Experience the Season of Light at Grace Farms
During the winter season, Grace Farms offers opportunities to reflect and engage in programs for people of all ages, from helping those in need to listening to improvisational arrangements of seasonal music curated by acclaimed saxophonist and mathematician Marcus G. Miller, to participating in one of our many programs related to our initiatives of nature, arts, justice, community, faith, and Design for Freedom.
As in all seasons, visitors are invited to explore our nearly 80 acres of natural landscapes and walking trails. And once the snow falls, one can experience the wonders of nature by snowshoeing across a mesmerizing winter landscape . For those interested in a deeper understanding of nature and our universe, there are a variety of facilitated programs such as bird watching and astronomy. Grace Farms is open and free to public six days a week.
Below are highlights of our seasonal events with a look into the New Year. (feature photo by Dean Kaufman)
Giving Tree
Starting in late November, stop by our Library, the Welcome Center, and the Sanctuary to select an ornamental card from the Grace Farms Giving Tree. Gifts that visitors donate on the cards are collected and given to our local community partner Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, a not-for-profit that provides social services to immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking.
Photo by Vanessa Van Ryzin
Songs of the Season
Throughout the season, experience moments of peace and tranquility with improvisational arrangements of seasonal music curated by acclaimed saxophonist and mathematician Marcus G. Miller and performed by local musicians in our Sanctuary, an indoor amphitheater with 360-degree views of the landscape and nature. Songs of the Season is free to the public.
Marcus G. Miller, Grace Farms’ first Music Advisor, has performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, The World Economic Forum at Davos, The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Jon Batiste, and Carnegie Hall with Jon Batiste. Photo by Valerie Caviness
Tea for a Better Tomorrow Thursdays | December 1 and 15
See, hear, smell, and taste teas from around the world with tea expert Frank Kwei and Grace Farms Foods’ Co-Founder Adam Thatcher. Learn about traditional tea practices and modern methods, enjoy tastings of varietals including herbals, oolongs, blacks, greens, and whites, and discover the impact of ethically and sustainably-sourced teas.
$15 | member: $12
Afternoon Tea at Grace Farms Wednesdays | 3 – 4:30 pm | December 7
You’re invited to our take on a traditional English Afternoon Tea service. Enjoy this community gathering and conversation with friends and tea expert Frank Kwei over a delicious pot of ethically- and sustainably-sourced tea, and a seasonal assortment of tasty English and Japanese inspired bites created by Pastry Chef Leah Jones.
$30 | member: $24
Photo by Jacek Dolata
Astronomy with the Connecticut Science Center Tuesday, December 13 | 7 – 8:30 pm
Observe the bright Geminids Meteor Shower during this STEAM program lead by a Connecticut Science Center educator. Experience gravity simulations, hands-on art projects, two telescopes for enhanced viewing, and more to learn about this meteor shower and other elements of the night sky. Hosted in partnership with the Connecticut Science Center’s Science-in-Motion program.
$15 | member: $12 | children: $7
Grace Farms’ open space provides an opportunity to star gaze year round. Photo by Vanessa Van Ryzin
Gifting for Good Friday, December 9 | 7 – 8 pm
Join us for our annual evening of gifting along with local families and children, where we assemble care packages with essential items, along with writing cards that personalize the gift-giving. The hundreds of packages will be donated to our local community partner The Center for Family Justice.
free
Gifting for Good, an annual event during the holiday season that takes place in Grace Farms’ subterranean Court, brings together family and friends from the community to provide personalized gift packages for those in need. Photo by Jenna Bascom
Welcoming in the New Year – A Look Ahead
Kids Cook with Chef Neena Perez, Wednesdays | 4 – 5:30 pm | January 18, February 1
Grace Farms Chef Neena Perez teaches children, ages 11 to 17, how to cook and bake during introductory culinary classes that emphasize good nutrition, organizational skills, communication, and teamwork. Students enjoy what they cook during class or at home. We supply all ingredients, recipes, and cooking tools.
