2013 Class Schedule

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEEDS FOR YOUR GARDEN.   
Saturday, March 3^rd 1pm
Allison Hosford of Two Pond Farm, West Milford, will talk about starting vegetable and herb seeds, selecting them, starting them (indoors and outdoors) and saving them for next year.  Free

LAWN CARE
Saturday March 16^th 1pm
Rich Imlay of Jonathan Green lawn Care Products will show you how to get the best lawn on the block with an organic based program with the use of IPM, or Integrated Pest Management.  Feel free to talk to Rich about your own lawn issues.  Free

Fairy Gardening (for kids)  Wednesday, April 3rd at 1 pm
& April 10^th 1pm
Many local schools have these weeks off, so if you're not going anywhere, bring your kids (best ages 6-12), and plant a fairy garden to take home. Fairy attire welcome!  Cost $25

Miniature Gardening   Saturday, April 6th, at 1 pm
These gardens are small enough to fit on your dining room table, or tucked into a corner on your patio.  They can be made for indoors or out, and can last years with minimal effort.  In this workshop, you will plant a container with tiny plants and accessorize with mini furniture and landscaping items.  You may invite fairies to come visit, or just enjoy it on your own!  Class includes a container, plants, and some accent pieces.   $40

ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING 101   
Saturday April 13, 1pm
With Allison Hosford of Two Pond Farm.  Designed for the beginning gardener.  Create the organic garden you’ve been dreaming about! You will be guided through the wonderful process of starting your own vegetable garden—you can do it!  Free

ANITA’S GARDEN  May 6th, Monday 6:30pm
Gardener & Cook Anita Dafonte will have slides of her own garden showing how to create a vegetable garden that's both beautiful and productive.  Anita will discuss which varieties of tomatoes and peppers to grow for certain dishes, how to build a rich organic soil, what tools you'll need, adding flowers for color and beauty, plus she will share her tips on how she saves her garden from wildlife foraging.  Anita works for Coast of Maine Organic Products and is a graduate of the Maine Compost School. Anita lives and gardens on three acres in Connecticut and frequently speaks on vegetable gardening and creating simple and delicious meals from the garden.  Free

HERB CONTAINER & SEMINAR,  Thursday May 23^rd, 1pm and 6:30pm
Join Jodie Bross for an informative herb gardening seminar and create your own mixed herb container garden for your home.  Learn the do’s and don’ts of growing herbs organically in your garden or in a container.  Class includes a container, soil, fertilizer and plants.  Cost $45.00

More being scheduled--check back soon

Classes 2012

E-mail here to sign up, or call 973-838-0174

 Build a Terrarium  February 11th, Saturday 1pm  Itching to garden in the depths of winter?  Build a little hothouse garden of your own to brighten your day.  Learn how to plant and care for an easy terrarium.  Bring your own container, or pick from one of ours.  Makes a wonderful Valentines gift. $35.00 with our container.

Seed Starting February 25th, Saturday 1pm--with Jodie Bross & Allison Hosford. Learn the basics of starting vegetable and flowers, and when and where to move them outside. Come plant up a tray of seeds here so you're ready to go--no mess in your house! Older, interested children are welcome.  $10.00

Being a Small Farmer  March 3rd, Saturday 1pm  Local farmer Allison Hosford shares what she calls: 'The lovely bumpy road to being a small farmer and what we've learned along the way'.  She talks about the joys and the foibles of farming on a very small scale. It's lots of anecdotes and lessons, with tales of mistakes and miracles. It's an insight into the life they are leading for anyone who is thinking of doing this and wants to learn more, or anyone who knows they never will live this lifestyle but wants to hear about it, or anyone who has farmed at one time and longs to relive it.  Its a chance to ask questions, and to hear about it from the inside - about the worries, the woes, and the wonder of it all.  As anyone who has taken a class with Allison knows, this is sure to be a very entertaining class. This class is Free.

