Boston Flora

Tag: Old Sturbridge Village

  • Tuesday, October 11 – Deadline for Submission: Home Gardeners Exhibit

    Old Sturbridge Village wants to see what you’ve been growing in your garden this year! Whether you are near or far, help us celebrate the fall harvest by entering this year’s Home Gardeners’ Exhibit. Entries will be posted in an online exhibit and photos will also be on display during the exhibition of the Village Harvest held on October 22nd and 23rd.  A couple of our expert horticulturalists will also pick the best of each category, sharing feedback and comments about the winning entries.

    Rules

    • The exhibit is open to the general public and museum staff.
    • Entries can be anything grown in the 2022 season – vegetables, flowers, herbs, etc. are acceptable. They do not have to be heirloom varieties, but you are more than welcome to submit heirloom produce!
    • The entry must be grown by the exhibitor.
    • There is no entry fee.
    • Each person may enter up to 4 items.
    • Vegetables eligible for entry in the heirloom category are listed below.
    • Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

    Photo Tips For Virtual Exhibit

    • Use a clean visual background (try placing a sheet or tarp behind your plants if possible)
    • Remove any clutter or background objects that may distract from the subject you are photographing
    • Take photos at a well-lit area and time of day.
    • If it is too dark inside, consider shooting outside in the sunlight
    • Make sure your camera is focused on the plant you are submitting
    • Photos must be at least 300 PPI (pixels per inch); Largest file size option for smart phones

    Judging and Categories

    Museum horticultural staff will review each entry and determine a winner and runner up in each of the following categories:

    • Best in young gardeners (ages 5-12)
    • Best in adult gardeners (ages 13 and up)
    • Best heirloom – eligible varieties below
    • Best overall

    For a list of prizes and eligible heirloom varieties, and entry form, visit https://www.osv.org/event/home-gardeners-exhibit/

    Cactus and Benary’s Giant Zinnias grown by Rita Borovicka, 2021 Overall Winner

  • Saturday, October 8 – Monday, October 10, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm – Agricultural Fair Weekend at Old Sturbridge Village

    Fall was the time for 19th-century Agricultural Societies to hold a Cattle Show. Many shows also included an Exhibition of Domestic Manufacture. Throughout the weekend, the staff at Old Sturbridge Village is recreating such a display.  Please stop by to see an exhibition of vegetables, fruit, butter, cheese, and items of home manufacture such as handwoven cotton and woolen fabrics, knitted stockings and shawls, and fancy work.  Village manufactured items such as shoes, tin, pottery, brooms, baskets, straw braid, and books will also be on display.

    Also this weekend, learn about saving your seeds for next year’s garden and preserving vegetables to last all year. Watch us use our dried flowers to make everlasting bouquets and weave baskets that are used for harvesting crops. For a complete schedule of events and directions visit https://www.osv.org/event/agriculture-fair-weekend/

  • Tuesdays, May 4 – May 25, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Online, and Sunday, June 6, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Live – Foundations of Vegetable Gardening

    The Tower Hill Botanic Garden immersive Foundations of Vegetable Gardening will give you all the needed information to get your vegetable garden off to a good start this spring. Four virtual workshop sessions will provide information for planning and preparing garden beds, sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings, and raising healthy vegetable plants. The fifth session will be a guided visit to the Tower Hill vegetable garden. The goal of this multi-week workshop is the help you have a successful vegetable garden this year!

    Session I. May 4, Planning the Garden
    A. Choosing a site and selecting crops.
    B. Rotation, succession sowing and inter-planting.
    C. Design options: beds, rows, blocks.
    D. Garden Calendar: When to sow and transplant. Days to maturity

    Session II. May 11, Groundwork
    A. Bed preparation
    B. Fertilizer, lime and compost
    C. Crop spacing and support

    Session III. May 18, Planting
    A. Sowing and transplanting
    B. Row covers
    C. Irrigation
    D. Mulch

    Session IV. May 25, Culture
    A. Summer crop maintenance
    B. Nutrition
    C. Insect and disease control

    Session V. June 6, A Visit to the Tower Hill Vegetable Garden
    A. An opportunity to see a vegetable garden in progress
    B. Follow-up questions and in-person discussion

    Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. From 2004 to 2006 she researched and developed a series of self-guided walking trails interpreting people and the environment in the early 1800s. She researched and designed the 2007-2009 exhibit “Taking Root: Gardening in Pots in the early 1800s.” Now retired from full-time work at OSV, she continues to work in costume part-time and to present garden programs for the Village.

    Tower Hill members – $150, nonmembers – $175. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

  • Wednesday, April 21, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm – The Science and Art of Tomato Culture Online

    Wednesday, April 21, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm – The Science and Art of Tomato Culture Online

    For the last century the tomato has been America’s favorite garden vegetable–actually a fruit. Gardeners still have many questions about planting, feeding, watering, pruning and supporting their tomato plants. In addition new tomato health problems have challenged the grower. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden online program on April 21 from 12 – 1 will offer information and inspiration for growing this very popular plant.

    Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. From 2004 to 2006 she researched and developed a series of self-guided walking trails interpreting people and the environment in the early 1800s. She researched and designed the 2007-2009 exhibit “Taking Root: Gardening in Pots in the early 1800s.” Now retired from full-time work at OSV, she continues to work in costume part-time and to present garden programs for the Village. This program will be held virtually. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation.

    This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 1 month to all registrants. $10 for Tower Hill members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

  • Saturday, November 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Heritage New England Cooking

    Cast your mind back to the time when Farm-to-Table meals were from your farm and on your table. You would be familiar with terroir because it was all over the knees of your britches. Come to Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Teaching Kitchen on November 16 at 10 am to learn the simple but tasty approach to farmhouse cuisine of 150 or more years ago. Participants will experience such dishes as stewed soup, Johnnie Cake, herbed farmers’ cheese and more. Learn the secrets of selecting and caring for cast iron cookware and its health benefits. Hands-on participation is encouraged so bring a sense of curiosity and adventure and be willing to help with the process. Local ingredients will be sourced. History can definitely be fun, when you eat it!

