Sholan Farms is owned by the City of Leominster and operated by the Friends of Sholan Farms. The Friends of Sholan Farms is a community-supported, non-profit organization.

Sholan Farms is located at 1125 Pleasant Street, Leominster, MA 01453; Mailing address: P.O. Box 632, Leominster, Mass 01453 978-840-FARM; Web: www.sholanfarms.com.

The friends meetings take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month (unless noted) beginning in February: Feb 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, August 22 – Open House, November 15^th – Appreciation Dinner (No meetings Aug-Dec)

June 24^th – 6PM Friends Annual Meeting & Elections Location: Trustees of Reservations, 325 Lindell Ave, Leominster, Ma

August 22 (Rain Date August 23) - 2PM Friends Annual Open House and Picnic @ Sholan Farms

For additional opportunities please check the website or call for more information.

Visit the last working apple orchard in Leominster, the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). Your visit will be a memorable one! Situated on a hilltop with panoramic views of surrounding hills and even of Boston on a clear day, the farm provides cross-country skiing, walking trails, bird watching, picnic area and a variety of cultural and folk events throughout the year. In season, pick from a large variety of spectacular native apples as they ripen.

Apple Tree Pruning & Grafting Exercises – Saturdays Jan - April 10AM-1PM weather permitting. Come learn the art of pruning and enjoy the fresh air. Grafting exercises planned in conjunction with staff from UMASS.

How to dress… dress warm, wear tall, insulated boots and several layers of socks. Recommend chap stick and dry skin protection.

Tools to bring... Choose one of the following: By-pass hand shears, By-pass loppers. Wheeler saw, Pruning “pull” saw: A nine-inch, crescent shaped blade attached to a horizontal handle. A VERY sharp three edged blade, which cuts on the draw.

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Twilight Hikes (weather permitting) Second Friday of the month at 8pm.

Note: Time has changed to 8PM

Note: The hike scheduled for April 10, 2009 has been rescheduled to April 17, 2009

Join us for our twilight hike series, which takes place on the second Friday of each month beginning on January 9th. Winter hikes include (weather permitting) snowshoe, cross-country skiing and a campfire. Gathering time is at 8PM at the Farm stand area - 1 hour hike with a 1 hour campfire (as conditions allow). Bring a friend or family members (pets on leashes are welcome) to enjoy the hike. Comfortable winter hiking attire is recommended, as well as a flashlight, and water. For after the hike bring your favorite treat (hotdogs, marshmallows, etc) to share. Hot chocolate and tea will be provided by the FOSF.

We are also looking for volunteers (hiking leads, trail blazers, campfire monitors, etc.) to be part of our FOSF Hiking team. If interested contact Neal Wynne.

Check our website for more information. For more information: info@sholanfarms.com or 978-840-3276 or Neal Wynne at 978-870-8560 or email neal_wynne@comcast.net

Worcester County Conservation Tree Seedling Sale – May 2, 2009, 10 a.m.

New this year we have collaborated with the Worcester County Conservation District 2009 Seedling Sale. Orders can be placed by visiting their website. They will be accepting orders through March 27, 2009. The pickup date is May 2, 2009. To receive the 2009 seedling brochure, please fill out your name and address on the “contact us and feedback page on website www.seedlingsale.org. If you have ordered before and are a current customer, you will receive a brochure automatically in the mail by mid February 2009. You may view and print the current brochure after February 1, 2009 by clicking on the link below. Thank you for your support! http://seelingsale.org/sshome.htm. Contact number: Worcester County -Conservation District, 52 Boyden Road, Room 100, Holden, MA 01520, 508-829-4477 Ext. 5, www.seedlingsale.org

The annual Sholan Farms Apple Blossom Festival celebrates the advent of spring in the Central Massachusetts region as evidenced by the blooming of the apple trees. The Festival is a civic celebration organized and operated by the Friends of Sholan Farms.

