The private gardens of three luxury Barrington estates will be open to the public over the next two days and this modest woman in the midst of her own community garden in Africa is part of the inspiration.
She is growing vegetables in Mongu Zambia that she will use to feed her family and to sell at market. Her blushing smile is bright because her garden is green and her children will have food. It’s all thanks to funds raised over the years by the group behind the annual Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire being held this Friday and Saturday.
The event will be hosted at the estates of three Barrington Hills families and will include tours of their gardens, a fine antique and garden boutique, upscale flea market, garden vignettes, horticultural presentations and a luncheon. It’s a rare day out in some of Barrington’s most luxurious gardens and the goal is to help provide for impoverished women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Country Garden & Antique Faire is hosted by Hands of Hope, a community of volunteers founded eleven years ago by Barrington resident, Vicky Wauterlek. The group has raised over $3-Million dollars in the past decade to build new schools, a medical clinic and dozens of water wells in the poorest parts of Zambia and Uganda. Thanks to their efforts and our support, countless women and children have water for drinking, bathing and irrigating the crops that put food on their tables. They have new facilities to meet their medical needs and small business loans to provide their families hope for a brighter future.
So here’s how you can get involved. The Barrington Country Garden and Antique Faire will take place both tomorrow, Friday, June 17th and Saturday, June 18th. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the door. On BOTH days, there are buses that will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking guests to the three Barrington estates, so you can arrive at a time that’s most convenient and tour the gardens at your own pace. For $75, you can purchase an “Early Buy” ticket and shop the French Market (Antique and Garden Boutique) and Avant Garden (Upscale Flea Market) from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. tomorrow, before the Faire officially opens.
Throughout the tours, you’ll see Barrington in full bloom in the most beautiful garden settings. You’ll be able to peruse and purchase antiques, fine home accents and unique fashion accessories and hear guest speakers discuss topics ranging from horticulture to cooking from the garden. There will also be musicians performing in some of the gardens and fine foods will be served by Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie and Egg Harbor Cafe. And, for the first time this year, there will be a special video presentation highlighting Hands of Hope’s initiatives in Zambia. One of the organizers, Sandy Bollenbacher says, “There’s truly something for everyone at the Faire. Whether you’re a shopper or a gardener or just want a lovely day out with your friends, everything is here for that.”
You can purchase tickets by showing up to the shuttle staging area on Friday or Saturday at 800 Hart Road across from the high school in Barrington. If you can’t make the Faire, but want to contribute to the cause, you can make a donation by clicking HERE. You’ll find more information about Hands of Hope founder, Vicky Wauterlek by clicking HERE and you can read all about the organization and their latest efforts on their website at HandsofHopeOnline.org.