 Tree Whispering®-- A Nature Lover’s Guide to Touching, Healing, and Communicating with Trees, Plants, and All of Nature.   March 5th, Thursday  7pm-9pm Climate disruptions put extreme stress on trees & plants and bring new diseases & insects into backyard ecosystems.  The ecosystem’s health can be restored without undesirable products.  Learn about healing and bioenergetically reconnecting stressed parts of an ecosystem so trees and plants are less vulnerable and the whole system works in harmony.  Enjoy stepping inside a plant’s world during a guided visualization to “come from its point of view.” Come prepared to expand your intuition and take new, transformative practices into your backyard. By acting in co-creative partnership and cooperation with the living beings of your ecosystem (birds, too), you can improve your personal, local, planetary, and even spiritual well-being.  Your future health and lifestyle depends restoring livable balance in Nature.  After all, healthier plants mitigate/sink carbon. Cost $10 www.CooperativeBioBalance.org  
BIOs  Jim Conroy, Ph.D., The Tree Whisperer®, earned his doctorate in Plant Pathology from Purdue University and spent 25 years as an executive in top ag-chem companies. Now, he is an authority on Nature-based communication and a global expert who holistically heals stressed trees, plants, and ecosystems with his own bioenergy-healing approach. As creator of Tree Whispering®–a holistic, hands-on, earth-friendly, no-product, and sustainable solution–he shows people how to restore tree and plant health by healing internal functionality. Teaching globally, Dr. Jim is also on faculty at Omega Institute. As co-founder of the Institute for Cooperative BioBalance, he isdedicated to bringing the principles and practices of co-existence with all of Nature’s Beings into people’s daily lives. www.TheTreeWhisperer.com , www.CooperativeBioBalance.org , and www.StrengthenForests.com.

Basia Alexander, The Chief Listener, is a catalyst for positive change and a leader in the new field of Conscious Co-Creativity. As an expert Nature communicator, Basia leads workshops and produces innovative curriculum. She is also an educator at the Omega Institute. Basia has led and supported environmental outreach efforts and writes on topics of health, personal transformation, creativity, and spirituality. As co-founder of theInstitute for Cooperative BioBalance, she directs its educational and philanthropic initiatives. www.TreeWhispering.com

 Composting  March 17 Saturday 11am   Learn the basics of composting.  Jodie will cover types of bins, what can and cannot be composted, storing scraps inside, the effects of weather and wildlife and any other questions you might have.  This class will be an hour.  Free.  Bring a lunch and stay for Allison’s class at 1pm!

Laying Out Your Garden  March 17th, Saturday 1pm Local Farmer Allison Hosford comes again to share this fun part of vegetable gardening.  Come with questions!  Free

Easter Trees  March 31st, Saturday 10:30am  Decorate your home with a table top Easter Tree.  Join Pam Maggio in this fun craft for the holiday.  Appropriate for ages 6 to adult.  $10.00

Miniature Gardening  March 31st, Saturday 1pm  These gardens are small enough to fit on your dining room table, or tucked into a corner on your patio.  They can be made for indoors or out, and can last years with minimal effort.  In this workshop, you will plant a container with tiny plants and accessorize with mini furniture and landscaping items.  You may invite fairies to come visit, or just enjoy it on your own!  We have containers, or bring something of your own to plant up.  $40 with our container.

Low Maintenance Foundation Plantings  April 14th, Saturday 11am  Are you looking to rejuvenate the front of your home?  Sometimes just changing the shrubs and trees can dramatically change your ‘curb appeal’.  Join landscape architect Brad MacKenn for a short presentation and ‘q & a’ session about these important garden beds.  Free

Onions and Potatoes  April 14th, Saturday 1pm 

Organic farmer Allison Hosford of Two Pond Farm will help you learn the basics of planting these garden staples, as well as any others you want to ask her about.  This will be a great opportunity for question and answers of all types.  We will have potatoes & onion starts to buy.  This class is free.

