What Tilly Foster Farm and Educational Institute Means to the Community

If anyone doubts how much the Tilly Foster Farm and Educational Institute means to the community, they should talk to Alison Junquera.

Junquera’s son, Drew, attends the Culinary Arts Program at Tilly Foster, which teaches special needs students the skills needed in the food service industry. Drew, 18, spent this summer interning at Bacio, an Italian restaurant in Westchester.

“My son has autism,” Junquera said at a meeting of the Physical Services Committee of the Putnam County Legislature on August 25. “Because of the farm and the BOCES program, he now has an opportunity for a fulfilling career. He has a focus and a sense of purpose. I am here tonight to tell you how grateful I am for this program and how wonderful it has been for my son and for all the students involved.”

During the meeting Thursday at The Barn at Tilly Foster, officials from Putnam County and its partner non-profit agencies spoke about the history of the farm, its importance to the environment, the many community-focused activities that it provides and how Tilly Foster has boosted Putnam County tourism.

Tilly Foster has become a destination farm, said Tracey Walsh, Putnam’s director of tourism, who noted that the farm draws visitors from throughout the tri-state area.

“Agritourism has the ability to put a small town, or a small county like Putnam, on the map,” Walsh said at the committee meeting. “Research has shown that a tourist will travel up to 200 miles to visit a destination farm. Families come here, they visit with the animals, see the garden and the art, fish, shop at Jar Worthy, picnic and unplug – except for the obligatory Instagram post.”

They also come for the summer concert series, which farm General Manager Katie Hanrahand said brought in a record-setting 7,500 visitors this year; for weddings, which are booked through 2024; and for dining at Tilly’s Table.

But Tilly Foster hasn’t always been this popular. Putnam County bought the farm in 2002 to protect its nearly 200 acres from becoming a condominium development, John Tully, Putnam’s deputy commissioner of highways, told the committee. The purchase was made using Water Quality Funds from the East of Hudson watershed agreement with New York City.

Initially, the county leased the land to a non-profit farm and educational museum, but in 2014, under Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell’s leadership, the county took over management of the farm.

The Odell administration asked the public what it wanted to see take place at the property. Residents formed subcommittees on agriculture, health and education, business and economic development, soil and water, infrastructure and tourism.

“That’s how we got the farm we have today, with its infrastructure restored, its diverse offerings for people of all ages and its wonderful experiences,” County Executive Odell said after the meeting. “We simply listened to the public and we did what they wanted. The groups were smart and forward-thinking, and I’m grateful for their vision. ”

Chris Ruthven, Putnam County’s deputy commissioner of parks, told the committee about partnering with the Watershed Agricultural Council to ensure water quality and creating a working landscape that is focused on conservation. The county restored the pond on the property and stocked it with fish that kids can catch and release. The county is in the process of acquiring an additional 135 acres.

“We’ve been very good stewards of this land,” Ruthven said. “This is a showcase for different techniques and a model for other landowners.”

The garden at Tilly Foster provides vegetables and herbs for Tilly’s Table Restaurant, the county Office for Senior Resources and a farmstand for the public, Lisa Walker, farm administrator, said. Walker doesn’t only oversee the farm, which grows dozens of varieties of vegetables, she looks after the farm’s many animals, including Alpaca, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Kunekune Pigs, Ducks, Sardinian Donkeys and Percheron Horses – and works with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES’ Animal Care program at Tilly Foster.

Like BOCES’ Culinary Arts Program, the Animal Care Program prepares special needs students for careers, said Catherine Balestrieri, director of Career and Technical Education at PNW BOCES. Students can go on to work at veterinary offices, farms or in pet services.

Balestrieri said that BOCES is also considering other career-focused programs for Tilly Foster.

Putnam County has also partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension, which has hosted the Farm Agribusiness Summit and Open House on the Farm and the Master Gardener Plant Sale at Tilly Foster. It has also created a Pollinator Pathway, and runs a sustainable beekeeping operation, selling its honey at Jar Worthy, the candle and apothecary shop at the farm.

“More than 4,300 people from Brooklyn to Ohio and Utica to New Jersey have come to learn with CCE at Tilly Foster Farm,” said Stefanie Hubert, Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension, Putnam County.

