Boston Flora

Tag: Nofa

  • Wednesday, July 10, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Stormwater Solutions at Mt. Auburn Cemetery

    The Ecological Landscaping Association and NOFA Organic Land Care are sponsoring Stormwater Solutions at Mount Auburn Cemetery on Wednesday, July 10, from 10 – noon at 580 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge. Uncontrolled storm water, drought, and fire are major issues we must address in the face of global climate change. Habitat is more at risk than ever. Environmental stresses lead to habitat degradation and water quality concerns, especially in species reproductive habitat. Efforts must be implemented to preserve and protect where ever we can. Effectively dealing with nonpoint source pollution associated with sediment-laden runoff is a key aspect to an effective stormwater management plan. In the past few years, Mount Auburn Cemetery has completed several projects to address habitat preservation and water quality in their water bodies. John Paul Kwiatkowski for a professionally guided tour of these stormwater solutions: erosion control on steep hillsides, pre-treatment solutions for runoff into ponds, and bio-filtration project to improve water quality. Paul will address site considerations, challenges faced and addressed during the projects, and maintenance issues related to the projects.

    Mount Auburn Cemetery is one of the most beautiful and historic landscapes in America and covers 175 acres just outside Boston. This historical landscape is on the leading edge of sustainable and environmentally sound land care practices, including leading edge stormwater management solutions. Registrations are limited. For more information call 617-436-5838, or link to https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1010462. $20 for sponsor members, $25 for nonmembers.

    http://www.nofamass.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/events/storm_water.jpg?itok=kEZVMgp7

  • Thursdays, February 28, March 7, March 14 & March 21, 9:30 am – 11:30 am – The Home Vegetable Garden

    Designed for those starting or caring for a vegetable garden, this Berkshire Botanical Garden course will include discussion of soil and nutrient management, seed selection, crop rotation schemes, seeding and planting, pest management and specific plant cultivation, all in the context of the different vegetable groups. Once each week starting Thursday, February 28 through Thursday, March 21, students will investigate a different vegetable family to insure all questions are answered about cultivation of these important food groups.

    Feb 28

    Fabaceae (peas/beans/other legumes)

    Greens (lettuce/mustards/arugula/mache and more)

    Herbs (perennial and annual)

    March 7

    Assorted Perennial Vegetables (asparagus/rhubarb/horseradish)

    Chenopodiaceae (beet/chard family)

    Brassicaceae (cabbage/cauliflower/kale/brussels sprout family)

    March 14

    Cucurbitaceae (squash/pumpkin/cucumber/melon family)

    Poeaceae (corn family)

    March 21

    Allioideae (onion/garlic/leek/shallot family)

    Solanaceae (tomato/potato/eggplant/pepper family)

    Peter and Jennifer Salinetti (below) own Woven Roots Farm, a small family farm and CSA that grows vegetables and culinary herbs using traditional farming practices. For over ten years they have grown local produce for Berkshire County families. Their vegetables are grown using environmentally sustainable gardening practices, and they produce amazingly top-quality, delicious produce. Both Jen and Peter are committed to raising awareness about the importance of the local food supply, along with teaching technical information on how to do so. They have lectured on growing food for both NOFA and other regional organizations.  $65 for BBG members, $75 for nonmembers, or $25 for an individual class.  Register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Friday, January 11, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm – Organic Lawn and Turf Day

    The NOFA/Mass Organic Land Care Program is pleased to present this one-day intensive workshop on organic turf management on Friday, January 11, from 8:30 – 4:30 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, Massachusetts.

    The 2013 Organic Lawn and Turf Day begins with an overview of the cultural practices for establishing a successful organic turf system, and then moves into a more in-depth look at technical specifics of fertilization and product inputs. We will close out the day with a discussion of the direction of the organic lawn care market, and a Q&A with a panel of Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals currently offering lawn care services.

