No Gruff from the New Kids at Tilly Foster

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SOUTHEAST, NY – Tilly Foster Farm, which reopened to the public on June 3, 2017, continues to foster the historic farm’s heritage with the addition of Sophie (pictured left) and Juliet (right), two new Nigerian Dwarf goats. The pair, procured from Good Hope Farm in South Salem New York, will join fellow goats, Calvin and Hobbes, who came to Tilly Foster last December.

“We are excited to welcome Sophie and Juliet to the herd,” said Teresa De Angelis, veterinary technician and animal caretaker at Tilly Foster Farm. “The goats are acclimating to their new home and will be available for viewing by the public before the end of July.”

“The public reopening of Tilly Foster Farm makes available 199 acres of beautiful pastoral vistas, a hiking trail, community garden, charming farm animals and Tilly’s Table, a new event-based farm-to-table dining experience,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “We are proud of this achievement and delighted to add Sophie and Juliet to our growing farm.”

Part of the revitalization of Tilly Foster Farm has been the return of small farm animals. Visitors can observe a beautiful array of chicken breeds, including Frizzle Cochin Bantams, Silkies, Polish, Red Stars, Barred Rock, Austrolorps, Brahmas and Ameraucanas, which lay blue eggs. The farm features friendly Kunekune pigs, Penelope, Ginger, Lucy and Levi, four Huacaya Alpacas named Honey, Isabella, Sinbad and Raphael, two miniature horses, Sultan and Sunny, and four Nigerian Dwarf goats, Calvin and Hobbes, and new friends, Sophie and Juliet.

Tilly Foster Farm is open to the public seven days a week, except for certain holidays. For more information and to make reservations for Sunday Brunch at Tilly’s Table, visit www.putnamtillyfoster.com or call 845-808-1840.

Tilly Foster Farm Gets Two New Goats for Christmas

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SOUTHEAST, NY – Tilly Foster Farm, a long-time destination for children and families to enjoy and experience furry and feathered creatures, adds two new Nigerian Dwarf goats to its growing collection of exotic farm animals.  The Nigerian Dwarf goat is a miniature dairy goat breed of West African ancestry, reaching an average height of 17” to 21” and weighing up to 75 lbs. Known for their diminutive size and low maintenance, the colorful breed is a popular pet, as well as a producer of rich milk, which dairies use to make cheese.

“The County is excited to add “Calvin” and “Hobbes” to the Tilly Foster Farm family, said Teresa De Angelis, Tilly Foster Veterinary Technician and animal caretaker. “The breed’s small stature means they do not require as much space or feed as their larger dairy goat counterparts and their gentle and friendly personalities make them good companion pets. Right now we are starting with two but hope to add to the herd in the spring.”

Easy to handle, even for children, Nigerian dwarf goats graduated from The Livestock Conservancy’s priority list in 2013.  Goats are not only fun to watch and interact with but can be utilized on the farm to clear trails and other areas where brush needs to be removed.

The goats will be joining the herd in the next couple of weeks and will be available for viewing shortly thereafter.

 

Revitalizing Tilly Foster Farm
As part of the revitalization of Tilly Foster, the farm has welcomed the return of small farm animals, including a beautiful array of chicken breeds, including Frizzle Cochin Bantams, Silkies, Polish, Red Stars, Barred Rock, Austrolorps , Brahmas and Ameraucanas, which lay blue eggs.  In the four-legged category, the new goats, Calvin and Hobbes, will find company with Kunekune pigs, Penelope and Ginger, Lucy and Levi, four Huacaya Alpacas named Honey, Isabella, Sinbad and Raphael, and Sultan and Sunny, two miniature horses.

For more information about Tilly Foster Farm visit www.putnamtillyfoster.com.

 

County Executive & Putnam/N. Westchester BOCES Superintendent Host Ribbon Cutting to Officially Open New Tilly Foster Educational Institute

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County Executive & Putnam/N. Westchester BOCES Superintendent Host Ribbon Cutting to Officially Open New Tilly Foster Educational Institute

Event Hosts First Tour of the Test Kitchen and Classroom Environment while Class is in Session

CARMEL, NY – On Tuesday, September 13th, County Executive MaryEllen Odell with Dr. James M. Ryan, District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer, Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES, announced the official opening of the new Tilly Foster Educational Institute at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Attendees were taken on a tour of the facility’s state of the art test kitchen and classrooms, where they were greeted by BOCES students enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program.

“The reopening of Tilly Foster as the County’s first public institute for career education offers a diversity of benefits by putting an under-used county asset to work,” said Odell. “Rental income from BOCES will serve to offset the costs of maintaining and preserving this beautiful historical property and BOCES’ Culinary Arts program, as well as future programs, including environmental science and veterinary science, give our children greater educational and career options right here in Putnam.”

“Everyone is tremendously impressed with all that has been accomplished,” said Cathy Balestrieri, BOCES Tech Center Director. “All of the efforts and hard work put forth by Putnam County in readying the facility for Tech Center students this month was clearly evident. The attention to detail, the marrying of function and aesthetics, were impressive and went beyond expectations. The Tech Center culinary program at Tilly Foster Educational Institute is now in session — in a state of the art facility! Putnam County is to be recognized and congratulated in moving forward this exciting, new collaboration.”

The county anticipates expanded services and educational opportunities at Tilly Foster Educational Institute, such as early intervention pre-k and adult continuing education classes, as well as support from other private partners, including Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Tilly Foster Educational Institute was designed as a destination for tourists and residents of the County.  When BOCES is not in-session, use of the state-of-the-art teaching kitchen and classrooms will be open to our veterans, libraries, schools, seniors and non-profits.  We also hope to kickoff Putnam’s version of Top Chef, which will incorporate our culinary talents, local farms and eating establishments, as well as dovetailing with BOCES internship opportunities for students.

In complement to BOCES’ Culinary Arts program, Tilly’s Table, set to open on April 1, 2017, will offer the Hudson Valley Region a uniquely enjoyable and educational farm-to-table dining experience, utilizing produce sourced from local farms.

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