We’re excited to announce a brand-new program for young growers ages 10–14. Junior Farm Crew is a hands-on week at Sylvester Manor where kids don’t just learn about farming — they actually do it. Working alongside our farm team as mini-apprentices, participants will harvest vegetables, weed and transplant in the beds, and explore the science of healthy soil. Every day brings real farm work, fresh air, and the satisfaction of knowing they helped grow something. It’s a week that’s equal parts fun and meaningful — and one they won’t forget.
We also added a week of Outdoor Wilderness Living Skills (O.W.L.S.) in July. Led by Shelter Island native and outdoor enthusiast Jimbo Theinert, the O.W.L.S. program will immerse your kids in an action-packed experience of authentic wilderness training, exploring and skills building.
There are still some spots available in our other programs, so be sure to check them out also! We invite your family to experience a summer where nature leads the way—and where every day offers a chance to learn, imagine, and thrive.
Junior Farm Crew Session One: July 27-31 Session Two: August 24-28
Already 70% full, our 13th Annual Farm to Table Benefit is shaping up to be a spectacular kickoff to summer. Join us for an evening of seasonal cuisine, refreshing cocktails, and community celebration. Secure your tickets soon before we sell out!
Saturday, June 27
6:00-10:30pm
Creekside at the Manor
CSA is Almost Sold OutWhen you join our CSA, you’re choosing food grown with the seasons, cultivated through intentional crop planning, rotated soils, and a closed-loop system where nothing is wasted.
Your membership means fresh, vibrant food on your table — and a direct investment in sustainable growing practices and a farm rooted in this community for generations.
Shares are almost sold out so sign up now. We also offer a farmstand credit, which is a great option for those who don’t want to commit to the CSA, but still want to enjoy farm-fresh produce.
The fierce winter weather has mellowed, and in early April, we took advantage of a particularly calm day to reskin the greenhouse. Doug had carefully repaired and realigned all the support structures. Then, Gunnar and Stewart joined the farmers to quickly secure the huge sheet of plastic before the wind could carry it away.
Seedlings are thriving in their spruced-up home, and the farmers are doing an excellent job cycling them onto the cold frame to harden off before planting them into the ground. Onions, kale, broccoli, and beets are growing under the protective covers we placed to exclude pests and trap heat. It looks like futuristic farming on the moon, and for the plants, it really is a kind of time travelling leap in terms of warmth.
Similarly, early plantings of peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are enjoying the protected environment of the high tunnel.A frosty night won’t affect them, and we look forward to earlier harvests of these mid-summer favorites.
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The Farmstand Is BackAfter a winter away, the Farmstand opens its doors this week, and we think you’ll love what’s new. We’ve refreshed the layout, expanded our merchandise, and are growing more of our own produce than ever before. There’s also a new lineup of farm events on the horizon — plus some exciting changes on social media. More details coming soon, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, come see what’s in season. This month we’re stocking Sylvester Manor asparagus, pasture-raised eggs, and woodland-raised pork alongside our beloved Manor Made quiches, soups, and fresh-baked goods. Joining them are the returning favorites you count on — Ali Katz, NoFo Pot Pies, South Fork Bakery, Catapano, Terry’s Pizza, and many more.
We can’t wait to see you!
May Farmstand Hours
Starting May 8
Friday-Sunday
9:00am-5:00pm
Please join us at the opening reception for Sculpture @ Sylvester Manor. Sculpture @ Sylvester Manor is an outdoor exhibition of sculptures and installations. It engages a diverse spectrum of artists local to the East End of Long Island and takes place on the historic landscape of Sylvester Manor from June 13 until October 4, 2026.
Light refreshments will be served. There is no charge and the reception is open to the public. Rain or shine.
Preregistration for the reception is requested.
