Williamstown - STARTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN

The “In My Backyard” collaboration offers the following garden-related events, each specifically intended to involve community members in fun and productive work toward diminishing our carbon outputs:

April 2 – COOL Williamstown Launch/Composting Workshop

(10-11:30 am ) Free and open to all. First Congregational Church, Williamstown

April 7 – Introduction to Backyard Gardening and Guided Vegetable Garden Tour (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) Free and open to all.  First Congregational Church, 906 Main St, Williamstown.  Refreshments will be served.

START YOUR OWN VEGETABLE GARDEN

FIVE Saturdays April 16^th – May 28^th, 3:00 – 4:30pm

 Registration required and space is limited. $60 fee (see all of what you get below for your 60 bucks)

See http://coolwilliamstown.org/ to register.  Classes held at First Congregational Church, Williamstown as well as individual gardening sites. Instructor: Linda Wagner.

A limited number of novice gardeners may register to attend five gardening workshops that will provide instruction and mentoring to gardeners.  Workshops include how to site, dig and plant a 4' x  8' sustainable bio-intensive vegetable garden. Compost, seeds, seedlings and a gardening primer will be available for workshop participants. Hands-on work sessions will help each household establish and plant their own and each others’ gardens. Follow up site visits from the instructor and "garden mentors" for support and advice is included.  A model garden will be located at the First Congregational Church of Williamstown.

"First Church, at the head of Spring Street, is a visible venue for a demonstration garden," notes Lauren Stevens, a church member. "The garden will be a teaching tool for the workshops and an inspiration to the community." The harvest from the garden will be donated to local food pantries through the Williams College Zilkha Center.

COOL Committee organizer, Wendy Penner adds, “this first year is really a pilot project that intends to build the collaborative ties of these organizations.  We are excited to be offering programs about gardening, composting and steps toward energy reduction that help develop healthy living habits.  We are all going to be learning along the way so we will post reports in community outlets and keep people apprised of our progress.”

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/61642052@N06 

Other community organizations collaborating on the “In My Backyard” campaign include Williams College Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, Center for Ecological Technology, Williams College for Environmental Studies, Northern Berkshire Transition Towns and Wild Oats Community Market.