Have you thought about the birds and the bees recently? How about the butterflies, beetles, wasps, moths, and flies? Pollinators gift humans with every third bite of food that we eat by pollinating the majority of our food crops. Bees are keystone species in most terrestrial food webs ; without them,  80% of our planet’s […]

A comprehensive introduction to canning seasonal produce at home. Learn about hot water bath canning, pressure canning & when to use each method. Discuss safety precautions & the things the lend themselves best to being canned. Participate in a hands-on hot water bath canning demonstration & go home with a jar of what we make! Register here.

Learn how lactic acid fermentation works and make two ferments, one pounded (like sauerkraut) and one brined (like dilly beans). Specific recipes used will vary from class to class depending on seasonally available produce. You will have the chance to sample our homemade ferments and go home with one of the ferments we make in class. If you're intrigued by […]

It’s tough being new to livestock- and living things are fraught enough without choosing a good, solid animal to begin with. As my neighbor Ron says, “All livestock is dead stock.” Hopefully, armed with some good information- you can get there on your own terms as much as possible.  In this class we’ll discuss what […]

Learn to preserve vegetables the way our great-grandmothers did, with “lactic acid fermentation,” (they called it “pickling.”) It is easy, quick, uses no vinegar (just salt), and requires no energy input beyond your chopping skills. The salt creates an environment for the friendly bacteria to grow that keeps vegetables from spoiling and increases the nutritional value of the […]

Berkshire Botanical Gardens Members $25; Nonmembers $30 Guided by Jack Sprano, this class will explore common invasive plants that have seized our landscape, with a focus on practical strategies for controlling these rampant beasts. Learn to identify common species, understand their natural history with a focus on choosing appropriate control strategies to suit each homeowners […]

Cost $195 Learn from Brad Roeller, horticultural techniques essential for the home gardener. This two-day, hands-on clinic will focus on renovation of established and old perennial beds, including how to read a planting plan. Techniques will include lifting and dividing perennials, double-digging, soil assessment, application of compost and needed amendments into the lower soil profile […]

Learn how to skin, dress, quarter and further butcher hoofed animals! In this workshop, we'll take apart a steer at Taproot Commons Farm, learning about butchering, charcuterie and anatomy as we transform a whole, noble cousin of ours into food for us humans. All parts of the animal will be used, including organ meats, bones […]

Chris and Julia from Mycoterra Farm team up to teach basic DIY mushroom growing techniques.  They will provide an overview of the mushroom life-cycle and the basic ecology of saprophytic fungi.  The workshop will focus on mushroom log culture. It's not too late to get logs inoculated this fall!  They will provide the materials and knowledge to get you started.  While you […]

This monthly plant swap is free and open to the public to encourage the exchange of plants and other garden related items.  You many bring as few or as many of the following items as you like: perennials, annuals, edibles, seeds, garden produce, tools or any other garden related items.  Please arrive on time, as […]

Berkshire Botanical Gardens Members $35; Nonmembers $45 Join Olana’s Landscape Curator for a guided tour along Olana’s carriage roads, followed by a tour of Olana’s main house and current exhibition, River Crossings. The naturalistic landscape was fully designed by the famed artist Frederic Church around its 360-degree views. The tour will explore the history of Olana […]

This lecture will explore some of the links between land and agricultural policies in Latin America and the U.S. through an examination of Latin American migration. Extensive interviews with farmers and workers in Franklin County were conducted as source material for this talk. Manuel Matos is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Sociology Department at UMass/Amherst. […]

Cost $195 Learn from Brad Roeller, horticultural techniques essential for the home gardener. This two-day, hands-on clinic will focus on renovation of established and old perennial beds, including how to read a planting plan. Techniques will include lifting and dividing perennials, double-digging, soil assessment, application of compost and needed amendments into the lower soil profile […]

Berkshire Botanical Gardens Members $145; Nonmembers $155 (fee includes all materials) Back by popular demand, join bonsai expert Glen Lord for this hands-on workshop on conifers. Learn about bonsai, the ancient Japanese method of growing, pruning and caring for a miniature tree in a small pot. Bonsai is a rewarding blend of science and art, and […]

This workshop will cover the basics of wildcrafting including: seasonal & lunar cycles, ethics, tools & equipment, gratitude, and ecology. Each workshop includes a long walk & visit with common plants that grow abundantly in Western Massachusetts. We discuss in detail: plant identification, lore, medicinal actions, processing, nutritional profiles, botany and more! Students will become more confident and […]

Learn to design and build rugged yet simple skiddable structures, with a focus on efficient and effective building. We’ll look at several evolutions and sizes of movable sheds on-site. Next, we’ll discuss design considerations including building materials, flexibility, bracing, designing for de-construction and re-use, and motive power available to drag the intended structure. Course participants […]

It's been a glorious summer in gardens and farms all around the Valley, and now it's time to take a break from harvesting, canning, fermenting, and whatever else you've got going on so we can celebrate the harvest together! Bring your jam, kimchee, seeds, tinctures, plants, baked goods, anything you've got too much of, anything […]

Join us as we partner with two local farms and prepare an exquisite garden-fresh harvest dinner.  Along with the dinner, enjoy the sounds from local musicians who will play easy listening tunes. Musician for October 4 - The Beeline Ramblers Menu: Appetizers Potato Leek & Kale Soup served in Bread Bowls Rainbow Tomatoes with a […]