Sunday, May 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Laughing Dog Farm, Gill
This is an intensive, basic skills workshop for those who would wish to grow (more of) their own high-quality, nutrient-dense herbs, fruits, nuts and produce from marginal โbackyardโ plots, containers on rooftops, passive greenhouses, (or wherever) under a variety of โlimiting,โ real-life conditions.
Inspired by dumpster diving, โpermacultureโ principles as well as the โguerrilla gardeningโ movement that teaches us to question all the โrulesโ and to โglean everythingโ and โsow everywhere,โ grower Danny Botkin will review and demonstrate a series of low-tech, โalternativeโ seeding and propagating practices, including natural soil building with manure-based compost, โlow-tillโ bed management using sheet mulch for soil protection and weed control, low-tech โseason extension,โ as well as a series of practical horticultural tips and shortcuts to successfully raise and harvest high quality seeds, seedlings and plants from marginal spaces, without machinery, capital or fossil fuel.
The class begins with a lecture on basic permaculture gardening principles and practices, followed by a farm/greenhouse tour, a pipe bending demo (for making low tunnel โhoopsโ), and a Q and A session and a casual farm lunch.
Suggested donation: $25-$35. No one turned away. Space limited, please RSVP. Contact: 413-863-8696
Tuesday, May 17, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Donate food and money to support North Quabbin food pantries and free meal sites.
Food collection sites: WJDF (Orange Center), Hannafords (Athol), Market Basket (Athol), Wal-Mart (Athol). In the center of Athol & Orange, volunteers will be collecting at all four points with a pickle jar drive. Every dollar will buy five pounds of food for area food pantries. Athol Memorial Hospital will also be holding their own in-house food collection drive. Checks can be made payable to: North Quabbin Community Coalition Food-A-Thon and mailed to 427 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331.
New Tuesday Greenfield Farmers Market
GCC-student-led Tuesday Farmers Market, Tuesdays, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the alleyway of Sears Ave (off Main Street in downtown Greenfield). Created in partnership with Greenfield Community College, Franklin Community Cooperative, and CISA in an initiative led by the Co-op, this new market is GCC student-led, cooperatively operated, and community supportive, as well as working to be zero food-waste! Learn more at: https://tuesdayfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/
รขยยAshfield Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 14 through Oct. 29, Ashfield Town Common, Rte. 116, Ashfield.
Shelburne Falls Farmers Market, Fridays, 2 to 6:30 p.m., May 27 through Oct. 28, corner of Water and Main Streets, Shelburne Falls.
Interested in establishing a meadow or caring for an existing one? Kathy Connolly will explain what a meadow is and teach you about the role of native species in a meadow, the basics of meadow ecology, site selection, low-impact site preparation techniques, and steps you can take right now to get started. After the lecture, you can purchase books and native plants grown by the Societyโs Nasami Farm Nursery.
Thursday, June 2, 5-8:30 p.m.
Location: Nasami Farm Nursery, Whately, MA
Program Code: HOR4304
Instructor: Kathy Connolly
Fee: $40 (Member) / $48 (Nonmember)
Limit: 20
Thursday, May 19, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Frontier Senior Center, 67 North Main St., Deerfield
Monthly meeting for beekeepers and those interested in beekeeping. Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) master beekeeper, Mary Duane will be this meetingโs speaker.
For more club info:ย franklinmabeekeepers.org