All throughout the state, you'll find plenty of farms and attractions that showcase NH's dedication to keeping things green. Bring your family or yourself and discover how environmentally-friendly we are!
Upcoming Green Events
Green Attractions and Farms
Farmers' Markets
Agricultural Fairs
July 16 is Animal Enrichment Day at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. Have you ever wondered what a paper towel tube, cinnamon, and a skunk have in common? Find out at Animal Enrichment Day! Join staff and volunteers for a fun-filled day (9:30am – 4:30pm) focusing on animal enrichment. Enrichment provides stimulating activities for captive wildlife to keep them engaged in their surroundings and allow them to lead the best lives possible in captivity. Live animal presentations and demonstrations will be held throughout the day. No reservations are needed. Cost: free/member; $13/adults, $9/youth, age 2 and under free/non-member Contact 603-968-7194 or http://www.nhnature.org. From July 14 – 20 Art in Nature will take place at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye. Come celebrate art, nature and science during this week-long event (10:00am – 5:00pm each day). We will explore inspiring and creative ways of connecting to the environment through hands-on workshops, programs and activities for all ages. You can learn about organic sculpture in landscape design, get pointers about photographing nature with your digital camera, take home your own weaving or try your hand at painting wildflowers in watercolors. You can also learn about techniques in printmaking, hear about the Isle of Shoals' own literary great, Celia Thaxter, and her visitors that transformed Appledore Island into a summertime working art community in the 1800s, and much more! There will be an exhibition of nature-related art created by the guest artists who are leading programs during the event. You will have to opportunity to see artists at work "en plein air" during Petite Art in the Park. Petite paintings (10" x 10" or smaller) will be available for purchase for $60 on Sunday, July 20 from 11am to 4pm, cash and carry. Artists interested in participating in Petite Art in the Park should visit the Events page on SSC's web site for a registration form. Cost for this varies so refer to http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/ or call 603-436-8043 for more information. July 16, August 6, and August 27, 2008 has a “pond full of fun” that is great for the entire family. Come join us for FREE at 10:00am in Pinkham Notch for a couple of hours of "mucking around" for frogs, toads, and insect life. A teacher/naturalist from the Tin Mountain Conservation Center will have nets, bug boxes, hand lenses, identification cards and all the things you need to explore the beautiful Trout Pond at the base of Wild Cat Mountain. The pond lets us view the world within a world as we learn about the wonderful creatures in the pond environment! For more information on this event call 603-466-3326 or visit http://www.skiwildcat.com From July 15 – 20 there will be an educational tour in Franklin, New Hampshire of the Tarbin Gardens with an emphasis on summer flowering trees and shrubs. Tours will start at 11:00 AM and each will last for approximately one hour. Even though the tour is only about an hour long you are more than welcome to stay for the rest of the day. Bring a picnic lunch or treat yourself to an authentic English Cream Tea served in the Rose Garden Patio 1PM – 5PM (tea price $6.50). The gardens are open from 10AM – 6PM. Fees for this event are: Adults $8.50, Seniors, Children and Students $7.00 and group rates are available upon request. For information and directions phone 603-934-3518 or visit www.tarbingardens.com. July 26 & 27 marks the 13th Annual Daylily Extravaganza in Hancock, NH. This Daylily Extravaganza features a spectacular display of color and fragrances from more than 700 daylily varieties including our very own "Monadnock Series". Visitors can wander among our gardens, photograph flowering plants, participate in educational demonstrations, take a chance at a door prize, or simply enjoy a cup of lemonade and cookies. Davis Brook Farm has been featured in Yankee Magazine, Horticulture Magazine, Accent Home and Garden Magazine and featured on WMUR-TV's nightly program "New Hampshire Chronicle". Come see what all the buzz is about! This event runs from 9:00am-3:30pm and is free to the public. For more information phone 603-525-4728 or visit the website http://davisbrookfarm.com. From August 26- September 1 there will be an educational tour in Franklin, New Hampshire of the Tarbin Gardens with an emphasis on creating a perennial garden. Tours will begin at 11:00 AM and each tour will last approximately one hour, but you can stay for the rest of the day if you choose to. Bring a picnic lunch or treat yourself to an authentic English Cream Tea served in the Rose Garden Patio 