East Hill Farm, home of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, is a community of craftspeople producing fine quality handmade products in wood, pottery, fabrics, paper, toys, books and more.  On Sunday September 11th the Guild is graciously letting us pair a hike across their 350 acre hilltop farm with a presentation that is part of their summer Lecture on the Lawn Series.  We will have an opportunity to visit their Gallery Shop in between the lecture and the hike.

LECTURE ON THE LAWN –

The lecture begins at 2PM and will be given by Dr. Bruce Gilman, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Conservation at Finger Lakes Community College. The title of his presentation is: The Local Landscape Then and Now: Glacial History, Early Forests and Current Ecological Communities.  Briefly, the lecture will last approximately one hour, will be held rain or shine, and is free to the public but donations are appreciated.  Bring a lawn chair.  Details can be found at: https://www.folkartguild.org/lol/

HIKES –

Hikers will meet around 3:30PM in front of the East Hill Gallery (the first building as you come up the driveway).  Climbers and Tourists will head south through the Guild’s farm and neighboring properties, past a pond and sauna, through a spruce grove, and looping through woods and mowed fields to a view looking east across Italy Valley.  We will return through the woods and pass an eclectic array of residential building, workplaces and gathering places, designed and built by community members over their 50 years of occupancy at the East Hill Farm.   Total distance is about 3.5 miles.  Naturalists will follow a shorter route and go at a slower place taking time to observe late summer wildflowers. Trails are gently sloped.

SOCIAL – 

Following the hikes, we will gather for pot luck on the lawn near the farmhouse or in the dining room if it is raining.  People should bring a dish to pass (or make a donation to the social fund) and something to drink.

DIRECTIONS –

from Springwater/Naples:  Take Route 15 south to Wayland and Route 21 east/north to Naples.  Turn right on Route 245 opposite Bob and Ruth’s Restaurant, at the north end of the village.  Follow Route 245 to Middlesex, about 8.75 miles.  Turn right on Route 364 and go up the hill one mile.  Turn right on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles.  East Hill Farm will be on your left at #1445.  Park on the road shoulder and walk in the driveway.

from Rochester and points north:  Head to Route 5&20 vial Bloomfield or Canandaigua.  At the east edge of the City of Canandaigua  (first light after Wegman’s/Post Office), turn south on Route NYS Route 364 (a,k.a. East Lake Road).  Follow Route 364 south 12.5 miles to Middlesex, where 364 turns to the east and you will make a left onto Route 245 and then an immediate right to continue on 364.  Go up the hill one mile.  Turn right on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles.  East Hill Farm will be on your left #1445.  Park onthe road shoulder and walk in the driveway.