Howard Hall Farm is both a historic restoration project and a vehicle for educating people in sustainable, environmentally conscious restoration techniques. The site of our learning laboratory is an 1870’s stone manor in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. This Federal-style home presents a number of restoration challenges specific to this region of the country. In an effort to educate ourselves, we bring in preservation and restoration experts from all over the country to train us and our workshop participants in green techniques to preserve and revive our homes while minimizing their impact on the environment. With their help, we can all learn to bring an old home out of the cobwebs and into the green. Welcome to Howard Hall Farm. We invite you to join us in our effort to RESTORE GREEN.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFERS:FROM NOW UNTIL X-MAS ONLY!

FIRST PRIZE The first spot reserved in each 2-day class before December 25th gets to stay with us for the duration of their class in the guest room of the Federal Manor at Howard Hall Farm! THESE SPECIAL GUEST WILL BE TREATED TO: *Meals prepared in our restored bee hive oven. *Breakfast made with eggs hatched here at the farm. *If both parties are amenable, they can even sleep with Blossom, the cutest Jack Russel in town!

SECOND PRIZE The holder of the second ticket sold for each 2-day class will be treated to: *A guided tour with Reggie Young and Nora Johnson at local historic sites with discussion on topics of their choice! *They can even pick Nora's brain about restoration finishes! Winners will be notified by e-mail*

Please note: Dates marked with * are subject to change.

LIME WASHES AND FINISHES TRAINING WORKSHOP PART OF THE Environmentally Friendly*HISTORIC LIME PLASTER TRAINING SERIES Instructor: Plaster Preservationist and Conservator Rory Brennan from "THIS OLD HOUSE" This hands-on lime washes and finishes training day will teach the greenest washes and finishes techniques out there! Students will learn and practice the techniques on the historic house at Howard Hall Farm, our learning laboratory. Lunch and on-site materials are included. Rory's last class sold out due to limits on class size: It's never too early to reserve your space in the workshop. JANUARY 12: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $150

"March of the Fine Fare" COOKING CLASS With ADAM MONTEVERDE Host of the local TV Cooking Show: "TWO FOR ONE" Adam will March participants through the steps of creating some of his special recipes, to be followed by feasting on all the succulent lessons! This class would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves locally grown ingredients and gourmet food, and wants to learn the simple secrets behind the preparation of some of Adam's most popular dishes. Click here to read about some of the local sources of Adam's ingredients. This class may be filmed as an episode for his TV show. Students who do not wish to be on TV will be kept out of frame. MARCH 1: 1PM-5PM Workshop fee: $100

"Easter Dinner" COOKING CLASS with Shannon Hayes Creator of "The Carnivore Chronicles" To be followed by a book signing and 'hearthy' meal. During this two hour class, we'll explore some of the classic foods from Christian and Pagan traditions, and use them to construct a hearty feast featuring the products of local farmers. We'll look at some basic food preservation techniques that historically would have carried local families through the winter and into spring, and mix it all together with gourmet flair. Our Easter menu will include a fresh pasture-raised Easter ham, carrot parsnip puree, braised apples with ruby sauerkraut, and a lemon honey creme brulee. In addition to discussing techniques for working with grassfed and pastured meats,participants will learn lacto-fermentation techniques for making authentic sauerkraut, and will have an opportunity to compare local,sustainably-sourced ingredients with their conventional industrially-produced couterparts. Participants are encouraged to bring any questions they may have about working with local farms, grassfed meats and seasonal cooking and food preservation. While the emphasis of this program will definitely be on fine Spring feasting,this will also be an opportunity to explore some of the nutritional advantages of sustainably-sourced foods, as well as some of the social and political issues that make responsibly-sourced food even more delicious! MARCH 9:10AM-6PM Workshop fee: $125

