Midsummer Farm Workshops for 2008!
Classes are taught from a strictly Holistic and Organic standpoint. Class size is kept small to ensure individual attention. Fees include all materials and supplies needed. Children are welcome.
Many classes take place outside in the gardens and are weather-permitting.
Please RSVP and let us know if you plan to join us for an event or workshop so we can be sure to have enough supplies available! 845-986-9699 or info@midsummerfarm.com. See Events page for a list of free farm participation events!
Butterfly Gardening
Sunday 5/18/08, 11 am – 1 pm
With more attention currently being paid to environmental sustainability, the Butterfly Garden is becoming very popular. Ethereal butterflies have always been an integral part of a flower garden, and we would certainly be in a sad state if they should disappear from our gardens. Amazingly enough, just by growing certain plants, we can attract butterflies and encourage them to propagate themselves and flourish within our own yards. We’ll cover designing your own aesthetically pleasing habitat garden for attracting and propagating more than 20 local butterfly species. Course will also fully cover how to grow a variety of butterfly-friendly plants. In the Garden, $30
Herb Gardening – Colonial Dooryard Style
Friday 5/30/08, 1–3 pm
This workshop will delve into a very traditional garden style called the Colonial Dooryard Garden, which is basically a small garden traditionally close to your kitchen door which contains a bit of everything you need to cook wonderful meals - especially fresh herbs and salad greens. It is designed around usefulness. We'll cover all aspects of designing, planning, and planting over 25 types of herbs and many salad greens and
vegetables. Participants will be introduced to
traditional designs and plants, but the main focus will
be on designing a garden to accent everyday meals. In the Garden, $40
Drawing in the Heirloom Garden
Friday 6/13/08, 10 am – 12 noon
These drawing classes are an opportunity to take pencils and pastels into the heirloom garden and focus on what is developing and growing at different times throughout the seasons. Classes are self-directed in nature, and although papers, drawing media, and boards for working on will be provided, you are welcome to bring any media you feel comfortable with. (Note: we do ask that you are careful about dropping or spilling media that could harm the organic ecosystems.)
In the Garden, $30 or take all 4 sessions for $100
Backyard Organic Poultry Rearing Workshop
Saturday 6/14/08, 1–3 pm
For anyone who has dreamed of walking out to your own chicken coop and collecting fresh eggs for breakfast, this course will guide you through starting up your own flock. Chickens are wonderful stewards of the earth; and kept in proper conditions, chickens are valuable assets to the garden, lawn, and compost pile. They also provide backyard joy. They are easy to take care of, are not noisy or smelly, and are an important part of the Organic garden. June is the perfect time to get set up for chickens, and we will have heritage breed chicks available for sale. (Please be sure to check with your town to make sure that chickens are allowed where you live.) In the Garden, $40
Whole Grain Cookery
Friday 6/20/08, 10 am – 12 noon
All the facts on Whole Grains, Carbs, and Your Health. The number one most detrimental element in most American diets today is white flour and simple carbs.
This class will teach you all about the vast and wonderfully tasty, totally fulfilling and satisfying world of complex carbs. We’ll do a bunch of recipes and you’ll take home sample grains to try with your family. In the Farm
Kitchen, $30
Medicine Making with Wild Plants in Your Garden -
by Robin Rose Bennett
Thursday 6/26/08, 6–8 pm
Weeds don’t appear in your garden just to irk you and give you backaches as you pull them out. In fact, they can become some of your most treasured healers! Learn about the wealth of physical and spiritual benefits that common weeds want to provide us with and you will never look at them the same way again! You will be taught how to harvest for medicine and then make an herbal preparation to take home with you. In the Garden, $40
Dark Leafy Greens – The #1 Most Important Missing Ingredient in Diets Today!
