Education Center

Mission:

Our goal is to show visitors a small family-owned farm operation and its daily practices as it changes from season to season, including the organic garden and orchard, livestock and crop rotation systems, and land and water conservation methods. We hope that by observing small-scale, sustainable food production and tasting fresh food people can reconnect with the earth, appreciate where their food comes from and learn why we must support our local farmers.

By educating the public about the economic and environmental impact of their food choices we hope to demonstrate to them that a local, community-based food system is beneficial to the consumer because it provides healthier food at lower costs and it is economically beneficial to small family-owned farms and their communities. A local food system also helps protect the environment by lowering transportation fuel use and supporting smaller farms which tend to be more environmentally-friendly than large-scale industrial farms.

Facilities: (see Map)

A portion of Terrapin Hill Farm is open for public and private events of any size. Some of the amenities include:

Farmhouse: Built in 1917 and renovated in 1990 and 2005, the two story house includes a large demonstration kitchen and several meeting rooms. The room downstairs can hold up to 40 people for workshops, business meetings or retreats, or parties in both summer and winter. An open deck on the back adds to the options. The kitchen is also available to caterers for any events on the farm.

Pavilion: This open-sided 40x60 building can hold up to 200 people for a seated dinner or even more without tables. It overlooks the garden and woods surrounding what we call the “back field”. The setting is secluded yet easily accessible by vehicles. The “Inspiration Stage” sits at one end; electricity is available and a water hydrant is nearby. Also located near the pavilion is a children’s playground, a flat area suitable for games, and a bonfire site.

General Store: The hand-built cedarwood store is the place to find some of our farm products and items from other local farms. It is only open for large events, but the freezer and fridge are available for use for smaller events as it is conveniently located near the Pavilion.

Stages: The Terrapin Stage is a full-size stage (25x30) with unlimited seating capacity on the “Terrapin hill”. It was designed and hand-crafted by Pete and friends in 1997 with cedar logs harvested from the farm, and has since hosted many local and nationally-known music acts. The gravel arena it sits on can also serve as a parking area for events held at the Pavilion. The smaller Chapel Stage is in a beautiful, intimate setting surrounded by woods. The gently sloping field provides an excellent view of the stage and even includes a bonfire site.

Showerhouse: The newly completed (2005) showerhouse adds a new dimension of camping comfort for Terrapin visitors! Each area for men and women has 3 shower stalls with unlimited hot water and 2 sinks. Potable water is also available at a hydrant nearby.

Gardens: A walking tour of the greenhouse, gardens, packing barn, and animal pens is an excellent way to get a feel for how food is produced on a small scale in a sustainable manner. It may even be possible to pick part of your meal, and we’ll be sure to throw in some philosophizing about our current food systems and how they can be improved upon.

Camping: We always encourage camping out at the farm, especially for multiple-day events or for those truly wanting to “get back to nature”. The 350-acre farm offers unlimited camping sites, but we have a few recommendations depending on the size of the group and how near you want to be to other facilities.

Natural Resources: The farm has a beautiful and varied natural topography that we encourage visitors to take advantage of. Over a mile of the Chaplin River flows through the farm and is navigable by canoe at some times of the year. At least half of the farm is covered in hardwoods with numerous hiking trails. Fishing is allowed in the pond and river, but swimming is at your own risk. Hay rides down the river valley are a great way for groups to experience parts of the 350-acre farm they might not otherwise see.