Mark Your Calendars

Last Saturday, in the shade behind the Harvard Co-op bookstore, I found a flock of chickens. 

Yes, chickens, 6 months old and adorable. Beside their coop, there were information booths from Grow Your Own Stuff on hydroponics, Fresh Pond Reservation on invasive plants, City Sprouts selling seedlings grown in schoolyards, the awesomely helpful Green City Growers on building a raised bed garden, and more.

This was the Get Growing! Festival, part of Harvard Square's MayFair, with information for anyone interested in creating a container garden or raised bed garden, backyard chicken coop, rainwater catchment system, or just about any other urban homesteading project you can think of.

I walked away from the Get Growing Festival with free seedlings, a handbook on hydroponics for my soon-to-be-built window farm, and supplies for making a self-watering container. (soon to be new blog posts!)

I also brought back leaflets and postcards with several dates to keep in mind for workshops around town:

Saturday, May 19, Fresh Pond Day
10am-2pm
Music, storytelling, dog training, birding, container gardening, crafts, wildflower walk. The ultimate family day at Kingsley Park (250 Fresh Pond Parkway)


Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, Seedling Sales
9am-4pm
Organically grown vegetable, flower, and herb starts for your home garden, at Waltham Fields Community Farm (240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA)

Saturday, July 14, Breakfast on the Farm
10am-1pm
Waltham Fields Community Farm hosts chef Joh Kokubo of Kitchen on Common.(240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA)

Friday, August 10 - Sunday, August 12, Northeast Organic Farming Association's Summer Conference
Located in UMass, Amherst, the conference includes workshops on organic gardening, permaculture, landscaping, alternative energy, and cooking, as well as music, organic meals, and a country fair. For info: info@nofasummerconference.org

Tuesday, August 14, Potluck and Stargazing
7:30-8:30pm Potluck
8:30-10pm Stargazing
Waltham Fields Community Farm hosts Astronomer Andrew West. Free event! (240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA)

Sunday, September 23, Cambridge Urban Ag Fair
Winthrop Park, Harvard Square
Celebrating local gardeners, growers, and foods, this is a little like a country fair, but in the city. Prizes are awarded for the biggest veggies and tastiest jams.


Whether in Boston or elsewhere, what events do you have on your calendar this summer?