Sold out! 5th Annual Eggstravaganza 4.9.22 - Rain Date 4.10.22

5th Annual Wakeman Town Farm Eggstravaganza

Saturday April 9th, 10-11:30am

(Rain Date: April 10th)

Saturday, April 9th is a great day to kick off your spring celebrations — bring your whole family (and your egg-hunting baskets!) to Wakeman Town Farm and join in the fun. Egg hunts for ages 0-4 and 5+ will kick off the morning, followed by egg-themed games, storytime readings and photos with Big Bunny. Visit the Farm's real animals too. Yummy treats for the kids and coffee for the big "kids" provided by The Porch. Special thanks to our community sponsors Danna Rogers and Jen Kass Team at the Higgins Group.

Sold out! Meet the New Kids and Learn about Nigerian Dwarf Goats 4.13.22

Come to Wakeman Town Farm to be the first to meet the new kids — goat kids — that is!

Bring your kids and join farmer Laura Miller as she teaches us all about these Nigerian Dwarf goats: how they grow, what they do and how we care for them.

All children under 14 must have an adult attend with them.

Sign up quickly. Class size is limited.

Bio: Artist and entrepreneur trained at Penn State Cheese & Cultured Dairy program, Laura Miller is a Farmer, Farrier, Chef, & Specialty Food Manufacturer. In addition to her Millmont Farm endeavors which include farm to table sustainable agriculture, she is also a Certified Journeyman Farrier I, a Chef with her own line of specialty olive oil and balsamic vinegars, “Delavignes Gourmet” products of the vine. In addition, she is also the owner and operator of a Specialty Food Manufacturing company, with her family, based in Waterbury CT. Laura will be joining us for a series of classes, including goat dairy, milking & cheese making, soap making, goat anatomy & husbandry, cheese & balsamic pairings, and other fun educational workshops.

Sip + Charcuterie: A Build-a-Board Workshop with wine 4.13.22

Join Vergelegen Wine and Drewlizcious for that perfect pairing of Charcuterie and Wine, Wednesday, April 13, at 7 p.m.

Create your own beautiful and mouthwatering grazing boards under the direction of charcuterie maven Drewlizcious while sipping on Vergelegen wine and learning about this South African wine estate from VClub representatives.

$95pp. Reserve your spot today – www.drewlizcious.com/experiences

Putting together a well-paired grazing board can be daunting, but after participating in this hands-on workshop you will have the confidence to create your own spread that is almost too beautiful to eat. Great option for a date-night, girls’ night or a special experience with a parent.

Included:

Wine Tastings from Vergelegen (see below) to get those creative juices flowing

Disposable palm leaf board

All ingredients (imported cheeses, charcuterie + gourmet accoutrements)

Hands-on tutorial on how to thoughtfully curate & arrange a stunning board

Tips & tricks that will transform the way you entertain so you can enjoy yourself as the host!

This hour-long workshop is lead by Elizabeth Drew of Drewlizcious, LLC. Liz is a caterer and food stylist with an expertise in food & wine pairing. Her classes are popular and sell out fast. Vergelegen is a premiere wine estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Now available locally through VClub, a Fairfield County based distribution arm that works directly with the vineyard, Vergelegen wine varietals include:

CHARDONNAY - 100% Estate Chardonnay

GVB WHITE - 34% Estate Sémillon and 66% Sauvignon Blanc

MMV BRUT - 100% Estate Chardonnay

V - 100% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

GVB RED - 78% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot 11% Cabernet Franc

Available: www.vclubwine.com  

make your own spa essentials 5.2.22

May 2 at 7pm

Make your own natural spa essentials without harmful additives. Instructor Ellen Goldman will teach you how to make fragrant and luxurious bath soaps, body scrubs, bath salts and more. You will use natural aromatic ingredients, as well as a few common kitchen staples. Treat yourself to a luxurious experience or gift your creations to a loved one. Hint: Mother's Day right around the corner! You will take home 3 to 4 of your own spa creations and have a fun time in the process.

sold out! Al Fresco Spring Farm Dinner with Chef Alison Milwe Grace 5.19.22

SPRING FARM-TO-TABLE DINNER Thursday, May 19, 2022

$135 pp

6:30 - Guests arrive

FIRST COURSE

Strawberry Caprese Salad

SECOND COURSE Fettuccini with asparagus, lemon and a touch of cream

ENTRÉE

Roasted salmon fillet with pea and carrot pesto served over potato-green bean “succotash”

or

“Garlicky” spring lamb chops served over spinach and artichoke “relish”

DESSERT

Lemon Meringue “parfait”

BEVERAGES

BYOB adult beverages (glassware, ice and openers and bottles of cold water will be provided)

Proceeds from this event, after expenses, will go towards supporting Wakeman Town Farm's educational initiatives'

Seating: The easiest way to ensure group seating is to purchase all tickets for your table in one order. If you purchased your tickets as a couple, and then decide later to sit with other attendees, kindly drop us a line at wakemantownfarm@gmail.com at least one week in advance of the event, so that we can try to arrange a table for your group. If you are a single person and would like to join a communal table, kindly let us know, and we will let you know if there are others in the same boat.

