Apple juggling
Events Calendar
List a new event — we highlight workshops, meetings and festivals in southern New England. Your event should explore the impact of locally grown foods on healthy communities, economies and the environment.
Events: June 2013

Conservation Workshop

Saturday, June 1 | 10:00AM - 1:00PM | Smithfield, RI | directions | website

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offers technical and financial assistance for conservation practices! Join us to learn how NRCS can work for you and your land! Assistance is available for forest management, grazing plans, irrigation, high tunnels, pollinator habitat creation and more! NRCS representatives will be available to answer questions at 10, followed by a farm tour at 11 to see what Blackbird Farm has done with NRCS funding. Lunch will be provided by the farm! Please call to register.

Hosted by Northern RI Conservation District at the Blackbird Farm: 122 Limerock Rd, Smithfield, RI.

Contact Becca Buckler at (401) 934-0840 or by e-mail for more information.

Annual Shearing Day and Open House

Saturday, June 1 | 10:00AM - 3:00PM | North Grafton, MA | directions

Angel Hair Alpacas and The Willard House and Clock Museum are again coordinating efforts to host a delightful and informative family event.

Angel Hair Alpacas will have it's annual alpaca shearing and invites the public to share this unique experience. One of the top shearers in the country will be on hand to shear and explain about shearing and fiber production. Come experience these docile and beautiful animals. Farm tours are available. Our farm store will be open to purchase raw fleece for spinners or crafts. We also feature natural yarns produced from our alpacas as well as clothing and products produced from alpaca fleece.

The Willard House and Clock Museum is the historic home of the nation's reknowned family of colonial era clockmakers. Located around the corner from the alpaca farm, the museum will host a bring your own picnic on their beautiful front lawn. Early American games will keep young and old happy! Featured at a reduced rate will be tours of the museum specializing on shearing and its importance in early colonial life. A demonstration of spinning will be presented.

Both events are free. There is a small admission charge to tour the museum. NO PETS PLEASE.

Parking for both events is at the Willard House and Clock Museum around the corner and a very short walk from the farm. Limited handicap parking is available on the farm. Please note that Angel Hair Alpacas may not be accessible for all persons with challenges.

Hosted by Angel Hair Alpacas and the Willard House and Clock Museum at the Angel Hair Alpacas and the Willard House and Clock Museum: 66 Wesson Street, North Grafton, MA.

Contact Maureen Agley at (508) 839-9856 or by e-mail for more information.

SEMAP Twilight Workshop 2: Starting Root Vegetables

Monday, June 3 | 6:00PM - 7:30PM | Seekonk, MA | directions | website

SEMAP's 2013 Twilight Grower Education Series continues at Four Town Farm in Seekonk for a workshop devoted to starting root vegetables.

Farmer Chris Clegg will lead the workshop, covering everything from soil prep to early season weed control, and will of course take time to answer your questions. The event will include a farm tour as well!

Onions | Rutabegas | Radishes | Carrots | Beets

SAVE THE DATES!

Workshop 2: Monday, June 3rd, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Starting Root Vegetables | Four Town Farm | Seekonk

Workshop 3: Monday, July 1st, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Tractor & Machine Maintenance & Repair with Brian Huckins
Location TBD

Workshop 4: Monday, August 5th
Preserving! Tomato Canning with Chef Rosa Galeno
Time & location TBD

Workshop 5: Monday September 2nd
~Potluck Event~
Co-Sponsoring: Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts | Time & location TBD

Workshop 6: Monday, October 7th, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
~Potluck Event~
Cucurbits | Bay End Farm | Bourne

Want to attend all of the 2013 Twilight workshops? Register for the SEASON PASS. All 6 sessions for $85.00 ($35.00 savings). Just select the Season Pass option when registering.

Contact Kristen Irvin for more information at kirvin@semaponline.org

Hosted by SEMAP at the Four Town Farm: 90 George St., Seekonk, MA.

Contact Kristen Irvin at (336) 509-0044 or by e-mail for more information.

Greens Production & Urban Composting

Tuesday, June 4 | 5:30PM - 8:30PM | Providence, RI | directions | website

Rain date: June 11, 5:30 p.m.
Co-hosted by Young Farmer Nights (YFN)
Learn how to grow a never-ending supply of salad and arugula through biointensive production and succession planting. Sidewalk Ends Farmers, Fay Strongin, Laura Brown-Lavoie and Tess Brown-Lavoie, will share their seeding, transplanting, direct seeding and fertilizing routines to maximize production in a small space while enhancing soil health. This workshop will also cover urban composting practices essential to creating a cycle of fertility.

A Young Farmer Night potluck supper will follow the workshop. Please bring food or beverages to share, as well as your dish, cup and flatware. Enjoy your dinner around the fire.