1PM – 5PM (tea price $6.50). The gardens are open from 10AM – 6PM. Fees for this event are as followed: Adults $8.50, Seniors, Children and Students $7.00 and group rates are available upon request. For information and directions phone 603-934-3518 or visit www.tarbingardens.com There are also six National Wildlife Refuges in New Hampshire, with accessible trails and interpretive information to make family visits fun for everyone. Admission is free. They include the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newington (home to bald eagles), the John Hay refuge “The Fells” on Lake Sunapee, Lake Umbagog refuge in the Great North Woods, Wapack refuge on North Pack Monadnock Mountain, Silvio O. Conte refuge on the Connecticut River watershed protected by New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts and the Karner Blue Butterfly National Wildlife Refuge (honoring the rare and elusive state butterfly that local schoolchildren have helped protect). Cicely Farm in In Hillsborough, the Stonewall Farm Bed & Breakfast* offers a green package. Bring your bike, kayak, canoe or hiking shoes. We'll pack a picnic lunch for you. Finish off your day's adventure with an in-room massage. Rates start at $115 per person per night. Offer available until October 31st, 2008. 603-478-1947 or www.stonewallfarmbandb.com. *No relation to Stonewall Farm in Keene. Stonewall Farm in The Remick Museum and Farm in Johnson's Highland View Farm, operated by Christy and Scott Johnson, is a 65-acre in Windham. the farm was established as a dairy farm in 1884, but is now a visitor attraction, offering vegetable crops, two greenhouses with ornamental plants, ice cream and vegetable stands and cows, llamas, goats, sheep, ducks and chickens to pet. www.farmnfools.com, call 603-898-3831. Spring Ledge Farm in
Upcoming Green Events
Every Thursday in July and August Stories on the Farm is held. This is a fun story and activity program held in Milton, New Hampshire that children accompanied by an adult can attend. A different farm related story will be read each week, followed by a fun hands-on activity. The story of the day begins just after 10 am in the Big Yellow Barn. It is only $6 for adults and $3 for children. Contact 603-652-7840 or visit http://www.farmmuseum.org for more information.
Every Saturday and Sunday from June 21 – August 18, 2008 there will be guided hikes in Twin Mountain, New Hampshire starting at 10:00am until 3:00pm. Visit waterfalls and learn about the legends and history surrounding the White Mountains as you discover why so many famous poets, artists, and leaders of our country have found this to be their favorite getaway. For a guided hike, the cost per person is 50 dollars. Call 603-728-5826 or visit http://www.adventuresinprint.org for more information.
Every Tuesday in July and August there will be an Importech Mountain Bike Series in Gorham. This is a weekly biking series that goes from 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. Riders compete against the clock in this fun, easy going series. The course takes advantage of our carriage roads and single track in our trail system at the base of Mt. Washington. Complete 5 out of 8 weeks to become eligible for the prize lottery. Cost: $50, Kids (5-17): $34, one time fee: $15. Contact: 603-466-2333 or visit http://www.greatglentrails.com
On July 12 come join the Alliance and co-hosts, the Sanbornton Historical Society, for a day of barn history, architecture and exploration in central New Hampshire! At 10 a.m., John Porter, co-author of Preserving Old Barns, will present “Form & Function of N.H. Barns,” an illustrated lecture on barn architecture, at the historic Lane Tavern in Sanbornton. An optional lunch will be offered by the historical society in the Lane Tavern at 11:30 a.m. The self-guided tour of five historic barns will run from noon – 4 p.m. A barn expert will be on hand at each barn to answer questions on architectural features, framing techniques and common maintenance and repair issues. Ticket prices are $20-$40 (tour only tickets available). Pre-registration, however, is highly encouraged as space is limited in the Lane Tavern. For details visit www.nhpreservation.org. To register, call the Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281.
August 16 is the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle HillClimb in Gorham, New Hampshire. You may have seen these bicycle racers on TV challenging mountains in Europe, but they call this event the "TOUGHEST HILLCLIMB RACE IN THE WORLD!" 7.4 miles up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Come see for yourself why the top racers from around the world and local riders travel to Pinkham Notch to challenge the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Auto Road is open to the public from 12:30 pm until 6:00 pm. For more information call 603-466-3988 or visit http://www.mtwashingtonautoroadbicyclehillclimb.org.