Cancellation Note: We live in crazy, unpredictable times. Please only purchase tickets with the understanding that we do not offer refunds of any kind, however, you are welcome to gift or sell your tickets, provided that you give us the names of the new attendees in advance of the event. If weather doesn't cooperate, we will bring the dinner inside Tim's Kitchen.

exclusive Animal Care Experiences with our new Nigerian dwarf goat "kids"

This is an up-close-an personal animal encounter exclusive to Wakeman Town Farm. In this amazing bonding experience for the whole family, our animal caregivers milk our mama Nigerian dwarf goats and bottle feed our new kids!

When: Monday, Friday or Saturday at 4:15pm-5:15pm, beginning mid April and running through mid-June

Who: a group of up to 8 people - Adults must accompany children

Cost: $100/group

Schedule: Please email our Educational Coordinator at the link below.

Spring Fling! Mixology Class with Mixxed by Ed 3.31.22

Spring Fling Mixology Class

3.31.22

7pm-9pm

We are thrilled to invite “Mixxed by Ed" Edward Hernandez back to the Farm for another exciting mixology class, “Spring Fling,” a spring-themed cocktail experience. Attendees will learn how to shake up five fresh, fun spring cocktails just in time for the warmer weather, including Martini No. 2, a specialty martini, El Remedio, featuring fresh ginger and basil, plus a Whiskey Sour featuring Bruichladdich Classic Ladie, coconut and other delicious flavors. Want to know about the final two cocktails?  Guess you’ll just have to attend and become an expert yourself!

The Premium liquor will be provided by The Bruichladdich distillery!. We are delighted to welcome a Whiskey Expert/Brand Ambassador to introduce the Bruichladdich Single Malt Scotch Whiskey and The Botanist Gin that we will be pouring to make our Spring Fling cocktails! 

Ticket price per attendee is $125, which includes the cost of the hands-on class with award-nominated Mixology Expert “Mixxed by Ed” Edward Hernandez, the One-of-a-Kind curated cocktail making kit and a brand-new bottle of your choice: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin and The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley! 

Attendees must be 21+ to attend and we encourage you to arrange for a designated driver or ride share service. Cheers and Enjoy responsibly! 

Sold out! Sheet Pan/One Pan Dinners with Chef Diana Andrews 4.28.22

Samantha Seneviratne, Food Styling, Mike Yamin, Photography

Thursday, April 28, 2022

7 PM – 9 PM

Join Chef Diana Andrews as she introduces three easy-to-prepare, absolutely delicious sheet pan/one pan suppers.

Baingan Bharta

In this spicy, smoky, Indian-style vegetarian dish, eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and jalapenos are broiled together until silky and tender, then mixed with sweet cashews, golden raisins, aromatics, and spices that are bloomed in ghee. A great combination of deep flavors and textures for a satisfying meat-free meal.

Sheet-Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Orange Dressing

The flavors of Spring in one pan. Sweet and succulent shrimp, tender asparagus, Vidalia onion, cherry tomatoes are tossed with on orange-infused vinaigrette. Italian flavors add a touch of sophistication to this colorful pan-roasted dinner, which comes together quickly for a great weeknight meal.

Easy Moroccan-Style Sweet & Savory Harissa Chicken with Chickpeas, Olives & Prunes

Who says you need a tagine and long-cooking time to develop deep savory-sweet Moroccan-style flavors? Here, chicken thighs combine with olives, prunes, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes to produce a simmering pan of simply delicious.

Basic Class Info

•Students will partake in tastings and not full meals, but you will NOT go home hungry.

•Recipes are subject to change based on ingredient freshness and seasonal availability.

•Full recipes provided at class and will be posted to the chef’s website shortly thereafter.

•Maximum class capacity: 12.

• All COVID rules in effect at the time of publication. You must be fully vaccinated to attend. The current rule in Westport is that masks are optional.

• No refunds allowed. If you cannot attend, you may pass or sell your ticket to another person, however, you must provide us with their contact info prior to class for admittance.

Chef Diana Andrews is a culinary and editorial director, recipe developer and tester, food writer, and instructor.

She was the senior food editor and test kitchen director at Fine Cooking Magazine and head recipe developer/editor for the first six seasons of the Emmy-nominated PBS TV show Moveable Feast.

