You are here: Home / Archives for Howell Living History Farm

Maple Sugaring at Howell Farm

February 18, 2013 By

Sugaring-time has arrived at Howell Living History Farm, where the public can join the fun of making and tasting homemade maple syrup (and pancakes!) on Saturday February 23 and Saturday March 2.  Activities offered continuously on these dates from 10am-4pm include syrup making, flour milling, butter making and purchased whole wheat pancakes. 

Sap gathering will take place at noon and at 2pm.  Tree tapping demonstrations will be held at 11 am, 1pm and 3pm.

The children’s craft program on Feb. 23 will be “Sugar on Snow ”(cost is $2.00 per craft).  The craft on March 2 will be Maple Cookie” (cost is $2.00 per craft).  Hours for the program are 11am-3pm. Families and individuals may participate in the craft program on a walk-in basis; groups (8 or more) must pre-register.

Howell Farm is maintained and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission.  It is located on Valley Rd., just off  Rt. 29, two miles south of Lambertville, New Jersey. GPS directions:  70 Woodens La., Lambertville, NJ  08530. Parking and admission are free.  Hours are 10am-4pm Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call the Farm  at 609-737-3299, or visit the Farm website at www.howellfarm.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , ,

2013 Fall Farmhands Program at Howell Farm

January 28, 2013 By

Howell Farm is accepting applications for parent/child enrollment in its Saturday Farmhands Program beginning in February.

The program is designed to introduce children to life on the farm, while parents volunteer time helping the Howell Farm staff work with visitors to the farm. One parent must work at the Farm as a volunteer in exchange for one child’s participation in the program. No experience is necessary.

The Farmhands program is a Saturday only program for 6 to 9 year olds and 9-12 year olds. Children participating in Farmhands will have opportunities to help care for animals, to help farmers in the barns and field, and to join in farm craft programs and games. The program runs from 9a.m.-1p.m. for 9-12 year olds; 1:30p.m.-4:30 p.m. for 6-8 year olds. To register, parents must attend an organizational meeting on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 9am. Meetings are intended for parents only.

Howell Farm is maintained and operated by the Mercer County park Commission. It is located in Hopewell Township, on Valley Rd., just off Rt. 29, two miles south of Lambertville, NJ. GPS address: 70 Woodens La., Lambertville, NJ 08530

For more information contact at 609-737-3299 or visit websites: www.mercercounty.org OR www.howellfarm.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , , ,

Cider making program at Howell Farm

November 7, 2012 By

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but pressing them, peeling them and “stomping” them can be healthy too…as you’ll find by visiting Howell Farm on Saturday, November 10th.

The techniques used on the farm to make apple cider, applesauce and apple pie are healthfully reminiscent of those used a century ago, when people – not motors – powered the cranks, handles and other appliances used to process food. 

From 10:00am to 4:00pm on November 12th, visitors to this 130-acre working farm can sample the work, fun and tastes of a circa-1900 apple harvest. Visitors of all ages will be invited to use the farm’s old-fashioned presses, peeler-corers, and “stomper-strainers” to help farmers process apples. 

For the hungry there will be apple pie and other apple treats. 

Unusual, ingenious antique apple peelers and corers will be demonstrated by Coles Roberts of Vincentown, NJ, who is a third generation apple grower as well as collector of antique farm machinery. His collection includes an industrial size peeler that processes many apples at once. 

Demonstrations of the peelers will be held every hour, on the hour, from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

A children’s craft program, “Apple Head Doll,” will be held on a walk-in basis, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Crafts take 20 minutes to complete and cost $3 each. Groups (eight or more) must pre-register.

Howell Farm is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29 two miles south of Lambertville, NJ. (GPS address: 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, NJ 08530). Parking and admission are free.

For more information, call the Farm at 609-737-3299, or visit websites at www.howellfarm.org or www.mercercounty.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , , ,

Howell Farm Corn Maze open weekends through Oct. 28th

October 9, 2012 By

Howell Living History Farm’s Annual Corn Maze is New Jersey’s longest running maze. The maze, whose pathways form the image of a barn owl, was created to showcase the beneficial work that birds, bats, insects and other wildlife do at Howell Farm, as well as in our backyards, gardens and parks. 

Open weekends through October 28th, the maze challenges visitors to navigate the 2½ miles of pathways that take them through a field where owls and other creatures point the way out. 

