Events - Event View

Cost is $35 for the entire day; additional fees for optional lunch and materials. Preregistration is required as seating is limited. Register early to get first pick of workshops!

Make sure you select TWO workshops: one each in Session 1 and Session 2.

From River Valley Coop - Roast beef, horseradish mayo, smoked cheddar, red onion, tomato, lettuce on whole wheat and includes assorted fruit, chips, cookie and
beverage.

From River Valley Cooperative - Chicken salad with red grapes, celery, red wine vinegar, mayo, lettuce and Swiss on whole wheat and includes assorted fruit, chips, cookie and beverage.

From River Valley Coop - Daily Greens with
hummus, sprouts, cucumber, avocado, tomato, spinach, house balsamic vinaigrette in a wrap and includes assorted fruit, chips, cookie and beverage.

John Barry, Master Gardener
Today, many gardeners have busy schedules that leave little time for high maintenance plants. Others have limited garden space not large enough for many of the attractive flowering shrubs currently available. We will look at some very beautiful shrubs that will fit nicely into smaller spaces and will require little work to maintain.

Ricky Baruc, Seeds of Solidarity
All you need to know about preparing the soil,choosing varieties,planting, tending, harvesting and storing garlic. Ricky will also show photos of how they use local compost and no-till methods at their farm, education center and community projects.

April Woodard
Learn how to make your own hard cider in this fun, hands-on guided workshop and leave with your own 3 gallons of fermentable cider and all the instructions! For beginners and intermediate cider makers.

CHECK THE OPTIONAL MATERIALS FEE OF $45 (must reserve by March 13) IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AND TAKE HOME YOUR OWN STARTER BATCH. (Note: To continue successful fermentation at home, you will need a consistently cool (50-55 degree) place to keep your starter batch.)

Must reserve by March 1, no additional fee if listening only.

Dave Fisher, Natural Roots CSA
Dave will share his approach to managing a variety of cover crops on his 7 acre market garden, and how these methods can be applied to the home garden. Attracting beneficial insects, tilling the soil,and depleting disease pathogens are but a few uses of the cover
crops he grows in rotation with 3 1/2 acres of vegetables to feed over 200 families that join his Natural Roots CSA each year.

Dawn Davis, Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Back by popular demand! A look at various garden structures from the past 15 years of Tower Hill's Vegetable Garden. Also images from other gardens and their use of different types of vegetable
supports. And, of course, great plants to grow on them!

Charlotte Vesel, Master Gardener
Learn how to quickly and easily build an inexpensive lasagna garden, which requires very little labor and little or no cost. We will talk about siting, designing and maintaining your garden. You will
be inspired to start your own garden!

Will Van Heuvelen, Wheelhouse Farm
Feast your senses as you learn the nuances of preparing these (and probably a few others!) savory recipes by watching Chef Will's cooking demonstration, then eating! Ingredients are sourced from local valley farms, including his own.

Jay Vinsky, Master Gardener
Add a distinct and unique quality to your landscape by choosing woody plants that are often overlooked in mainstream landscaping practice, despite many desirable cultural and aesthetic attributes.
Explore what to consider in effective plant selection, highlighting a number of tree and shrub species deserving of greater use.

Sylvia Czech, Randall's Nursery
Sylvia will demonstrate planting containers using succulents and tropical plants to achieve a striking combination of textures and colors without the use of traditional flowering annual plants. Succulents have regained popularity because of their easy care and tropical plants add an unexpected element to your planter. Learn how to create your own up to date, versatile containers at home.

Ted Elliman, NE Wild Flower Society
From meadows and forest communities to wetlands and coastal habitats, plant ecologist Ted Elliman will present the diverse wildflowers and habitats specific to Mass. Suitable for both naturalists and gardeners, Ted will examine the physical features of these habitats as well as both common and rare plants that occur in each of them. Use your habitat knowledge to grow wildflowers at home.

Aaron Falbel
Also back by popular demand! A look at the fundamentals of lactofermentation as a way to preserve food, to enhance its flavor, and to boost its nutritional profile. The technique of this ancient way of pickling (without the use of vinegar or heat) will be demonstrated, and plenty of time will be left for questions and discussion.

Blanche Derby, Wildfoodist, www.tagyerit.com/freefood.htm
Start the harvesting season early with some surprising edibles--from flowers, weeds and even trees-- that are ready now, long before their cultivated cousins. Discover how garlic mustard (!), Japanese knotweed (!), and other so-called undesirables, as well as some common plants in your garden, can be used for delicious recipes. Includes plant ID and preparation.

Shari Petrucci, Master Gardener
Demonstration of how to make and care for a hangable box frame full of beautiful succulents for your outdoor gardenscape.

Melissa Pace, Garden Speaker
Soil is arguably the most important component in a successful
garden. It provides nutrients, water, physical support, and air to
plant roots - everything that is necessary for plants except sunlight. No improvement made in your garden will be better rewarded that any effort made to improve the soil. Learn the ten steps in beginning (or improving) a garden through improving the soil.

Nancy Haskins, Master Gardener
Frustrated or happy with your past attempts at home grown
mushrooms? Nancy will cover choosing your resources - deciding on a substrate on which to grow, which species and strain of mushroom, spawn type, and choice of tools, if any. Her favorites are shiitake and Blue Dolphin oyster using the totem method. Bring your experiences and your questions to this informal roundtable. Growing mushrooms can be so much fun!