We are excited to share inspiration and learning in community! Here is our blossoming list of workshops for the 2024 season. Some events are free, and all of our immersive and weekend workshops are sliding scale and require pre-registration, as indicated so read on and reach out to register as space is limited! Join our enews to stay connected and current. Our farmstand will open for the season in April!
Spring Conference Presentations:
March 22: Massachusetts Farm to Sea to School Conference (live in Northampton). Seeds of Solidarity’s Deb Habib is presenting a workshop called Grow Food, Grow Community: Climate Resilient School Gardens. Get full conference registration details (they are doing field trips to interesting spots on March 21 as well): https://sites.google.com/massfarmtoschool.org/conference/
March 29/30: NOFA Virtual Symposium: Seeds of Solidarity’s Deb Habib is the MA representative in this interstate event. In an interactive presentation and conversation on Passion, Purpose, and Fresh Paradigms (Mar 29). This symposium is free to attendees of the various NOFA chapter winter conferences, and with a modest fee for others. Website/presenters/topics are in progress, but stay tuned to https://registration.socio.events/e/nofaconference
And our on-site workshop season begins!… Here is the calendar to print and share. Read on for workshops and events, details and registration for each.
April 27, 10.30-11.30 am. Grow Great Gardens: Q and A, 10.30-11.30 followed by optional self-guided tour. Free, all welcome! No-preregistration. It’s also our farmstand grand opening day!
Sunday April 28, 1-4PM: No-till Gardens and Farms: Healthy Soil, Heal Climate. An experiential learning packed afternoon suitable to farmers or enthusiastic gardeners seeking to learn and use no-till methods that use simple tools, build healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs, and promote climate resilience. A perfect time of year to learn and introduce several no-till techniques that build healthy soil while promoting climate resilience. Led by Seeds of Solidarity farmer, co-founder Ricky Baruc, known and published for his no-till farming successes and invigorating teaching style. Pre-registration required. Sliding scale: $35 to $60. Proceeds will be donated to 1for3.org to support their school and community gardening programs for Palestinians in the West Bank. Email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register.
Sunday May 5, 10am to 4PM. Reconnect Retreat. A day of practices to destress and stay centered amid uncertainty. In this restorative, uplifting day in community with others, you will experience and gain techniques for: reiki/energy healing, forest meditation, yoga and teas for nervous system health, grounding and nourishing recipes. Facilitators are Nalini Goordial, Ricky Baruc, and Deb Habib. Fee includes all sessions, lunchtime soup (resulting from a cooking lesson!) and a take home tea or spice pack. Sliding scale: $50 -$90. Pre-registration required, space limited. Email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register.
June 14-16. Our weekend workshop at the Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY. Grow Food Everywhere: DIY for Wellbeing and Joy. We love teaching this weekend workshop and return live this year! Go to https://www.eomega.org/workshops/grow-food-everywhere. For details and registration. There are options to stay at Omega or commute for those nearby. Spread the word!
Wednesday July 10th, 6PM: Join us for a potluck and “Interdependence” conversation with Seeds of Solidarity founders Deb Habib and Ricky Baruch. Come at 5.30 to enjoy a self-guided farm tour beforehand. Free, pre-registration appreciated but not required.
Saturday and Sunday, August 17/18. Building Immersion, Life Tools. Come learn to use a variety of hand and power tools, and gain or expand your building skills, so helpful to farmers, artists, or to increase your own DIY skill set. Proper tool use and techniques can inspire you to make furniture, a shed or studio, or even a tiny house! Plenty of hands-on experience and community building in a beautiful setting. This is our third year running this popular weekend workshop. Facilitator/teachers are Seeds of Solidarity founders Ricky and Deb, and farmer/builder Emi. Stay tuned for more details and a special guest presentation! Sliding scale $75- $175. ($250 value). Lunches included, rustic on-site overnight camping possible. Pre-registration required, capped at 20. Email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register.
Sept 28/29, 10am to 5PM both days.. 26th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival. As co-founders and long-time organizers, we encourage you to stay tuned to the festival website, www.garlicandarts.org for updates. And of course, we’ll be there with our famous seed garlic, garlic bread and other farm products.
Saturday Oct 26, 10.30-11.30 am. Farm Tour and Mocktails with the Founders. Enjoy a guided walking tour of our site with abundant no-till gardens, solar greenhouses, energy efficient structures, and inspiring conversation along the way. Free, no-preregistration, just be on time.
Sunday Oct 27, 10am to 5PM.. Rich and Healthy: No-till for Successful Farms. Are you a farmer or market gardener seeking to start or transition to no-till methods that use simple tools, build healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs, promote climate resilience and increase your connection to the land? You’ll learn several no-till, climate resilience techniques in this experiential, day-long workshop with seasoned farmer Ricky Baruc and no-till soil science researchers. Sliding scale $65-$95. Space limited, email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register. Soup and salad lunch included. Special opportunity! Our friends at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, in partnership with the American Farmland Trust Soil Steward program are offering up to ten full scholarships for farmers of color, or new farmers going no-till. Let us know if this is you!
We are grateful for grants and donations that support our 2024 programs and events:
Green Leaf Foundation
MA Dept of Agricultural Resources (via a state budget earmark)
Town of Orange Community Development Block Grant
Anonymous
Greenfield Farmers’ Cooperative Exchange, Kuumba Made, Worcester County Food Bank, Donor advised funds through the CFWM and RSF Social Finance, Monterey Community Foundation, and amazing individuals like YOU!!
After a Solidarity Saturday a visitor shared this moving reflection:
“Wonderful having the opportunity to meet you … and to see the extraordinary farm and lifestyle you’ve nurtured into existence. Inspiring and invigorating, your landscape engrained in my mind a positive perspective for future human settlements. Thank you for sharing your time and teachings.”
Seeds of Solidarity 