    Instructor Dennis Picard has 42 years’ experience in Public History at such museums as Old Sturbridge Village and Hancock Shaker Village. He has taught fireplace and cast iron cooking for many years and is the author of three cookbooks. He is also president of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network and a member of the editorial board of the Country School Journal and grants committee of the Country School Association of America.

    Cooking classes are sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace. BBG members $55, nonmembers $65. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/heritage-new-england-cooking

  • Saturday, June 9, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Cooking Up Compost

    Turn your yard wastes and household garbage into gardeners’ Brown Gold. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden workshop on Saturday, June 9 from 10 – 11:30 will teach students how to select safe compost ingredients, and how to blend and process them into a finished product that will improve and enrich the soil to grow healthier flowers, herbs and vegetables.

    Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. From 2004 to 2006 she researched and developed a series of self-guided walking trails interpreting people and the environment in the early 1800s. She researched and designed the 2007-2009 exhibit “Taking Root: Gardening in Pots in the early 1800s.” Now retired from full-time work at OSV, she continues to work in costume part-time and to present garden programs for the Village. $15 for THBG members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—cooking-up-compost

    Image result for compost

  • Sunday, April 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Herbs for the Home Garden

    The flavor and fragrance of fresh herbs dress up even the simplest meals. Herb plants are beautiful and useful additions to the home landscape. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden workshop on Sunday, April 22 from 1 – 4 will focus on ten common culinary herbs: basil, dill, parsley, oregano, chives, sage, savory, mint, garlic and rosemary. Skills taught will include growing herbs from seeds, transplants, division and cuttings; overwintering rosemary indoors, and tips for preserving herbs. Participants will take home a seed flat of assorted basil varieties.

    Instructor Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. From 2004 to 2006 she researched and developed a series of self-guided walking trails interpreting people and the environment in the early 1800s. She researched and designed the 2007-2009 exhibit “Taking Root: Gardening in Pots in the early 1800s.” Now retired from full-time work at OSV, she continues to work in costume part-time and to present garden programs for the Village.

    $35 for THBG members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—herbs-for-the-home-garden

    Image result for culinary herbs

  • Saturday, September 16, 10:00 am – Garden Thyme: The Autumn Queen – Dahlias

    Glorious blooms extend late into the garden season and are true show stoppers at agricultural fairs both in the 19th century and today. Come to Old Sturbridge Village on Saturday, September 16 at 10 am and discuss dahlia culture, staking, planting, and tuber care for years of elegant enjoyment. Garden Thyme programs are held on the third Saturday of each month and are FREE for members of Old Sturbridge Village. Led by Village horticultural and agricultural staff, these programs and workshops are held at various sites and deal with a variety of plant-related themes and topics. Participants gather at the Visitor Center and are led to the appropriate setting. For more information, visit https://www.osv.org/event/garden-thyme/garden-thyme-the-autumn-queen-dahlias

  • Saturday, August 19, 10:00 am – Root Cellars, Then and Now

    An upcoming Old Sturbridge Village Garden Thyme program, to be held Saturday, August 19 at 10:00 am, is a members only event and should encourage our readers to join the organization now, in order to attend this fascinating lecture on Root Cellars, Then and Now. The root cellar was an integral part of the 19th century home that is making a comeback in the 21st century. Learn how root cellars work and some suggestions to bring modern equivalents into your home to preserve your garden harvest.

    Garden Thyme programs are held on the third Saturday of each month and are FREE for members of Old Sturbridge Village. Led by Village horticultural and agricultural staff, these programs and workshops are held at various sites and deal with a variety of plant-related themes and topics. Participants gather at the Visitor Center and are led to the appropriate setting. Membership begins at $65 annually, and you may learn more at https://www.osv.org/members

  • Saturday, October 22 – 9:00 am – 2:30 pm – Cheese-Making and Farmhouse Cider-Making

    At Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, learn how to make a simple, delicious cheese in your own kitchen. BBG’s own Chris Wellens will cover equipment, supplies, and basic techniques used in making most types of cheese. Each participant will make a batch of fresh mozzarella from start to finish, as well as take home instructions and a set of ingredients to make a batch or two at home. This workshop is for beginners, and participants will learn by doing. $5 materials cost paid to the instructor. The cheese making session will be held from 9 – 11. Then, at 11:30, after a short break, you will delve into the mysteries of cider. In New England, cider-making is to autumn what maple sugaring is to the spring season: a cultural activity. Cider expert Dennis D. Picard will teach us the history and process of this American tradition from the selection and collection of apples to the pressing of the fruit which results not merely in apple juice, but the extracted liquid from apples which is capable of fermentation. Picard will teach us how the fermentation process can result in 4% to 8% alcohol content in the cider that allows it to be kept from just after it is made all the way to the next season’s apple harvest. This program includes a slide presentation, a lesson on apple selection and varietal characteristics, grinding and pressing techniques, and an understanding of the art of fermentation.

    Dennis D. Picard has been a museum professional in the “Living History” field for over 30 years. He began his career at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA, where he eventually spent 12 years filling various positions, including “lead interpreter,” where he researched and designed many public programs that are still offered by that institution today. He is presently director at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA.

    You may sign up for each session separately (cheese course is $40 for BBG members, $45 for nonmembers, and cider is $25 for BBG members and $30 for nonmembers) or enjoy a 10% discount if you register for both. Call 413-298-3926 to register.