In addition, she has worked with Meredith Corporation, IAC, Wolf-Subzero, Food Network, Cuisinart, Sur La Table, Dressing Room Restaurant, Park Avenue Seasonal Restaurant, and the James Beard Foundation.

Currently, she manages all recipe testing and editing for The Spruce Eats and develops recipes for popular brands such as Mutti Tomatoes, True Aussie Beef & Lamb, Colavita, Filippo Berio, Prosciutto di Parma, Grana Padano, Belgioioso, Boursin, Scharffen Berger, Sun-Maid, If You Care, Mutti, Nielsen-Massey, Oatly, Gallo, and Dole.

She is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York/Los Angeles. Visit her at https://chefdianaandrews.com.

Blooming with Paint 5.9.22

BLOOMING WITH PAINT MAY 9TH 6-8PM

Spring has sprung! Join us in an observation-based painting and drawing workshop where we will bring to life a floral still life arrangement

Each participant will receive a piece of handmade Nujabi paper (16 inches in diameter). The final work of art may be hung on the wall or used as table decor. Exploring color hues, values and saturation, this workshop will include a guided demonstration by the instructor and challenge participants to notice scale, proportion and placement. Materials provided include watercolor and oil pastels, paint brushes, Nujabi paper and drawing board




Conscious Consumption - Fashionable Choices for Ourselves + the Planet 3.28.22

Join us at the Farm to learn about conscious consumption and how our fashion choices impact the planet!

March 28 @6:30 p.m.

Panelists Therese LeFever, Cynthia Davis, Carly Ridloff and Haley Lieberman will discuss the effects of fast fashion on our environment, the consumers, and the workers. Attendees will also learn how to identify sustainable businesses, make smarter buying choices, and what it really means to be a conscious consumer. Additionally, we will spotlight local sustainable clothing business, including Our Woven Community, The Exchange Project, and Shop Tomorrows, to show how they are making an eco-friendly impact on the fashion community.

Meet the Panelists

Haley Lieberman, AKA "The Queen of Hand-Me-Downs," is a born and bred Manhattanite raising her boy-girl twins in Fairfield County, CT. In her former life, Haley was a costume designer and stylist for stage, screen and print. After working on several operas, dozens of films and commercials and hundreds of fashion shows, it was time to build a company founded on making great clothes accessible to all while preserving our natural resources. As a lifelong thrifter, the idea for Shop Tomorrows was a no-brainer. So with #twinning #momlife in full gear, Shop Tomorrows was launched. In her free time, Haley enjoys eating and sleeping.

Cynthia Davis is a decorative artist and resident of Fairfield. Cynthia has volunteered for area organizations including: Operation Hope, The Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, The Lighthouse Program, The Burroughs Community Center of Bridgeport and The Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. Cynthia’s work with refugees began in 2008 as fundraising chair on the board of Hope for Ariang, a non-profit organization founded by one of the Lost Boys of Sudan with a mission to bring primary education to war torn areas of South Sudan. Her love of textiles, art and supporting others led her to create Our Woven Community (OWC in 2015). OWC is a program providing refugee women in Bridgeport economic opportunity and community integration through the skill of sewing. In 2019 she was awarded the American Dream award from The Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants for her work with Our Woven Community.

Carly Novick Ridloff is the founder and CEO of The Exchange Project. Carly is a working mother of two and alongside her husband, she does her best to live an eco-conscious life in and outside her home. The concept for The Exchange Project came to fruition after watching the documentary The True Cost. She was shocked to learn that the clothing crisis even existed and the harmful impacts that the garment/retail industry have on the planet and not to mention the exploitation of workers, and that no one was discussing it! She had to do something. The goal of The Exchange Project is to reduce the amount of materials that are added to a landfill and instead will be reused and live on in someone else's life. Follow her @the.exchangeproject to find out when the next event will be and how you can get involved with the movement.

Sold out! Pizza Pop-Up! Outdoor Pizza Making Class for Kids Ages 8+ 4.8.22

An Outdoor Pizza-Making Class for Kids Ages 8+

April 8 @4:15 -6 p.m.

Calling all jr. pizza chefs! Come make your own homemade pizza with your choice of toppings, baked in a flash in Wakeman's own outdoor pizza oven. Learn the techniques, roll the dough, top your creation, and enjoy your custom pizza hot and fresh at our picnic tables.

Part of our Friday Fun series

Mom is One of a Kind, and So Are These Bouquets - Order Now

Make Mom smile with a gift of a sweet and whimsical spring flowers. The bouquet comes in a mason jar tied with grosgrain ribbon, $55, designed by Sarah Shaw Floral Design exclusively for Wakeman Town Farm. We will be taking orders until Wed May 4 @6 pm. Pickup is at the Farm Sat May 7, 10-1. 134 Cross Hwy. Enter through the gate at the red pillars.

