Big as a Barn News: May 2024

Good Neighbor Open Houses

We hope to see you at one of our “Good Neighbor” open houses this month. Kevin Blair, the new Garden Programs Manager and Saralyn Smith, the new Chef & Director of Food Programming + other staff will be on hand Thursday, May 9 at the Wallace Farm, 4 - 6 pm.

Saralyn will join other staff at the Wallace House on Wednesday, May 22, 4 - 6 pm. Refreshments will be served at both events.

This is a great chance for you to meet our new staff members and check out several site improvements. In addition, information about upcoming programs and events such as Pizza on the Prairie and Sherman Hill Historic Teas will be available to take home.

Kitchen Staff Needed at the Wallace House

Chef Saralyn is looking for a part-time prep cook and front of house serving staff. Email her for details.

Prairie Art boards due May 10

It's nearly time to unveil your Prairie Art masterpiece to the public! All of the completed boards are due back to the Wallace House or the Wallace Farm by Friday, May 10.

Staff and volunteers will take a couple of weeks to do any sealing that's needed, prepare the boards for mounting and then fasten each board to the fence posts with zip ties. If you are able to help with any of these important steps, please contact Amy at the Wallace Farm.

Boards will be displayed in the prairie at the Wallace Farm May 31 through October 1. You can visit any time from dawn to dusk, but the buildings are open M-F, 9 am - 4 pm.

Pizza on the Prairie begins 5/31

Returning for its 6th season, Pizza on the Prairie continues every Friday night May 31-September 27! The event begins at 5 pm at the Wallace Farm. Patrons can arrive at any time during the evening, but must reserve a time slot for food orders. Saralyn will lead the kitchen crew and develop weekly menus with specialty pizzas, sides, desserts and signature cocktails. Reservations for the first 3 weeks are now open. Other dates will open throughout season.

NEW! Pizza Jazz Brunch: The same family-friendly Pizza on the Prairie activities, just with breakfast pizza and a side of jazz! Sunday, June 16 reservations open. Note: June 16 is also Father's Day.

NEW! Sherman Hill Historic Teas

We're responding to your request for a traditional afternoon tea at the Wallace House! Sherman Hill Historic Teas will include sweet & savory finger foods and 2 kinds of hot tea.

The program highlights the era during which the Wallace family lived and worked in the neighborhood, 1892-1928. Specific discussion topics are still under development but might include noteworthy neighbors of the Wallaces, the fascinating history of Center Street, the neighborhood merchants who provided goods and services, and interesting women who lived in Sherman Hill.

Set aside 2:30 to 4 pm on these Wednesday afternoons to relax and enjoy tea and conversation in a gracious setting: June 12, July 17 & August 21.

Hearts & Home May 17

Rest assured, Hearts & Homes fans, we are still offering this popular event--but with some updates! To better reflect the full 3-course meal, the program is now called Hearts & Homes Luncheons. Wallace House site & operations manager Colette will present the program while new chef Saralyn oversees the meal service--featuring more recipes from the Hearts & Homes column. Water, iced tea and coffee are included, but not hot tea (note: the new Sherman Hill historic tea program serves hot tea). And rather than a once-a-month schedule, Hearts & Homes Luncheon dates are concentrated in the spring & fall months. Tables are still available for Friday, May 17--book now! The next upcoming program is October 4.

NEW! Fresh from the Farm

Fresh from the Farm dinners are another way we're connecting people to food and the land. At each of the three dinners offered at the Wallace House this year, Chef Saralyn will carry one ingredient harvested at the Wallace Farm throughout each course. We'll also provide some interesting historical content about each ingredient.

• Rhubarb: June 5

• Tomatoes: September 18

• Garlic: October 29

These dinners are community seating and BYO beer or wine. Reservations open now.

Corn Dinner June 23

Obviously, corn is the main ingredient here, but not sweet corn! With help from our friends at Early Morning Harvest (and their specialized equipment like this corn sheller), we've taken the field corn harvested from the Henry A.Wallace Historic Corn Plot and ground it into corn flour, cornmeal and grits. Each course features one type of grind.



Held at the Wallace Farm, attendees will have a chance to wander the grounds, read about each variety featured in this year's corn plot, and tour the new geothermal greenhouse.



Reservations open now.

Connect with us!

Visit us online at wallace.org

The Wallace Centers of Iowa

Wallace House: 756 16th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314

Wallace Farm: 2773 290th Street, Orient, Iowa 50858