Cornell has plans to expand at Tilly Foster, including creating a food forest and a zero-energy greenhouse and offering classes on food preservation and composting.

“The money the farm generates offsets the cost of running it,” Committee Chairman Carl L. Albano said. “But the value of this farm is about more than money. Our community deserves something like this.”

County Executive Odell, who plans to step down at the end of this year said she has high hopes for the future of Tilly Foster.

“I hope that the farm and educational center will continue to evolve, to work with our partners to best serve our community, provide fun activities and keep our families connected to nature.”

Collaborative Concepts 2022 at Tilly Foster Farm

35 Outdoor Sculpture Installations
September 3 – October 29, 2022
Open Daily 10-4pm

Opening Reception: Sat, Sep. 3, 3-5 pm
Live music
(Rain dates: Sun, Sep. 4 or Mon, Sep. 5)

Malin Abrahamsson •
Anna Adler • Inez Andrucyk • Celeste Barnes •
Jo-Ann Brody • Susan Buroker • Jodi Carlson •
Donna Castelluccio • Joe Chirchirillo • Ursala Clark •
Emiri Fujimoto • Eric Jacobson • Lenny Harrington •
Natalya Khorover • Kevin Laverty •
Conrad Levenson • David Link • Jim Lloyd • Timothy
Lutz • Bob Madden • Carol Paik • Hildy Potts •
Herman Roggeman • Peter Schlemowitz • Fred
Schlitzer • Tom Shaw • Laurie Sheriden •
Herrat Sommerhoff • Robert Spinazzola • Betty
Stafford • Storm King School • Naomi Teppich •
Patrick Todd • Abhishek Tuiwala •
Max Yawney •
For more information: https://www.collaborativeconcepts.org
or email us at collabconcepts@optonline.net

This project is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link
Grant Program with public funds provided from Putnam County and by
the Anastasi Foundation.

Thank you to Tilly Foster Farm for your hospitality

Celtic Harpist Maeve Gilchrist at Chapel Restoration August 14

 

Cold Spring, NY, August 2022— “A phenomenal harp player who can make her instrument ring with unparalleled purity,” Maeve Gilchrist, Celtic harp, will perform at The Chapel Restoration on Sunday, August 14, at 4:00

Her program includes selections from her latest recording, The Harpweaver, inspired by Edna Vincent Millay’s classic poem, The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver. The concert is free and open to all. Donations are suggested and deeply appreciated, Proof of vaccinations and masks required.

A member of the Grammy award winning Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, Maeve has appeared at such major events as Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Tanglewood Jazz Festival and the World Harp Congress in Amsterdam. She tours internationally as a soloist and collaborates with the progressive folk quartet, DuoDuo, and with bassist Viktor Krauss, with electronics based recordings. As a composer she straddles the world of folk and classical including a concerto for Celtic harp and symphony orchestra, written with North Carolina-based Luke Benton, composer and orchestrator, as well as other works for harp and string quartets.

Co-artistic director of the Rockport Celtic Roots and Branches Festival and co-music director of WGBH’s Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Maeve is a visiting artist at Berklee College of Music, Boston, her alma mater, where she had been an instructor. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, she is currently based in the Hudson Valley.

The Chapel Restoration is located at 45 Market Street, directly across from the Metro-North Train Station, where parking is free on Sundays. This concert is made possible, in part, through a grant from Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds from NYS Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s Office and the NYS Legislature and Putnam County and with contributions from the public.

Patricia White Debuts Hearts of the Hollow In Carmel, NY

Veterans Memorial Park
September 9th-October 31st

Carmel, NY – Hearts of the Hollow is an exciting, new musical inspired by Washington Irving’s renowned short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” This two-act, 20-song musical written by Patricia White brings new twists, new characters, and new music to Irving’s tale. Opening on the battlefield of White Plains in 1776, the Horseman comes to wreak havoc on Sleepy Hollow. That’s just the beginning of a story filled with action, intrigue, romance, folly and mystery.

In addition to Irving’s traditional characters such as Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel and Brom Bones, this rendition introduces many new characters, whose lives are intertwined through secrets, adventure, humor and forgiveness, which crescendos in the timeless theme –  to follow one’s heart.