A portion of the proceeds will support Farm programs.

@sarahshawfloral

Photos: nancyelizabethhill photography

peruse our kids’ spring + summer camp offerings. registration opens 3.2.22

SPRING PROGRAMS + SUMMER CAMPS - UPDATE: We have listed our lineup of our Kids’ Camps and Programs under the Programs tab above. Feel free to peruse the descriptions, dates and times and get ready for registration on March 2 by writing down the codes of the programs you want to enroll in!

Please note:

Registration for spring and summer program offerings will open ONLINE on Wednesday, March 2nd at 9am. Visit Westport Parks + Recreation at www.westportrecreation.com to register. If you have issues with your online account, Email them directly at recreation@westportct.gov or call them at (203) 341-5152 and they will be happy to assist you!

 Start Your Garden Right 3.7.21

Want to get the right start to your best garden ever?

Lay the groundwork for success in your garden by joining our Pollinator Pathway talk on March 7. Find out how to approach essential first steps – whether you want a bonanza of produce or blooms. We’ll cover soil testing & prep, sun/shade conditions, assessing plantings, planning crops and prioritizing your garden tasks, with plenty of time for Q&A.

Taught by UConn advanced master gardener Alice Ely and UConn master gardener, and WTF’s own veggie whisperer, Farmer Ryan Brunelle.

This pollinator series talk is sponsored by WTF and Westport’s Pollinator Pathway.

Landscape Painting Class with Artist Katherine Gagnon 3.9.22

Come to Wakeman Town Farm and join artist Katherine Gagnon to learn and create a beautiful oil pastel and watercolor landscape painting

3.9.22 6-8 p.m.

About this event

Bring a compelling landscape image (photograph printed out (or on an iPad/tablet). Something you are drawn to mimic, find aesthetically pleasing or has a meaningful connection to you. Using watercolor and oil pastels, participants will layer these materials and think about how color and texture are applied to create their very own landscape painting! We will learn about and be asked to consider light condition, proportion, placement and figure/ground relationships. Join artist Katherine Gagnon to find your own artistic voice through painting and drawing in this hands-on workshop!

About the Instructor

Katherine Gagnon has exhibited her work up and down the east coast over the past 10 years. She holds a BA from Colby College and an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art’s LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting. Notable shows include independent projects #shedshow2020 and #shedshow2021 and exhibitions with June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME (2012), Lazy Susan Gallery, New York, NY (2017), and Artfare.com (2021). Residencies include the Edward Albee Foundation, Montauk, NY (2017), Art Farm, Marquette, NB (2014), and being the first Maryland Institute College of Art-St. Mary’s College of Maryland Artist House Teaching Fellow in Residence in 2014. Her work is featured in private collections throughout the United States.

SIP & CHARCUTERIE - A DIY BUILD-A-BOARD WORKSHOP 3.10.22

Putting together a well-paired grazing board can be daunting, but after participating in this hands-on workshop you will have the confidence to create your own spread that is almost too beautiful to eat. Great option for a date-night, girls’ night or a special experience with a parent.

3.10.22 @7p.m., $95 pp

Included:

Disposable palm leaf board

All ingredients (imported cheeses, charcuterie + gourmet accoutrements)

Hands-on tutorial on how to thoughtfully curate & arrange a stunning board

Tips & tricks that will transform the way you entertain so you can enjoy yourself as the host!

Red or white wine to get those creative juices flowing!

This hour-long workshop is lead by Elizabeth Drew of Drewlizcious, LLC.  Liz is a caterer and food stylist with an expertise in food & wine pairing. Her classes are popular and sell out fast.

Calling all Volunteers! We Run on Volunteer Power + Love and We Want You- 3.11.22

Stop by at 11 a.m. for an informal coffee chat about to learn ways you can get involved as a volunteer at Wakeman Town Farm . You don’t have to have a green thumb or be an alpaca whisperer (although we have volunteer opportunities for both of those). What you do have to have is a few hours a year to help out at the Farm, either as a planner or helper at one of our signature events, like our Family Fun Day, Pancake Breakfast, Eco Fest, Harvest Fest. We have committees for all our events and programs, and our volunteers sign up to help plan and run them. Whether you’re taking tickets at the front gate, planning the Farm Olympics at Family Fun Day, serving pancakes at the Pancake Breakfast or pizza at our Pizza Nights, or soliciting sponsor for Harvest Fest or other events, we could use your talents and time. We love moms and dads with kids, as well as retirees and singles; pretty much all the amazingly talented people who enjoy the Farm and want to lend a hand every now and then. It takes a village to keep a community Farm thriving!