Anita’s Garden  April 16th, Monday 6:30pm Gardener & Cook Anita Dafonte will have slides of her own garden showing how to create a vegetable garden that's both beautiful and productive.  Anita will discuss which varieties of tomatoes and peppers to grow for certain dishes, how to build a rich organic soil, what tools you'll need, adding flowers for color and beauty, plus she will share her tips on how she saves her garden from wildlife foraging.  This class is free.
Anita works for Coast of Maine Organic Products and is a graduate of the Maine Compost School. Anita lives and gardens on three acres in  Connecticut and frequently speaks on vegetable gardening and creating simple and delicious meals from the garden.  Free

Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs   May 2nd, Wednesday 6:30pm  Join herbalist, & part owner of health food store Taste of Dawn, Morrie Shafer, for an informative class about growing and using medicinal herbs.   Learn which herbs are best for common ailments and how to grow and care for them at home.  Go home with a potted herb of your choice and be inspired to start a useful and beautiful herb garden!  $8.00

Easy & Delicious Summer Dishes  May 24th Thursday 6:30pm  Have you been wanting some ideas for delicious, healthy vegetarian meals?  Join Laura Theodore, "The Jazzy Vegetarian", for dinner in the garden. Laura, who has a weekly cooking show on PBS, will cook up a picnic-style light summer dinner using fresh veggies and herbs from the garden. In association with local health food store, Taste of Dawn. Cost $25.00  Please register by Tuesday 5/22

Living Wreath—Succulent or Flowering   June 11th,  Monday 6:30pm Make a stunning wreath filled with cool succulents or colorful flowering plants.  They look great hanging or as a centerpiece. Unique and fun to make.  Approx. $65 ($45 if you have your own form from previous years.  Cost varies on plants chosen).

Canning  June 18th, Monday, 7pm  This is an introduction to canning with Glenwild’s Pam Maggio.  Plan for your summer and fall harvests, and learn how to ’put up’ fruit now. You will go home with a jar! $10

Cocktail Gardening  June 15th Friday 5pm (of course)  Local mixologists Mike & Kevin are back, and this time will be mixing up beautiful and delicious cocktails inspired by some lovely edible flowers from the garden.  $20

Hydrangeas  June 16th, Saturday 1pm  One of the most popular and beautiful of the summer flowering shrubs now comes in many new and unusual varieties.  Come see and learn about many of them, and the basics of hydrangea types and care.  Free

Dinner with Andre   August 20th, Monday 6pm—Emphasizing locally grown, organic ingredients,  Andre’s (of Andre’s Restaurant, Newton), beautiful three course dinner will be a treat for gardeners and gourmets alike.  Enjoy eating under the stars while learning the recipes and Andre’s cooking techniques.  $69*

Mushroom Picking   End of September—Come pick wild mushrooms with Allison Hosford at 2 Pond Farm in West Milford.  Sign up if and we’ll call you with about a week’s notice when the mushrooms are ready—usually around the last Sat. of the month.  Recipes included!  $20

Harvest Dinner with Andre deWaal--Monday October 22^nd      ‘Nuff said.   $69.00 

Mini-Seminars   Saturday October 27^th:

   Houseplant Care 1pm.  Free mini seminar on houseplant care with Mari Streigle.  Learn about organically caring for your houseplants—fertilizing, dealing with pests, & tricks to keep them happy through the winter.

   Start Your Compost Pile Now!  2pm.  The fall is the easiest time to start your new compost.  Come in for a short mini-seminar with Jodie on composting and receive 20% off on all composting supplies.

