm Week with flower crown making for kids at Sweet Roots Farm, in partnership with Unity Farm! RSVP required. Send an email to [email protected] with the number of people attending.
Friday, August 13th
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Saturday, August 14th
Pop-Up Art on the Farm: Nature's Crown at Retreat Farm, Brattleboro
10:00am - 12:00pm
Transform yourself into royalty by using petals, herbs, and leafy greens to create your very own nature crown using elements found at the Farm!
Free. All supplies provided. Donations welcome & appreciated.
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
Sunday, August 15th
Q&A Session: How to Hatch Chicks at Wundorwoven, West Wardsboro
11:00am
Have you ever thought of hatching chicks? Or maybe it never crossed your mind?! Join Wundorwoven for a presentation and informal Q&A session during Vermont Open Farm Week about how hatching works and their educational programs!
These sessions will be held Sunday, August 8th at 4:00pm and Sunday, August 15th at 11:00am.
Needle Felting, Spinning and More: The Journey of Wool at Cynefin Farm, Townshend
9:00am - 5:00pm (see above)
To see a full list of Vermont Open Farm Week events, visit diginvt.com/vtopenfarm.
