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HOMESTEADING WORKSHOPS
Homesteading is a term for a "lifestyle of self-sufficiency" which describes the life of the Mather family back in 1778 when Deacon Joseph and Sarah Mather built the Homestead. Their surrounding 100 acre farm provided everything an 11 person family needed to be self-sufficient. They raised animals, grew vegetables and other crops, cooked, sewed and embroidered their clothing, canned fruits and vegetables, made candles ... and more. Our workshops give participants knowledge and hands-on experience with activities that would have been undertaken by Homesteaders. Join us!
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Dec 07, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PMWith gratitude for our generous donors and members, we invite you to celebrate the season + our outgoing Executive Director, Heather Raker, plus extend a warm welcome to incoming Executive Director Samantha Gault. Festive cocktails, hors d'oeuvres & sweet treats!
Multiple DatesDec 10, 2025, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AMRefresh your mind and energy with this revitalizing practice to uplift and restore your entire system. Enjoy a well-paced flow that will offer you just the right amount of challenge while encouraging strength, resistance, and flexibility while reducing tension in the hips, back and shoulders.
Dec 18, 2025, 7:00 PMCozy up at the Homestead with a night of winter poems and warm beverages! Celebrate the season with selections by Robert Frost, ee cummings, and more.
Dec 20, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PMFamily Fun presented by the Junior Board. Crafts, cookie decorating, live music and a visit from St. Nick! Plus festive bevs & sweet treats.
Jan 14, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMWhether you watched a couple hours or all twelve, join us for a roundtable discussion! What did you learn? What did you love? What left you wanting ... more??! Come weigh in. All are welcome!
Jan 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PMJanuary is "hot tea month" and we are celebrating with a traditional tea by Carolyn's Absolutely Fabulous Events plus talk tbd.- Jan 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PMJanuary is "hot tea month" and we are celebrating with a traditional tea by Carolyn's Absolutely Fabulous Events. Bring your American Girl dolls!
Jan 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMJoin acclaimed author and historian Kostya Kennedy for a talk on his new book about Paul Revere—the famed man of the midnight ride. With Kennedy's signature storytelling and fresh insights, this event will reveal the real Revere: artisan, revolutionary, innovator.
Jan 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMIn celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, come join our creative mixed media workshop. Jasper Johns’s iconic work will inspire our collage making and painting. All art supplies are included plus wine, cheese & sweet treats for inspiration.
Feb 11, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PMArtScapades will look at how artists depicted the events that led up to the Revolution, the battles that raged during the conflict, the creation and signing of a Declaration of Independence, and images that reflect the early days of a new country
Feb 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PMEric Chandler returns for a lively lunchtime lecture: Slaves, Freemen & Haitians in the American Revolution -Between a Rock and a Hard Place. BYO lunch. We'll provide bevs & dessert.
Mar 05, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMWe celebrate Women's History Month by welcoming Cornelia Dayton, Professor of History at the University of Connecticut and author of Women's America: Refocusing the Past. She will dive into the history of American women in CT - focusing on the 18th and 19th century. Who were they? What did they do?
May 02, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PMWe will welcome the 5th Connecticut Regiment for a Revolutionary War Reenactment. Earlier in the day, the Museum of Darien will host the 5th Regiment for Fifth Ct Regiment for colonial cooking and artisan demonstrations.
Jun 13, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMCelebrate America 250 with Middlesex Parish! Local historic museums and Revolutionary War sites will be open for tours and fun on Connecticut's "Open House" Day.
Date and time is TBDJoin MH Literary Guru Samantha Gault as we explore the many portrayals of George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776 -- from art, to poetry and more.
Sept 18, Oct 14, Nov 12Join us for three events celebrating America 250 on September 18, October 14 and November 12. Please consider supporting our educational programming by becoming a Patron of this Series. Patrons will receive a special gift and be recognized at events. Thank you!- Monday & Wednesday 9:30 amRefresh your mind and energy with this revitalizing practice to uplift and restore your entire system. Enjoy a well-paced flow that will offer you just the right amount of challenge while encouraging strength, resistance, and flexibility while reducing tension in the hips, back and shoulders.
By appointmentThis exhibit will look at Bertha Mather's legacy as preservationist of home, family and community. Opening June 2025 and open by appointment through the summer.
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