Treats for your 4 Legged Friends--Monday, November 12^th 6:30pm.  Local chef & animal lover April Stearns will demonstrate recipes for dog, cat and horse treats with tips, techniques and recipes.  Tell us ahead of time what kind of pet you have and you’ll go home with some goodies!  $15.00

Holiday Gift Ideas--Sunday December 9^th 1pm.  Holiday Gifts From Your Kitchen--Sunday December 9th 1pm   It's not what you think--no fruit cake here!  There are hidden treasures in your kitchen pantry that make creative gifts. Local chef April Stearns will show how to make bread in a ball jar, flavored cordials, potpourri for simmering on the stove and many other ideas.  Go home with recipes and a 'little gift from the kitchen'.  $20

Making a Holiday Wreath--Saturday November 17^th, 10am, 1pm, 3:30pm & Monday November 19^th, 6pm.  Build a gorgeous wreath from scratch made from balsam cedar, arborvitae and other mixed evergreens.  Bring pruners if you have them.  $26

Holiday Centerpieces--Wednesday, 6:30pm & Thursday, December 6^th 1:30pm.  Make a beautiful large centerpiece for your holiday table.  Christmas, Hanukkah, or neither!  A fun class with Pam and Jodie.  $22.00  Plastic floral container included, or bring one of your own.

Gingerbread Houses Monday December 10th 6:30pm  Have a blast decorating your own gorgeous homemade gingerbread house with Pam Maggio.  $30.00

Click on The Back to Basics Cooking Classes with Taste of Dawn, for more info

Classes 2011

February 22nd, at 7PM--Refresh & Rejuvenate Yourself, Naturally!   Antoniette Koshykar of Buena Vista Soapery is teaching a workshop on making natural  products like bath salts & body scrubs from items in your own kitchen & garden.  Learn how to rejuvenate yourself  in the midst of winter.  This class was a lot of fun last year!     $25.00

March 5th, Saturday 11am-- Seed Starting--Make it easy to start seeds indoors.  Come plant up a tray of seeds here so you're ready to go--no mess in your house!  Learn the basics of starting vegetable and flowers, and when and where to move them outside.  Older, interested children are welcome.  $10.00

March 5th, Saturday 1:30pm--Laying out Your Garden--  Allison Hosford of Two Pond Farm will share her experiences and her plans for starting a vegetable garden.  This is a perfect class for anyone starting for the first time, but also for anyone with questions or looking for new tips on getting better veggies from an existing garden.  Soil preparation, variety choices, fertilizing, & pest problems will all be discussed.  Allison is an organic farmer in West Milford, and a great source of information!  This class is free.

March 26, Saturday 1:30pm--Organic Gardening--Whether you are new to gardening, or trying to transition to using more organics in your existing yard and garden, this class will be very useful for you.  Jodie will cover basic organic methods, composting, lawn care, and which products work the best.  This class is free.

April 9th, Saturday 1:30pm--Onions Garlic, & Potatoes--Allison is back again!  Organic farmer Allison Hosford of Two Pond Farm.  Learn the basics of planting these vegetables, as well as any others you want to ask her about.  This will be a great opportunity for question and answers of all types.  We will have potatoes & onion starts to buy.  This class is free.

May 2nd, Monday, 6:30pm--Growing and Using Herbs--Join herbalist, & owner of Taste of Dawn, Morrie Shafer, and Jodie Bross of Glenwild, for an informative class about growing and using herbs.   Learn which herbs are best in which dishes, easiest to grow, and even the medicinal uses of our common herbs.  Go home with a potted herb of your choice and be inspired to start a useful and beautiful herb garden!  $8.00

May 9th, Monday, 1pm & 6:30pm (2 classes to choose from) Planting a Fairy Garden--We have a really beautiful selection of fairies and accessories, and we'll plant up a sweet little garden in a container for all to admire.  Herbs and flowers appropriate for fairies will be used, and the garden will live all summer and possibly winter over.  When you book this class, you'll get a free little fairy in a box--makes a great gift presentation for Mother's day! (The day before).   $40.00