Sholan Farms is grateful to our many local, regional and national business sponsors for helping to partially fund this event. Entertainment scheduled to appear: Leominster High Marching Band, Ragged Hero’s, Kevin Bliss Self Defense Center, Leominster Jazz Band, and Crafters.

The Festival is an event the whole family can enjoy with children’s activities, crafters, pony rides, music and food. The astounding success of the Sholan Farms Apple Blossom Festival is a direct product of the committed energy of many members of our community. Without their dedication, support and participation, producing this event would not be possible. Since 2002, the Apple Blossom Festival has grown and become a community event almost synonymous with spring to both local residents and visitors alike. For more information contact the event chairs: Event Co-Chair Peggy Christoforo at 978-534-4810, email to machristo@aol.com or Event Co-Chair Neal Wynne at 978-870-8560 or email neal_wynne@comcast.net

Calling All Gardeners- This year, Sholan Farms will be hosting a 30-plot community garden that will be open to community members. The plots will be awarded on a first come basis. This community garden is being planned, coordinated, developed, and managed by The Friends of Sholan Farms. For more information about the Sholan Farms Community Garden contact: Co-Chairs Maureen Angelini 978-537-5195 or Nilah Gerhard 978-840-0785, Cell 978-407-4343 or Sholan Farms 978-840-3276. Planting planned for May 23 & 24^th – weather permitting.

9th Annual Opening Week – August 23– August 30, 2009, 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Live Entertainment, Apple Picking, hayrides, hiking, and good old-fashioned fun at Sholan Farms.

Great food, numerous free, interactive children's events, and so much more at this fun family festival!

The Season runs from Late August through October: Daily 10AM – 5:00PM. For information call 978-840-FARM or visit us online at www.sholanfarms.com for information about events, volunteer opportunities, and membership. All events are subject to change. This year Sholan Farms has a stunning crop of apples waiting to be picked. Our varieties include: Marshall McIntosh, Macoun, Empire, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Cortland, Paula Reds, Crabapples, Red and Golden Delicious and more (check our website for varieties).

Our store shelves will be stocked with fresh picked apples, candles, homemade jelly, honey from our own hives, cider and when in season; gourds, mums, squash, pumpkins, and more. The bakers will be busy again making apple deserts and other treats. Our concession stand will be open on weekends serving hot dogs, apple crisp, cider, coffee, cookies and other special delights.

Classic Auto’s the last Sunday Afternoon beginning in July and running through the Harvest Season - With the help of our friends, Mid-State Antique Auto Club (www.midstateaac.org) we welcome owners of Classic and Antique vehicles to participate the last Sunday afternoon of each month. We will have a special area for these cars to park for your review.

Sholan Farms offers tours of our seasonal operations to schools and other groups on a first-come first-served basis. Tour hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. A small per-person fee is charged. For reservations, please call 978-840-FARM. On a tour you can expect to see the 169-plus acres of farmland which includes orchard, meadows, and forests. The tours last about 30 minutes. All children receive complementary ¼ peck of apples, cider, and snack.

We also offer the perfect location for birthday and family celebrations. For more information please call 978-840-FARM.

Cream of the Crop Weekend – Sept 25 – Sept 27, 2009

Join us as we unveil the finest eating apple in the region – The cream of the crop celebration begins Wednesday with open house and continues throughout the weekend. Want a perfect no-fat dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Macoun may just be your apple, but, hurry, these special apples are only available in the fall. Macoun was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva in 1932. It is named for a famous Canadian fruit breeder.

8th Annual Scarecrow Festival October 10, 2009 (rain date Oct 17) Festival Hours: Saturday 10 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Come build your own scarecrow or view and vote on your favorite. Enjoy free entertainment on Saturday and Sunday, great food, numerous free, interactive children’s events and so much more at this fun family festival! For information call 978-840-FARM or visit us online at www.sholanfarms.com for information about events, volunteer, and membership opportunities. All events are subject to change.