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 Our new book for early childhood educators!
If you teach, parent, or spend time with young learners, we've got a book for you! Cultivating Joy and Wonder: Educating for Sustainability in Early Childhood through Nature, Food, and Community is now available for download.
Its activities, essays, and handouts are the fruits of our years of experience in early childhood education and sustainability, both on the Farm and with our partners, the Sustainability Academy and King Street Center in Burlington, Vermont.
Try this spring activity from the book with your child or students: Pond Critters!
If you're interested in becoming a field test site, contact Linda Wellings, 802-985-0308 for more information.
To Farmers: Help Strengthen Vermont Agritourism!
If you're engaged with on-farm visitors, farm-based education or agritourism on any scale, join the conversation on what makes a quality on-farm experience and what resources you need in order to offer those experiences. We're collaborating with the Vermont Farms! Association to host a series of listening sessions about best practices for welcoming farm visitors (tourists and local community). Travel stipends are available and yummy local snacks will be provided.
- MAY 20 - Woodstock, VT
- MAY 22 - Hardwick, VT
- MAY 28 - Londonderry, VT
- MAY 29 - South Hero, VT
For more information or to RSVP (required) email Vera Simon-Nobes, or call her at: 802-985-0382.  Award for best hands-on farm programs
Thanks, Yankee Magazine! They recognized us as a "2013 Editors Choice" winner for our hands-on farm programs in their May/June Traveler's Guide to New England! "Shelburne Farms has become a leader in the local-foods movement with farm-based education programs for both children and adults."
Want to experience farm-based education? Come visit (of course), or check out recent coverage of our April Vacation "Farmer for a Day" program in this Burlingon Free Press article or this WCAX story.
 Announcing Formal Gardens 2013 Challenge Grant!
Every new gift to the Formal Gardens Restoration Project this year will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $150,000, thanks to a very generous, anonymous donor! If successful, the grant will allow us to complete Phase 3 of the project in 2014, which involves structural repairs to the upper gardens. Work this May and June is repairing the central stairs to the Lily Pool and the brick walls in the south half of the upper gardens.
The grant is contingent on the Farm raising a matching $150,000 by December 1, 2013. To support this challenge and be part of this beautiful restoration effort, please contact Alec Webb or Sue Dixon.
Forest for Every Classroom Kickoff
The Forest for Every Classroom (FFEC) program kicked off April 26th with 20 educators representing many grade levels and hailing from all around Vermont and the Boston area. This initial workshop, held at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, introduced teachers to the two-year professional development program and grounded them in place-based learning and education for sustainability.
FFEC is a partnership of the Green Mountain National Forest, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Shelburne Farms and Merck Forest and Farmland Center.
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Transforming School Food 
Gender-Bending Jack
When walking through moist woods in May, keep an eye out for Jack-in-the-pulpit, arisaema tryphyllum. A Jack-in-the-pulpit begins its life bearing male flowers, but after one or two years its gender can change. If the plant receives enough sunlight, moisture and nutrients, it can store enough energy to produce female flowers the following year. If not, the plant will remain male. Its flowers are located at the base of the spadix or "Jack," which is protected by the spathe or "pulpit." Gently open the spathe to glimpse the flowers inside. Green berries indicate it's female; whitish, thread-like berries mean it's male. Female plants also usually have two 3-part leaves; males only grow one.
Shelburne Farms cultivates a conservation ethic for a sustainable future.
We are a nonprofit
education center, 1,400-acre working farm, and National Historic Landmark.
1611 Harbor Road • Shelburne, Vermont • 05482 •