Archive

2017 Volunteer Opportunities

Soup Kitchen Garden – beginning Tuesday March 21, join Marlene and Cindy working in the soup kitchen plot. We invite gardeners and friends to help with this valuable community outreach project.  The invitation is ongoing throughout the 2017 season.  This is a great opportunity to meet fellow gardeners, have your questions answered by experienced gardeners, and learn by doing. Tasks will include transplanting, cultivation, direct seeding, mulching and pest control. Feel free to join us anytime in this cooperative effort.  No commitments are required.

Tuesdays: 3pm – 5pm

Saturdays: 9am – 11am

 

2017 Workshops – All are welcome!

March 4, 2017, 10am-12pm

Seed Starting Demonstration and Seed Swap

Lawler Branch Library

745 Rockdale Ave. New Bedford, MA

April 22, 2017  10am – 12pm

Helfand Community Gardens

Perennial Swap and Early Seedling Sale

  • Direct seed demo, and making seed bombs
  • Coffee and light snacks available

May 13, 2017  TIME: TBA

Helfand Community Gardens

Organic Pest Control Workshop

May 13 & 14,  2017  10am – 4pm

Helfand Community Gardens

Annual tomato and vegetable plant sale

Light snacks for sale

June 17, 2017  10am

Helfand Community Gardens

Herb Garden Harvest Day

“Getting the most out of your herbs” workshop, begins at 11am

 

2016 Workshops – Public Welcome!

THURSDAY     FEBRUARY 18     7 p.m.     Southworth Library, Elsie Haskell Room
Helfand Farms Community Gardens kicks off the 2016 season with a workshop on “The Benefits of Trace Minerals in Your Garden and Cultivating Cucurbits ( Cucumbers, Melons, Summer Squash, Winter Squash and Zucchini )” given by Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm.

SATURDAY     MARCH 19 (snow date March 26)     1 – 3 p.m.     Wilks Branch Library, Acushnet Ave., New Bedford
SEED STARTING DEMONSTRATION & EQUIPMENT SWAP
Choosing soil, equipment, when to start seeds, making your own seed “tape.”  Swap equipment like pots, starting trays, etc.

SATURDAY APRIL 9      12 – 1:30 p.m.      Howland Green Library, Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford

Please join us for a seed starting program and demonstration.  Learn how to choose your soil, use of proper equipment, when to start which seeds, how to make your own ‘seed tape’; swap of growing equipment like seeds, pots, and starting trays etc.

Bring the kids, there will be seed planting and projects…making seed bombs, personalizing their own seed packets, making a ‘poetic reference’ folder, etc……and snacks!!!

SATURDAY     APRIL 16 (bad weather date April 17)     11 a.m.     Helfand Community Gardens

WORKSHOP: ACCELERATING SPRING GROWTH AND BUILDING COMPLETE PROTEINS

The role of nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur and focusing on alliums (Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Scallions, & Shallots) and brassicas given by Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm.

PLUS!  Perennial Swap and Seedling Sale     10 a.m.

Are your lilies taking over? Is your iris getting crowded? April is an excellent time to thin out your perennials or add something new to your flower garden.  All proceeds benefit the Helfand Community Gardens.

SATURDAY     MAY 14     TIME TBA     Helfand Community Gardens

WORKSHOP: INCREASING QUALITY & YIELD  in your Nightshade Patch with Magnesium & Potassium (Eggplants, Peppers, Potatoes & Tomatoes) featuring Derek Christianson of Brix Bounty Farm.

SATURDAY     MAY 14     9 a.m. – 2p.m.
SUNDAY         MAY 15     10 a.m. – 12 p.m.     Helfand Community Gardens

PLANT SALE
Tomato and vegetable seedlings for sale; perennials too!  Also planting demonstration and information.

SATURDAY     JUNE 25      5:30 p.m until dark     Helfand Community Gardens
FAMILY FUN FEST ( Rain Date Sunday June 26 )

Potluck dinner and family activities ( Pinwheel Making, Face Painting and a

Treasure Hunt!! )

Please bring your own utensils, chair and goodies. Friends of gardeners welcome!!

SATURDAY    JUNE 25     5:00 p.m.      Helfand Community Gardens
SHED DEDICATION

Before Family Fun Fest, the United Way of Greater New Bedford will join us to dedicate our beautiful new equipment shed. Thanks to a generous mini-grant from the United Way, as well as donations made by Helfand Board members, we can now store all maintenance equipment on site.

THURSDAY     JULY 21     5:30 p.m. until dark     Helfand Community Gardens
FAMILY PICNIC

Details TBA

SATURDAY     AUGUST 20     10 a.m. – 12 p.m.     Helfand Community Gardens
WORKSHOP: BEES AND POLLINATORS

Bees and pollinators.  Fall vegetable seedling sale too!

SATURDAY     SEPTEMBER 24     10 a.m. – 12 p.m.     Helfand Community Gardens
WORKSHOP: SAVING YOUR HARVEST

Fermenting, freezing, preserving and storing. given by Liz Wiley, Marlene Holohan and others

RESCHEDULED!   END OF SEASON PARTY AND ANNUAL MEETING (was Oct 8) RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY OCTOBER 15 at 2 p.m. 

LOCATION: SOUTHWORTH LIBRARY, LOWER LEVEL

We are rescheduling due to concerns about the weather this weekend.  It looks like conditions may ultimately be good, but the forecast has changed frequently enough to warrant a change.
In addition to the business of electing our 2017 Board of Directors, the programs committee is planning a potluck for this day.  As in past years, everyone is encouraged to bring something, but this is not required.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the 15th!