Opening Reception
June 13
4:00-6:00pm
Manor Grounds
Join us on a warm July evening at Sylvester Manor, where love gets wonderfully, hopelessly lost. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a shipwreck throws two twins to opposite shores, a lovesick duke can’t stop writing bad poetry, and a clever young woman disguises herself as a man — with spectacular consequences for everyone around her. It’s Shakespeare at his most playful and most tender, a comedy that ends in music and improbable joy. Spread your blanket on the lawn, uncork something cold, and let one of the greatest love stories ever written unspool as the summer sky dims around you
Fans of the Bard are also encouraged to attend two special events to meet the cast and celebrate all things Shakespeare! On Thursday, July 23, we will host an evening of music and revels at The Shipwreck at the Island Boatyard! Come by to enjoy music and performances from the company, themed drinks, and a few more surprises. On Sunday, July 26th, we invite you to a Shakespeare Fair at the Windmill, featuring special performances, treats from the farm, and fun activities for all ages!
Weekend Schedule
Get Shipwreck’ed With The Cast
Thursday, July 23
6:30pm
The Shipwreck at the Island Boatyard
Twelfth Night Performances
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26 6:00pm Manor Grounds
$40/per person; children under 10 are free
Shakespeare Fair
Sunday, July 26
11:00am
The Windmill
$20 per family
We’re thrilled to welcome The James Hunter Six to Sylvester Manor for a special Creekside Concert this summer.
Part of the band’s 2026 U.S. summer tour, this special evening comes on the heels of their acclaimed new album Off The Fence. Led by UK singer-songwriter James Hunter, the band is known for its irresistible blend of soul, rhythm and blues, and vintage groove. Hunter has also toured and performed with Van Morrison, underscoring his place as one of today’s great roots and soul artists.
Sylvester Manor is also happy to welcome back NYC’s high energy traditional blues duo New Moon Acoustic Blues to open the show. For complete details, please visit our website.
Tickets are selling quickly, so we encourage everyone to purchase tickets early.
The James Hunter Six
Saturday, August 8
4:30-7:30pm
Creekside at Sylvester Manor
$55/person; children 9 and under are free
The plans for our restoration and adaptive reuse of the 1737 Manor House are undergoing Town Board site plan review. Since April, the board has been developing a list of site conditions to be presented in a resolution at an upcoming Town Board business meeting. We’ve already received a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to operate our nonprofit in a residential zone. Town Board site plan review is the second-to-last regulatory hurdle. With board approvals in place, we’ll work with the Building Inspector to obtain a Building Permit for the complex project. Construction is expected to take up to three years and will result in a fully rehabilitated, ADA-compliant structure accessible to all. If you have questions about the project, please contact Capital Projects Manager Julia Brennan at jbrennan@sylvestermanor.org.
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Artifact of the Month
For May, the Artifact of the Month is this needlepoint sampler crafted by Frances Huntington, when she was just seven years old, in 1807. At the time, young girls’ education was often limited to the skills considered appropriate for women such as music, watercolor painting, comportment, and sewing, and so this craft introduced young girls to the alphabet and numerical system. Additional text and imagery was selected to represent the values and aesthetics of a girl’s family to potential suitors, and the samplers were often on display within the home to communicate the creator’s obedience, patience, and skill.
Frances Huntington (1799-1841) is the daughter of Catharine Mary Havens and Henry Huntington. Frances went on to marry Nicoll Havens Dering (1794-1867) in 1825, and they had seven children before she passed away. Her only son, Sylvester Dering, named after Nicoll Havens Dering’s father, inherited these heirlooms among many others, and ultimately in 1915 he gifted them Cornelia so that they would remain associated with Sylvester Manor.
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Trails Open
The trails and grounds are open for your enjoyment, seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Pick up a map highlighting our four walking trails (Creekside, Woodlands, Old Growth Forest and Farm). Paper maps are available at the kiosk at the front entrance to the Manor and also at the Welcome kiosk located by the parking area near the bathrooms. You can always download a digital version by clicking the button below.
Due to storm damage, the Land Bridge is temporarily closed. Please adhere to the posted trail closures.
Leashed dogs are welcome, but please pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste properly. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails. The public restrooms are open to the public.
Download the “Sylvester Manor Walking Tour” from the App Store for a self-guided tour of the grounds. Use the app and learn more about our historic property at your own pace.
