Adult & Family Workshops

Enriching the lives of people in our community is an important goal of Land’s Sake. In addition to the youth-oriented programs, we also provide educational opportunities for adults. These programs allow members of the community to learn new skills, engage with the landscape, and foster a stronger sense of community by bringing together neighbors. We hope to meet you at one of the following adult programs held throughout the year!

To attend any of our Adult or Family Workshops, please click here to RSVP.

Backyard Sappers

Date: Sat., February 27, 2010; 10am-12:00pm
Location: First Parish Church parking lot (349 Boston Post Rd.) and Bill McElwain Sugar House at the Weston Middle School (456 Wellesley Road)
Presenter: Douglas Cook, Education Director
Fee: $10 (payable at the door)

Ever wanted to make your own maple syrup, but were not sure how? Anyone interested in learning how to tap, collect and turn maple sap into maple syrup in their own backyard are welcome to join in the fun.

Ecological Lawn Care, The Land's Sake Way

Date: Thurs., April 22, 2010; 7:00-8:30pm
Location: Weston Public Library, conference room
Presenter: Bruce Wenning
Fee: free (suggested donation $5)

Come learn about the proper lawn care techniques necessary for having a beautiful and environmentally sound lawn without relying on the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers that contribute to ground and surface water contamination. We will also cover the importance of soil testing for proper turf grass growth and soil improvement practices. Discussions will be raised on other topics including seeding vs. sodding; the best time for lawn renovation and non-toxic white grub control using lawn nematodes; how beneficial insects and microbes contribute to sustainable soil fertility better than non-organic fertilizer applications and answers to the top five lawn problems most encountered by the home owner and how to correct them.

Managing Invasive Plants

Date: April 28, 2010; 7:00-8:30pm
Location: Weston Public Library, conference room
Presenter: Bruce Wenning
Fee: free (suggested donation $5)

Exotic invasive plants are the silent and secrete invaders of our neighborhoods, communities and Nation. Come learn about the eight ecological traits of invasive plant behavior that make these plants pests of our native landscapes. We will review organic and chemical control techniques for the top 16 exotic invasive plants plaguing eastern Massachusetts.

Sustainable Landscape Design

Date: May 8, 2010; 2:00-4:00pm
Location: Weston Public Library, conference room
Presenter: Carol Michener Card
Fee: free (suggested donation $10)

We will discuss what sustainable landscape design, construction, and maintenace looks like and the value of careful site evaluation and soil analysis.  We will touch on water use, compost, lawns and invasive species and conclude with plant materials useful for sustainable landscape design.

Coop Loop

Date: Sat., May 22, 2010; 10:00am-1:00pm
Location: Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley Street
Presenter: Sarah Strong, Education Committee member
Fee: $15 (payable at the door)

Ever thought about raising chickens in your own backyard? Wondering how to get started? Already have chickens, but interested in how others raise theirs? Curious about chicken tractors? Please join us for this popular tour of chicken coops right here in Weston. All ages are welcome; however, strollers are not recommended. No dogs, please.

Canning: Sauces and Pickles

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010; 1:00pm-4:30pm
Location: Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley Street
Presenter: Afton Cotton
Fee: $20

WE'RE SORRY, THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT

Learn how to make the tastes of summer last all year! Join Weston resident and owner of Pigeon Hill Preserves, Afton Cotton, as she teaches you how to make and preserve your own pickles and tomato sauce at home. This 3 ½-hour workshop will include a presentation of home canning and food safety procedures, a step-by-step overview of canning using the boiling water bath method, and a hands-on session making cucumber dill pickles and tomato basil pasta sauce. Each participant will be able to take home a jar of pickles or sauce and a packet of information to get started canning at home. Registration limited to 16 participants.

Canning: Jams and Jellies

Date: Saturday, August 21, 2010; 1:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley Street
Presenter: Afton Cotton
Fee: $20

WE'RE SORRY, THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT

Learn how to make the most of summer berries and enjoy them throughout the winter months! Join Weston resident and owner of Pigeon Hill Preserves, Afton Cotton, as she teaches you how to make and preserve your own jams and jellies at home. This 4-hour workshop will include a presentation of home canning and food safety procedures, a step-by-step overview of canning using the boiling water bath method, and a hands-on session making mixed berry jam and blackberry or grape jelly. Each participant will be able to take home a jar of jam or jelly and a packet of information to get started canning at home. Registration limited to 16 participants.

Biochar: Old Technology and New Solutions

Date: Saturday, October 16th, 2010; 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: Land's Sake Farm, 90 Wellesley Street
Presenters: Bob Wells and Peter Hirst
Fee: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

To attend this workshop, please click here to RSVP.

This workshop is for all farmers and gardeners that want to improve their soil fertility, yields and nutrient quality with biochar. In this workshop you will build a burner and gain skills to use immediately. If you can swing a hammer you can learn how to build a biochar burner.

Biochar is an emerging technology based on centuries old techniques and principles for producing charcoal. Biochar is the byproduct when biomass is burned or heated with a minimum of oxygen. It is primarily used to enhance soil fertility and helps improve the health of plants, increases yields, reduces costs and improves food’s nutritional quality/density. Making biochar by pyrolysis also produces energy. When this energy is captured biochar can be turned into electricity, space heat or diesel (this workshop will focus on the soil fertility aspects and touch upon these other uses.)

We will build a barrel burner with a simple retort design capable of making small amounts of biochar safely and easily. We will also learn how to start a burn using our new barrels.

Peter Hirst (Blacksmith): Peter is the self-taught proprietor of Keziah's Forge, the newest incarnation of the old barrel factory forge in Harwich on Cape Cod. Peter demonstrates basic forging at fairs, festivals and private gatherings, replete with history, stories, poetry and blacksmith lore. He recently retired from the energy industry.

Bob Wells (Farmer): Bob comes with a wide spectrum of experience; from working on the biggest farm in New York State to learning organic farming and blacksmithing in the back woods of West Virginia. He's run businesses in electronics, metalworking and boat building. Currently he's carving out a small organic farm from the tangled woods of Eastham on Cape Cod. He is passionate about developing small scale biochar systems and educating others about biochar’s fantastic advantages.