The Middlesex County Beekeepers Association is offering a 5 week course in the basics of beekeeping which is designed to interest not only seasoned beekeepers but those individuals interested in starting this fascinating hobby.  You will learn the latest techniques of helping beehives survive mites, disease, and a Middlesex County winter.  You will also learn about  beekeeping equipment, hive management, buying and installing bees into a hive, where to place a hive, and harvesting honey, propolis and beeswax.  A sixth class will be held in the field and we will open an overwintered hive – time and date TBD.  Your registration fee includes a text on beekeeping, Keeping Honey Beesby Malcolm Sanford and Richard Bonney.

Class size is limited to 20 students.

Rick is the President of the Middlesex County Beekeepers Association and Owner of New England Beekeeping.

The class meets 5 Wednesdays, beginning on February 2, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the farm:  Codman Farm, 58 Codman Road, Lincoln MA.  There will be a sixth class, date and time to be announced.

Cost for this class is $90 for farm members and $110 for non-members.  Sign up online here or send your payment to:

Codman Community Farms, 58 Codman Road, Lincoln MA 01773

Questions:  info@codmanfarm.org or 781-259-0456.

This is a 20 week share from Wednesday January 5 until May 18th.
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There are 2 share sizes:
A small share feeds 1-2 adults or a family with small children, who cook at least 3-4 times per week.  For the 20 week season, January 5th until May 18th, it’s $575.
A large share feeds a family of 4 or 2 adult vegetarians who cook at home at least 3-4 times per week. For the 20 week season, January 5th until May 18th, it’s $775.

To sign up or for more information email farmshare@enterpriseproduce.com.

The talk is an introduction to a five-session course on Nutrient Dense Crop Production that will be held at Jones Farm in Chelmsford, located at 246 Acton Road (Route 27).

The course runs from 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. on Sundays: January 9, February 20, April 17, June 19, and August 28. It will be taught by Kittredge in a classroom-style setting, with discussions and hands-on practice and demonstration in the field. In 2011, the same course will be offered in seven other locations all over the Northeast, including two other courses in Massachusetts: at Brix Bounty Farm in Dartmouth and at Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst.

“The approach that I teach in my courses helps to integrate scientific principles in simple, common sense ways that empower growers to significantly improve their crops. For me, it’s about looking at food and plants in a new way – providing the ideal environment for a plant’s genetic potential to manifest itself,” said Kittredge.

Local farmer, Phil Jones, who is hosting the course, says he learned about these innovative methods from Kittredge. “I’ve farmed most of my life organically, and since I started working with the nutrient density approach one year ago, my understanding of the way crops and soil work together has never been so clear to me. Since I started implementing these principles on my farm, I’ve seen a tremendous increase in the flavor and yield of my crops as well as a decrease in pests and disease. I know I can produce a lot more food of superior quality on the same land, and it makes me feel very hopeful for the future of farming,” said Jones.

The price for course registration is $300 and it includes twice monthly newsletters and comprehensive soil test analysis & consultation with Kittredge. The newsletter includes a calendar with year-round prompts for actions that integrate different practices for ideal results, information on plant concoctions and sprays to facilitate specific growth and development attributes, and charts, graphs and audio links to presentations, articles and supplementary reading options and answers to FAQs.

As a reminder, we are raising $9000 to build a new fence for our cattle pasture here on the farm.  During the summer, our cows have ended up going through rotted fence parts and visiting other parts of town.  We’d like to keep our neighbors happy and our cows even happier, by building them a safe place to graze.  Please join in supporting this effort by donating here.  A gift of $500 gets you a plaque on the fence.  If you have any questions, please contact Jen James at 781-259-0456 or jen@codmanfarm.org.

Thank you for supporting the farm in the heart of Lincoln!

Come down to the farm this Sunday, October 3rd, 2pm to 5pm for a family event.  We’ve partnered with T.W. Foods in Cambridge, to have an old-fashioned pig roast with tasty fixin’s.

The Dirt Naps, a local bluegrass band, will be playing for us while we hang out on the farm.

Just $5 per family –this afternoon promises to be fun for everyone.

Seating is limited–you must sign up in advance by e-mailing Jen (jen@codmanfarm.org) or calling her at 781-259-0456.

This event is rain or shine–see you there!

The Harvest Feast, Friday from 6pm to 10pm,  is a “welcome back” for the adults–a feast to celebrate another successful season at Codman Community Farms.  Local food will be featured on the menu.  You’ll have a great meal in the barn and support the farm at the same time!

Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Purchase tickets now!

The Harvest Fair, on Saturday, 9/25 is fun for the whole family!  We have games for everyone, good food from Redbones and fun events throughout the day.  Join us for live music, a blacksmithing demonstration, games, cakewalk, craft fair, produce and craft competitions, and a Rooster Run race for kids.

