Spring 2012 Adult Programs

 

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Community Events

 

BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES

Come and discuss titles related to sustainable living in a mutually supportive and encouraging atmosphere. Join us for all five thought-provoking sessions, or select a discussion or two of particular interest.

 

When: Wednesdays

Time: 7:30 - 9 pm  

 

March 14
The Nature Priciple: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv

 

The immediacy of Richard Louv's message in "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" galvanized an international movement to reconnect children with nature. Now, in "The Nature Principle", Louv reaches even further with a powerfull call to action for the rest of us.
Our society, says Louv, has developed such an outsized faith in technology that we have yet to fully realize or even adequately study how human capacities are enhanced through the power of nature. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv shows us how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural work can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities and economies; and ultimately strenghten human bonds. As he says in his introduction, "The Nature Principle" is about the power of living in nature - not with it, but in it. We are entering the most creative period in history. The twenty-first century will be the century of human restoration in the natural world."

Rich Louv makes a convincing case that through a nature-balanced existence - driven by sound economic, social, and environmental solutions - the human race can and will thrive. This timely, inspiring, and important work will give readers renewed hope while challenging them to rethink the way we live.

 

April 11
Silent Spring , by Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" was first published in three serialized excerpts in the "New Yorker" in June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson's passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century. Join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of this great work.

 

May 16
Food Fight: The Citizen's Guide to a Food and Farm Bill , by Daniel Imhoff

Every five years, the U.S. Congress passes a little understood legislation called the Farm Bill. Primarily accountable for setting the budgets and work plans for the U.S.Department of Agriculture, the Farm Bill is anything but bureaucratic trivia. It is an essential economic and policy engine that drives the food and farming system and provides nutritional assistance to tens of millions of Americans - many of them children. In recent years, more and more citizens are realizing just how much is at stake in this political chess game.

Originally published in 2007, "Food Fight" was Daniel Imhoff's highly acclaimed primer on the 2008 Farm Bill. Now in a newly updated and expanded edition, Imhoff looks ahead at this important issue, as the debate for 2012 is already underway. With the legislation due to be reauthorized in late 2012, "Food Fight" offers a critical resource that can help readers to deconstruct this challenging bill, organize in our communities to gain a seat at the bargaining table, and ultimately vote with our forks.

Includes a foreword by Michael Pollen.

 

 

When: Wednesdays

Time: 7:30 - 9 pm   

Fee: Free! Please call at 508-655-7666 to pre-register
Facilitator: Melissa Kenny Probst, NCOF member and radical homemaker

Please call the Farm at 508-655-7666 or send an e-mail to Regina to pre-register!

 


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Classes and Workshops

 

de-tox program for optimal health - Cleanse, Nurture, Revive
One of the most important steps we can take to immediately improve our overall health is to detoxify our bodies. We are exposed to an enormous amount of toxins daily from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. As a result, we increase our chances of manifesting diseases such as cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, ADHD, ADD, and autoimmune disease. Cleanse your body by removing toxins and strenthening the organs involved in the body's detoxification process. Nurture and revive your body systems by eating an abundance of healthy foods. Whether your goal is to eat better, reduce stress, reduce choloesterol, lose those extra pounds, or lessen your risk of disease, we will examine how the foods we eat impoact our health and well being.
What have we got to lose? Just excess weight and toxins!
Program components: De-tox Book, Three educational meetings, Daily e-mail inspiration, Support throughout the de-tox.
When: Thursday, March 8 (Natural Health Seminar), March 15 (De-Tox Kick-off) and March 22 (mid point Support/Discussion)
Time: 7-8:30 pm
Fee: $45 if registered by March 12
To register please call 508-333-1202, no registration through NCOF (sorry, no member prices)
Instructors: The Wellness Advisory Group, Linda Tighe

BEE KEEPING: BUILDING A LANGSTROH HIVE
This workshop is about building various parts of a hive the right way.

Assembling Hive bodies for strength and durability; Putting together an Outer Cover (almost) from scratch; Transforming a solid Bottom Board in a Screened Bottom Board; and most important, 'squaritoff' frame building and wiring. Some parts will be pre-purchased un-assembled, other will be 'home-made'. Possibility to buy some material after the workshop.
When: Tuesday, April 10
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Fee: $45 NM/ $40 M
Instructor: Jean Claude Bourrut-Lacouture, Assistant Director of NCOF

 

cheese making for beginners
In this class we will be making Panir (also known as Queso Blanco), Mozzarella and Ricotta. Panir is a versatile cheese that can be made with ingredients found in any home kitchen. The 30 minute mozzarella recipe we will be using utilizes common cheese making ingredients and a microwave oven. Our end result will be a tasty Mozzarella cheese, made in minutes! Whey is a bi-product of the cheese making process. We will learn how to maximize our yield using whey as a starter to make Ricotta. We will also discuss how to make Chevre, a simple soft cheese you will be able to make at home with the techniques discussed in this class. At the conclusion of the class we will sample the cheeses we have made. Every participant will take home a cheese-making-kit to make Chevre.

When: Saturday, May 5

Time: 2 - 4 p.m.

Fee: $40 NM/$36 M

Instructor: Lee Smith, homesteader from Holliston

 

NM = Non member
M = Member                                                                          


Register Now!                                                                         

To check on your membership status please send an e-mail to rfritz.ncorganic@verizon.net

If you would like to become a member or would like to renew your membership you can do so at the same time you sign up for a program.