June 5, Sunday, 2-4 pm--Weed Walk and Medicine Making --Did you know that you are surrounded by medicines in your backyard and garden that you think are “just weeds”? It’s true! Come see your dandelion, plantain, violet, burdock, yellow dock and other wild plants through new eyes. These are hearty healers that lift your spirits, offer delicious wild nourishment and they live all around you. Join herbalist Robin Rose Bennett for a delightful stroll through the gardens. She will teach you how to harvest one of the herbs we meet and then you will make your own medicinal remedy to take home. The cost of the class includes the needed supplies.  $28.00

 June 13th, Monday 6:30--Canning--Join Morrie Shafer of Taste of Dawn Health Food Store for an introduction to canning.  There are things to put up now, as well as planning for your summer and fall harvests.  This class will be held in Kinnelon at a private home.  This class is $10.00

Dinner with Andre  August 22nd, Monday 6:30  This class has been the most popular of all our classes, selling out immediately.  Andre deWaal from Andre’s Restaurant in Newton, NJ, cooks us a lovely 3 course meal out in the garden, while sharing his cooking techniques & philosophy.  $69.00

Mushroom Picking  End of September  Come pick wild mushrooms with Allison Hosford at 2 Pond Farm in West Milford .  Sign up if & we’ll call you with about a week’s notice when the mushrooms are ready—usually around the last Sat. of the month.  $20

Build a Terrarium  October 22nd, Saturday 2pm  It’s time to take our plant passion indoors.  These little gardens are fun to build & look at.  $35

November 3rd, Thursday 7pm  Candle Making  Join local artist DeAnna Clark for a fun class making your own scented candle.  Each are unique, made with chunks of colored wax.  Cost ranges from $20-$25, depending on mold chosen.

 
November 19th (Saturday 10am) & November 21rd (Monday 6pm)  Making a Holiday Wreath    Create a gorgeous wreath made from balsam, boxwood, arborvitae & other mixed evergreens.  E-mail Jodie if you want to have your own class with a group of friends.  Bring pruners if you have them.  $25*

More classes being added soon--to be scheduled: Gardening with Native Plants, Making a Living Wreath,  Dinner with Andre, etc.  Let us know your ideas!

Classes 2010 

Saturday April 10th, 2010
10AM--Tree Planting Demo for Optimal Health--Join Brad for an invaluable demonstration on how to plant a tree, including ongoing care.  Basic stuff, but so critical for such an important investment.
1PM--Organic Lawn & Garden Care--Jodie will give an update on our organic lawn & garden products and how they can help you transition to a healthier lawn and garden too.  Basic, common sense methods of upkeep will also be covered.  Come with questions!

Monday, April 26th, 6pm--Gardening with Anita--Avid Gardener & Cook Specializing in Unique Varieties of Vegetables, Anita Dafonte will have slides of her own garden showing how to create a vegetable garden that's both beautiful and productive.  Anita will discuss which varieties of tomatoes and peppers to grow for certain dishes, how to build a rich organic soil, what tools you'll need, adding flowers for color and beauty, plus she will share her tips on how she saves her garden from wildlife foraging.  This class is free.
Anita works for Coast of Maine Organic Products and is a graduate of the Maine Compost School. Anita lives and gardens on three acres in  Connecticut and frequently speaks on vegetable gardening and creating simple and delicious meals from the garden.

May 10th 1pm & 6pm Vegetable & Herb Container Garden--Come in the afternoon or the evening—either way you will go home with a container planted with a variety of vegetables & herbs. Just put in the sun, water, and harvest!   $45.00
Upgrading to an Earthbox will be an option.

May 16th, 17th & 18th  Container Planting Days!    We’ll be set up all day from Sunday to Tuesday to help with your container gardening.  Bring a pot or buy a pot, then plant it up with the flowers or herbs of your choice.  We’ll have everything you need, including advice, and you don’t have to clean up!  Your expenses are just the cost of your purchases and soil.  Please call to register, even if it’s that morning.

June 21st Vermicomposting--Join Local farmer Rocky Hazelman to learn how to compost at home with Red Worms.  Creating worm compost with red wigglers is a simple process.  We typically peel our fruits and vegetables prior to eating them, discarding the peels, which contain the highest amount of nutrients.  By feeding these scraps to the worms, worm composting recycles them and lets us use the bi-product to grow more fruits and vegetables.  This class is free.

