EAST HARDWICK – The Caledonia Grange No. 9 offers an educational program for children and adults celebrating the importance of dairy farming for the community, though a grant from the National Grange Rural Life Initiative.
The children’s program will be led by Jeanne Segretto Miller and Will Miller. Jeanne is a local musician and longtime educator, currently vice-principal of the Cabot School, with years of experience offering programs for children. Will has recently worked with youth in summer programs through Wonder Arts. The children’s program is open to children from 6 to 12 years, and takes place from July 29 through 31, with a community gathering August 1, from 1 to 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, July 29: All About Butter & Life on the Farm
Children will learn all about butter and life on the farm. They will make butter by hand-shaking and using a Daisey churn and explore life on the farm by making puppets of characters on the farm and performing with them. Snacks will be bread and butter and jam.
Thursday, July 30, children will learn about how heat and acid transform fresh milk into soft cheese and will make and strain curds into simple soft cheese. They will use the things they have learned and historic photos to make up stories about farm life, and they will paint cardboard structures illustrating them. Snacks will be crackers and cheese.
On Friday, July 31, children will learn about live cultures and healthy microbes while assembling customized yogurt parfaits using local honey and fruit. They will practice their puppet shows and then perform for parents and the community at 3 p.m., where attendees can tour the historic photo gallery, view a selection of antique farm equipment and watch the children’s puppet shows. The tasting menu of the will include handmade butter, Farmer’s Cheese, yogurt parfaits and homemade ice cream.
This program is offered to the community free of charge, but space in the children’s program is limited. For more information or to register, contact Ranny Bledsoe: email [email protected], phone (802) 424-5216. All events are held at the Caledonia No. 9 Grange Hall, 88 East Church Street, East Hardwick.