"Into the fire" COOKING CLASS With Mercy Ingraham, The Open Hearth Cook To be followed by a book signing and 'hearthy' meal. Mercy Ingraham "is a hearth cook, the culinary equivalent of one of those Revolutionary War re-enactors, and it is her conviction that the invention of the stove, while it's sure saved wood, has not been without its drawbacks."....On March 15th, Mercy invites you to join her over an open hearth, as she kindles memories from the first days of our 1780's Federal manor, and teaches this very special cooking class on preparing historic food atop the windy hill at Howard Hall Farm. The class will be followed by a signing of her new book, which will be available to purchase after the class. Lunch and dinner are included! · "We shall prepare an assortment of dishes, and then consume them. While we are cooking over the fire, there will be lots of time to talk about the principles of cooking, and the techniques that were used by fire-cooks in the past." · We will learn: soup, roasting, baking, stewing and grilling, and all food will match the era of the house. In addition to eating the lesson, each student will take home copies of the recipes and a bibliography of great books for further study. MARCH 15: 10AM-6PM Workshop fee: $125

REPOINTING AND REBUILDING STONE: HISTORIC LIME MORTAR TRAINING WEEKEND with JOHN SPEWEIK PART OF THE Environmentally Friendly* LIME MORTAR TRAINING SERIES The workshop is formatted as an on-site consultation of the 220-year-old Federal style home in Athens NY, which serves as our classroom and laboratory. The site offers a unique environment for hands-on learning and offers specific restoration challenges that are distinctive to this region. These classes are geared toward the restoration practitioner as well as the layman and are sure to be valuable resource in this restoration-heavy area of the country. John will offer a presentation on the History of Mortar as well as technical information regarding the analysis and evaluation of historic mortars. Following the presentation, participants will engage in hands-on repointing and stone rebuilding work using the specified methods of approach for masonry restoration. John Speweik is the Vice President of U.S. Heritage Group and the co-author of the Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings published by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. He has also written: The History of Masonry Mortar in America 1720-1995. John's articles have appeared in Traditional Building, Old-House Journal and The Masonry Magazine, published by the Mason Contractors Association of America. *APRIL 19-20: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $400

THE PLANNING AND BUILDING OF A DUTCH BARN: with Mirko Gabler "To an uninformed outsider the story of an old farm is a closed book But to a knowledgeable observer the whole of New York State becomes an open-air museum..." Join Mirko in our "open-air museum" for this on-site class. *APRIL 26: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $

"READING THE PERIOD HOUSE" with Roderic Blackburn of R. H. Blackburn & Associates, Inc. Real Estate Participants will learn: What your historic home actually is. How it was intended to work. What changes has it suffered and why. ...and what you can (and can't do) about it. APRIL 27: PM-PM Workshop fee: $

"HOW TO PREPARE FOR CONSERVATORS SO YOU DON"T WASTE MONEY" A class with Judith Jacob (The paint and lime conservator who did mortar specifications for the Statue of Liberty.) Judith Jacob is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation. She currently works for the National Park Service, Northeast Regional Office, in the Architectural Preservation Division, New York, NY. MAY 4th: 1PM-5PM Workshop fee: $

GREEN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE: HISTORIC RESTORATION AND THE UTILIZATION OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY A colloquium featuring experts from a vast array of fields that will explore practical ways homeowners and professionals can dove-tail environmentally friendly technology and materials with their historic restoration projects. *MAY 17-19th $

