Tag: Tools

  • Friday, April 9, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – How to Use Your Tools the Right Way

    Expand beyond the spade. A wide variety of tools exist on the market for modern gardeners. But what is really essential and how can you feel confident and competent using the tools you have on hand? Learn about the different tools used for planting, garden maintenance and invasive removal, considering the pros and cons to different tools for particular tasks. Proper tool use and maintenance will be addressed. Students will receive hands-on experience with the tools presented.
    This Berkshire Botanical Garden in person class on April 9 at 2 pm is led by Bridghe McCracken and Calisha Croney of Helia Nursery.

    Bridghe McCracken, founder of Helia Land Design, has over 20 years of experience in land stewardship and designing landscapes, gardens and beautiful food systems. Bridge has a BA in biology from Colorado College, is a Certified Organic Landcare Professional from the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, a Certified Horticulturist from MCLA, a Massachusetts Master Gardener and a graduate and advanced practitioner of the Four Winds Society.

    Calisha Croney is the Sustainable Land Care Manager at Helia Land Design and has extensive experience in native garden planting and care.

    $20 for BBG members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/how-use-your-tools-right-way

  • Saturday, September 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Tool Maintenance

    If it’s metal and can hold an edge it can likely be sharpened.

    Join Polly Hill Arboretum Horticulturist Oliver Osnoss on September 28 at 10 am to see how Polly Hill Arboretum maintains its tools and learn how to keep your tools sharp and performing their best. This hands-on class at the Arboretum in West Tisbury will show you how to sharpen pruners, cultivators, mower-blades, and more. Bring in a tool you would like to sharpen, and leave with the know-how to keep your landscape tools in tip-top shape so they last and perform their best.

    $35 ($20 for PHA members). Space is limited. Please pre-register at least one week in advance, by calling 508-693-9426. For more information visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org

  • Thursday, May 2, 7:00 pm – Hand Tool and Small Motor Maintenance and Repair for Horticulturists and Home Gardeners

    The garden shed can sometimes be an overwhelming experience. Years of tools and dust often pile up in corners and hang unused on the walls. Rusty pruners, a broken shovel, a decade old weed whacker and a wobbly wheelbarrow haunt a gardener’s dreams.

    Come to Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, on May 2 at 7 pm and learn how to repair and revive old tools as well as how to maintain the new ones. In this Mass Hort class we will cover the basic maintenance of hand tools and small motor/electric tools such as chainsaws and weed whackers. We will sharpen pruners, repair shovels and even clean the air filter on a motor. Please bring your hand pruners and a sharpening stone if you have them. Handouts will be provided but bring a pen and paper to take notes.

    Instructor Nate McCullin is an accomplished horticulturist with over 15 years of hands on experience designing, installing and maintaining gardens and landscapes in the Northeast. After completing a degree in Landscape Horticulture and Plant Science from the University of Delaware, Nate headed north to New England. Since arriving in Southeast Massachusetts he has worked in a variety of horticultural settings including public gardens, residential landscapes, estate management and many different commercial settings. His wide range of experience combined with a modern sustainable approach have enabled Nate to create aesthetically pleasing landscapes that also retain high functionality whether it be for stormwater control, drought tolerance or supporting local fauna. From bulbs to bushes, containers to perennials and everything else between the soil and canopy Nate knows how to create beautiful and resilient outdoor spaces that his clients will enjoy for years to come.

    $12 for Massachusetts Horticultural Society members, $20 general admission. Register at www.masshort.org.

  • Tuesday, December 15, 2 pm – On the Edge Knife and Tool Sharpening

    ON THE EDGE KNIFE SHARPENING was formed in 2008, when Patti Small decided to focus more on what makes her happy in life – working with her hands. She specializes in hand sharpening kitchen knives (serrated and straight edge, as well as Japanese knives). She also hand sharpen scissors, including dog grooming shears, utility scissors , garden tools, hunting knives, other pet grooming tools – sheep shears and other edges. She no longer does saws, axes or pocket knives.

    Her tools include a whet stone, ceramics and different types of polishing stones. Visit her at Allandale Farm, 259 Allandale Road in Brookline on Tuesday, December 15 at 2 pm, and get your garden implements ready for next spring. For directions and more information visit www.allandalefarm.com.

  • Thursday, March 29, 7:00 pm – Garden Tool Choice and Care

    Henry Patt, Senior Horticulturist for Weston Nurseries, offers seminars on pruning at Weston, and has maintained a garden in Holliston since 1969, growing small fruits, vegetables, and fruit trees for his family.  On Thursday, March 29, beginning at 7 pm, Henry will speak at Elm Bank on the topic of Garden Tool Choice and Care.  Get many years out of choice garden tools.  Learn the criteria Henry uses to choose shovels, spades, forks, hoes, hand pruners, limb saws, stakes, and many more tools.  He will discuss his favorite tools and why he prefers them.  Understand which tools are chosen for which job, their successful use in the garden, and how to care for them to provide you with years of service.  To register (free), visit www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, November 5, 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Pruning: When, Why, and How

    Confused about when and how to prune your trees and shrubs?  Chuck Sherzi, Certified Arborist and Horticulturist, will help you sort that out.  Chuck will cover pruning practices, tools, and techniques.  He has taught classes and workshops at the Landscape Institute and the Arnold Arboretum.  This program, on Thursday, November 5, beginning at 7 pm, will take place at the Medford Public Library, 111 High Street, Medford, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by the Medford Garden Club.  The program is free and open to the public.  For more information, email sbcummer@msn.com.

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