What could be better on a crisp fall afternoon than watching “Plein aire” artists at work?  You might bring a blanket and picnic lunch…. afterward, stroll the Farm grounds while listening to the guitar-mandolin duo of Judy Handler and Mark Levesque.  The artists will be painting at their chosen spots, in this most scenic Vernon venue.  Free lemonade, provided by the Vernon Arts Commission.  Tours of the historic farm buildings will be given on the hour by local historian, Jon Roe.  A fun afternoon for you and your family, SUNDAY, October 10, 1-3 pm.!

Please park at the Valley Falls Park parking lot.  You can take the trail up to the Red Barn from the parking area.  A shuttle will be available if needed.

The ANNUAL MEETING of the Friends of Valley Falls will be held on Sunday, Sept 26, 2021, at 1 pm, at the Red Barn, 350 Valley Falls Road, Vernon.  Join us on a perfect fall afternoon to hear committee reports of happenings in FY 2020-2021.  We will hold Board Member elections and Ann will update us on the progress at the “Heritage Center.”  The public is invited, guests are always welcome!  Jon Roe, local historian will review his research on the Farm’s nefarious former owner, “Count” Hans von Munchow.

The Red Barn, 350 Valley Falls Rd, Vernon

Valley Falls Farm,

  Fun for just yourself, or your whole family!  We normally hold guided tours of our original historic farm buildings. We tell you what we’ve learned about their history, ending as a “Gentleman’s Farm,” owned by the Beach Family from 1915 through the 1950’s.  You can get a glimpse or our stable as it becomes the Heritage Center and visit Vernon Garden Club’s Herb Garden, in full summer bloom and fragrance.  Or, take a leisurely walk through the scenic grounds, imagining a time gone by.  Park at the RED BARN, 350 Valley Falls Road.

Due to limitations prompted by COVID-19, and restrictions on all group interactions, we will not hold our group tours this summer.  Please watch our website for more information on fall activities.

The Red Barn, 350 Valley Falls Rd, Vernon

Enjoy a late September afternoon in the basement of the Red Barn, 350 Valley Falls Road.  After a brief business meeting, CT State Historian Walter Woodward’s “Band of Steady Habits” (http://cthistory.org/band-of-steady-habits) will present a lively and entertaining program combining storytelling, history and music.  Learn about recent developments in the planning of the “Heritage Center” to be located in the stable at Valley Falls Farm.  Everyone is welcome, refreshments following the program.

Please, PARK IN THE PARKING LOT AT VALLEY FALLS PARK

What could be better than art, history and music on a late summer afternoon…………join us for Artists Day, 2019, on August 18 from 12:30 till 3 pm, at the Red Barn and Valley Falls Farm.   The popular local duo Handler and Levesque will play guitar and mandolin music from the Farmhouse porch from 1-3.  Works of Ct artists will be on display and for sale in the basement of the Red Barn, and artists Jane Burr, Jay Babina, Susan Bosworth, Catherine Elliot, Sharon Kehmna, Loretta Medieros and Dawn Tyler will be painting in the fields, if you’d like to watch them at work.  The Vernon Arts Commission will be serving lemonade and tours of the historic farm buildings will be conducted on the hour at 1 and 2 pm.  Our beekeepers will be available in the stable, and the herb garden has been manicured by the Vernon Garden Club. Please park in the Valley Falls Parking lot.  Let the attendant know you are there for Artists Day, you should not have to pay an entrance fee.  A shuttle will be available, or follow the trail from the parking lot up to the lemonade table at the Red Barn.  Join us!

  Fun for just yourself, or your whole family!  Join us on Sunday, June 23, from 1-3 pm for a guided tour of our original historic farm buildings. We’ll tell you what we’ve learned about their history, ending as a “Gentleman’s Farm,” owned by the Beach Family from 1915 through the 1950’s.   Visit Vernon Garden Club’s Herb Garden, in full summer bloom and fragrance, and take a leisurely walk through the scenic grounds, imagining a time gone by.  Park at the RED BARN, 350 Valley Falls Road.

If you can’t make the 23rd, we will be doing the summer tours on Wednesday July 3, July 10, and July 17 as well as Sunday, July 28, from 1-3 pm.

In August, tours will be held on Wednesdays, August 7, and August 14, and Sunday August 25, also from 1-3 pm.

Open House,  2018

Tour the historic Red Barn and Valley Falls Farm buildings on Saturday, June 8,       from 10 am-2 pm.  The iconic “gentleman’s farm” buildings, now repaired from the lightning strike of 2018, take us back in time to 19th century Vernon–and you get to look inside!  Vernon Garden Club maintains the herb gardens, beautiful in the spring!  As a special treat, the beekeepers at the Farm want to give you a demo, and a sample of their wares.

Wildflower Honey from Valley    Falls Farm

 “3-WALK WEEKEND”  May 18 and 19, 2019

Please join us, once again, for our three-walk series of leisurely guided walks of about an hour each to learn more about and enjoy the wonderful springtime features of Valley Falls Park. We meet at the gazebo in the Park at 350 Valley Falls Road in Vernon. For more information, call Ginny at 860.875.9865.

“Birds of Valley Falls” Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 7:30 AM, led by Denise Anamani.  We will observe and identify the bluebirds and other native–and some migrating–species found in their various habitats at the park, bring your bird apps and binoculars!

“Wildflower Walk” Saturday, May 18, 2018, at 1:00 PM, led by Ginny Gingras and Carol Hatch.  We will walk Ginny’s favorite wildflower paths to identify and enjoy old favorites and some members of the orchid family that are hard to find anywhere else.

“Rocks, Railroads, and History Walk” May19, at 1:00 PM, Don Sierakowski will tell us about the Geology and History of Valley Falls Park, including the fascinating story of the Railroad running nearby.

Please join us for our Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 30, 2018, in the basement of the RED BARN, 350 Valley Falls Road, at 1 pm.  Following our meeting, and light refreshments our guest speaker, Amy Blaymore Patterson now Director of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), will talk about the importance of preserved land in Connecticut and a very important new initiative of CLCC.  See you there!

there is limited parking in the barnyard, much better parking at Valley Falls Park