The new songs, performed by the Prague Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, include heartwarming ballads, cheerful up-tempo numbers and, as would be expected when the Horseman abounds – some hair-raising scores of villainy!

This special seasonal event takes place in Carmel, NY, at the Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park inside the historical Whipple-Feeley Chapel.  “This is the first performance in our newly restored chapel,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “The historic chapel has been winterized and can now host weddings, performances and guest speakers.”

“Putnam County is home to so many arts, theater groups and performance spaces,” Putnam County Director of Tourism Tracey Walsh said. “We are happy that the Global Wholesome Network and Patricia White saw fit to produce Hearts of the Hollow here at the historic Whipple-Feeley Chapel. It’s a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to see a show in this lovely, renewed venue.”

In cooperation with Putnam County Parks and Recreation, Hearts of the Hollow is presented by the Global Wholesome Network,and is underwritten by the Musicians Emergency Fund.

To learn more about GWN’s mission, please visit: https://globalwholesomenetwork.org/.

Shows run every weekend from September 9 through October 31, 2022. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Monday, October 31, there will be a special Halloween performance at 8 p.m. Arrive in costume on Halloween to be eligible to win a prize!

 

Hearts of the Hollow takes place at The Whipple-Feeley Chapel located at The Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park

201 Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel, NY 10512

Dates: Every weekend from September 9 – October 31, 2022

For tickets and information, please visit: https://www.heartsofthehollow.com/

Director: Jennifer Sandella

Musical Director/Orchestrations: Joe Benjamin

Choreographer: Paul Aguirre

Book: Patricia White, Mo Khoder

Music & Lyrics: Mo Khoder, Joe Benjamin & Patricia White

 

 

Hearts of the Hollow takes place at The Whipple-Feeley Chapel located at The Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park

201 Gipsy Trail Road, Carmel, NY 10512

Dates: Every weekend from September 9 – October 31, 2022

 

For tickets and information, please visit: https://www.heartsofthehollow.com/

Picturesque Putnam Open Call to Artists

Eric Arctander Gallery at the Putnam Arts Council

September 10-25, 2022

The Putnam Arts Council and Putnam County Tourism are partnering to challenge area artists to participate in a show featuring beautiful Putnam County. All submissions will be accepted, prizes will be awarded, and the work will be exhibited in the A. Eric Arctander Gallery as well as featured virtually throughout the Fall. This opportunity looks to engage artists, celebrate their talents, and showcase the beauty of Putnam County.

Eligibility:  Artists 13 years or older are invited to submit up to two pieces of original art created during the month of August 2022. All media accepted. Works must feature Putnam County scenes. You can select any outdoor location in the county or even your own backyard (if you live in Putnam County). If you chose a public destination, please contact the location in advance of your visit to learn about admission and safety requirements. Artwork in all media is accepted and artists throughout the region are invited to participate. PAC’s Visual Arts Committee reserves the right to eliminate work that is deemed inappropriate.

Submissions:  $25 for PAC member artists for up to two entries; $30 for non-members.
Submission forms will be provided at drop off. All works should reflect the beauty and diversity of Putnam County and must be hand delivered to the A. Eric Arctander Gallery of the Putnam Arts Council, 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac (dates below).

Jeanne Demotses Excellence in Arts Awards: Best in Show $150, Second Place ($100) and Third Place ($75) will be selected by the Visual Arts Committee of the Putnam Arts Council. Cash awards will be presented at the opening reception on Saturday, September 10th.

Additional Benefits:  All appropriate submissions will be displayed on Putnam Arts Council’s virtual gallery, PAC’s social media and Putnam County Tourism’s social network platforms. Images will also be considered for promotional purposes by Putnam County Tourism. Award winners may also be displayed at sites throughout Putnam County at the discretion of the Putnam Arts Council.

Important Dates:

Create your artwork dates:  Month of August 2022

Work drop-off:  Saturday September 3rd and Tuesday, September 6, 2-5pm. Hand delivered to PAC at 521 Kennicut Hill Road, Mahopac, New York 10541.

