(845) 344-1234.
Growing Backyard Berries
July 15. Garden writer and former Cornell University fruit scientist Lee Reich will be holding a backyard berry workshop from 6:30 to 9 pm at his garden in New Paltz. The workshop will cover all the berry bases, from soil preparation, watering, and fertilizing to pruning and harvesting. It will also include tastings of Reich’s plantings of blueberries, strawberries, currants, raspberries, juneberries, gooseberries, and blackberries. Enrollment is limited. $35 until July 10, $40 thereafter. (845) 255-0417; [email protected].
A Seat at the Table
July 17. Celebrate community and the bounty of the Hudson Valley at this five-course family dinner served on linen-covered tables in the fields of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Megan and Charlie Fells of The Artist’s Palate in Poughkeepsie will be at the helm in the kitchen. Dinner will be served with local wines. Don’t forget to BYOP (bring your own plate) which will be washed and returned after dinner. There will also be opportunity to tour the farm and view exhibits about the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Tickets are $207 including a processing fee. Poughkeepsie at 5:30. www.farmproject.org/content/seat-table.
Cooking Demonstration with Chef Peter Shelsky
July 17. Chef Peter Shelsky, graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education and owner of Pete’s Eats (Brooklyn) comes to Rogowski Farms to teach a free class about cooking with the farm’s morning harvest. Specializing in fusion dishes, Shelsky plans to prove that bok choi can be used in more than just stir frys.) At Rogowski Farm in Pine Island from 10am to noon. (845) 258-4574; www.rogowskifarm.com.
Farm to Table Dinner at Katchkie Farm
New York lake smelt with Roxbury Farm’s corn vinaigrette; rosemary and fennel grilled Pigasso Farms chicken; slow cooked baby turnips and tops with Katchkie Farm pepper-infused vinegar; locally grown assorted vegetables tossed with Katchkie Farm pesto, whole grain salad, sour cherries, and fennel; and more. Save room for cherry, peach, and mixed berry tarts or shaved ice with cucumber lime, garden rosemary with lemon, or blackberry basil infused syrups for dessert. At Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook from 5pm to 9pm. (518) 392-5252 ext. 214; www.clctrust.org. $125/$150 with a gift bag of organic vegetables.
Annual Monastery Vinegar Festival
July 17 and 18. Our Lady of Resurrection Monastery’s organic, artisanal vinegars are based on a recipe handed down from the Middle Ages. Seven different types of vinegars including red, rose, white wine, and apple cider will be available to taste and purchase along with dried herbs, cookbooks, plants, prepared food, and other local vendors. At Our Lady of the Resurrection Monastery in LaGrangeville from 10am to 5pm.
www.ourladyoftheresurrectionmonastery.webs.com/monasticvinegars.htm
The Locavore Way
July 23. This cooking class (part of a season-long series at The Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center) is taught by author, chef, and farm-to-table activist Amy Cotler. With an abundance of summer vegetables available, Cotler will teach you “flexible and forgiving recipes and improvisations for your CSA share” like Best of the CSA Risotto and Warm Market Salad. Also learn to cook with uncommon vegetables and how to prepare greens in a wok. The evening winds down with a shared meal. Each class is $70 or $240 for the entire series. 5pm to 9pm in Ghent. (518) 672-7500 x105;
www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/education/LocavoreWay.htm
Rondout Valley Grower’s Association 3rd Annual Farm Tour
July 24. A dy-long, self-guided tour of farms in the Rondout Valley region of Ulster County. Meet the people who grow your food, tour their farms, and enjoy samples of simple, delicious dishes made with locally grown ingredients and prepared by area chefs. Participants also receive recipe cards and farmstand coupons. 9am to 3:30pm, with a closing reception at 4. Advance tickets are $15 per person and $25 per family.
www.rondoutvalleygrowers.org.
Bounty of the Hudson Festival
July 24 and 25. The Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery hosts this festival featuring wines from the Shawangunk Valley Wine Trail and other Hudson Valley wineries, live music, and food prepared by area restaurants. $25/$35 at the door. (845) 258-4858; www.wvwinery.com.
2nd Annual International Great Beer Festival
July 24. From 2 to 6pm at the Neversink Valley Area Museum in Cuddebackville, 30 brewers present over 75 of their finest brews at Orange County’s 2nd Annual International Great Beer Festival A pay-one-price ticket gets you a tasting glass and the ability to sample 2 oz. pours from any participating brewery, including Dogfish Head, Spaten, Old Speckled Hen, Kronenbourg, and many more. Plus food and live music to accompany the suds. $40 in advance/$55 at the door. www.greatbeerexpo.com.
Black Dirt Feast
July 27. “Country smart” is the suggested attired for this al fresco, five-course meal with entree selections such as Hudson Valley braised short rib, beef tenderloin, and foie gras; angel hair pasta with sauteed chicken breast, chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, fresh and sun-dried tomatos; and Edenbrook Farms trout, broiled with a Livornese sauce, served with creamy polenta and fontina cheese. Meals will be paired with wines and other beverages from Peck’s Wine and Liquors and The Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery. Local, guest chefs will include Heather Kuroz of Black Dirt Gourmet, Vito Viviano of Trattoria Viviano, and Jean-Claude Sanchez of Jean-Claude Pastisserie. Dinner will be served in the fields with music from Warwick Valley Chorale and the Skye Jazz Trio. The feast will benefit the Pine Island Park Beautification Project. From 6pm to 9pm at Scheuermann Farms & Greenhouses in Warwick. RSVP by July 14 at (845) 258-9004. $150 couple/ $80 single.
Taste of Columbia County
August 2. Come hungry for this eclectic mix of edibles from over 25 restaurants and 30 farmers and producers. Taste of Columbia County will have local beer from Chatham Brewing, assorted focaccias from Georgia Ray’s Kitchen, local cheeses from The Pampered Cow, pies and desserts from Dutch Desserts, and much more. Participating farms including Old Saw Mill Farm, Fix Bros Fruit Farms, Green Acre Farms, Hudson Garlic, and Markristo Farm will be providing meats, herbs, and a huge assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. There will also be a raffle, live music, a table of food grown by children, and a tribute to the Bounty’s co-founder, Vicki Simon. At the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham from 5pm to 8pm. (518) 392-9696. www.columbiacountybounty.com. $50/$25 ages 7 to 12/$10 under 7. A Columbia County Bounty membership is also required. $25/$40 couple.