MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The NH Historical Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee ("the Barn Committee"), the NH Preservation Alliance, and the NH Division of Historical Resources invite you to visit us at the 2012 NH Farm & Forest Expo.  The Expo takes place Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4, at the Radisson Hotel / Center of New Hampshire on Elm Street in Manchester: we will be at Booth 515. (Continued below)

Visit the Expo web site for more details and a downloadable copy of the brochure and schedule of demonstrations, presentations, and workshops.  You can save $1 on each admission by bringing TWO non-perishable food items for the NH Food Bank.

On Friday at 9:00 am, Arron Sturgis of Preservation Timber Framing will present "How to Read Your Barn." In this workshop you can learn more about the history of your barn by understanding how it was built and how it was used.  Help determine its age by examining its timber frame joinery, architectural features (windows & doors) and its orientation on the land.  Does your barn have a hay rack, internal silo or integrated loft ladders?  Bring photos of your barn to share.  This workshop is sponsored by the NH Historic Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee and others.

On Friday at 12:00 noon The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance will present "Alternative Models for Saving Historic Farm Properties."  A panel of experts in land protection, historic preservation, real estate and agriculture will share their collective knowledge of good models, trends, opportunities and challenges to these concepts and will discuss what the future might hold for alternative models of protecting NH's vanishing family farms.

Also of interest is "Farm Poetry & Art- An Historical Appreciation" (Saturday, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm).

If you have previously attended the Farm & Forest Expo, you already know why it is such an educational AND entertaining event.  Be sure to visit the "Farms of Distinction," play FARMO, choose from an array of books and gifts, and don't forget to save room for 4-H ice cream cones, maple milk, bee treats, sizzling samples, and taste-testing at the culinary demonstrations.  Come toBooth 515 and learn more about New Hampshire history, agriculture and historic preservation.