INTRODUCTION TO HISTORIC PAINTS AND FAUX FINISHES WORKSHOP PART OF THE HISTORIC PAINTS AND FAUX FINISHES WORKSHOP SERIES with Nora Hutchinson Johnson, Michael Black, and Moira Kelly A hands-on introduction to mastering the basic glazing skills that become the foundation of many historic techniques. This workshop will help you achieve success with finishes whether you're a professional painter, decorator, a building owner, or overseeing a preservation project. Certificates of completion will be distributed to attendees at the conclusion of the workshop and lunches are provided. This workshop also includes: A presentation with Michael Black of Liberty Paint touching on topics such as: * The Colorful History of Paint: Traditions, Alternative Variations, & Uses * Paint Types: Oil, Whitewash, Egg, Milk, Pigments, Asphaltum, Modern, Glazes, Varnish, & Shellac * Project Reference: Munsell Color Standards & Color Computer * Chromo-chronology: Dating Paint Layers * Surfaces: Wood, Plaster, Ferrous Metal, Aluminum, Brick, Stone * Project Prep: Stripping, Sanding, & Application * Project Tools: Brushes, Spray, Padding, etc. * Project Evaluation: Lead, Plaster, Solvents, Mildew, & Wallpaper. An introduction to the composition and analysis of historic materials, with examples from history and the Instructors' own projects of a wide cross-section of techniques and effects to inspire the hands-on portion of the workshop. A special guest speaker! New York decorative artists, Moira Kelley and Nora Johnson, are frequent collaborators with complimentary strengths: Both are committed to researching the most environmentally conscious materials possible for their work. MAY 31-JUNE 1: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $300

PRIVATE LESSONS IN TERNE TIN with Dennis Heaphy Dennis will be giving hands-on lessons on the terne tin roof. Due to the nature (and location) of this class, the number of students we can accept is limited. Be sure to book your lesson early. Our House at Howard Hall Farm has a Terne Tin roof, so over the years, Reggie has done a lot of research on it. He's been looking for an expert for quite some time now, so when he read an article in the New York Post about THE TIN MAN who is the fourth generation of a line of tinsmiths (dating back to 1892), and Lady Liberty's personal assistant, he couldn't resist getting in touch with him. Dennis Heaphy was here for a week in mid-October. You can read about his time here in the Times Union by clicking here. JUNE 21-22: 8AM-4PM Workshop fee: $

PRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN: "THE MAKING OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY" with Dennis Heaphy: The Official Tin Man of Lady Liberty The presentation also includes: *Cider and donuts *Kids' initials stamped into a coin *Many visual demonstrations JUNE 22: 12PM-1PM Workshop fee: Adults $15 , Children, $10

PLASTER ORNAMENT REPAIR WORKSHOP: CORNICE MOLDINGS AND BRACKETS HISTORIC LIME PLASTER TRAINING WEEKEND PART OF THE Environmentally Friendly*HISTORIC LIME PLASTER TRAINING SERIES Instructor: Plaster Preservationist and Conservator Rory Brennan from "THIS OLD HOUSE" and Preservation Plastering. His projects have included some of the finest government buildings, churches, and Historic House Museums in the Country. Click here to read his article for "This Old House". Rory will be taking samples of the plaster at Howard Hall Farm during the January 12th workshop, so he can make molds for this one, and demonstrate on site. This hands-on cornice moldings and brackets training day will teach the greenest techniques out there! Students will learn and practice their new skills on the historic house at Howard Hall Farm, our learning laboratory. Lunch and on-site materials are included. Rory's last class sold out due to limits on class size: It's never too early to reserve your space in the workshop. *JUNE 29- JULY 1: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $300

VEINING AND GRAINING: FAUX MARBLE AND WOOD (FAUX BOIS) PART OF THE HISTORIC PAINTS AND FAUX FINISHES WORKSHOP SERIES with Toby Nuttal, Nora Hutchinson Johnson, Michael Black, and Moira Kelly Learn on materials we provide or bring pieces from your own home! This workshop will help you achieve success creating fantasy wood and marble finishes. Students will learn on an object they can bring home. Materials, morning snack and lunches are included. "Toby Nuttal is one of New York's most prestigious decorative painters. For twenty years he has worked with a celebrated list of clientele, including Gianni Versace, Union Square Café and other restaurants belonging to Danny Meyer , Time Warner Inc, and many high profile private clients. Toby studied at London's School of African and Asian Studies; traveled in India and Sri lanka before concluding he would need a more practical skill than an ability to speak Urdu. He took a City and Guilds course in the traditional skill of wood graining, (he was one of only three students who elected to take the course), and has never looked back. Toby's faux bois is surreal; making the real thing look positively wooden." JULY 5-6: 9AM-5PM Workshop fee: $300