Fall has arrived and Westchester County’s Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center is celebrating this bountiful season with a holiday food drive. During the months of November and December, visitors can help the less fortunate by dropping off canned and dry goods at the farm stand.

Cooking lessons sponsored by Something Good in the World continue through the fall. Participants will learn to make winter soups and cook with fall produce.

Visit the Hilltop Hanover Farm BLOG written by seasoned farmer Mary Ellen and newbie farmer Jenny. The blog is aimed at providing agricultural and environmental sustainability information, as well as letting you know about events, workshops, projects and an insight into the daily life here on the farm. You can "ask the farmer" by sending your questions their way to help develop the blog into a real resource for all home gardeners and area farmers alike.

The farm stand and U-pick garden are closed for the season.

Throughout Nov. and Dec.
Holiday Food Drive
Tuesday through Friday
Drop off in the Farm Stand
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Our farm stand has been a wonderful place to purchase fresh farm grown produce throughout the year. Now it is time to give back to those less fortunate, so we have turned our farm stand into a receiving center for canned and dried goods to be donated to local food pantries.

Saturday, Nov. 21
Spin/Knit In
Building A
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join seasoned spinners and knitters in an informal atmosphere where you can meet new friends and share ideas, tips and spinning stories. The event is free but registration is required. Bring your lunch. To register or for more information, contact Teresa at Hayslope@optonline.net or Lucinda at jzygala@earthlink.net.

Saturday, Nov. 21
Winter Soups
Barn F
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
When it gets cold outside, there is nothing better than a big bowl of hot soup! Come into the farm’s kitchen to learn some fantastic recipes for comforting winter soups made with farm fresh ingredients. The cost is $15 per person; registration is required. Please call (914) 962-2368 for more information or to register.

Friday, Nov. 27
Hike off your turkey dinner at the farm
Meet in front of Building C
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Join farm staff to hike Hilltop Hanover’s wonderful woodland trails and work off some of those extra Thanksgiving calories. Enjoy the weather, meet new friends, and learn about the 3.5 miles of woodland trails at Hilltop Hanover Farm. The hike is free and will be canceled if there is rain. Hike starts promptly at 2:15; no reservations are required. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing, park in gravel lots and not on the main road. For more information call (914) 962-2368. This event is sponsored by Westchester County.

Saturday, Dec. 5
Kid's Craft Class – Recycled Felted Sweater Crafts
Barn F
10 a.m. – noon
Bring the kids for some holiday crafting. We'll spend the morning making coin purses, ornaments, and mittens out of recycled wool sweaters. Class fee is $10 per crafter and registration is required. Call (914) 962-2368 for more information or to register.

Thursday, Dec. 10
Hilltop Hanover Farm Book Club
Building C
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The once a month Hilltop Hanover Book Club will meet to discuss "Coming Home to Eat" by Gary Paul Nabhan. The book follows Mr. Nabhan's year-long mission to eat only local foods grown within 220 miles of his Arizona home. The club is free, but registration is required. Call (914) 962-2368 for more information or to register.

Saturday, Dec. 12
Something Good in the World Craft Fair
Building A
noon – 5 p.m.
Keeping with the farm's "local" mission, crafts made by local artists and artisans will be available for sale at the historic farmhouse building. Get into the holiday spirit and visit the craft fair hosted by Something Good in the World, Inc., a not-for-profit educational group providing educational programs for children and adults at the farm. Call (914) 737-7931 for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 19
Recycled Holiday Crafts – Felted Sweaters
Barn F
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Whether you are on a tight budget, trying to be sustainable, or would like to learn something new, join the farm staff and learn how to felt old wool sweaters and turn them into new mittens, hats, pillows, or other items to wear or give as gifts this holiday season. Hot chocolate and hot cider provided. Materials will be provided for one project; fee is $15 per kit. Call (914) 962-2368 for more information or to register.

Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center is a working farm and environmental educational center, located in Yorktown Heights, NY. Westchester County purchased the 180-acre former dairy farm in 2003 for agricultural preservation, drinking water protection and the promotion of environmental stewardship through demonstration projects and programs for sustainability. General admission is free and the farm is open to the public. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farm is closed to the public Sundays and Mondays unless noted for special events. Trails are open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Many Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center programs are part of Be Fit Westchester, a county-wide effort to get people to eat smarter and play harder every day.

Hilltop Hanover Farm is located at 1271 Hanover Street in Yorktown Heights. It can be reached via the Taconic State Parkway. Take the Millwood/Route 100 exit to Route 100 north. Turn left onto Route 118. Make a right onto Hanover Street. The farm is on the left. The farm is accessible to the disabled with assistance.

For more information or to register for a program, call Hilltop Hanover Farm at (914) 962-2368. All programs are free and open to everyone unless otherwise noted.