There is something for everyone- whether you farm, garden, or just love hobbies and DIY! Perfect for the food lover and outdoor enthusiast alike!
Rodale Institute is excited to announce our 2016 lineup of engaging workshops! Come out to our 333-acre organic farm and research institute to learn a new skill like beekeeping, keeping backyard chickens, organic gardening, or how to preserve food or make herbal skincare products. Each workshop is led by an expert in their field and include interactive education and hand-on projects. To register for a workshop, or for more information, please visit rodaleinstitute.org.
Future Workshops Include:
Backyard Maple Sugaring
February 20, 10 AM- 1 PM
This workshop will teach participants how to make their own maple syrup. Workshop includes instruction on tree selection, tapping trees, processing sap, and trouble shooting. We will discuss the history of maple syrup and its health benefits. Attendees will be able to sample different types of maple syrup.
Backyard Organic Gardening
February 27, 10 AM- 1 PM
This class will cover the best practices for starting your plants in a greenhouse, cold frame or a windowsill. You will learn about equipment, containers for indoor seed starting, soil and seed starting mixes, grow lights and watering schedules, transplanting and how to care for your young plants so you can enjoy a bountiful summer harvest.
Herbal Gardens
March 5, 10 AM- 1 PM
For thousands of years, people have been using herbal medicinal preparations made from their backyard gardens or the wild. Join us to learn about the benefits of using herbs and how easy it is to grow them in your backyard. Our instructors will address how to select the location of your garden, species and their specific requirements for growing, plant care, how to handle disease and pests and harvesting techniques.
Apple Tree Pruning
March 12, 10 AM- 1 PM
Fruit trees should be pruned every winter to ensure a good crop of fruit the following season. Join our experts to find the answers to when and how, and what tools work best for the job. Then walk into our apple orchard and practice your newly acquired skills. Everyone takes home a package of information and a list of valuable resources for future reference.
Backyard Composting
March 19, 10 AM- 1 PM
This class will provide all participants with the knowledge and skills to begin composting effectively in their backyard, quickly identify and troubleshoot compost problems when they arise, and harvest and use finished compost in the garden for improving plant growth.
Growing with Healthy Soil Biology
April 1, 9 AM- 5 PM
April 2, 9 AM- 12 PM
Healthy soil provides a foundation for all agricultural production systems, and regenerative practices are used to build and strengthen that foundation. This 1.5- day workshop is designed to explain the relationships between soil biology, healthy soil and the roles of management practices in soil health.
Plant Science for Gardeners
April 2, 10 AM- 1 PM
Ever wonder how plants work? Need to understand a bit more about plant science to make your garden thrive? Interested in the ancient technique of plant grafting as applied to the modern vegetable garden? Want to wow your neighbors with your own specialty grafted tomato plants? This workshop is for you!
Compost Teas and Extracts
April 16, 10 AM- 1 PM
Liquid compost materials have gone by several different names over the years: teas, extracts, slurries, etc. These products can be a viable alternative for plant production when solid compost is not an option. Join our Compost Production Specialist Rick Carr for his Compost Teas and Extracts workshop that will provide participants with practical knowledge to begin making and using liquid compost formulations.
Keeping Backyard Chickens
April 23, 10 AM- 1 PM
Want to have chickens in your backyard and collect fresh eggs every day? Come see our chicken operation and find out how easy it is to start your own. We will talk about cost, breeds, housing options, how to feed and keep them healthy, and some challenges with predators.
Hobby Beekeeping
April 30 and May 1, 9 AM- 4 PM
This two-day class will teach healthy practices for honeybee stewardship. Participants will learn about honeybee biology and behavior, colony management and equipment, pests and diseases, and bee laws. Sessions will include lectures, a hands-on workshop on honeybee pests, field work in the apiary, and questions and answers sessions.
Pastured Hogs
May 7, 12- 5 PM
Rodale Institute has partnered with The Fertrell Company and Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) to hold a field day for farmers focusing on integrating a pastured swine enterprise into the farm operation and will highlight swine nutrition on pasture.
Build Your Own Rain Barrel
May 14, 10 AM- 1 PM
This workshop will discuss the benefits of rain barrels for both self-sufficiency and water conservation. It will also focus on areas of installation and maintenance for different types of rain water harvesting systems. The workshop includes hands-on construction of a rain barrel that attendees will take home.
Vermicomposting
June 4, 10 AM- 1 PM
Learn about vermicomposting, a.k.a. worm composting. Vermicomposting uses red wiggler worms to breakdown, digest, and transform organic material into a valuable plant amendment.
Soil Biology for Gardeners
June 11, 10 AM- 1 PM
Do you ever wonder what the term “healthy soil” really means? Come spend time with the Institute’s soil research staff and learn more about what’s REALLY going on under your feet (and all around your plants’ roots). This workshop will give you a hands-on understanding of what makes good soil great and techniques to make your plants happier and healthier than ever before.
Vertical Gardening
June 25, 10 AM- 1 PM
Urban gardening is constrained by space and resources. In locations where there is limited room, vertical gardening becomes an attractive alternative. Join this class to review soil safety concerns associated with urban plant production and how they can be avoided, vertical gardening options and technologies, choosing the right plants and simple plant production techniques for growing safe and healthy plants.
Preserving the Harvest
August 20, 10 AM- 1 PM
Summer is abundant! Sometimes the season is more productive than we can handle all at once. As a home gardener or just a savvy summer shopper, you can learn how to preserve the taste of summer for colder months rather than wasting the harvest. Food preservation can be simple and safe with a few easy tips and recipes. Join us and learn how to simmer, sauce, can, pickle and freeze your harvest now, for a little bit of sunshine this winter.
Growing with Healthy Soil Biology
August 26, 9 AM- 5 PM
August 27, 9 AM- 12 PM
Healthy soil provides a foundation for all agricultural production systems, and regenerative practices are used to build and strengthen that foundation. This 1.5- day workshop is designed to explain the relationships between soil biology, healthy soil and the roles of management practices in soil health.
Herbal Preparations
August 27, 10 AM- 4 PM
Herbs are essential for supporting healthy skin. Topical herbal preparations like herb-infused oils, salves, and balms are also fun to make! In this hands-on class you will learn how to make gorgeous herbal skincare products. You will learn how these herbs heal and nourish the skin, how to identify and choose the best ones, the right time to harvest them, and how to use them.
To learn about other events at Rodale Institute, such as the 8th Annual Organic Apple Festival, Organic Pioneer Awards, organic plant sales, farm to table dinners, events at our Garden Store and our 2016 Annual Field Day, please visit http://rodaleinstitute.org/visit/calendar-of-events/ or reach out to the media contact listed below.
Information Provided By:
Diana Martin
Director of Communications, Rodale Institute
611 Siegfriedale Road
Kutztown, PA 19530-9320 USA
Email: Diana.Martin@RodaleInstitute.org
Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach. For more than sixty years, we’ve been researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing our findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest option for people and the planet.
