Stone Barns Center in Pocantico Hills open Friday, weekend

Thursday November 1, 2012 5:10 PM By Anne Machalinski

Photo credit: Nicole Franzen | A little boy participates in egg collecting at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills.

The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, an 80-acre nonprofit working farm and educational center in Pocantico Hills, will be open Friday and throughout the weekend. After days spent cooped up indoors, egg collecting, farm tours and other outdoor activities are sure to keep both kids and adults happy.

Here's a look at the events and activities offered this weekend:

Insider's guided farm tour: Visit livestock and check out the greenhouse and planting fields in this one 1/2-hour walking tour. The event takes place from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 and from 2:30-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 and 4. Tickets, which can be ordered online, are $18 for adults and $12 for kids (member discounts apply). Not suitable for kids under 12.

Farm market: Get fresh eggs and produce from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hands-on gardening: Kids 2 and up can dig in and get their hands dirty planting herbs, flowers or veggies. Then comes the best part -- you'll get to taste some fresh-picked goodies. The 45-minute session, held at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, is $10 for all ages and $9 for members. A ticketed adult must accompany all children.

Herbal health for winter class: Herbalist Clare Pierson will lead a hands-on class about syrups and salves for the body. Everyone will go home with a winter remedy or two. The one 1/2-hour session is held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. Tickets, available online, are $15.

Hands-on egg collecting: Kids will get a kick out of entering a fenced area where chickens are free to roam, then climbing onto a small stepladder, reaching right in among the clucking hens and gathering fresh eggs into a basket. The 45-minute session, held at 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday and Sunday, is $10 for all ages and $9 for members. A ticketed adult must accompany all children.

Story time: Families with kids ages 2 and up are invited to gather at the Farm Store at noon on Saturday and Sunday for a free half-hour story time.

Kids in the kitchen: The menu is always changing, according to what's in season in this children's cooking class. From eggs to fresh herbs to seasonal veggies and more, kids ages 5 to 10 will help gather the ingredients themselves before preparing a dish. Sign up for the one hour session at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 is available online. The class is $20 per student, $18 for members.

Livestock tour: Visit the pigs, sheep, geese, chickens, turkeys and honeybees at Stone Barns and learn why and how these animals are raised on the farm. This tour is for ages 6 and up; a ticketed adult must accompany all children. The one-hour session, held at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, is $12 for adults and $10 for children.

Food and ecology tour with "Wildman" Steve Brill: Take a two hour walking tour with "Wildman" Steve Brill. Dress for the weather and bring water, a plastic bag for vegetables and a paper bag for mushrooms. The tour takes place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. Tickets, available online, are $25 for adults and $20 for youth.

IF YOU GO:

Info: Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, 630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills; 914-366-6200; www.stonebarnscenter.org; $5 parking fee; open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

-With Kristin Taveira

Tags: Pocantico Hills , Stone Barns Center , kids , events , outdoors