Who, nowadays, wants a kitchen equipped with a woodburning stove, ice burning refrigerator, a safe for keeping pies.. and a tin-lined sink with a faucet that runs when you pump it?  Howell Farm does ... and invites you to see how it works at the annual Winter Kitchen Program.

The circa 1900 kitchen will be open to the public from 10:00am until 4:00pm, offering visitors a chance to experience sights, smells and tastes of a bygone era.  Cooking demonstrations, recipe sampling and hands-on experiences are planned for all.

During the morning, a restored Glenwood Stove will be used to prepare a meal that farmers would have had for their noontime "dinner."  The menu draws from recipes that were acquired by oral history interviews with local area residents.

Visitors young and old will have opportunities to help in the kitchen ... doing everything from collecting wood for the fire, to emptying the drip pans beneath the icebox.  Those who want to help outside the kitchen can contribute by shelling corn off corncobs and splitting wood, both used to start the stove; by bringing in ice from the icehouse, for the icebox; and by gathering eggs for baking.

Schedule of Activities

10:00-11:00am – Help cut wood for the stove.

10:30am – Help make some bread, butter & whipped cream.

11:00am – Learn how to darn socks or learn how to make sauerkraut.

11:30am - Help throw some scraps to the chickens, gather eggs and gather kindling.

12:00-1:00pm – Dinner hour. Join the farmers for dinner. Home cooked fare for sale.

1:00pm - Learn about root cellars and root vegetable storage.

1:30pm – Check out some older cookbooks and learn to make some pot cheese.

2:00pm – Help peel apples & wash some dishes at the pitcher pump.

2:30pm - Help make some pie crust and finish the dishes.

3:00-4:00pm – Help cut some more wood for the stove.

3:00pm – Learn some parlor games from the 1900’s.

3:30pm - Join us for a kids story in the parlor and the adults can relax with a cup of tea.

Children's craft program:  Bean Soup Mix
Groups of eight or more must pre-register
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Approximate time to complete project: 20 minutes
Materials fee: $3.00