Boston Flora

Tag: Mass Aggie

  • Saturday, April 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Native Pollinator Biology and Conservation

    Pollinators have received a lot of attention in recent years, mostly because of the decline in honey bee populations due to colony collapse disorder. Native pollinators are important cousins of honey bees and are in need of help, too. Come to French Hall at UMass/Amherst, 230 Stockbridge Road in Amherst on Saturday, April 14 from 10 – 12 to learn about the many types of pollinators present in our region and how to protect and encourage them in your landscape. The end of the class, to be taught by Sonia Schloemann, we will tour the UMass Permaculture Garden. $35. Image from www.justroots.org. Register at http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/mass-aggie-seminars/mass-aggie-seminars-2018.

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  • Saturday, March 31, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Pruning Blueberries: A Hands-On Workshop

    This UMass Extension presentation on blueberry pruning will be held on Saturday, March 31 from 10 – 12. Blueberries are among the most popular fruits to grow in the home garden. They are healthful and well suited to grow in our New England conditions Come learn the basics for pruning blueberries for your home landscape. Participants will get some hands-on pruning lessons. We’ll learn about tool maintenance and sharpening, too. Bring your own tools or use ours. $35.

    The class will be taught by Sonia Schloemann at the Nicewicz Family Farm, 116 Sawyer Road in Bolton. Register and pay via credit card for any Mass Aggie seminar by visiting http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/mass-aggie-seminars/mass-aggie-seminars-2018. You will be taken to a secure RegOnline site where you will be able to choose which seminars you wish to attend and to pay. You will receive an e-mail receipt of your transaction. This workshop will be partially out of doors so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions.

    Image result for blueberries Nicewicz Family Farm

  • Saturday, March 24, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Home Orchard Pruning: A Hands-On Workshop

    This UMass Extension presentation on home orchard pruning will be held on Saturday, March 24 from 10 – 1. The joy of growing fruit in the home garden is enjoying a renaissance. One of the key steps in successful fruit growing is the act of pruning the trees. This can seem daunting and complicated, but it’s not! Not once you understand the principles involved. Come learn how to properly prune your fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches, etc.). Participants will have the opportunity to conduct actual pruning and gain both experience and confidence in pruning fruit trees in order to produce a bountiful crop. $35.

    The class will be taught by Jon Clements and Liz Garofalo at Windy Hill Farm, 686 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington. Register and pay via credit card for any Mass Aggie seminar by visiting http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/mass-aggie-seminars/mass-aggie-seminars-2018. You will be taken to a secure RegOnline site where you will be able to choose which seminars you wish to attend and to pay. You will receive an e-mail receipt of your transaction. This workshop will be partially out of doors so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions.

  • Sunday, March 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Edible Landscaping with Fruit

    This UMass Extension presentation on Sunday, March 3 will explore how fruit can be incorporated into an edible landscape setting. We’ll talk about common fruit like strawberries and blueberries and also more unusual fruit like Aronia and Lingonberries. Participants will learn what these plants can contribute to a home landscape and what it takes to grow them successfully. The end of the class we will tour the UMass Permaculture Garden. $35.

    The class will be taught by Sonia Schloemann at French Hall at UMass/Amherst, 230 Stockbridge Road in Amherst. Register and pay via credit card for any Mass Aggie seminar by visiting http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/mass-aggie-seminars/mass-aggie-seminars-2018. You will be taken to a secure RegOnline site where you will be able to choose which seminars you wish to attend and to pay. You will receive an e-mail receipt of your transaction. Image from www.espaliertrees.com.

  • Saturday, May 9, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Native Pollinator Conservation

    Sonia G. Schloemann will present the final spring Mass Aggie seminar on Saturday, May 9, from 10 – 2 at Smolak Farms, 315 South Bradford Street in North Andover, entitled Native Pollinator Conservation. Pollination is an important step in growing all fruits and many vegetables. While most people know about honey bees, native bees are also important pollinators. Encouraging native bees and other beneficials by providing nesting and forage habitat is easy and fun for the home gardener. Learn about how to build bee blocks and which flowering plants make good forage habitat. Participants will build nest boxes to bring home to their gardens. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch or buy lunch at the farm.  This seminar is partially out of doors, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cool, and muddy conditions.  Fee is $50, and you may register online at https://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/mass-aggie-seminars-2015#program%20details

  • Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – The 100 Square Foot, 25 Tree, 5 Variety Backyard Apple Orchard Fruiting Wall

    The University of Massachusetts Extension has a fabulous class and hands on seminar scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 10 – 2, with Jon Clements at Wards Berry Farm, 614 South Main Street in Sharon. Your fruiting wall will produce two bushels each of five apple varieties in just 3 years from planting using just over 100 square feet of backyard! We will spend some time indoors talking about site, variety, rootstock selection, planting, and annual care (including pest management) of your fruiting apple wall. Then, we will go outdoors and actually plant the orchard from start to finish including site preparation, fertilization, pruning, and tree support. Voila! Instant orchard. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch. $85 fee.  Register at https://classic.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1460640.

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