Friday 6/27/08, 11 am – 1 pm
Well, the title says it all – As farmers, we have an advantage – we have access to a wide array of the most fresh and delicate dark leafy greens – but as shopping becomes more localized, everyone will be able to find delicious and delicate dark leafy greens to add to their diets. We will demonstrate a wide range of ways to use dark leafy greens of all types. You will leave feeling empowered to live more healthily with a solid collection of great recipes. In the Garden & Farm Kitchen, $30
Gardening for Integrative Health
Saturday 6/28/08, 10 am – 12 noon
Geared both toward encouraging people to garden, and strengthening and broadening current gardeners’ view of gardening for their health. Workshop covers how to make your time in the garden as beneficial to your health as possible. Simple yoga and stretching techniques, sun-appreciation, garden snacking, garden as art, and wonderful nutritional facts will all be covered. In the Garden, $30
Pollinators Workshop
Friday 7/4/08, 11 am – 1 pm
We will explore what you can do to provide a wide variety of pollinators with the environment they need to thrive. Because of overuse of pesticides and development, our pollinator populations are in trouble – but each individual can make a difference in even the smallest garden. We’ll discuss honeybees, bumble bees, mason bees, pollinator wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more. Participants will be invited to order nesting materials and actual native bees. Participants will also learn the basics of keeping honeybees organically. In the Garden, $30
Conscious Eating Workshop - How Do I Include Local, Healthy, Ethical, Sustainable Food in my Diet?
Saturday 7/5/08, 1–3 pm
We will discuss ways to make your eating style more holistic and beneficial to both body and soul. This class will demonstrate simple ways to upgrade your eating habits to power-charge your life, boost your energy and immune system, and be healthier. We will also discuss the ethics of eating and various options that are available for local, ethical eating, focusing on a selection of Super foods that can be grown and eaten seasonally right here in Orange County, NY. In the Garden, $40
Backyard Organic Poultry Rearing
Friday 7/11/08, 11 am – 1 pm
For anyone who has dreamed of walking out to your own chicken coop and collecting fresh eggs for breakfast, this course will guide you through starting up your own flock. Chickens are wonderful stewards of the earth; and kept in proper conditions, chickens are valuable assets to the garden, lawn, and compost pile. They also provide backyard joy. They are easy to take care of, are not noisy or smelly, and are an important part of the Organic garden. We may also have some pullets available for purchase. (Please be sure to check with your town to make sure that chickens are allowed where you live.) In the Garden, $40
Composting & Soil Building
Saturday 7/12/08, 1–3 pm
Soil building is much more than just adding synthetic fertilizer. We'll delve into types of composting, natural amendments, soil testing options, compost teas, and biodynamic preparations and approaches. In the
Garden, $40
What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
Friday 7/18/08, 11 am – 1 pm
A discussion on what sustainable is all about. Class will take place outside at Midsummer Farm and will focus on what makes a farm sustainable, how you can make your own household and garden more sustainable, and some new ideas on where sustainable agriculture is going. In the Garden, $30
Introduction to Biodynamic Gardening and Companion Planting
Saturday 7/19/08, 1–3 pm
Biodynamics add another level of understanding beyond organic. We will go through the major tenants of gardening biodynamically. Companion planting is a part of biodynamics, and is another way to get in better touch with your gardening experience – most of us cannot imagine a planting a tomato patch without the accompaniment of marigolds; tomatoes and marigolds are an example of very traditional companions. Although companion planting is sometimes seen as being somewhat “magical,” there is also much concrete science to many of its partnerships and concepts, and we’ll explore the science as well as the “magic.” In the Garden, $40
Medicine Making with Culinary Plants in Your Garden
by Robin Rose Bennett
Thursday 7/24/08, 6-8 pm
Did you know that in addition to being delicious in our food rosemary is an excellent digestive tonic, basil is anti-depressant, and thyme is a powerful antibacterial for the lungs and bronchia? Come take a tour of the gardens as Robin shares information and wisdom about the profound medicinal and spiritual benefits that some of our most popular “seasonings” provide. You will be taught how to harvest for medicine and then make an herbal preparation to take home with you. In the Garden, $40
Drawing in the Heirloom Garden
