The Urban Farming Institute’s Urban Farming Symposium will be back on March 28, 2026. This one-day, in-person gathering will bring together farmers, growers, youth, policymakers, and community leaders from across the Commonwealth.
Registration opens in February at https://www.urbanfarminginstitute.org/events/the-massachusetts-commercial-urban-farming-symposium
For more info: rose.arruda@mass.gov
Join the Charles River Watershed Association and other sponsoring partners on February 3rd, from 6-8 pm, at the Civic Pavilion, 5 Congress Street in Boston to learn how the results of our Boston Flood Survey are being used, get access to local resources, and explore the updated flood viewer tool! We’ll have free food, giveaways, and printmaking activities for in-person attendees.
Visit bit.ly/bostonclimatesocial to register for in-person attendance or join virtually on Zoom. Free.
While the Charles River is much cleaner and healthier than it was in its “Dirty Water” days, the work is not done, and the growing threat of climate change brings new challenges. Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association will discuss how a swimmable river can be achieved, and how moderating water management practices will help Eliminate flooding and other climate change driven dangers. This Garden Club of the Back Bay meeting will take place February 3 at 5:30 pm at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue, and is open to Club members. To join, visit https://bostonflora.com/
Emily Norton has served as Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association since 2018. She directs a staff of scientists and advocates focused on protecting and restoring the Charles River and its watershed communities. During her tenure, the organization has more than doubled its staff and has expanded its work in municipal climate resilience, dam removal, reducing invasive species, and more.
Reservations are required for this program.
Discover the story of James Arnold, for whom the Arnold Arboretum is named, and others whose legacy gifts helped secure its future. In celebration of nearly 154 years of plants and people, join Director of Library and Archives, Lisa Pearson, on January 31 from 11 – 12:30 for a talk on the founding of the Arboretum and how these impactful gifts have allowed it to thrive and grow in perpetuity. Snacks will be provided. This is a Members Only event. To join the Arnold Arboretum, visit https://arboretum.harvard.edu/support/
From the sky to the soil—learn cutting-edge strategies at the ELA Season’s End Summit! Innovative Stormwater Solutions: Jay Archer will share best management practices for residential watersheds. Green Roof Bus Shelters: Trevor Smith details the design and impact of North America’s largest green roof bus shelter installation.
Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your sustainable design knowledge on December 4th.
ELA Member $ 129
Non-Member $ 169
ELA Member Virtual Registration $ 74
Non-Member Virtual Registration $ 89
Register now: https://ela.member365.org/public/event/details/d83044f615cd71cb12a76ad12bb74e0421ec139f/1
Founded in 1990 by Landscape Designer Larry Weaner and NDAL, this annual two-day symposium has a long tradition of celebrating native plants and innovative ecological practice. Presenters reflect the diverse factors that shape our landscapes including landscape architects, landscape designers, horticulturists, ecologists, historians, anthropologists, artists and others. The series offers in-depth explorations of forward-looking and overlooked topics, always seeking to connect theory with practical application. Join us as we continue to connect the dots between ecological restoration, cultural landscape practice, and fine garden design.
Special Note: For many years, NDAL has deeply appreciated its partnership with Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania and Connecticut College Arboretum in jointly presenting the January Annual Symposium. While NDAL will be solely producing the Symposium from this year onward, we would like to gratefully acknowledge the important role these two institutions and their respective team members have played.
The 2026 symposium, January 15 and 16, is Seeing the Forest AND the Trees: Designing Landscapes that Integrate Regional Specificity with Global Commonality. Incorporating a region’s indigenous plant communities and ecological processes is at the heart of ecology-based design. But no natural system operates in isolation or is forever immune to change…..especially today where the effects of watershed alteration, soil disturbance, plant globalization, and climate change are at play worldwide. Our Symposium will begin by zooming in on techniques for regionally-specific landscape analysis and design. We will then widen the lens and learn how disturbance, ecological science, and cultural land practices across regions can factor into those processes. Finally, we will explore how an expansive view of landscape art can unify this micro/macro divide in landscapes ranging from expansive to intimate.
The event takes place at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, but there are virtual options available. Early bird registration savings available through December 10. Register at https://www.ndal.org/2026-annual-symposium
Explore the past, present, and future of the American chestnut in this full-day symposium at New England Botanic Garden, co-sponsored with the Ecological Landscape Alliance, on November 2 from 9 – 5 featuring expert talks, hands-on workshops—including natural dyeing—and a guided tour of the NEBG Chestnut Project. Cap off the day with the warm tradition of fresh roasted chestnuts. $95 NEBG members, $114 nonmembers, $99 ELA members. Register at www.nebg.org
The Garden Club of the Back Bay will hold its November meeting on Thursday, November 13 at 10 am at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Pastor James Hopkins of the First Lutheran Church, Boston, will speak on Gardens of the Bible. The garden is a popular motif in the Bible, cutting across every literary genre therein. From the account of creation to the revelation of the heavenly city, the garden is an important setting for the story of salvation. Pastor Hopkins will discuss how an understanding of the edenic arc illuminates the care we put into our own humble (or grand) gardens and justifies all the care and effort in maintaining them, especially in the city. This is a members only event. For information on joining, visit https://bostonflora.com. If you are already a member, register through Eventbrite
The Boston Committee of the GCA invites member and affiliate Club members to The Country Club on Clyde Road in Brookline on Wednesday, October 29. Coffee and lecture begin at 10:00 am and optional lunch begins at noon. There will be short remarks by Esplanade Association Executive Director Jen Mergel (below) and Esplanade Association Arborist Jim Doyle. They will speak about What’s Good Along the Charles River, and you will learn more about the native tree grove that the Boston Committee will fund. There will also be another speaker, to be announced. For more information visit https://bostoncommitteegca.org/
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
The November 19 session will discuss The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, by Margaret Renkl. Participation in the Birdability Book Club is open to all, and attendance is virtual, making it accessible to birders from diverse locations and backgrounds. To join the club, register for the upcoming session here. You will receive an email with the log-in information for the Zoom virtual meeting.