$40 per class | member: $32
Chef Neena Perez, Director of Culinary Operations at Grace Farms, preparing a healthy meal in our Commons. Many of the ingredients come from our Community Garden. Photo by Julien Jarry
Meaningful Tastings | Coffee Flight
Select Thursdays | 3 – 4 pm | January 19, February 2 and 16
Savor the aroma and flavor of different coffee varietals in an interactive tasting led by Grace Farms Foods Co-Founder Adam Thatcher and tea expert Frank Kwei. Sip samples of different blends, including Grace Farms Foods’ sustainably-sourced line of Drips coffee that has a positive impact while supporting the work of the Foundation.
Adam Thatcher, co-founder of Grace Farms Foods with Sharon Prince, CEO and Founder of Grace Farms Foundation, traveled to Columbia this year to visit the Fairtrade c0-op that provides coffee for Grace Farms Foods’ Drip line. Here is a Q&A with Adam about his trip.
$15 | member: $12
Our restoration of the landscape to bring back biodiversity has brought back many bird species. Photo by Melani Lust
Seasonal Nature Walks | Wintry World | Saturday, February 4 | 10 – 11 am
Step into a pair of our snowshoes and embark on a wintry trek through a scenic nature trail, which promises a peaceful view of the dormant landscape of restored ecosystems in rest mode this season.
$10 | member: $8 | children: $5
Winter Musical Musings, Saturday, February 25 | 4 – 6 pm
This family-friendly musical evening is curated by Music Director Marcus G. Miller and brings warmth and vibrance to a chilly February night. Check our website for more details.
Exhibits & Ongoing Programs
Peace Forest Exhibit, West Barn
What is Grace Farms and how does Grace Farms Foundation advance good in the world? Explore Peace Forest, an immersive installation inspired by nature, offering visitors an interactive experience highlighting how the landscape, architecture, and people at Grace Farms are part of the Foundation’s mission. Pedestals made with ethically sourced steel and wood repurposed from the site gently sway when touched and feature text, objects, and archival photos. A video installation and a map of Grace Farms highlight offerings each day. The installation is curated by Grace Farms Foundation Creative Director Chelsea Thatcher, and designed by Peter Miller (Palette Architecture) and Shohei Yoshida (shohei yoshida + associates / SYA), members of the architectural team of the award-winning SANAA-designed River building at Grace Farms, with the graphics designed by Pentagram.
The Peace Forest Exhibit at Grace Farms. Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy
Common Good Through Crisis Exhibit, with MASS Design Group, East Barn
Common Good Through Crisis considers the relationships and connections that inspired Grace Farms Foundation’s efforts to provide 2 million critical PPE to frontline healthcare workers and hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals to our neighbors in need. Grace Farms Foundation’s work to close the PPE gap during the initial surge of the pandemic was furthered by collaboration with the State of Connecticut, the Town of New Canaan, and many other municipalities, hospitals, healthcare organizations, not-for-profits, and individuals.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in this immersive installation by weaving a piece of fabric that connects their story to others, and ponder the power in acting for the common good, not just in times of crisis.
Photo by Melani Lust
Bunny Book Group, Fridays | 10:30 – 11 am
Gather on the SANAA-designed rabbit chairs in our Library to hear stories from our curated collection of children’s books exploring topics related to our ongoing programs and initiative work.
Recommended for children age one through five with adult caregivers.
free
Open Arts Studio for Families, Saturdays | 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Children and families are invited to spend time together experimenting with new materials and art-making techniques during this facilitated series developed by experienced educations. Art themes change monthly.
Recommended for children age five through 10 with adult caregivers.
Photo by Kyle Norton
$5 | member: free
To learn more about Grace Farms explore our events’ calendar and sign up for our Grace Farms newsletter to stay informed about our work and events related to our place and our initiatives, including Design for Freedom, a movement to remove forced labor from the built environment.
Interested in our Membership Program, and an opportunity to be a part of our mission to pursue a more peaceful world, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds.