    Speakers include:

    Chip Osborne is an AOLCP, the President of Osborne Organics and Chairman of the Marblehead, MA Recreation and Parks Department. Chip is one of the country’s leading experts on organic turf grass management. His current projects include consulting with the National Parks Service to pilot organic turf systems in 9 different parks. He serves on the Advisory Committee for the NOFA Organic Land Care Program and on as a board member for the non-profit organization, Beyond Pesticides.

    Mary Owen is the Turf Program Coordinator for the UMASS Lawn and Turf Extension as well as a Turf Extension Specialist. She is a regular lecturer for the Green School, a founding member of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association, and an educational leader in both the Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals and the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation.

    Fred Newcombe is an AOLCP and the President of PJC Ecological, an organic landscaping company- turned natural fertilizer supplier, where he oversees product research and development as well as providing consulting services and lectures on the topic of ecological land care. He is also a former Vice President of the NOFA/Mass Board of Directors.

    Who Should Attend?  Municipal, Campus, and Grounds staff – Parks & Recreation personnel – Public Works staff – Elected officials – Landscaping company owners and employees.  You may register online at http://www.nofamass.org/programs/organic-land-care-program#.UNR4obakAz5 or call Caro Roszell at 508-360-0874.

  • Saturday, November 17, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Putting Your Garden to Bed

    The late fall and winter is the perfect time to prepare for spring! In this Northeast Organic Farming Association workshop, to be held Saturday, November 17 from 1 – 3 at Brookline High School 115 Greenough Street in Brookline, we will learn about mulching, soil amendments, and garden clean-up that will give your edible garden a head-start for next year’s growing season!

    During part of the workshop we will get hands-on and help put part of the BHS garden to bed. There will be ample time for questions and group discussion to make sure that your garden will be ready to grow come spring!

    Instructor Sadie Richards recently finished a service year with FoodCorps, a national service organization engaging students in growing school gardens, facilitating hands-on food education, and increasing student access to local fresh fruits and vegetables. She holds an MPH in environmental health and is currently working as the Massachusetts FoodCorps Fellow, supporting the state’s 2nd year of FoodCorps service members.

    The cost to participate is $15 for Brookline High School students and faculty, $25 for NOFA members, and $30 for the general public.  You may register on line at www.nofamass.org.  For more information, contact Drew Love by email at drew@nofamass.org.

  • Wednesday, October 3, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Urban Chicken Keeping Workshop

    You don’t have to be a farmer to keep chickens. Terry Golson has more than sixteen years of experience keeping a small flock of laying hens in her backyard that supply eggs for her family’s table. In this slideshow and lecture, Terry will share everything you need to know to get started with your own chickens. She’ll cover selecting the right breeds, housing, feed, and how to keep the hens healthy, in this Northeast Organic Farming Association class to be held Wednesday, October 3 from 6:30 – 8:30 at Groundwork Somerville, 21 Properzi Way, Somerville. Terry will talk about chicken behavior, predators, and daily chores. She’ll show you how she composts the manure and makes use of it in her garden. Terry speaks and writes frequently on this topic. You can find out more about her and her hens at http://www.HenCam.com.  $25 for NOFA members, $30 for non-members.  If you have any questions contact Drew Love at drew@nofamass.org.  To register on line, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/259982. Photo of Polish hen from www.oregonlive.com.

  • Saturday, September 22, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Fight the Frost!

    Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Cold Weather Gardening workshop will provide gardeners with practical tips and techniques to help their crops fare the cold New England winter. Our goal is to strategically extend our growing season by up to three months (Mar-Dec instead of Apr-Oct) or more if we’re lucky!

    Topics covered will include construction of cold frames and low tunnels; other row cover options; strategic warmth-adding techniques and more. We will briefly discuss which vegetables will fare best using this variety of season extension methods though, by the time of our workshop, gardeners should already have most of their cool/cold weather crops in the ground.  The class will take place Saturday, September 22 from 1 – 3 at Brookline High School, 115 Greenough Street in Brookline.  $15 for Brookline High School students and faculty, $25 for NOFA members, and $30 for everyone else.  Contact Drew Love at drew@nofamass.org with questions.  Sign up at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/265120.  Photo from www.waldeneffect.org.

