COME &
CELEBRATE!
Herbs in art
Herbs in gardens
Herbs in cookery
The Austerlitz Historical Society — in collaboration with the Edna St. Vincent Millay Society at Steepletop and the Spencertown Academy Arts Center — has scheduled an exciting weekend event. The three organizations will jointly host “A Celebration of Herbs in the Gallery, Garden and Kitchen” during the weekend of June 27-28, 2015. All three sites will be open for workshops, exhibits, lectures, tours, demonstrations, activities, and more.
- See below for program details and links to all locations.
- Themed events will be scheduled at each venue throughout the weekend.
- All WORKSHOPS require registration in advance. (The registration link for Workshops at Old Austerlitz is included below.)
- Boxed LUNCHES must be ordered in advance. (See “Old Austerlitz — Boxed Lunches” below for information and an order link. Please note that the deadline for ordering is midnight on Thursday, June 25th.)
AT OLD AUSTERLITZ:
- Workshops: Culinary Herbs in the Kitchen – Open Hearth Cooking (Pre-Registration Required; Please note that registration closes at midnight on Thursday, June 25th or as the workshops are filled.)
- Free Herbal Demonstrations & Activities – fun for children and adults (more info below)
- Live Music
- Boxed Lunches (Advance Order Only; Please note that the deadline for ordering is midnight on Thursday, June 25th.)
- Picnic Facilities – bring a blanket or use one of our picnic tables. (In case of rain, our barn will be open for indoor picnic-ing.)
Old Austerlitz grounds, open Sat & Sun-9:00am — 5:00pm, Free Admission
Visit our historic buildings: Morey-Devereaux House, One-Room Schoolhouse & Church — open for viewing throughout the weekend between 11:00am and 3:00pm.
Workshops:
Culinary Herbs—Hearth Cooking
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 28TH or AS WORKSHOPS ARE FILLED
3 workshops daily. Limited to 10 participants.
Taught by food historian and cooking expert, Lavada Nahon (Philipsburg Manor, Van Cortlandt Manor, Historic Food Works). Enjoy tea and treats together in one of our parlor rooms as you share the food you have just prepared in our 1830’s kitchen. All sessions will include information on how to cook with herbs, and historic and modern methods for preserving and storing herbs.
(Workshops $25)
The Workshop Menus (same for both days):
#1 Morning Session 9am-11am:
- Waffles with sweet herb butters
- Marjoram pudding
- Dressed Eggs with herbs
#2 Noon Session 12-2pm:
- Pea soup with fresh mint
- Herb dumplings in broth
- Vanilla & Thyme Madeleines
#3 Afternoon Session 3-5pm:
- Buns with savory herb butters & herb goat cheese
- Tabouleh in lettuce cups
- Lavender shortbread
Click here to register or for more information.
Boxed Lunches:
WE ARE NO LONGER TAKING ORDERS – CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH AT MIDNIGHT.
Bring your own lunch and enjoy a picnic on our grounds – bring a blanket or use our picnic tables (the barn will be open in case of rain).
Bottled water, plus herbal tea or herb-infused lemonade (TBD), will be available for sale.
Free Demonstrations & Activities:
An assortment of free herb-themed demonstrations and activities for children and adults will be available at Old Austerlitz throughout the weekend, beginning at 10:00am and ending at approx. 3-4:00pm. Have some fun and take away an herbal remembrance! Here are some of the things you might enjoy — subject to change and availability:
- Tea Bags: blend your own herbal tea mix and take away your “private label” tea bag
- Sachets: mix flowers and herbs to add a refreshing scent to your linen closet or clothing drawer
- Herb-Infused Salts: grind dried herbs in a mortar and pestle to release their oils, then blend with salt for cooking or “finishing”
- Fireplace Bundles: tie up dried herb stalks with colorful strings to add to your fireplace or grilling coals for an herbal scent
- Bouquet Garni: try an herbal cooking blend that you will place in a cheesecloth bundle to flavor soups and stews
Music:
Enjoy live music during the weekend as you visit our buildings and grounds. Musical entertainment provided by Berkshire Columbia Musicians Collaborative (BCMC) www.bcmc.im (Yes, that is the correct address!) (Lineup to be posted at a later date.)
