Ice Harvest

Saturday, January 25 | 10:00–4:00

Neighbors once called Howell Farm the “ice farm" because they could buy ice from the pond to keep their milk cool on the way to the train station on Pleasant Valley Road. In late January, visitors to the farm will learn about the tools and technology that made ice harvesting a successful business at the turn of the 20th century with demonstrations of ice cutting, hauling, and handling.

Visitors can also help pull ice blocks up the ramp to the ice house, chip ice to make ice cream, and make an ice candle to take home. Ice cream and snow cone samples will be available in the afternoon, and food will be available at the farmhouse for purchase. $4 materials fee for ice candle craft.

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Hands-On Learning

Ice Harvest

January – February

Learn how people take advantage of the seasons to meet their year-round needs. What are the unique properties of ice and why are we cutting it now? Use simple machines to cut, lift and store heavy blocks of ice. Then come inside to explore the science of ice cream as you churn and sample a batch.

Maple Sugaring

January – March

What is sap and why is it in the tree? Can you tap any tree to make syrup? Enter the sugarbush areas to tap trees, collect sap, and learn about the different modern and historic sugaring methods used in the woods. At the sugar shack, see a working evaporator and learn how the final steps in the process have changed in the last century.

The farm staff will lead students on a brief walk between the sugar bush and the barnyard, while teaching ways to identify different species of trees. In the barnyard, cut and split the firewood needed to boil sap into syrup. Finally, walk through the open-hearth kitchen and see pancakes being made with flour ground from wheat grown right on the farm...and take one with you to taste with syrup you helped make.

Saturday Events