Celebrate the Solstice with your family at the farm! We are excited to celebrate the Scandinavian solstice tradition of welcoming the Nisse elf to the farm to bless our animals, fields and farmers.
Decorate your door with a gorgeous holiday wreath created from a variety of evergreen boughs foraged from our historic farm property. Join us December 9th or 10th in the barn where we will guide you in designing and decorating your wreath with a variety of natural materials such as berries, pine cones, and dried forage. We will provide a 12” wreath frame, wire, evergreens, decorating materials, garden shears and work gloves; you will bring your creativity!
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our stone paddock. Gather around for a farm story with one of our farmers!
To encourage outdoor play and familiarity with the natural world, a nature-based toddler play group will be held at Appleton Farms every Wednesday. Come to one or all of the sessions, explore the fields and forest, and imagine hidden worlds beneath our feet and above our heads. Children and their caregivers will peek under rocks, inspect tree bark for hiding bugs, jump in puddles, and have fun together in the fields, forests, and ponds. Recommended for ages 2-5; babies in backpacks are welcome.
Ever wanted to know what a farmer’s life is like? Find out at Appleton Farms for one or more of our “Farmer for a Day” drop-off programs! In the holiday week before New Years, we’ll be exploring a farmer’s life through authentic barnyard chores, fun-filled farm adventures, and traditional crafts. On one day, your child may learn about dairy farming through hands-on games and a tour of the milking barn. On another, they’ll discover the process of making clothes by collecting fibers from our Angora rabbits and creating yarn of their own. Every day, they’ll explore the forests and fields of Appleton, enjoy a craft and a story, and get their hands dirty with animal chores!
Join Pastry Chef Sam Burns to construct and decorate festive gingerbread houses to celebrate the winter season. Construction material will include house-made gingerbread, frostings, and fondant. An array of nostalgic candies will provide the finishing details to our construction project. Suitable for ages 6+, the only requirements are imagination, patience and persistence with a piping bag. Homemade cocoa and sweets will be provided to fuel our project, and constructed gingerbread homes will be packed for safe transport home.
What better way to spread holiday cheer than making cookie boxes to share with those you love? A holiday tradition for many, the logistics of a cookie box can seem overwhelming at first. Learn some of our tips and tricks to putting together a low stress, diverse and delicious cookie box, including recipe selection to baking schedules. And what’s a cookie class without the cookies?! Help us bake and decorate a farmhouse favorite, with a few twists and a small box to take home to a loved one (or tell no one and polish it off on your car ride home…) BYOB
Join us in celebration of the holiday season at a special farmers market, featuring curated gift ideas, organic winter vegetables, & fresh baked goods from our own Farm Store along with a selection of other local edibles & gifts from area artisans, crafters, and producers of fine foods. There is no better way to knock some holiday to-do’s off your list with unique and memorable gifts, while simultaneously supporting small local businesses – and having a fun festive time while doing it!
In this workshop, participants will learn to make bakery quality bread with local flour in their home oven. Culinary Program Jess Porter will demonstrate mixing, folding, shaping, proofing, scoring and baking Appleton’s flagship Farmstead Sourdough. We will discuss sourdough starter maintenance as well, and each new baker will be taking home some of Appleton’s own sourdough starter. Participants will be involved in hands-on experience mixing and shaping their own loaves, with the option of taking them home to bake! Class ends with fresh bread and seasonal accompaniments to enjoy.
Have you experienced our wood-fired pizza? Join our Culinary Programs Manager, Jess Wagoner, and learn how to make your own pizza, here at our wood-fired oven. Start by making your own naturally leavened Farmhouse pizza dough, using our own sourdough starter.
