Learning with Livestock at Appleton Farms
Join us on Saturdays for open and free programming and demonstrations! Meet the animals of Appleton, learn about why farmers keep animals, and the role they play alongside us on the farm. These rotating family-friendly farm education sessions are for all ages- kids and adults alike! Information is geared towards… Read More
Family Farm Chores at Appleton Farms
Every day brings a full list of barnyard chores to keep our farmyard friends happy and healthy—so let’s get to work! Join us for our special, hands-on Family Farm Chores program. Grab your muck boots and farm together as a family! Help care for our rabbits, goats, cows, chickens, and… Read More
Homeschool Scholars: Stories of the Farm & Coast
Join us in October & November for weekly homeschool programs exploring the stories of The Crane Estate & Appleton Farms. Participants will learn the stories of the many people & animals who have lived here over the years from Indigenous farmers & fishers, to European colonists, to local & invasive… Read More
Fiddleheads: Preschool Drop-Off Series at Appleton Farms – FALL SESSION 26/27
Fiddleheads Fall Semester 2026 Fall is here and harvest is in full swing. It’s a great time for your preschooler to learn what our fields, barnyard, and forest have to offer. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 12:30PM for a preschool drop-off series focused on farm animals, life… Read More
Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms
Bring your little ones to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh story hour. We will read books about animals and nature, maybe sing a song or two, then head up to the carriage barn to visit our Nubian goats, Angora rabbits and see what other animals are out and about on… Read More
Growing Together: Natural Fall/Winter Decorations from the Garden
Bring the garden’s beauty indoors with this hands-on workshop focused on creating beautiful winter decorations using natural materials. Participants will explore how to gather and preserve seasonal branches, evergreens, dried flowers, seed heads, berries, grasses, and other garden treasures to create festive botanical accents for the home. This class celebrates… Read More
Native American Heritage Month Storywalk®
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a special self-guided StoryWalk® featuring Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. As you walk the grounds, follow the pages of this award-winning story and discover how fry bread connects family, culture, tradition, and community. Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Guest of the Cranes
It’s 1929 and you’ve just arrived after a long journey to see the Great House at Castle Hill and to visit your friends, the Crane family, of Crane plumbing fame. You are greeted at the door by household staff and your adventure as a “Guest of the Cranes” begins. A… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Cupola with a View
This is our most Instagram-able tour experience and a particular treat for those interested in the architecture of the Great House and its surrounding property. You’ll gain insight into the architectural choices made by David Adler as he designed and built the Great House, the second home the Cranes built… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: The Cat's Meow
Our children’s tour, The Cat’s Meow, is designed for children age 3-8. Imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Behind the Scenes in the Great House
Do you love checking out basements, kitchens, and other out of the way rooms? Our behind-the-scenes tour takes you past the beautiful facade and explores how the house ran when the Cranes were in residence. You’ll learn how a plumbing magnate incorporated the latest technology of the era into his… Read More
Castle Hill Tour: Guest of the Cranes
It’s 1929 and you’ve just arrived after a long journey to see the Great House at Castle Hill and to visit your friends, the Crane family, of Crane plumbing fame. You are greeted at the door by household staff and your adventure as a “Guest of the Cranes” begins. A… Read More