The spring equinox is the day when the day and night are the same length – a perfect time to celebrate all things spring. We’ll start off learning about spring and seed growth, then plan our own seeds in decorated flower pots to bring some spring home with us. Then we’ll get outside together to explore the Castle Hill gardens and look for signs of spring before wrapping up with a snack.
While Spring is the time of new growth, it may still be too cold for fresh flowers or green grass. Bring some green life inside with an easy and adorable mason jar terrarium. We’ll use glass mason jars, gravel, soil, mosses and plants to create a miniature natural world that can stay on your desk or windowsill. You’ll leave with a mini terrarium of your own, plus the skills to make bigger ones at home.
Warmer spring weather means its sheep shearing time on the farm. But what to do with all that wool? Learn about the time honored tradition of wool felting. We’ll start by learning how to “card” the raw wool into soft fiber for spinning or felting. Afterwards, we’ll try our hand making twisted wool bracelets and felt balls to be used for farm-fun necklaces. Wool, wood beads and decorative string will be provided, but feel free to bring anything special of your own to add to your necklace. Afterwards meet our three woolly sheep and feed them a snack! Recommended for ages 6-9 but all are welcome.
Brave the dark of the night in the Dunes of the Crane Wildlife Refuge! We start with an introduction to night sounds, so you are prepared to identify the sounds you will hear, then we hike silently through the darkness, letting our ears make up for our lack of sight. What will you hear? Frogs? Owls? Foxes? Who knows! Debrief and relax with a drink around the campfire to wrap up the evening’s adventure.
Kids Only! Adults, bring your kiddos ages 6-10 for an evening of outdoor yoga play, stories, creativity, and mindfulness. May include: singing bowl meditation, painting what peace looks like to us, painting with nature paint brushes, or other mindful fun! SoulSparks ignites the connection within so we may gather in sharing our wholehearted authenticity. Joining with small businesses & local communities north of Boston, we bring souls together to practice yoga, mindfulness, arts & herbalism.
The Masonic Lodge in Ipswich is hosting an open house with lots of Halloween fund for the kids! Put on a costume and come to the lodge for trick or treating, face-painting and pumpkin decorating. There will also be a blood drive and a caaned/dried food collection for the Ipswich Food Pantry.
After a successful local Fall harvest, the Ipswich Farmer's Market is having a Thanksgiving market just in time to stock up the pantry for Turkey Day! The Market will be held indoors at the Ascension Memorial Church rain or shine! Buy LOCAL ingedients for your Thanksgiving feast for a greener, healthier, and tastier holiday. Fall produce, lots of great locally made gift products and music by Orville Giddings.
Start holiday festivities off early, celebrating the Apples and Wine Festival, the first weekend in November. Enjoy all things apple, try our wine and enjoy live music all weekend. Festivities will include Wine tasting*, Live music, Hands-on cider-pressing demonstrations, Make-Your-Own Apple Pie, Apple samples, Hayrides, as well as loads of apple goodies made fresh in the bakery including hot apple crisp and cider donut caramel sundaes.
Join us on Saturdays this summer for live music from local bands during our Farmhouse Wood-Fired at Appleton Farms. Grab a pizza and beer and a spot on the lawn while enjoying the music and the perfect pizza picnic on the farm. On days with special events, such as our Farmers Markets, Local Beer Tasting and Octoberfest weekend, we will have two bands on Saturdays, 12-2 and 3-5.
Do you know what the highest point at Appleton Farms is? It’s Pigeon Hill, and it offers some of the most spectacular views of the farm and, especially, the Great Pasture. Join Appleton Farms staff for a guided hike to this special spot on the property, we’ll look over the Great Pasture and you’ll learn about this important part of Appleton Farms and why it’s such an integral part of what we do.
