2023 Workshops
Garden Hand Tools How-To
Facilitated by Anna Marck
Gardening got you sore? This workshop will teach you how to pick the right tool for the right job, which will create a gardening practice that heals and strengthens your body. We’ll begin by stretching and aligning. We will discuss some basic tool cleaning and sharpening procedures. Then, we will use hand tools from soil knives to wheelbarrows, practicing our technique. Whether you’ve never used a shovel or you’ve got sore hands from using pruners your whole life, you’ll walk away able to reliably create more ease and efficiency in the garden, all held in a framework that honors your physical instrument.
Wear clothing that you can move in and closed toed shoes. Please let us know when registering if you have any limitations on movement or would not be comfortable having light touch physical adjustments from the instructor.
This workshop could be for you if:
- You care about the earth and want to develop a practice of caretaking with longevity in mind.
- You are curious about which garden tools to invest in.
- You love gardening, but are always in pain afterwards.
- You’re a new gardener and want to understand how to use a variety of garden tools.
- You are an old pro who is feeling the effects of gardening wearing on your body.
- You have past injuries that have impeded your success in the garden.
- You’d like to feel rejuvenated and refreshed after time in the garden.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Saturday, June 10th
- Time: 10am-12pm
- Cost: $40 per person
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
Foraging the Farm in Spring
Facilitated by Anna Marck
Enjoy a pleasant stroll at Gateway Farm as we discover spring’s most tantalizing snacks. We will start by discussing foraging ethics and plant identification. Then we’ll walk among the sorrel and strawberries, filling our baskets with food and gratitude. Finally, we will gather and discuss options for preparation and preservation.
Come prepared to walk the land. Please let us know if you have mobility issues or need any accommodations.
This workshop could be for you if:
- You’re curious about foraging and are looking for a safe and accessible entry point to learning the basics.
- You have a hunger for coming into community with plants.
- You desire a greater knowledge of perennial, nutrient dense food that’s native and/or hardy to our region.
- You want to enjoy delicious locally grown food.
- You’re passionate about supporting regenerative food growing.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Thursday, June 15th
- Time: 6-8pm
- Cost: $60 per person (includes workshop and materials fee)
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
Introduction to Permaculture
Facilitated by Charlie Brennan PhD. & Anna Marck
Permaculture is an attempt to live a regenerative life – to design and live life while utilizing and respecting the principles of ecology. Join Garden Juju Collective to explore what permaculture is and how you can apply it to your life.
Permaculture comes from the intersections of ecology, agriculture, and design/landscape design. These days “permaculture” often refers to 1) homesteading, farm and garden design for abundance and sustainability, 2) perennial permaculture gardens and food forests, and/or 3) how to design and put into practice sustainable living systems – this can be applied landscapes, but it can also guide our design principles for life in general, whether we have land or not.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Saturday, July 8th
- Time: 10am-12pm
- Cost: Workshop fees $40 per person
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
Garden Juju Collective: Introduction to Food Forests
Food Forests, forest gardens, and perennial food systems are a vital and essential part of any sustainable and regenerating human future. In this workshop, you’ll be led by Charlie Brennan PhD. and Bridget O'Brien, co-founders of Garden Juju Collective and designers/installers of the food forest, native sanctuaries and pollinator gardens at Gateway Farm. Together, we’ll explore food forests as a practical and approachable at-home garden option, and offer tips and tricks for cultivating a successful food forest. Participants will learn new skills, understand foundational information and values, and leave with a good idea about their next steps in establishing a perennial food forest.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Saturday, July 8th
- Time: 1-4pm
- Cost: $80 (includes workshop and materials fee)
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
**Tickets for sale directly through Garden Juju's website, click here**
Herbal Tea Making
Facilitated by Panoka Walker
Take advantage of the mid-summer season with this workshop devoted to healing tea herbs, long standing traditions, and the simple enjoyment of a cup of tea. In this workshop, each attendee will learn how to grow tea herbs, basic harvesting and drying techniques, and delicious tea blend suggestions. Taking the workshop from our farm to your mug, each participant will take home one of Gateway Farm's signature tea blends.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Wednesday, July 19th
- Time: 6-8pm
- Cost: $50 per person (includes workshop and materials fee)
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
Home Composting: From Trash to Treasure
Facilitated by Anna Marck
As our landfills reach capacity and emit methane at alarming rates, this workshop will offer attendees invaluable knowledge about an action item everyone can do at home: composting. We’ll talk about all of the different implementation methods to help you discover what is best and easiest for your lifestyle, no matter your space or living situation. This understanding will empower attendees to place their hands directly on the control levers to create “black gold” for themselves, neighbors, and community over and over again and greatly reduce their personal waste stream. All are welcome.
This workshop could be for you if:
- You care about the planet and are committed to reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill.
- You’ve felt intimidated, overwhelmed, or frustrated by composting in the past.
- You’ve never composted your kitchen waste before but you’d like to start.
- You are curious about some alternative methods of home composting.
- You’ve been composting for a while and want to create finished compost faster.
- You’d like to get your municipality, community, or organization involved in group composting efforts.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, notepad and pens.
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Thursday, July 20th
- Time: 6-8pm
- Cost: $50 per person (includes workshop and materials fee)
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
Garden Juju Collective: Whole Farm Permaculture
Permaculture is all about how to design and practice the regeneration of sustainable living systems. This two-day workshop explores how to apply permaculture ideas, practices, principles, and ethics to regenerative farming. This can be applied to farm projects of any scale, from urban to broadacre. This workshop will be a combination of information, ideas, imagination, and practical exercises. There will be plenty of opportunities for participants to develop their own project design and planning – using the “Adapt”’ design game and other tools. The aim is for participants to leave the workshop both inspired and with a sound idea of what their best next steps will be.
What to bring:
- Gloves, hats, sturdy shoes, water bottle, note pan and pens.
We supply:
- Details coming soon
Workshop details:
- Location: Gateway Farm
- Date: Saturday, July 22nd - Sunday, July 23rd
- Time: 9:30am-4pm both days
- Cost: Workshop fees $140-200 – Limited places (25)
Please contact us for questions – events@gatewayfarmplymouth.com
**Tickets for sale directly through Garden Juju's website, click here**