All season long, Care2 has been working with The Beekman Farm, a 200 year old  goat farm in upstate NY, to inspire all of you backyard gardeners with America’s Oldest, Largest Garden Party. Some Care2 readers have been big winners in the monthly contests with their submissions of some very clever gardening tips.

For the grand finale of America’s Oldest, Largest Garden Party, Beekmans is throwing The 2009 Harvest Festival–if you are lucky enough to be in upstate NY this September, you can help Beekman Farm bid farewell to one season and greet the next and see the first blush of autumn in the Mohawk Valley.

Here’s the schedule of events:

Friday, September 18, 2009 GARDEN PARTY Beekman Mansion 5:30-7:30 PM

A Garden Party in the Heirloom Vegetable Garden of the Beekman Mansion
A self-guided tour of the lovely fall flower gardens and the heirloom vegetable gardens at Beekman 1802 plus a brief visit with the famous Beekman 1802 goats, turkeys and chickens

Pellegrino Young Chefs’ Challenge: You be the judge!
A competition between some of the most promising young graduates of the SUNY Delhi Culinary Arts Program to create the most unique canapés using heirloom vegetables from the Landreth Heirloom Seed Collections.  The winning team, chosen by guests in attendance, will receive the Pellegrino Young Chefs’ Award, to be given annually, and a set of chef’s knives provided by Wusthof

Local Wine Tasting
Award winning New York State Rieslings will be discussed, sampled and paired with the Young Chef’s canapés

Part of the Proceeds of this party will be Donated to The Culinary Arts Program at SUNY Delhi to Promote the Usage of and Better Appreciation for Heirloom Vegetables

$35.00/person For ticket information, visit www.beekman1802.com

Saturday, September 19, 2009 HARVEST FESTIVAL! Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY 9-4 PM              

Heirloom Vegetable Tastings
Tastings for some of the most beloved heirloom vegetables including heirloom varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, beets, radishes and carrots.  Learn about the history of these vegetables in America

Wine Pairings With Heirloom Vegetables
Award Winning New York State Rieslings will be discussed by some of the region’s leading wine experts and paired with the heirloom vegetables

Heirloom Harvest Market
Shop the stands of local farmers selling their produce and regional vendors offering their hard to find/locally made products.  Purchase Landreth’s heirloom garlics and flower bulbs with rare varieties collected from around the world

Local Artisan Showcase
Hand-selected artists and craftsmen.  Be amazed at the amount of artistic talent located in the Mohawk Valley

Saturday, September 19, 2009 HISTORIC HARVEST FEAST THE AMERICAN HOTEL Sharon Springs, NY 7:00pm

A historically inspired 5 course harvest meal prepared using locally grown heirloom ingredients and paired with some of New York State’s finest wines.  Each course will be accompanied by a brief history of the heirloom ingredients and a discussion of the wines paired with the course.

$100.00/person. For reservations, please call The American Hotel at 518 284 2105