Vermont Farmers Food Center and Slate Valley Community Action Network in partnership with Rutland Rec and Come Alive Outside present:
Rutland area summer educational workshop series
- 2nd and 4th Mondays, May – October *except for three Wednesdays @ Godnick Center/VFFC
- Sessions start at 5 pm and will last 1 - 1.5 hours
- Registration through Rutland Rec
- No charge, donations accepte
Register Here
Monday, May 8th 5 PM: Seed starting with Boardman Hill’s Greg Cox @ VFFC Rotary Greenhouse
To some, starting seeds seems intimidating. However, with some simple techniques and inexpensive supplies, starting seeds can be transformed into an empowering and even mystical experience. Join us May 8th from 5:00 PM at the VFFC Educational Greenhouse for an evening exploring the art of seed starting. Greg Cox will guide us through the fundamentals of sourcing and selecting the best seeds, the tools, and materials necessary to grow strong, hardy seedlings, along with the best practices gleaned over his decades of growing locally.
3 people min, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook and water
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West Street, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, May 22nd 5PM: Early spring greens - how to make delicious salads with VFFC’s Grace Davy @ VFFC Rotary Greenhouse
As spring blossoms all around us and growers get their seeds and plants in the ground there are already abundant greens being grown by farmers in our local greenhouses. Join us Monday, May 22 at 5 p.m. at the VFFC Educational Greenhouse on West Street to familiarize yourself with some of the more unusual market greens, and new ways to enjoy classics like spinach. This workshop will also include hands-on chopping, and all participants will be asked to wash hands before we start. Grace Davy will harvest greens from our greenhouse and share delicious recipes to enjoy all summer long. Please let us know if you have any allergies. Open to all ages!
3 people min, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook, water bottle, and reusable food packaging/containers
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West Street, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, June 12th 5 PM: Ready, Set, Grow! with Boardman Hill’s Greg Cox at VFFC Rotary Greenhouse
The growing season is in full swing but if you don’t have any plants in the ground yet, don’t worry, you haven’t missed the boat completely! If you have some garden space still left or unfilled pots there are still many vegetables that can be put in the ground to be enjoyed in both summer and fall. Join us June 12th from 5:00 PM at the VFFC Educational Greenhouse for an evening dedicated to getting to the finish line with growing some later season plants. Greg Cox will guide us through best practices for mid summer planting and go over transplants versus direct seeding at this time of year and techniques to make sure your plants produce their best fruit.
3 people min, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook, water and any seeds or transplants from home
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West Street, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, June 26th 5 PM: Agricultural history walk with Boardman Hill’s Greg Cox and in partnership with Come Alive Outside
Join us June 26th at 5:00 PM to learn about the agricultural and industrial history that has helped shape Rutland county with Boardman Hill’s Greg Cox . This tour will be approximately a half mile walk starting at the site of the Rutland Area Farmers Market in Depot Park downtown, onto Grove Street and then turning left to head to the greenhouse at the Vermont Farmers Food Center centered on the previous site of the Lincoln Iron Works, a slice of our industrial history here in the center of the state. The walk coincides with Come Alive Outside’s summer programs and is a great way to stretch your legs and learn more about the place we call home!
3 people min, 20 people maximum
Bring notebook, water, good walking shoes
Depot Park, 49 Evelyn Street, Rutland VT to Vermont Farmers Food Center, 251 West St, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, July 10th 5 PM: Permaculture principles in Action with Jeffrey Jackson of Slate Valley Community Action Network, Fair Haven
Join us July 10th at 5:00 PM for an evening exploring Permaculture Principles in Action with local designer Jeffrey Jackson. Participants will enjoy an onsite tour of a budding homestead using the creative, whole systems thinking derived from the ethics and principles of the Permaculture design process. Discussions will be held on basic earthworks, working with succession, and the importance of wild-scapes, as well as any other subjects participants would like to explore including keyline design, designing for children, and functional water catchment systems. Community potluck to follow for those interested.
3 people minimum, 25 people maximum
Bring notebook, water, and a dish to share
Jeffrey Jackson’s Homestead, 68 Eagle Lake Dr. Fair Haven, VT 05743
Register Here
Monday, July 24th 5PM: Wild edible plants tour and share with VFFC’s Emma Hileman at Bald Mountain Trail with Come Alive Outside
Have you always had an interest in some of the plants growing around you as you walk trails and paths in Rutland and the surrounding areas? Would you like to be able to harvest some wild edibles and feel more confident in your ability to identify those plants that are nutritious and delicious? Join us Monday, July 24th at 5 PM at the Bald Mountain Trailhead in the Aitken State Forest to take a hike back in the woods with VFFC’s Program Director Emma Hileman, an avid hiker and lover of wild edibles, for an intro session into wild edibles and learn more about what our trails have to offer besides recreation. This is an advanced level hike of just over 4 miles with elevation gain. This hike coincides with Come Alive Outside’s summer programs. A picture print out will be given to all participants with common wild edibles in the area.
