Nepalese and Bhutanese Vertical Growing Techniques: Maximizing Space Workshop

We had such an enthusiastic group attend our 2nd Guest Speaker Series Event earlier this month! Attendees learned how to properly build a Tangra, a repurposed wooden structure, that does wonders in vertical growing techniques.

This workshop was particularly special because we had one of our very own Sycamore Community gardener families lead this entire workshop!

Thank you so much to Purna, Meena and Heera for all of your efforts to make this workshop such a success! It was fantastic to have your expertise in this hands-on, collaborative workshop. Thank you!! धन्यवाद Dhanyabād!

Conversations also allowed opportunities to share cross-cultural information on culinary and medicinal uses for bitter melon करेला Karela and to spend time together in the garden. We are so grateful to everyone that was able to attend. We look forward to future workshop - SCG gardener collaborations in the future! Reminder: We want to make sure all workshops and future events are as accessible to everyone, and we know that cost has a factor in individuals being able to attend or not. These events are all free to the public, individuals may send in donations if they so choose.

This event has been made possible by sponsor: The Walker Lecture Fund.

Grant Recipient from New England Grassroots Environment Fund

Woohoo! We are so grateful and honored to have recently received a $4,000 grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund! This grant will make a lasting impact for our newly installed Shared Learning Garden. As we look ahead to the 2024 season, these funds will be crucial to purchase various materials and tools needed to make this space continue to thrive. Every grant and donation makes a difference, and we are truly looking forward to seeing how we will continue to grow at SCG!

About the New England Grassroots Environment Fund

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund, "Grass Roots Fund, energizes and nurtures long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and sustainable communities using stories, tools and dollars to fuel local activism and social change. Since 1996, the Grassroots Fund’s core grant-making program continues to fund nearly 150 grants annually, giving more than $4 million in 20 years to more than 2,000 community groups and initiatives covering more than 60 percent of New England’s cities and towns. For more information, please visit grassrootsfund.org or call 603-905-9915.

Abenaki Traditional Farming Techniques: The Three Sisters Workshop

We are SO grateful to have had a great turnout at our first-ever Guest Speaker Series event earlier this summer! Thank you to our guest speaker, Jess Stone, who led our Abenaki Seeds Workshop! Such a special group showed up to prep and plant Rose Flint Corn. Stories and blessings were shared. Thank you to all who were able to make it!

Participants had the opportunity to assist with preparing the soil and planting culturally relevant seeds (corn, beans, and squash) for a traditional Three Sisters Companion planting. The beans and squash were planted at a later date once the corn grew tall enough. With such a rainy and unpredictable growing season, we had to wait over a month for planting #2 to be ready to go!

At this workshop, conversations led to discussions about the Abenaki people and why the Three Sisters are valued. It was a great community engagement opportunity to collaborate with local community members.

We are excited to later donate 50% of the harvest to Abenaki Helping Abenaki Food Bank.

We want to make sure all workshops and future events are as accessible to everyone, and we know that cost has a factor in individuals being able to attend or not. These events are all free to the public, individuals may send in donations if they so choose.

This event has been made possible by sponsor: The Walker Lecture Fund. The seeds have been donated from the Abenaki Seeds Project.

Thank you for your continued support in our new venture at SCG! If you were not able to attend, we are looking forward to hosting another similar workshop next year! We hope to see you all there!