Vermont Open Farm Week is fast approaching, giving Vermonters and visitors of all ages a chance to explore the diverse Vermont farms. Open Farm Week is a great chance to get your kids outside and inspire a lifelong connection with farming and animals. Farms across the state will be offering a variety of events including the chance to meet farm animals, nature walks, yoga, craft activities and berry picking, which kids (and adults!) are sure to enjoy. Here is a list of a few of the farms open this week with fun for the whole family.
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Sunday, August 7th
Pick Your Own Blueberries
Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte
8am-12pm
Goat Therapy
wundorwoven, West Wardsboro
10am
Meet goats at wundorwoven and feed them treats! During the visit, the team at wundorwoven will talk all about their herd, goat antics, care needed, and the role of goats at the farm.
Antique Tractor Day
Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock
10am-5pm
Join for a parade of antique tractors, tractor-pulled wagon rides, a “slow race”; and more!
Chick Chat
wundorwoven, West Wardsboro
11am
Visit the chickens (maybe there will even be a few chicks too!!) Learn about their life on the farm, feed them treats, and ask questions of the team at wundorwoven!
Feed the Pigs & Sample Cheese
von Trapp Farmstead, Waitsfield
12pm-2pm
Come to a fan favorite Open Farm Week Event- feeding the Whey fed pigs at von Trapp Farmstead! This year they have moved locations and will be feeding the pigs at their new site on the home farm (251 Common Road, Waitsfield)!
Horse, Of Course!
Avalon Teaching Farm, Fairfax
12pm-2pm
Learn all about horses and ponies, including grooming, tacking up, breeds and colors! Event is free, but there is the option to donate to High Hopes 4-H Club.
Soil Painting Art on the Farm with ArtsBusVT
Howling Wolf Farm, Randolph
1pm-4pm
Presented by The Arts Bus with guest artist Kirsten Kurtz, Howling Wolf Farm will host soil painting art projects for kids and adults to enjoy on August 7 from 1-4 pm, as part of Open Farm Week. This event is FREE thanks to the generous underwriting of The Arts Bus program, Randolph residents, and Howling Wolf Farm.
Monday, August 8th
Meet the Sheep!
Avalon Teaching Farm, Fairfax
2pm-4pm
Learn all about sheep - their care, handling, feeding, wool production, and more!
Fairies & Flowers
Anderbell Acres, East Montpelier
5pm-7pm
Enjoy the magic of Anderbell Acres in bloom! All fairies at heart are invited to color their wings (provided), make a fairy wand, or flower crown. Wear what makes you happy! Unlimited smiles, unicorn bounces, giant bubbles, and butterflies abound. $15/child+ adult. RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Tuesday, August 9th
Story Hour
Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte
9:30am
Join us for story hour on the farm as we read stories about farms, food and pollinators.
For the Birds!
Avalon Teaching Farm, Fairfax
4pm-6pm
Learn how to handle and care for chickens and ducks - who lays what color eggs? Which breeds are best for the Vermont weather? Guests can visit with the other animals at Avalon Teaching Farm as well. Event is free, but there will be the option to make a donation to the High Hopes 4-H Club.
Wednesday, August 10th
Kids’ Day at the Champlain Island Farmers’ Market
Champlain Island Farmers’ Market, South Hero
3pm-6pm
Join the Champlain Island Farmers' Market for Kids' Day! In addition to their fantastic local vendors, there will be fun kids games and activities to encourage kids to learn about local food including a scavenger hunt, coloring pages, easy kid-friendly recipe ideas to make at home with local seasonal produce, and more!
Thursday, August 11th
Popsicles to Benefit Vermont Land Trust
Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte
8am-6pm
Adam’s Berry Farm will donate 10% of all popsicle sales on this day to the Vermont Land Trust and the Farmland Access Program. The program was instrumental in the purchase of this farm and for farmers throughout the state.
Insect FUN!
The Farm Between, Jeffersonville
10am-12pm
Swarm together starting at 10 a.m. for an insect scavenger hunt at The Farm Between, followed by bug-themed arts and crafts activities at 11. Limited supplies of insect nets, magnifying glasses, and art supplies will be available for use, but feel free to bring your own. The event will run from 10am-noon and is open to all ages and experience levels. Free. Please register by emailing [email protected].
Friday, August 12th
Art on the Farm
Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte
9am-12pm
Make berry block prints on the farm!
Saturday, August 13th
Kid's Vendor Day
Northwest Farmers Market, St. Albans
9am-2pm
Entrepreneurial kids from all over Franklin County will peddle their wares alongside the adult vendors at the market on Saturday, August 13th from 9am-2pm in Taylor Park, St. Albans!
Sheep Dog Herding Demonstration
Morse Brook Farm, Westminster
10am & 3pm
See the border collies of Morse Brook Farm move the sheep during Vermont Open Farm Week! Learn about the historical use of a variety of breeds of sheep dogs to manage livestock and the history of Border Collies. Visitors will learn what it takes to train a dog, what their jobs are and how they make our life easier on the farm. Afterwards, guests can enjoy ice cream with maple syrup topping from Morse Brook Farm's own sugar bush. Register here.
Picnic by the Pasture
Shat Acres Highland Cattle & Greenfield Highland Beef, Plainfield
11am-2pm
Bring a blanket, bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic by the pasture, enjoying exquisite mountain vistas and watching the oldest registered fold of Heritage Highland cattle in the United States grazing nearby. There will be fuzzy Highland calves to comb and cuddle and a Highland decorated cake to enjoy after your picnic. Greenfield Highland 100% Grass Fed beef will be available to purchase at the farm. $5/person. Children under 3 are free.
Sunday, August 14th
Kids Yoga on the Farm with GROW Yoga
Adam’s Berry Farm, Charlotte
9:30am-10:30am
Kids Yoga on the farm with GROW Yoga. Sign up required. Register here.
