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to watch our videos, learn more about our programs, get directions and more!
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(in a seedling tray)
Inspiration
Wonder is the beginning of wisdom
Socrates
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We celebrate this Great Event:
On Saturday March 29th the No-No's, featuring Brookfield Farm's own Dan Kaplan play the annual Full Belly Dance Benefit to raise funds for Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers and Kestral Trust. Learn more here
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anytime of the year to support Seeds of Solidarity's programs that
'Awaken the Power of youth, schools, and families to Grow Food Everywhere to transform hunger to health, and create resilient lives and communities'
Mailing List
If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to join, (we appreciate you, and do not sell our lists)
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Phew, that was a long winter. And well, it still sort of feels a bit on the winter side of things. But last week at the first moment of spring we lapped sweet sap right out of the bucket, gathering the gift of the mighty maples. The greenhouses are starting to fill with seedlings, and much organizing and preparation is going on for our youth and community programs. Many sweet spring times are on the horizon, including two fun, fundraising events hosted by local supporters to benefit Seeds of Solidarity: Trivia Night at the Gill Tavern on April 3, then an Earth Day inspired Yoga class by donation, plus seed swap at the Green River Yoga Center on April 19th. In addition to our programs for local youth and families, we are excited, and hope you will spread the word that registration is open for our Grow Food Everywhere Course at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck NY. Registration is open for this July 11-13 weekend of learning and inspiration- our fifth year teaching there- and we are also looking forward to teaching a day of Omega's 4-week Ecological Literacy Immersion Program. It is our only weekend course offering of the year, and we promise participants will also love the yoga, food, and beautiful retreat setting at Omega. Close to home, our first of three 'Solidarity Saturdays' is May 24th at 10am, and we welcome all interested to enjoy a lively tour of our abundant gardens, no-till cardboard methods, and fully solar powered site, then mingle over a potluck lunch at our greens-stocked farmstand.
Enjoy the longer days and stirrings of spring,
Deb Habib, Executive Director
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Speaking of Seeds:
Here are some things to keep in mind as you think gardening:
Be sure to purchase non-GMO seeds by mail, or at your local garden store. Favorite suppliers of ours include Fedco, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Seeds from Italy, Sierra Seeds, Solstice Seeds, Eco-Seeds, Baker Creek/Comstock Ferre, Native Seed Search, High Mowing, and.... those you save yourself!
Talk to your neighbors and gardening friends:
Why not share in a seed packets and diversify varieties, as it is rare you need all seeds contained in one packet for your own home garden.
Purchase healthy seedlings from local farmers at farmers markets or small nurseries that buy from local sources. Stay clear of big box store seedlings: they lack vitality, and are likely sprayed with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and often diseased.
Grow greens! Sow cut and come again salad and braising mixes, spinach, arugula, tatsoi and other greens in early spring-- they prefer cool weather growing. Enjoy our guide to growing cut and come again greens here.
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If you can toddle, you can Grow Food
We start 'em young with our Seeds of Solidarity programs! This is the second year of our Grow Food Everywhere program for family childcare providers in our region. We had a great opening gathering the other day and are excited to support 10 area providers in receiving and raising gardens filled with rich soil and compost, then integrating the food they grow in their 4' x 8' beds into snacks and lunches for the children in their care. Plus, one childcare provider reaches upwards of 10 families who see, learn from, and taste the abundance of a 3 season garden boasting cut and come again salad greens, towering pole beans, cucumbers trellising over sides, and sweet cherry tomatoes. Grants from the Joann Waite Bennett Fund and Project Bread make possible this project this year, and our ability to compile and share best practices come fall. We welcome Ya-Ping Douglass to the Seeds of Solidarity staff and this program this year; Ya-Ping will provide visits and support to the provider gardens including bringing small groups of our youth leaders for summer visits to share their enthusiasm as role models for the toddlers and children. Heather Wight is volunteering on the farm, and will help care for additional Grow Food Everywhere gardens to feed the community.
Our Grow Food Everywhere handbook is a free download on our site, with tips for 3-season raised bed gardening. And, other great resources for getting kids of all ages--especially the very young- -involved in growing, preparing and enjoying fresh food include:
FarmtoPreSchool.org and KidsGardening.org
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No Fracking Way! Pipeline Alert: Educate yourself and others about corporate plans and local and regional resistance to a proposed pipeline to carry dangerous fracked gas from NY to the MA coast. Learn more at nofrackedgasinmass.org.
Unite to protect lands, water, human and ecosystem health.
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Seeds of Solidarity Education Center Inc. is a non-profit 501�(3) organization.
Our 2014 education programs are made possible through grants from
The Green Leaf Foundation
MA Cultural Council Youth Reach Program
Joanne Waite Bennett Memorial Fund of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Cardinal Brook Trust, Hannaford Supermarkets, Project Bread,
Personal and Planetary Healing Fund of the Community Foundation of W. Mass
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
and Contributions from Individuals like you! |
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Our 2014 Calendar of Events includes special happenings, visiting days, workshops, and more! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details.
Saturday March 1, 5th Annual North Quabbin Food Forum, 10am to 3.30PM. That was great! Thanks everyone for making it so.
Thursday Night April 3, Trivia Night at the Gill Tavern to benefit Seeds of Solidarity
Saturday April 19th, 9am-11am Earth Day inspired Yoga Class to benefit Seeds of Solidarity, plus seed swap at Green River Yoga Center
Saturday May 24, Free Solidarity Saturday Tour (10am), potluck lunch and market
July 11-13th, Grow Food Everywhere Workshop at the Omega Institute
(we are also teaching in the Omega Ecological Literacy Immersion Program July 11, learn more about the 4-week Omega ELIP program)
Saturday Aug 9, Solidarity Saturday Tour (10am), potluck lunch and market
Sept 27-28, 16th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
Saturday Oct 18, Solidarity Saturday Tour (10am), potluck lunch and market
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