July 2nd  Cocktail Gardening-- Get ready for the holiday weekend by learning how to make hip cocktails with fresh herbs from your own garden, with mixologists Mike & Kevin.  Go home with a container garden full of the herbs we use in these drinks, and recipes too!    Friday, July 2nd, at 5pm. (It's 5 O'Clock HERE)!   The class will last about an hour and a half.  $35

August 23rd (Monday 6pm)  Dinner with Andre de Waal    Emphasizing locally grown, organic ingredients,  Andre’s( of Andre’s Restaurant, Newton), beautiful three course dinner will be a treat for gardeners & gourmets alike.  Enjoy eating under the stars while learning the recipes & Andre’s cooking techniques.  $65*

September 27th (Monday 6pm)  Harvest Techniques with Anita Dafonte     Anita Dafonte lives & gardens on three acres in  Connecticut & frequently speaks on vegetable gardening & creating simple & delicious meals from the garden.  Today she'll be discussing  harvesting techniques, & giving us creative, healthy, gourmet recipes using vegetables from your own garden or farmer's market.  Lucky us, she's bringing samples to try!  If you were here for her spring class, you know you don't want to miss this one!  $10

End of September  Mushroom Picking   Come pick wild mushrooms with Allison Hosford at 2 Pond Farm in West Milford .  Sign up if & we’ll call you with about a week’s notice when the mushrooms are ready—usually around the last Sat. of the month.  Let’s try again!  Recipes included!  $20

October 25th   Monday 6pm
Fermentation
Join Morrie Shafer from Taste of Dawn Health food Store in Butler for an introduction into fermented foods.  She'll be making sauerkraut, gingered carrots & kimchi.   A different way of making nutritious dishes with your vegetable harvest.  Cost $5.00

November 10th  (Wednesday 6pm)  Playing with Beads     Pamela deWaal of Mountain Soul Jewelry returns to help you create a beautiful coil bracelet.  A great gift for someone for the holiday, or to wear to your next Christmas party yourself!  We had a great time last year.  $30*

 

November 20th (Saturday 10am) & November 22rd (Monday 6pm)  Making a Holiday Wreath    Create a gorgeous wreath made from balsam, boxwood, arborvitae & other mixed evergreens.  E-mail Jodie if you want to have your own class with a group of friends.  Bring pruners if you have them.  $25*

 

More Classes are added all the time, so sign up for our e-mails for updates!

 
E-mail here to sign up, or call 973-838-0174

The class we had in February with Antoniette Koshykar was so much fun we'll be doing it again later this year.  We made bath scrubs and salts and learned about essential oils and lot's of fun stuff.  My sugar scrub is my favorite, though I put in so many rose petals that the shower looked a little weird when I stepped out!

 

The Recipe for Valentine's Day Bird Seed Wreaths...from a winter 2009 class

Happy Valentines Day to the Birds!
To make heart shaped ‘wreaths’ for our winged friends use this recipe.

1/2 cup water

1 envelope gelatin

3/4 cups flour

3 tablespoons of corn syrup

3 1/2 cups bird seed

 

Boil water and  put into large bowl.  Sprinkle gelatin in and let sit for 1 minute.  Stir to dissolve.  Add flour and corn syrup and blend.  Add bird seed and thoroughly mix together.  Mold with your hands into a heart shape onto wax paper and push a hole into the upper middle for hanging.  If it gets too sticky, wet hands with cold water.  Let sit for a few hours then turn over to dry other side.  You can press cranberries or raisins into the soft mixture for decoration. 

Hang with a pretty red ribbon!

 

One of the 2008 Wreath Classes

 

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Mushroom Picking on Allison's farm, 2008

 

 

Photo of Allison Hosford on her organic farm last summer showing off her broccoli.