Friday 7/25/08, 10 am – about 12 noon
These drawing classes are an opportunity to take pencils and pastels into the heirloom garden and focus on what is developing and growing at different times throughout the seasons. Classes are self-directed in nature, and although papers, drawing media, and boards for working on will be provided, you are welcome to bring any media you feel comfortable with. (Note: we do ask that you are careful about dropping or spilling media that could harm the organic ecosystems.) In the Garden, $30 or take all 4 sessions for $100
Artisanal Farm Pestos and Salsa Verdes
Saturday 8/2/08 – 1–3 pm
Creating Pesto and Salsa Verde is truly an art in the artisanal kitchen. And although we’ll do a great traditional Basil pesto, we also have a whole range of absolutely wonderful and creative mixtures using arugula, parsley, cilantro, lovage, chervil, dandelion, unusual heirloom Italian chicories, and more. All the Pestos and Salsa Verdes we will be making will also be fully balanced
using nuts and seeds and can be thought of as the main course as well as the appetizers. In the Garden & Farm Kitchen, $40
Energizing Workshop for Women
Friday 8/8/08, 10 am – 12 noon
In this day and age, women are expected to take on so many roles. Keeping up with the role changing and expectations can be draining and tiring, leaving many women feeling depressed, over-whelmed, and haggard. Taught by a certified Holistic Health Counselor, this workshop is designed to help guide each participant to a healthier more fulfilling and happier life, by addressing stress, freeing ourselves of emotional responses to expectations, developing healthier eating and lifestyle habits, managing time, and much more. In the Garden & Farm Kitchen, $30
Legumes!!!
Saturday 8/9/08, 1 pm – 3 pm
A strong addition to a healthy diet. Beans are full of antioxidants, phytonutrients, and can even help regulate blood sugar. We’ll demonstrate a variety of great recipes – especially nice for hot summer days. And you’ll learn to love beans! Dry beans, canned beans, fresh string beans, lentils, and sprouts will all be covered. In the Farm Kitchen, $30
Drawing in the Heirloom Garden
Friday 8/22/08, 10 am – 12 noon
These drawing classes are an opportunity to take pencils and pastels into the heirloom garden and focus on what is developing and growing at different times throughout the seasons. Classes are self-directed in nature, and although papers, drawing media, and boards for working on will be provided, you are welcome to bring any media you feel comfortable with. (Note: we do ask that you are careful about dropping or spilling media that could harm the organic ecosystems.) In the Garden, $30 or take all 4 sessions for $100
Soups and Broths
Saturday 8/30/08, 1 pm – 3 pm
One of the healthiest convenience foods is a big pot of minestrone soup or chicken broth full of carrots and escarole. Soups and broths make a hearty breakfast, can travel easily as lunches, and are a satisfying snack food. A big pot of simmering soup on the stove is a great comfort to the home. Learn how to easily make a variety of broths and stocks and take home an exciting collection of soup recipes. In the Farm Kitchen, $40
Tenants of Holistic Dog Rearing
Saturday 9/6/08, 1 pm – 4 pm
This workshop is geared to those people who want the healthiest dog possible. It is holistic health counseling for your canine family member. Class size is limited and well-behaved or at least well-intentioned dogs are encouraged to participate. Class will cover all the basic tenants of holistic dog rearing – we will go over diet, dog food options, vaccination options, heart worm and parasite options, supplementation, flower remedies, herbs, and more. You’ll go home with a good grasp of where you want to start your holistic journey with your dog. In the Garden, $60
Drawing in the Heirloom Garden
Friday 9/12/08, 10 am – 12 noon
These drawing classes are an opportunity to take pencils and pastels into the heirloom garden and focus on what is developing and growing at different times throughout the seasons. Classes are self-directed in nature, and although papers, drawing media, and boards for working on will be provided, you are welcome to bring any media you feel comfortable with. (Note: we do ask that you are careful about dropping or spilling media that could harm the organic ecosystems.) In the Garden, $30 or take all 4 sessions for $100
Are You Suffering from Sugar Blues?
Saturday 9/13/08, 1–3 pm
If you feel cloudy, drained, easily angered, fuzzy-headed, or just not right – this class is important for you. Our society consumes way too much sugar and it is affecting both our bodies and brains in degenerative ways. This workshop will cover the effects of sugar consumption as well as ways to fight sugar addiction, including a variety of great snack ideas. In the Farm Kitchen, $30