Opening reception & Awards presentation:  Saturday, September 10th, 2-5pm.
Additional gallery hours: Sundays, September 11, 18 and 25, 2-5pm, and Tuesday to Friday, 1-5PM.

Pick up at conclusion of show:  Sunday, September 25, 5-6pm or by appointment.

Programs of the Putnam Arts Council are supported, in part, with public funds from Putnam County.

Farmhouse Fest at Tilly Foster Farm

Where can you try your hand at candle-making, taste craft cocktails, listen to live music, shop with local
makers and visit with farm animals all on one stunning summer day?  Jar Worthy at The Tilly Foster
Farmhouse is hosting its first Farmhouse Fest on Sunday, July 31.

The festival will feature local makers, live music, food trucks and even a local distiller.

“We want to bring the community out to celebrate the new location of our shop and to showcase the
farm,” said Dana Hanrahan, who owns Jar Worthy and is hosting the Farmhouse Fest. “This is such a
beautiful site and it offers so much. We encourage people to bring lawn chairs and listen to the music,
see the farm animals, fish in the pond and pick up some fresh vegetables at the farm stand.”

Jar Worthy, which sells all-natural, hand-poured soy candles, as well as soaps, lotions, sprays and
custom favors for all sorts of special occasions, opened at Tilly Foster Farm and Educational Institute
in Brewster last fall.

Farmhouse Fest attendees can try candle-making at the shop.

A dozen local makers whose work ranges from hand-painted glassware to vintage inspired jewelry and
custom home décor will be featured at the festival. One young entrepreneur – 11-year-old Lucy from
Carmel – will showcase her business, “The Sweetest Little Charity,” a not-for-profit that sells cotton
candy. Tilly Foster Farm Honey will be for sale and the farm stand will be stocked with organic
vegetables and herbs.

“I think it’s really important to be able to share this wonderful space with creators like myself,”
Hanrahan said

Jar Worthy is the first store on the county-owned property, which also hosts the county tourism
department offices and Tilly’s Table Restaurant and barn/event space.

“We set out to make Tilly Foster Farm the premier location in the county,” Putnam County Executive
MaryEllen Odell said. “And it is now a thriving educational farm, a hub for tourism and venue that
thousands of Putnam County residents enjoy every year. Hosting a locally owned shop like Jar Worthy
that specializes in locally handcrafted items is the next step in the evolution of our county-owned
property.”

Putnam County took over the management of Tilly Foster Farm in 2014 and transformed it into a
profitable farm and educational institute. Tilly is now a place where students learn agriculture, animal
care and cooking, and tourists and local families come to visit farm animals, see art exhibits, listen to
concerts and dine. It’s a place with a bountiful garden and where a barn/event space has become so
popular it’s booked a year out.

Jar Worthy, the newest addition, is rounding out the farm’s mix.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Jar Worthy’s new home at Tilly Foster Farm,” Hanrahan said. “Jar
Worthy is a ‘Day Dreamers Reality,’ and I’ve dreamt of this location. I want each of my guests to
experience the same feeling I have when I walk through that little blue door. You may be asking yourself
what exactly that feeling is, but I’m going to let you experience it firsthand!”

Hanrahan started her business by making things at her kitchen table and selling them at holiday markets
from Brewster and Carmel to Cold Spring.

At first it included a lot of trial and error but, once she hit on the right mix, her customers started
wanting more. To keep up with demand, Hanrahan opened a shop on Fair Street in Carmel in 2016.
There, customers could not only buy, but could also make their own candles. Now she does the same at
The Farmhouse at Tilly Foster.

“I’m really excited to bring back my candle making workshops where you become the candle maker,”
Hanrahan said. “This unique experience is great for ladies’ night, date night, and birthdays. I’ve even had
the privilege to host multiple Girl Scout troops over the last couple years and helped them earn their
entrepreneur badges.”

The Farmhouse Fest is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31.  Tilly Foster Farm is located on Route 312
in Brewster.

For more information, see jarworthy.com and follow @jarworthy on Facebook and Instagram.

The Garden at Tilly Foster Farm: Come for the Fresh Vegetables, Stay for the Experience

The garden at Tilly Foster Farm and Educational Institute is producing such bounty that its farm stand
will now be open six days a week, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced.