Tickets are free for members/$10 for non-members ($5 per child)

Cape Ann Fresh Catch, a Community Supported Fishery based out of Gloucester MA, is starting a new round of deliveries in Lincoln at Codman Community Farms! The first delivery for this new season will be Wednesday, August 11 so anyone interested in purchasing the highest quality, locally harvested seafood can become a member of this program by signing up NOW!
Community Supported Fishery programs like Cape Ann Fresh Catch are not just about providing consumers with the freshest seafood available.  While we do provide just such a product, our shareholders more importantly get to play a part in keeping community-based, environmentally-minded fishermen in business. Fishing for a living has always been tough, and it’s no secret that increasing restrictions on fishermen are tearing apart the fabric of the oldest fishing port in America. CAFC works to alleviate these hardships by providing fishermen with financial support and giving them new opportunities to directly connect to their consumers.  Furthermore, our fish is healthy fish: healthy for you and healthy for the environment. All of our fishermen are small-scale, community based fishermen who have actively practiced stewardship with the sea for generations.  Most importantly, CAFC provides a forum for an open discussion about the importance of buying local, protecting the ocean, making healthy food choices, and supporting one of New England’s oldest industries: community-based fishing.  Ideally, we would like to be able to expand the number of fishermen we work with- but we can only do that with the help and support of new sharemembers.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of this great opportunity should visit www.capeannfreshcatch.org and sign up today.  And be sure to tell your friends!

Here’s the details:

Codman Community Farms is a working farm in Lincoln, MA, that also teaches children and adults about  agriculture.  We raise cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens and grow hay on over 130 acres in town.  Open seven days a week to the public, Codman Community Farms also has community gardens, with over 130 gardeners.

Codman Community Farms in Lincoln, MA is seeking a hardworking, detail-oriented individual to be our Assistant Farm Manager.

The Assistant Farm Manager will:

• interact with community members and volunteers to deliver formal and informal farm-based education
• assist in managing the day to day life at the farm (animal care, hay harvesting, general farm work, equipment maintenance)
• work with staff to operate a financially sustainable farm-based non-profit organization

Compensation includes housing, individual health insurance and salary.

To receive a full job description, please e-mail jen@codmanfarm.org

To apply, please send a cover letter and a resume to:  Jen James, Farm Director at either jen@codmanfarm.org or:

Codman Community Farms

58 Codman Road

Lincoln MA 01773

On the farm, we’ll have some antique tractors, food, music,  and hayrides.

We’ve partnered with the Codman Estate, who are holding their annual Antique and Historic Vehicle Show.  They will have over 200 cars and trucks on site.  There will be music, food, and family activities at Codman Estate.

Farm members get in to both shows for free!  Admission for non-members is $5.

Clay Workshop for Children 9-14 Years Old

Saturday, July 10th  from 12 PM—2 PM  & July 24  from 10 AM– 4 PM

$80
Patronus and guardian figures are our protectors.  In this two day class students will create, decorate and fire a patronus or guardian of their own choosing.  On day one we will use our imaginations to visualize the patronus or guardian each student would like to make.  Using pinch pots, coils and other clay techniques we will assemble the patronus or guardian figure and decorate it with colored slips.  On day two we will continue the decorative process in readying the pieces for firing.  Children will participate in and learn about the process of pit firing clay.

Sign up!

Codman’s Animals: Parent and Child Collaborations
One Day Workshop for Parents/Adults and Children 5-8 years

Sunday, July 11th    9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

$45 per child/parent pair

In this one session workshop, the Codman teacher will guide and instruct parent/adult and child pairs as you work together in clay.  Make a bowl and decorate it with your favorite farm animal.  The work will be fired and returned in three to four weeks.  Materials are included.

Sign up!

Ancient Traditions in Clay: Raku and Pit Firing Workshop

Sunday, July 11th     2:30 PM—5:30 PM  &  August 8th  10 AM—4 PM

$150

In this two day workshop will explore two quick low fire approaches to ceramic firing.  If you like fire, smoke and beautiful surfaces this is the workshop for you. The participant doesn’t have to have prior clay experience and will be guided in a series of exercises in clay.  Using pinch, coil and slab techniques, we will create sculptural and ceremonial forms to celebrate and draw upon the mysteries of fire and smoke.
Day One: Making the works of clay
Day Two: Glazing and firing the pieces in the raku and pit kilns

Please note: raku and pit fired pottery is not food-safe but is beautifully suited to decorative work.

Sign up now!

About the instructor:  David LaPierre has been working in clay for more than 30 years. He received his BFA from the University of Connecticut. His claywork is both wheelthrown and sculptural, using porcelain and stoneware. His work was included in the juried show The State of Clay, 2009 and at the Harrison Ave Open Studios.  David has been a faculty member at Mudflat Studio Pottery School for over 10 years.