Press Releases

Cooking, Sunset Swims, Celebrating the Harvest Moon and More on Martha’s Vineyard in September with The Trustees 

September 6, 2023

Loads of cooking events, the chance to take a sunset hike and swim, and an event to celebrate the full Harvest Moon in September are among the many programs lined up by The Trustees of Reservations for locations on Martha’s Vineyard.  

Foodies will delight in these offerings on at the FARM Institute in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard: 

Cooking From the Island: What’s Fresh and What’s Local – Join Chef Jenny Devivo on Sept. 6 and 13 for a cooking class that focuses on the vegetables available at the Institute’s Friendship Garden and what is available locally on Martha’s Vineyard. The program starts at 5:30 p.m. with a tour of the garden, followed by harvesting vegetables and meal preparation in the Teaching Kitchen. At the end of the class, participants will have a shared meal on the porch. Menus will be based on what’s available in the garden.  

Beach Plum Jam Class – Join Casey Mazar-Kelley, local farmer, to learn how to make this delicious Martha’s Vineyard favorite. Participants will harvest plums from the Institute’s garden and then learn to process them into jam. This program will be offered on Sept. 7 starting at 5:30 p.m. 

Locally Grown and Delicious with Casey Mazar-Kelley – On Sept. 14, join local farmer Casey Mazar-Kelley for this monthly class to learn how to cook a healthy, delicious meal using produce from the Institute’s Friendship Garden or from other local farms. This program is a hands-on experience, and a meal will be shared at the end of the class.  

Homemade Pretzels with Vineyard Baker – Vineyard Baker’s Teri Culletto will help you get ready for Oktoberfest with this pretzel baking class on Sept. 23. Participants will learn to make their own dough, shape it, and bake their own pretzels to take home.  

Get outdoors and enjoy the waning days of summer with these programs: 

Mytoi Meander – Each Thursday in September, discover the quiet beauty and unique history of Mytoi, a Japanese-style garden on Chappaquiddick Island. The program begins each Thursday at 3 p.m. Lindsay Allison, a volunteer at the garden for more than 40 years, will lead the guided walk.  

Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge Tours – These approximately 90-minute tours are offered in the morning and afternoons on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in September. A ranger will guide participants on an open-air, oversand vehicle tour of the refuge, taking in barrier beach, salt marsh, salt pond, and a colony of red cedars. Learn what flora and fauna rely on the beach ecosystem.  

Sunset Hike and Swim at Menemsha Hills in Chilmark – On Thursdays, Sept. 7, 14 and 21, join a Trustees guide for a sunset hike over Menemsha Hills down to the beach for a sunset swim. Participants should meet at 6:45 p.m. and bring sturdy walking shoes, a headlamp, weather-appropriate clothing, a swimsuit and towel (if swimming), water and snacks.  

Barnyard Buddies at the FARM Institute – A perfect program for children ages 2-5, Barnyard Buddies involves feeding the goats, collecting eggs, listening to a farm story, and visiting the Friendship Garden to help tend to the plants growing there. Activities change each week. This program is held each Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m.  

Capture the Island: Menemsha Hills – This is the first of a three-part photography course with Tim DeWitt being offered this fall. A Trustees guide will lead a hike while Tim helps participants with their creative endeavors. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome, as well as any gear, ranging from smartphones to a large format view camera. Each class will involve two to three miles of hiking over moderate to difficult terrain.  

Birdwatching at Menemsha Hills – On Sept. 12 at 9 a.m., join Shea Fee, Trustees island coastal ecologist, for a guided birdwatching hike at Menemsha Hills. This program involves two to three miles of hiking over moderate and rocky terrain. Participants should bring their own binoculars.  

Equinox Yoga and Dinner with Wholesome MV – On Sept. 23, practice your yoga and eat some delicious food with Casey and Jason Mazar-Kelley of Wholesome MV at Menemsha Hills in Chilmark. After a two-mile hike up to Prospect Hill, Jason will lead a session of stabilizing yoga to celebrate the Fall Equinox while Casey prepares a light meal for participants to enjoy while watching the sunset.  

Full Moon Wonder: Harvest Moon at Long Wildlife Refuge in West Tisbury: On Sept. 28, join a Trustees guide for full moon hike. The event is appropriate for those age 6 and older. Enjoy s’mores and popcorn over a fire on the beach.  

Interested individuals should check The Trustees’ website at https://thetrustees.org/events/ to confirm event details and status. Some events may sell out or be cancelled due to low enrollment.