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Touring the Beekman Boys Farm in Sharon Springs

The bright red barn at the Beekman Farm Sharon Springs NY

It seems that every year at the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival the crowds are always less on Sunday. Sure, a lot of folks need to get home after a long weekend, but they miss the best part. For us, the Sunday of Harvest Festival weekend has become synonymous with a Beekman farm tour.

We were on the first-ever farm tour and even made it on TV, and we love returning as often as we can. Visiting Sharon Springs, New York, seeing the goats, and talking with the people on the tour is always one of the highlights of fall for us.

Man being filmed by a person with a TV camera
Josh Kilmer-Purcell being filmed for the TV show in front of the farmhouse

We first discovered Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell through their show, The Fabulous Beekman Boys. We loved their story, their approach to heirloom gardening, their amazing goat’s milk soap, and their entertaining personalities, so it was a no-brainer to visit for a farm tour.

Every year, the village of just over 500 residents explodes with vendors, authors, chefs, and even a few celebrities celebrating artisan products, seasonal living, and good food. The whole experience is joyful. The Beekman 1802 brand, after all, is founded on the principal of being neighborly to each other.

Goat in a barn
Curious goat

We have seen the farm tour done a couple of different ways — once led entirely by Josh and Farmer John and filmed for the show and another time with volunteers and friends leading different parts of the tour. The latter approach lets Josh and Farmer John chat with guests a bit more and answer questions, so we’re always fans of that.

Two-story white house with columns
The view of Beekman Mansion from the rear lawn
Stone entrance to the Beekman family crypt
Beekman crypt

The farm tour consisted of 5 stops – the front of Beekman mansion, the crypt, the backyard, the barn, and the heirloom vegetable garden. We spent nearly two hours touring the grounds and then taking photos of Polka Spot the llama, the goats, Farmer John, and that garden we love. The Beekman Boys’ farm is an absolute delight for photographers like us.

Man standing in the doorway of a barn
Farmer John in his natural habitat, the barn
Man in a barn with goats
Lance and his goat friends – trying not to get nibbled
llama
Fabulous Polka Spot the llama

With permission, we picked a few items out of Josh’s garden — some tomatoes, radishes, an onion, and even a pumpkin. It is always so nice of Josh to let visitors to the farm pick items from the garden… though I suspect that it also might help just a little bit with fall cleanup.

Laura standing in a vegetable garden
Laura in her happy place, the heirloom garden

Touring the farm is an amazing experience! However, Sharon Springs and the area is also a pleasant visit even when it isn’t Harvest Festival season. We always try to stop in the village and support the local businesses whenever we are driving back from Saratoga Springs or anywhere else in Upstate New York.

Touring the Beekman Farm

Tours of the Beekman farm happen several times a year. The tours are often in conjunction with a major event, such as the Harvest Festival that occurs in mid-September or the Garden Party, which typically takes place around Memorial Day weekend in May. The farm isn’t accessible to visitors outside of these reserved, ticketed events.

The interior of the Beekman mansion is not part of the tour, as it is Josh and Brent’s private residence. Beekman 1802 Mercantile is located just four miles away in downtown Sharon Springs.

Mushrooms growing in grass
Mushrooms on the grounds of Beekman mansion

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Onnalova-Abigail Kissinger

Saturday 11th of November 2023

My great grandmother was Marion Iva Hotaling and she was born in the Beekman mansion June 6th 1919. I have seen pictures of my great grandma in and around the mansion

Jenny Ellis

Tuesday 15th of June 2021

I was wondering when the dates for the farm tours will be for 2021? Please let me know!

Laura Longwell

Thursday 17th of June 2021

Their Facebook page and newsletter are the best places to find out about upcoming dates.

Joan Hillicke

Tuesday 2nd of March 2021

Would like some soap and other products in my favorite flower Guardenia, most are a mix and dont have the same fragrance.

pat carlin

Saturday 4th of July 2020

I want to send a letter to the "boys" about their magazine content, but if it went to their business address they would never see it. How would I do that?

Laura Longwell

Sunday 5th of July 2020

Hard to say. You might consider contacting Beekman 1802 customer service--they are usually very responsive.

Dona Hodgins

Saturday 16th of May 2020

I would love to know if the hand cream come in an 8oz tub I use it on my whole body because it's the only cream that stays on and help hydrate me, I have tried so many things my drawer is going in the trash after trying this , actually I had a garage sale and gave them to the little kids who wanted something for free, BUT TOLD THE MOMS ABOUT BEEKMANS that the will never buy another hand cream again if they try yours!!! I bought the shampoo conditioner, bar of soap and hand cream set (fresh air)through HSN but I really just NEED NEED NEED THE CREAM, we live where it is 100' all summer and I also am a 3 time cancer survivor with it again now and all the radiation is really stressing my 65yr old skin, please tell if you have it and how much it is.

Laura Longwell

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

I would suggest checking out their website for the full product line or calling the Mercantile in Sharon Springs.

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