Founded in the spring of 2011, Sidewalk Ends Farm is a 5,000-square foot urban farm in the Armory Park neighborhood. Once a vacant lot, the farm has become a hub of food production, beauty and community education. Now in its third season, the farmers will expand and cultivate an additional 1/3-acre at Red Planet Vegetables in Johnston.

Fay, Laura and Tess grow delicious, chemical-free vegetables which they sell at the Armory Farmers Market (a mixed-income market around the corner), to neighbors through a CSA, and to local restaurants through the Little City Growers Co-op. They use bikes and bike trailers to deliver produce and to divert materials from the waste-stream through composting and recycling.

Everyone is welcome. Registration is not required. This event is free.

Young Farmer Nights (YFN) are bi-weekly social and educational events where local young farmers get together to share ideas, a meal and stories. Each event includes a farm tour, a potluck dinner and other host-inspired activities. In 2013, YFN will expand and include informational workshops. Learn more, join the email list or host an event, email youngfarmernight@gmail.com.

Hosted by NOFA/RI at the Sidewalk Ends Farm: 47 Harrison Street, Providence, RI.

Contact Sanne Kure-Jensen at (401) 369-3303 or by e-mail for more information.

Raynham Farmers' Market

Wednesday, June 12 11:00AM - Wednesday, August 28 4:00PM | Raynham, MA | directions | website

Come join us at the Raynham Farmers Market. The market will be held on the front lawn of our private fitness club June 12th - August 28th, every Wednesday 11-4. Some of our featured vendors are Kettle Pond Farm, Patti's Patch, Marshfield Trading Post, Emilee, The Willow Grove, Puppy LUV Bakery & Gifts, Jessica's Face Painting, Tupperware, Paparazzi Costume Jewelry and several more. For more information about being a vendor please call or email

Tricia Barbosa
508-823-5440
Tricia@raynhamathleticclub.com

Hosted by Raynham Athletic Club at the Raynham Athletic Club Front Lawn: 1250 New State Hwy Rt 44, Raynham, MA.

Contact Tricia Barbosa at (508) 823-5440 or by e-mail for more information.

Farm to Table Dinner at Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard

Wednesday, June 12 | 5:00PM - 8:00PM | Little Compton, RI | directions | website

Chefs from Russell Morin Fine Catering are teaming up with local Little Compton Farmers to bring you food in the fields at Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, RI. The talented chefs will be cooking outside for all the guests to see. Sakonnet Wines are included with the dinner. $110 per person cost. Call to make a reservation.
There will be a 2nd dinner held July 17 if you can't make the June date!

Hosted by Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard & Russell Morin Fine Catering at the Sakonnet Vineyards: 162 W Main Rd, Little Compton, RI.

Contact erin@morins.com at (508) 222-6600 for more information.

Conservation Workshop

Monday, June 17 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM | Kingston, RI | directions | website

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offers technical and financial assistance for conservation practices! Join us to learn how NRCS can work for you and your land! Assistance is available for forest management, grazing plans, irrigation, high tunnels, pollinator habitat creation and more! Please call to register.

Hosted by Southern RI Conservation District at the URI East Farm: Bldg 75, Kingston, RI.

Contact Kate Bousquet at (401) 500-0422 or by e-mail for more information.

URI / USDA SARE Sheep & Goat Parasite Control Workshop

Saturday, June 22 | 9:00AM - 1:00PM | Dighton, MA | directions

Presented by: Katherine Petersson, Ph.D., Animal Scientist, University of Rhode Island.

Integrated Parasite Control for Small Ruminants.
Hands-on training in the use of the FAMACHA system for detection of anemia associated with Barber Pole worm infections.
USDA SARE Grant: "Improving Small Ruminant Parasite Control in New England"

$11.00 for laminated FAMACHA card optional

RSVP to: Holly Burdett, URI Cooperative Extension

Hosted by Univ. of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension at the Bristol County Ag. School: 84 Center Street, Dighton, MA.

Contact Holly Burdett at (401) 874-2249 or by e-mail for more information.

Practical Orchard Health with Michael Phillips

Tuesday, June 25 | 10:00AM - 4:00PM | New London, CT | directions | website

“Practical Orchard Health” is organized by the NOFA Organic Land Care Program in collaboration with our partners in sustainability and education, Connecticut College, Hidden Brook Gardens and Soil Food Web New York. The workshop is $125 for NOFA members or Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals and $140 for regular admission. To reserve a space and receive lunch, please register before June 11, though registration will remain open until filled. For more information and registration please visit www.organiclandcare.net. Those with questions are also welcome to call the NOFA Organic Land Care Office at 203-888-5146.

Hosted by Organic Land Care Program of the Northeast Organic Farming Association at the Connecticut College: 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT.

Contact Kristiane Huber at (203) 888-5146 or by e-mail for more information.