  • Saturday, September 8, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Ewww! Gwoss! Cooking Local Veggies with Your Children

    Green veggies are amongst the most nutritious, affordable, and easy prep foods that are out there. But the common knowledge is that kids will bust down a steel plate door to either get to chocolate, or away from broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale etc.

    How do you change that?

    Join local celebrity chef, mom, and children’s food expert JJ Gonson from Cuisine en Locale, for a morning of cooking veggies with your children and learn how cooking together can transform your children’s affinity for those delicious local greens. The class will take place Saturday, September 8, from 10 – noon, at Kitchen, Inc., 201 Somerville Avenue in Somerville, and the cost includes produce that will be used for the class, as well as admission of one caretaker and child.  The program is sponsored by the Northeast Organic Farming Association, and costs $40 for NOFA members and $50 for non-members.  Contact Drew Love at drew@nofamass.org with any queries, and sign up at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/260179.

  • Saturday, September 1, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Sowing Seeds in Autumn

    Don’t let summer’s waning days put an early end to your gardening activity! Come learn which established crops will thrive in your garden through fall, and what you can still plant in September (and even October) in order to maximize your garden’s late-season potential – no greenhouse needed!

    This workshop will focus mainly on cold-hardy plant selection and will also include basic tips on planting cover crops for healthy soil. Approaches for mitigating early frosts will be touched on as well. Individuals with existing gardens as well as those with new gardens built late in the season, or school gardens to be planted when students return, will learn techniques to make the most of their growing space before winter arrives.

    The class will be held Saturday, September 1 from 1 – 3 at Brookline High School, 115 Greenough Street in Brookline. $15 for Brookline High School students and faculty, $25 for Northeast Organic Farming Association members, and $30 for the general public. If you have any questions about this first of NOFA’s Fall Urban Gardening series, contact Drew Love at drew@nofamass.org. Register on line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/265119.  Photo from www.higgeldygarden.com.

  • Saturday, February 4, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Cheese-Making Workshop

    With the abundance of local and raw milk, homeowners can now expand their domestic arts into the realm of cheese making. This Berkshire Botanical Garden program on Saturday, February 4, from 1 – 3 will introduce the craft of basic fresh cheese making, both concepts and process. Participants will watch and help local homesteader/farmer Dominic Palumbo, from Moon in the Pond Farm, make a simple “Farm Cheese.” The program will conclude with a tasting and tips for how to turn your wonderful cheese into the perfect treat for family or guests including how and what to serve it with. This program will be held off site.

    Dominic Palumbo owns Moon in the Pond Farm, a NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) certified organic farm in Sheffield, MA. He produces organic eggs, milk, meat, wool, yarn and honey. Register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org ($30 BBG members, $35 non-members) and directions will be sent.

  • Saturday, August 27, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Honey Harvest: From Hive to Jar

    Want to know how honey gets from hive to jar? Interested in tasting the sweet liquid right from the hive? This Northeast Organic Farming Association/Boston Nature Center workshop on Saturday, August 27, from 10 – 1, will cover all aspects of harvesting honey, from frame removal to jarring. Jean-Claude Bourrut will begin the workshop at the apiary, located at 500 Walk Hill Street in Mattapan, where participants will learn how to remove harvestable frames of honey. Afterward, the group will move inside to learn about extraction. This workshop focuses on participation and hands-on demonstration so that participants can do as well as watch. Cost: $25 members/ $30 non-members.  Jean-Claude Bourrut has been keeping honeybees for 20 years in urban and suburban settings. He currently manages a dozen hives in three apiaries. Pre-registration is required for those who do not have their own veil. There are only 7 extra veils (see Mata Hari enacting The Dance of the Seven Veils, below) so sign up soon! To register for the workshop or for more information visit www.nofamass.org or contact Laura Eppstein by email at laura@nofamass.org or by phone at 617-913-0538.