Howell Farm events listed
Howell Living History Farm will open the 2001 season with its annual "Ice Harvesting" event on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Visitors can help farmers cut chop and shave ice, fill an ice house and make ice cream from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Conditions permitting, visitors also can join the harvest crew on a frozen pond and take a turn using an "ice saw."
To date, farmers have harvested over 10 tons of ice from the pond, which is expected to yield 25 tons by season’s end. Much of the remaining ice will be harvested by Saturday visitors, school groups and volunteers.
A children’s craft program, "Ice Candles," will be offered in the farmhouse from 11 a.m. 3 p.m. The craft takes 20 minutes to complete and costs $2 per candle. Groups (eight or more) must preregister.
Howell Farm is located in Hopewell Township on Valley Road, just off Route 29. Parking and admission are free.
Winter visiting hours are 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday beginning Jan. 27. Saturday Program Calendars for 2001 are available at the farm, by mail, or by visiting the farm Web site at www.howellfarm.org.
For more information, call the Mercer County Park Commission at 737-3299.
Howell Living History Farm is offering a spring program for preschoolers and their parents, The Hatchery.
The program is designed to introduce young children to life on the farm, while parents volunteer time helping the farm staff work with older school children and various projects on the farm. The program runs one morning per week for 13 weeks on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, starting March 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 from 9:15 to 12:15. One parent must join the farm’s staff in exchange for one child’s participation in the program. No experience is necessary.
Children, 3 to 5 (no exceptions), may participate in The Hatchery, which features activities such as feeding and watering baby farm animals, collecting eggs, storytelling, crafts and taking hayrides and horse rides.
Parents may only enroll by attending an organizational meeting either on Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. or Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. The meeting is intended for parents only. The meeting is held in the farmhouse. Absolutely no applications will be accepted over the phone.
For more information contact Kathy Brilla at 737-3299, or leave name and address on the farm’s message unit.