“Come for the fresh vegetables, stay for the experience,” County Executive Odell said. “This farm is a
showcase of life in the Hudson Valley. Visitors can see the garden where their vegetables were grown.
Families can introduce their children to farm animals including pygmy goats and miniature Sardinian
donkeys. They can hike the trails and see Putnam County’s beautiful rolling hills.”

The three-quarter acre garden is fenced, and people can walk along the paths to see what’s growing. It
has already produced several orders of vegetables and herbs that are sold at market rate to Tilly’s Table-
the restaurant based at the county-owned farm.

This is the garden’s fifth growing season, said Farm Assistant Lisa Walker, and every year it only gets
better.  This year, the farm stand had a special spot at the Putnam County Country Fest and 4-H
Showcase in mid-July and it was so popular, the veggies all sold out.

“People want fresh, local and homegrown,” Walker said. “We supply that as well as a beautiful
destination to visit.”

The vegetables and herbs that have been harvested so far include Romaine lettuce, Curly leaf lettuce,
String beans, Sugar snaps, Cucumber, Cabbage, Broccoli, Beets, Zucchini, Yellow Summer, Squash, Patty
pan squash, Basil and Sage.

Growing crops on the farm has been part of the agricultural plan for Tilly Foster since Putnam County
took over management of the property in 2014. The farm is open for visitors every day. The farm stand
is closed on Mondays.

For more information, see putnamcountyny.com and check out the Tilly Foster Farm Facebook page.

Farm To Table: A Ride To Combat Poverty

What is FARM TO TABLE?

On Saturday, September 17, 2022 Putnam CAP will be hosting its 2nd annual Farm to Table event that showcases some of the treasures to be found in Putnam County. All proceeds benefit our organization which strives to combat poverty on a local level. Participants will begin their journey at the county farm and travel around Putnam in their own vehicles following a prescribed route that takes them to various sites of interest. During their travels they will also be engaged in activities such as drawing, poetry and photography, all of which are a part of the day’s event which ultimately concludes with an outdoor dinner and silent auction.

 

Contact Putnam CAP for more information.

121 Main Street,
Brewster, NY 10509

Hours
Monday, Tuesday and Friday
8:30 am–4:30 pm

Wednesdays 8:30 am–6:30 pm

(845) 278-8021

Farmhouse Fest: Jar Worthy at the Tilly Foster Farmhouse

Sunday July 31st
11am-4pm

Jar Worthy invites you to FARMHOUSE FEST!  Join us for a day at The Tilly Foster Farmhouse, enjoy local makers, food trucks, live music and more.
Come see the what the farm has to offer. Enjoy brunch at Tilly’s Table(don’t forget to make a reservation!)
Walk around the property and discover the fishing ponds and hiking trails. AND don’t forget to visit are farm friends!

2nd Annual Putnam County History Hunt

Putnam History Museum
August 1st-31st

A month-long scavenger hunt to historical sites throughout Putnam County. Back for its 2nd year with all new clues!
Register here:
The Putnam History Museum invites you to take part in a History Hunt throughout Putnam County this August. This month-long, family friendly event introduces participants to an array of local history stories and topics by providing clues that lead to historical sites, buildings, or markers throughout the county.

How to play:

• Register online and receive your History Hunt clue packet via email (or pick one up at the museum beginning August 1st).*

• Visit at least 10 locations, including the Putnam History Museum.

• Take a picture in front of each site that you visit.

• Submit your photos by 5:00 pm on August 31st, 2022. Photos may be brought to the museum or emailed to director@putnamhistorymuseum.org.

Upon completion, participants will be entered into a random drawing to win the grand prize, which will be awarded on September 1st, 2022. Children 18 and under will receive a participation prize.

If you have any questions or need help with the clues, call the museum at (845) 265-4010, or email info@putnamhistorymuseum.org

*After purchasing a free registration ticket, all participants will receive a History Hunt clue packet via email (beginning August 1st). Packets may also be picked up from the museum Wednesday through Sunday from 12-4 pm.

*This year’s History Hunt has been generously funded in part by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and the Hudson River Valley Greenway Heritage Grant Program.