SPENCERTOWN ACADEMY:
GALLERY EXHIBIT:
BOTANICAL ART AND ILLUSTRATION: Original works and prints from Mary Christiansen and Wendy Hollender
Gallery Hours: Saturday & Sunday-10am – 5pm, Free Admission
MARY CHRISTIANSEN uses watercolor, gouache, and graphite to paint plants, birds and insects in their natural habitats. She has exhibited her work in many juried shows including the American Society of Botanical Artists exhibition at the New York Horticultural Society and at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, DC. Mary holds a certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration from the New York Botanical Garden and teaches Botanical Art at both the NYBG and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
WENDY HOLLENDER is a botanical artist, illustrator, author, and instructor. Her works has appeared in numerous publications and exhibitions nationally and internationally. Author of several books on botanical illustration, her newest book is written by Dina Falconi and illustrated by Wendy called Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook which has won two gold medals to date. In 2009 she moved from Manhattan to a farm in the Hudson Valley so she could live among the plants she documents in her work. She teaches botanical illustration in many places, including the NY Botanical Garden.
WORKSHOPS:
June 27: 10:00am -12:00pm and 1:00-3:00pm
INTRODUCTION TO BOTANICAL DRAWING with Mary Christiansen, artist and botanical illustration instructor, NY Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.
In this introduction to botanical art learn a variety of approaches and techniques that will lend accuracy and detail to your drawings. The basics of plant structure, function, and botany will be covered with special emphasis on herbs. The workshop is suitable for total beginners as well as experienced artists seeking to expand their skills. Materials will be provided. Limited to 12 participants.
June 28: 10:30am -12:00pm and 1:00 – 2:30pm
BACKYARD BOUQUETS with Kim Thomas, floral designer and flower farmer of Flower Blossom Farm in Ghent, NY.
Learn tips and tricks from an expert on how to use seasonal clippings of herbs, flowers, and foliage from your own backyard to make gorgeous arrangements for your summer table and to decorate your home. Take home your creation. Materials will be provided.
For information and to register for a workshop, click here.
(All Workshops $25)
www.spencertownacademy.org
MILLAY AT STEEPLETOP:
Tamarack Cottage Visitor Center will be open Sat. & Sun., 9:30-4:30, Gallery admission is free, House tours, Grounds/Garden tours and Grounds and Picnic passes will be available for an additional fee.
WORKSHOPS
MAKING HERB WREATHS
with Master Gardener, Linda Levitt
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
Times: 10 am -12 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm
In ancient times, these wreaths were believed to bring protection against crop failure and plagues, important to the life of the farm at Steepletop. Taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension & Columbia County Master Gardener, Linda Levitt, participants in the class will make a small herbal wreath from herbs picked in the Steepletop Kitchen Garden.
Fee: $25, which includes the cost of materials
GARDEN LECTURE: COMPANION PLANTING
with Master Gardener, Sue Charbonneau
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2015
Times: 10 am -12 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm
Today’s gardeners can discourage harmful pests, attract helpful insects and enhance the growth rate and flavor of other plants by using companion planting in your gardens. The companion planting lectures will be given by Cornell Cooperative Extensions & Columbia County Master Gardener, Sue Charbonneau. Participants in this lecture will learn how to utilize companion planting effectively and walk away with a list of companion plants to use in their own gardens.
Fee: $25
Space in these classes is limited so please register in advance by calling Martha Raftery at 518-392-3362 or by email at [email protected]
For more information, click here.
www.millay.org
This project has been supported by a grant from the Fund for Columbia County, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. www.berkshiretaconic.org
Lucy Larcom, later to become a noted poet, abolitionist, and educator, began her working life in a New England textile factory in the 1830s.