3 people minimum, 9 people maximum
Bring notebook, water bottle with water, a basket or container for picking, and good hiking or walking shoes.
Bald Mountain Trailhead, Aitken State Forest, Notch Road just past the intersection of Wheelerville Rd, Mendon, VT
Register Here
*Wednesday, August 16th 5 PM: Utilizing your backyard garden, Intro to preserving the bounty! with VFFC’s Grace Davy @ the Godnick Center
Are you a home gardener looking for more ideas of how to preserve your bounty for winter? Do you want to learn more about dehydrating and other preservation techniques? Join us Wednesday, August 16th at 5:00 PM at the Godnick Center to learn some easy and accessible preservation tips for all kinds of produce with Grace Davy, Community Engagement Coordinator at VFFC. This will be an interactive workshop and creative learning environment. Please feel free to bring your own harvest to process.
3 people min, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook, water bottle, reusable food packaging/containers, and an apron if you have one
Godnick Adult Center, 1 Deer Street, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, August 28th 5 PM: Who's eating my plants? A pests workshop with Boardman Hill’s Greg Cox @ Boardman Hill Farm in West Rutland
Have you gotten all your plants into the ground and then realized you aren’t the only one eating the tasty leaves? Do you wonder what kind of smaller organisms are out there enjoying your fruits and veggies and how best to manage them? Join us Monday, August 28th at Boardman Hill Farm in West Rutland to learn from VFFC’s Greg Cox just who these pests are, why they are there and best techniques for keeping your plants safe without the use of harmful pesticides. Community potluck to follow for those interested.
5 people minimum, 25 people maximum
Bring notebook, water, and dish to pass if wanted
Boardman Hill Farm, 1030 Boardman Hill Rd, West Rutland, VT
Register Here
*Wednesday, September 13th 5 PM: Canning 101 - How to eat delicious veggies all year long with VFFC’s Grace Davy @ the Godnick Center
Do you have so many tomatoes in your garden you don’t know what to do with them? Do you see so much zucchini these days you can’t eat another one? Have you always wanted to know what delicious creations you would be able to can and eat during the winter months? Join us Wednesday, September 13th at 5:00 PM at the Godnick Center to learn the basics of canning with Grace Davy, Community Engagement Coordinator at VFFC. This will be an interactive workshop.
3 people minimum, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook, water and apron if you have one
Godnick Adult Center, 1 Deer Street, Rutland VT
Register Here
Monday, September 25th 5 PM: Green malt bread, what is it and how can you make it? with Lisa Nichols from the Brattleboro Food Co-op @ VFFC Rotary Greenhouse
How would you like to bite into a nice crusty loaf of gluten-free sourdough bread? With a starter and ancient grain preparation techniques, you can make your own 100% whole grain bread using a variety of combinations of freshly sprouted (“green malt”) brown rice, buckwheat, teff, millet, sorghum, wild rice, amaranth, and quinoa. Come learn how to start a green malt brown rice starter from scratch, sprout grains, and make flatbread, tortillas, and, of course, bread! Join Lisa Nichols from the Brattleboro Food Cooperative at the VFFC Rotary Greenhouse at 5 pm, Monday September 25th. Samples will be available for tasting. This class builds resilience: when we know how to make bread from any grain we can grow, while nurturing your health, we are better prepared for the future.
5 people minimum, 15 people maximum
Bring notebook, water and questions!
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West Street, Rutland, VT
Register Here
*Wednesday, October 11th 5PM: Fermentation basics for extending your harvest with the VT Foodbank’s Jamie Lombardo @ the Vermont Farmers Food Center’s Rotary Greenhouse
Curious how to extend your fall bounty with fermentation? Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of preserving foods! Join us Wednesday, October 11th at 5 PM to learn the basics of lactic acid fermentation for your home kitchen. This is the most common form of fermentation and can be used for everything from pickles to sauerkraut. Each participant will leave with a started ferment and a greater knowledge of this technique for preserving the harvest.
3 people minimum, 15 people maximum
Bring notebook, water bottle and extra mason jars if you have them
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West St, Rutland, VT
Register Here
Monday, October 23rd 5 PM: Fall salads - how to get the most out of your late season greens! With Vffc’s Grace Davy @ VFFC’s Rotary Greenhouse
As fall starts to settle in for good and winter is near, how do you get the most out of the greens that may still be left in the garden or available at the farmers market? Join us Monday, October 23rd a 5:00 PM at the VFFC Educational Greenhouse West St for some entree salad ideas, and more recipes for casseroles and soups. Grace Davy will have greens on hand and some tasty recipes to put in your pocket to maximize nutrition all fall long!
3 people minimum, 10 people maximum
Bring notebook, and water bottle and reusable food packaging/containers
Vermont Farmers Food Center Rotary Greenhouse, 251 West Street, Rutland, VT