 

2015 Workshop & Events Schedule – Archive


SATURDAY     MAY 16     9:30a – 3:00p     At the Gardens
COMMUNITY GARDENING AND OPENING DAY
New gardener orientation.  At 10am, Ashley will conduct a workshop on direct seeding. Heirloom tomato seedlings for sale!  Compost for sale too.

Potluck lunch – bring food and drink to share (and a chair to sit on).

SUNDAY     JUNE 21     9am – 12p    At the Gardens
BEES & BENEFICIAL INSECTS
Pre-cut and drilled blocks available ($3 each). Email # of blocks by June 8 to [email protected]
Potluck – bring food and drink to share (and a chair to sit on).FRIDAY     JULY 17     6pm     At the Gardens
HELFAND GARDEN SOCIAL & STAR GAZINGPotluck – bring food & drink to share. Don’t forget the marshmallows to roast on the camp fire!

SATURDAY     AUGUST 22     TIME TBD     DARTMOUTH GRANGESATURDAY     SEPTEMBER 26     10am -12pm    DARTMOUTH GRANGE
RAW FOOD DEMONSTRATION with Liz Wiley from Round-the-Bend FarmHighlighting seasonal, local vegetables
Free and open to the publicSATURDAY     OCTOBER 17       2pm   At the GardensANNUAL MEETING plus workshop, potluck, bonfire and children’s activities
Free – all are welcome.
Rain date: Sunday, October 18.
Workshop at 2pm: Foundational Fertility – Understanding & Optimizing Calcium & Nitrogen in Vegetable GardensPresented by Derek Christianson, Brix Bounty Farm

As we head deeper into the fall, we can take advantage of the “off-season” to set a foundation for healthy crops in the season ahead.  In this workshop we’ll discuss the best options for improving calcium (Ca) levels and availability in garden soils, review the differences between lime and gypsum, and discuss appropriate application rates.  Although it’s not the season to apply nitrogen (N), we’ll also cover the best practices for “catching” nitrogen from this season and carrying N into the next growing season through the use of cover crops and wintertime mulches.

 

2014 Workshop Schedule – ARCHIVE BELOW

Helfand Farm Community Gardens Inc.
Chase Rd. Dartmouth – North of Lucy Little Rd.
[email protected]

HFCG is a non-profit affiliate of Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. Our primary function is to provide garden plots to interested members of all local communities, and excellent, free workshops are one element of our impressive package of accompanying amenities. 

SATURDAY     APRIL 12    9:00am        At The Gardens
GARDEN REAL ESTATE 101 –  PLANT SPACING AND SUCCESSION PLANTING
By Derek Christianson – BRIX BOUNTY FARM

Derek is well known as a local gardening educator and advocate. He is a seasoned speaker, with   tremendous knowledge of his subject, so that a lot of information is offered, but tailored to the audience of the day.

SATURDAY     APRIL 26    9:00am          At The Gardens
BEGINNING GARDENING  +  BUILDING AND MANAGEING COMPOST
By Nicki Anderson – BRIX BOUNTY FARM

Nicki is a highly knowledgeable farmer, with an infectious enthusiasm and a commitment to sharing information.

SATURDAY      MAY 10       9:00am             At The Gardens
HEALTHY STARTS  –  DIRECT SEEDING AND TRANSPLANTING TIPS
By Derek Christianson – BRIX BOUNT FARM

SATURDAY     JUNE 14     9:00am          At The Gardens
TOP NOTCH TOMATOES
By Derek Christianson – BRIX BOUNTY FARM

SATURDAY      JULY 12     9:00am          At The Gardens
GARDEN INSECTS – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
By Lauren Miller – ALLENS POND SANCTUARY, MASS AUDUBON

Lauren is a very knowledgeable, and personable naturalist, with considerable community service and educational experience. This will be an excellent workshop for the whole family, or for focused, individual gardeners.

SATURDAY    JULY 19    9:00am        At The Gardens
REUSING GARDEN  SPACE – SECOND PLANTINGS 
By Nicki Anderson-BRIX BOUNTY FARM

SATURDAY   AUGUST 23     9:00am       At The Grange kitchen, Fisher Rd. Dartmouth
RAW FOODS, FROM THE GARDEN
By Liz Wiley – Round The Bend Farm, Marion Institute

Liz is the program manager at Round The Bend Farm. This was a particularly fun workshop for all ages last year, and will be again.

SATURDAY     SEPTEMBER 20     9:00am      At The Grange kitchen, Fisher Rd. Dartmouth
FOOD PRESERVATION – CANNING
By Shaun Van Laarhoven – Round The Bend Farm, Marion Institute

Shaun is the Head Chef at Round The Bend Farm.

 

Hands-On Gardening Series

Free and Open to the Public

In a separate workshop series, Helfand’s own Renate Oliver,a Certified Master Gardener with abundant teaching and community service experience, will conduct numerous sessions throughout the season. Experienced gardeners can certainly learn from Renate, but she will be especially valuable for beginners. She will identify topics in advance, but will be flexible, jumping forwards and backwards, as needed. This will be a mentoring, practical, dirty-knees series.

Saturday March 29 [rain date Sunday  March 30]           11:00am

Seed Sharing – Bring Extra Seeds

Seed Starting Demonstration – And More – Bring a Lunch

 

Saturday April 12 [rain date Sunday  April 13]                10:30am

Preparing The Plot – Working The Soil – And More – The Garden Has Some Shared Tools.

 

Saturday April 26 [rain date Sunday April 27]                10:30am

Water Conservation – Direct Seeding – And More

Saturday May 24 [rain date Sunday May 25]                    11:00am

Seedling Sharing– Bring Seedlings – Planting Help – And More – Bring a Lunch

 

Later dates to be announced. Topics to include; weeding, mulches, starting fall seedlings and winter preparation.