Weekend Workshops – Preparing for Winter
Autumn was a busy time of year in Colonial America, as families took inventory of their livestock and began the process of storing and preserving food for the long winter ahead. Recently harvested fruits and vegetables were dried, and others preserved and put into sealed jars. Fall and summer favorites such as pumpkins, apples, pears, plums, peaches, quinces and berries were especially popular. Jams and marmalades were made in large batches, a time-consuming process but one with delicious results! Strings of fruit were hung out to dry, creating delightful edible decorations.
On Saturday, November 5, from 11:00 to 12:00, the Wilton Historical Society will hold its very own “Preparing for Winter” children’s workshop. Participants will make their own colorful dried fruit necklaces, and enjoy a snack of homemade preserves on hearth-baked bread, as they listen to stories of winter in New England told by Museum Educator Catherine Lipper.
Suggested for ages 6 – 10. Members: $10 per child; Non-members $15 per child.
Please visit wiltonhistorical.org or email info@wiltonhistorical.org
Did You Know?
The pumpkin was a popular crop for indigenous peoples for hundreds of years before the arrival of European colonists. Pumpkins would be cut into strips and dried to preserve them for winter, and the outer skin were used as water carriers and storage containers.