A robust schedule of events for the month of September awaits residents and visitors at The Trustees of Reservations sites across the Metro West region of Massachusetts. Ranging from art to cooking classes to tours of historic properties, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  

Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough offers plenty of family-friendly activities including Books with Bunnies, Preschool Farm Explorers and the Goat Hangout and Ramble throughout the month. Visitors should check the event listings on the Chestnut Hill Farm webpage for dates and details for those recurring programs. Other programs at Chestnut Hill Farm include:  

• Field to Flower: Harvesting, Cutting and Bouquet Making – On Sept. 14, join Field Crops Manager Erin Espinosa for a class on harvesting and arranging a flower bouquet. Tools and materials will be provided, and visitors will leave with a 30-stem bouquet.  
• Autumn Equinox Forest Bathing – Jeff Hyman, a longtime member of the Trustees community, certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide and experienced naturalist, will lead this program for adults to experience the mindfulness of forest bathing on Sept. 23.  
• Junior Farmer for the Day – On Sept. 25, a special drop-off program for students in grades K-5 will give children the experience of what it’s like to be a farmer. They will help care for farm animals, learn about farm-fresh food, go for a hike and make nature-inspired crafts.  
• Wild Medicinals Foraging Workshop – Medicinal herbalist Alex Klein will show visitors how to identify medicinal plants and wild food in their gardens and surrounding woodlands in this leisurely walk around the farm on Sept. 28.  
• Full Harvest Moon Hike – Join us on Sept. 29 and enjoy a leisurely after-hours walk on the farm. Learn about the night sky, the significance of the full moon and what wildlife comes out at dusk.  

Fruitlands Museum in Harvard has many regular tours throughout the month. Visitors should consult the Fruitlands webpage for more details. There are also many special programs at this beautiful place scheduled for September. They include: 

• Fall Concert Series – this outdoor concert series starts this month with Taylor Ashton on Sept. 7, and continues with Antje Duvekot holding her album release show on Sept. 10, John Gorka performing Sept. 21 and BLKBOK on Sept. 28. More artists will be performing in October.  
• Plein Air Painting Pastels with Joelle Feldman – The rolling hills and scenic vistas that surround Fruitlands make for great plein air painting. At this Sept. 9 program, artist Joelle Feldman will teach a workshop on the use of pastels. Another Plein Air Meetup is happening on Sept. 18 for artists looking for a beautiful place to paint.  
• Wild Edibles Walk with Russ Cohen – Join Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I Have Known…and Eaten, for a two hour-plus ramble through the Fruitlands landscape, which is home to more than three dozen edible plant species, including some varieties of wild mushrooms. This program happens Sept. 13.  
• Songwriting Workshop with Mary Gauthier – On Sept. 13-14, aspiring songwriters are invited to a master class in songwriting by Mary Gauthier, a music industry veteran with a Grammy nomination. Her songs have been recorded by dozens of artists, including Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Boy George, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, and Kathy Mattea and have featured extensively in film and television, most recently on Yellowstone. 
• Fireside Drum Circles – Come out on Sept. 20 for a series of facilitated drum circles on the Fruitlands hillside. Native American, African, and assorted percussion instruments will be provided.  
• 11th Annual Craft Festival – On Sept. 23-24, venture to Fruitlands for its annual craft festival, featuring 55 juried New England artisans. While there, take in the beautiful fall views and museum offerings.  
• Spotlight Talk with Curator Tess Lukey – Join Trustees’ Associate Curator of Native American Art Tess Lukey for her monthly talk in the Wayside Gallery on Sept. 30. This month, Lukey will speak about and display a Chippewa bandolier bag that is part of the Fruitlands collection.  

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln has a recurring program called A Walk in the Park: Guided Tour of deCordova Sculpture Park happening on several dates in September. It also offers two recurring children’s programs, ARTfull Play and ARTfull Explorations. Other programs include:  

• Peter Mulvey’s Trustees Bike Tour – On Sept. 10, Massachusetts musician Peter Mulvey will bring his Trustees Bike Tour to deCordova for a live performance. Tickets are available on the event’s webpage.  
• Spotlight Tour: Stechet’s Tall Feather – Join Associate Curator of Native American Art Tess Lukey on Sept. 15 for a deep dive on this sculpture. This will be part of an ongoing series, designed to give an insider’s take on a favorite sculpture. 
• New England Performance Series with Vance Gilbert – Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene, this Grammy-nominated artist promises to deliver an evening of unforgettable music and storytelling on Sept. 20.  
• Sculptural Flowers: Autumnal Flower Arranging – On Sept. 23, come to a workshop on floral arranging taught by an experienced designer. Partnering with Derby Farm, a woman-owned farm in Arlington, this workshop will focus on autumn flowers and professional techniques for arranging them.  
• Arts and Ales: Ciderfest – Come out on Sept. 24 for a tasting of Massachusetts seasonal hard ciders, take in some live American Songbook music by Lincoln resident Jim White, and appreciate the start of the autumn color season.  

Powisset Farm in Dover offers recurring family programs related to helping with farm chores on weekend mornings and a preschool program every other Thursday. Other programs this month include: 

• A series of cooking classes for adults including wood-fired pizzas, cooking with tomatoes, classic Indian cuisine, Asian cooking with lemongrass and lime, and making brioche are scheduled throughout the month. Visitors should check the Powisset Farm webpage for event dates and details.
• Fabulous Fungi: Mushroom Foraging, Cultivation and Cuisine – In this workshop on Sept. 9, visitors will first walk the Powisset woodlands with mycologist Amanda Dye to forage edible mushrooms. Next, they will inoculate a log to create their own Shiitake mycelium to take home for later harvest. Finally, they will join Chef Thi in the kitchen to prepare a wild mushroom feast.  
• Goats With Wings – On Sept. 17, come out to the farm to hang out with the Goats of Dover and then enjoy some chicken wings prepared by guest chef Steve Linehand, who will be serving up his Dirty Steve’s Famous Wings. Also included in this family-friendly event are live music, lawn games, beverages, beer, wine, ice cream, popcorn and other snacks. 
• Big Barn Story and Craft Hour – Bring your preschooler out mid-morning on Sept. 22 for an hour of farm- or nature-based learning accompanied by a special craft. Adult supervision/participation is required.  
• Fall Equinox Hike and Sip – Celebrate the Fall Equinox on Sept. 23 on this guided, easy walk around the farm and woodlands, followed by a glass of wine back in the barn.
• Full Harvest Moon Hike – Experience Powisset in the moonlight on this Harvest Moon hike on Sept. 29. Guides will engage in informal discussion about the night sky and the significance of the moon this month.  

Rocky Woods in Medfield is offering two special programs in addition to its recurring Nature Explorers program for preschoolers. Those programs are: 

• Peter Mulvey’s Trustees Bike Tour – Musician Peter Mulvey makes a stop on his bicycle tour across Massachusetts to play a special concert on Sept. 15. Tickets are available on the event webpage.  
• Busy Beavers Discovery Hike – On Sept. 29, join guide Tim Puopolo, a Trustees ranger and naturalist, and recipient of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s “Outstanding Park Interpreter” award for this hike to learn about beavers and their native landscapes.  

The Old Manse in Concord offers several recurring programs related to the rich history of this home once occupied by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson, among others. Visitors should check the Old Manse’s webpage for dates and details.  

Additionally, the Old Manse will host a free poetry reading by the New England Poetry Club on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Make a day of it by signing up for one of the tours offered that day.  

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