Maze goers who find the puzzle pieces that form a map of the maze - and who solve its crossword puzzle and other challenges - are eligible for boasting rights and a listing on the maze’s giant scoreboard. Maze-goers seeking the maximum challenge can try solving the maze in the dark, when moon, stars and lamplight are needed to find the way out.

Admission is $8 for ages 10 and older; $6 for children ages 5-9 and free for children four and under. During Saturdays and Sundays in September, hours of entry are noon to 5:00pm. In October, entry hours are Fridays from 5:00 until 8:00pm, Saturdays from noon until 8:00pm, and Sundays from noon until 4:00pm. The maze closes one hour after the latest entry time.

Weekday visits are available by reservation for schools, community groups and corporate team-building events.

Special programs benefiting the Mercer County Wildlife Center and Mercer County Naturalist Program will be held at both the maze and historic farm on Saturday, October 13th from noon until 4:00pm and will feature theme-related presentations and activities. 

At the farm, visitors can pick, shell and grind corn for use as feed at the Wildlife Center. In the maze courtyard, there will be music, crafts and wildlife presentations.

Proceeds from the maze are used to support the restoration of barns and other historic buildings at Howell Farm. This year’s maze also benefits the Mercer County Wildlife Center and County nature programs.

The maze is located at 17 Valley Road, just off Route 29, two miles south of Lambertville, NJ.

For information about the maze or Howell Farm, call 609-737-3299 or visit websites www.howellfarm.org OR www.mercercounty.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , , ,

Old Time Baseball Game at Howell Living History Farm

June 18, 2012 By

Two New Jersey “farm teams” will take to the field on Saturday, June 23rd, when the Mercer County Park Commission hosts its 23rd Annual Old Time Baseball Game.   

The match-up features the Howell Farm Hogs versus the Jersey Bulls, teams that play according to the rules that governed baseball in those early days when bats were made of axe handles and wagon tongues, and when pitchers (called “throwers”) could be fined for delivering unhittable balls. 

The public is invited to watch or play in the game, which is scheduled for 1:30pm, at Howell Living History Farm. Rules will be taught to prospective players during an ongoing practice period beginning at 11:00am.

In the overall competition, which began in 1988, the Bulls are ahead one game, with a record of 11 wins and 10 losses. There was no game in 1999 due to players being needed to bring in a crop of hay.

A children’s craft program, “Rag Baseball,” will be offered from 11:00am-3:00pm. Crafts take 20 minutes to complete and cost $2 each. Groups (eight or more) must pre-register.

Howell Farm is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, two miles south of Lambertville, NJ. Parking and admission are free. Hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, and noon-4:00pm Sundays.  

Howell Farm is operated and maintained by the Mercer County Park Commission. 

For more information, call the farm at 609-737-3299, or visit websites www.mercercounty.org OR www.howellfarm.org.

 

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , ,

Horsedrawn wheat harvest and ice cream party at Howell Farm June 30th

June 18, 2012 By

The most scenic of Howell Living History Farm’s harvesting operations will take place on Saturday, June 30th, when farmers cut and shock this year’s crop of “winter wheat.”

Drawn by three big horses clad in medieval-looking flynets, Cyrus McCormick’s “reaper-binder” will chatter through waves of ripened grain, cutting and bundling it into sheaves. The public is invited to watch, photograph, or work with the harvest crew. 

Visitors can try their hand at milling in the barn from 1:00-3:00pm, and taste homemade wheat bread throughout the day. Freshly ground wheat flour will be available for sale.

The public is also invited to enjoy an old fashioned “ice cream party.” Music, wagon rides, games and contests and lots of ice cream making will be offered. The first batch of home made ice cream will be ready for dipping at noon and will be served until 3:30pm.

A children’s craft program, “Painted Racing Boat,” will be offered from 11:00am-3:00pm. Cost is $4 per craft and takes 20 minutes to complete. Boat races on the pond will take place at 12:30 and 3:00pm.

Groups (eight or more) wanting to participate in the craft program must pre-register.

Howell Farm is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, two miles south of Lambertville, NJ. Parking and admission are free. 

Hours are 10:00am-4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday, and noon until 4:00pm on Sundays. 

For more information call 609-737-3299, or visit www.howellfarm.org.

FacebookTwitterEmailGoogle+DiggStumbleUponBookmark/FavoritesShare
Filed Under: New Hope News Events Tagged With: , , ,