On August 16 there is a Feel'n Top Notch, Outdoor Expo & Wellness Fair that takes place on Cannon Mountain in Franconia. Franconia Notch State Parks – Cannon Mountain and Littleton Regional Hospital will host the 1st Annual Feel’n Top Notch – Outdoor Expo & Wellness Fair on Saturday, August 16, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The daytime event will be followed by an evening of dancing to the Wicked Smart Horn Band at the Peabody Lodge at Cannon Mountain. Representatives from Pemigewasset Vallley Search & Rescue, New Hampshire Fish & Game, and Franconia Chamber of Commerce are teaming together to make the Feel’n Top Notch – Outdoor Expo & Wellness Fair an event to remember! The event is designed to inform, educate, entertain, and encourage individuals and families to learn new skills and rekindle interests in outdoor activities and good health. The Expo will feature hands on activities, exhibits, and demonstrations on topics including fishing, hiking, biking, wilderness first-aid, Hike Safe Program, maps and compasses, hiking with dogs and children, campfire safety, moose – myths & facts, alpine plants and mammals, hypothermia, and information for every hiker. Demonstrations and hands on activities will include a climbing wall, Smokey the Bear, forestry trucks, forest fire prevention, hiking Artist’s Bluff, water rescue, fly casting, and hopefully, some of our area celebrities will be on hand to greet and meet those in attendance. The wellness fair will include free health and the fitness tips and healthy eating demonstrations will be included to promote healthy lifestyles for children and adults. Holistic medicine techniques and demonstrations will be part of this exciting event. Demonstrations including Reiki, Reflexology, acupuncture, hypnotic therapy, Osmosis, Tai Chi, QiGong, and herbal therapy will be available for everyone. Cost: $5.00 Adults Children Free. Contact: 603-444-9304
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Green Attractions and Farms
The New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau offers the "Visiting NH’s Biodiversity" series of interpretive trail guides and site descriptions. These guides offer detailed information on sites where you can go to walk around and view NH's special natural features, old forests, rare or unusual plants, exemplary natural communities and ecosystems, and remarkable wetlands. Visit http://www.dred.state.nh.us/divisions/forestandlands/bureaus/naturalheritage/guides.htm for more information.
The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food keeps an updated list of Farmers' Markets throughout the state. Click here to view the complete list.
The weekly Farmers' Market in Portsmouth opens Saturday, May 3, bringing Seacoast residents and visitors another season of shopping just a short, gas-saving walk or bike ride from downtown. Every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the City Hall lot, fresh and local produce, flowers & garden plants, meats & cheeses, breads & pastries, fine crafts and more are available. Stock up on groceries, enjoy a live musical performance, and buy a gift for your mom - all in one stop! Additional weekday markets in Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton and Kingston open the first week of June. The average American eats food that's traveled 1500 miles from field to plate. Who wants to be average? Shop local, and reduce your carbon footprint. For details and directions, visit www.seacoastgrowers.org.
The weekly Open Air Market in Waterville Valley's Town Square is open every Saturday in July and August. Come pick up the freshest locally grown produce while enjoying the wonder of Waterville Valley. For more information, call 603-236-8175 or visit www.waterville.com.
The Hillsborough Downtown Farmer's Market starts on July 19 and continues every Saturday through September 20th at Butler Park. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more while supporting Hillsborough locals! Sponsored by Hillsborough Pride, 603-464-2953, www.hillsboroughpride.org.
The Great Bay Discovery Center in Stratham is the conservation-education headquarters for the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. A universally accessible trail and boardwalk allow visitors to explore a variety of habitats including upland hardwood forests, freshwater wetlands, salt marsh and mudflats. Visitors can stand on the deck of a 19th century gundalow replica or wander through the native gardens surrounding the center.
The Inn at East Hill Farm is operated by Agritourism pioneers Dave Adams and his family. They've run the dairy farm in
D Acres of New Hampshire in
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