2022 Skillshare Offerings
To have more JOY in our lives this year, we’re offering a series of skillshares to strengthen and deepen your connection to your food and the people that grow it, and for us to share our love with the folks that appreciate our work. ECG Members receive a 10% discount on all EGC Skillshare Events for 2022; AND some events will be FREE for members.
Sign up for our skillshare classes and workshops hereGrowing Things
A Year in the Garden
$18/mo for EGC members • $20/mo for non-members
Together we'll wander through the gardens and edges to take the pulse of Pachamama and see what the plants and Nature Spirits are up to each month. FOCUS on gestating a healthy rapport and respect for the plant kingdom and ecosystem.
During our walkabouts we will identify what plants are available and in what stage of growth; discuss plants' personality and "medicine;" share ideas about "how to" cultivate, harvest, and use the seasonal plants' gifts.
This is a two-hour, monthly OUTDOOR event, beginning in April and ending in December (brave souls may continue on into winter 2023). Participants are asked to bring their curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness to share observations. Gardens located in Goose Creek Valley and NE Roanoke. Schedule TBD.
$18/month members ($162 for the whole season); $20/month non-members ($180 for the whole season). Space limited each month; advance commitment suggested.
- Dogwood Hill, Sat 8/6 at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Dogwood Hill, Sat, 9/10 at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Goose Creek Gardens, Sun 8/21 at 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
- Goose Creek Gardens, Sun 9/25 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
The Wholehearted Garden
Free for EGC Members
This pre-recorded online presentation from Reyer Farmstead will walk you through everything to consider when planning your garden - from your wellbeing and joy, to the wellbeing and joy of all things that call your garden home.
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS.
Email us if you have not received the link.Everything Tomatoes
Free for EGC Members
During this pre-recorded online presentation from Reyer Farmstead you’ll learn about summer’s most popular crop, the Tomato – exploring everything from pests and pruning to harvesting and storing.
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS.
Email us if you have not received the link.Vermicomposting 101
Free for EGC Members
From home waste management to free nutrition for your garden – this pre-recorded online presentation from Reyer Farmstead will introduce you to the wonderful world of Red Wriggler composting worms.
RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS.
Email us if you have not received the link.Why Soil Health?
Free for EGC members • $20 for non-members
Fall 2022 (date TBD)
A two hour introduction to the basics of soil health and how that translates into plant, animal and human health. Unlock some of the secrets behind the relationships between soil biology, soil structure and mineral composition and learn how to improve the health and productivity of the soil in your growing space.
Beyond the Backyard Compost Pile
$55 for EGC members • $75 for non-members
October 2022 at Bramble Hollow Farm
Compost offers so many gifts to the backyard garden, homestead and farm alike. There are many ways to use compost besides top dressing plants and flowers. Compost tea offers the chance to take a small amount of compost and apply in liquid form. Experience our compost making system, our tea set up, and delve into advanced techniques like making biochar and fermenting your own foliar fertilizers or soil drenches. Take home some tea or extract made by the group to use on your plants, flowers or crops. Hosted at Bramble Hollow Farm.
Nourishing Food Preparation
Bone Broth for Vibrant Health
$65 for EGC members • $72 for non-members
Saturday, july 2 9am-1pm • Sunday, aug 21 1pm - 5pm
There’s nothing as healing as a nourishing bowl of chicken soup and its base, chicken bone broth, is the star. Nutritious, nourishing and economical chicken bone broth can be a cornerstone of your weekly meals and add variety and health to your meal routine.
In this skillshare we’ll discover what makes bone broth so nutritious and how to prepare it with health, economy and safety in mind. We’ll taste our way through several broth recipes as we make broth and experience it used (and hidden) in many everyday meals. After the skillshare you’ll take home a container of broth made with love and intention at our gathering and a broth kit with bones and a broth boost pack to get starting making broth at home. Hosted at Bramble Hollow Farm.
The Whole Chicken Hurdle
$65 for EGC members • $72 for non-members
saturday, august 13 9am-1pm • sunday september 25 1pm-5pm
Does the thought of cooking a whole chicken have you stumbling around your kitchen jumping over knives and cutting board? Let’s get over that hurdle and include this economical meat choice more often in our nourishing kitchens! The whole bird, as nature intended, includes good fats and vitamins and minerals that will nourish you throughout the week.
In this skillshare we’ll taste several whole chicken preparations and then deconstruct! Come prepared to practice your butchery skills as we deconstruct the whole chicken into its parts: drumsticks, thighs, leg quarters, wings, breast, bones and schmaltz. Yes! Schmaltz. No whole chicken dinner is complete without using the bones and leftovers for nutritious bone broth. Broth making and other advanced techniques like spatchcocking will be included as well. At the end of the skillshare you’ll take home a whole chicken or a chicken that you deconstructed with recipes for preparation at home. Hosted at Bramble Hollow Farm.
Show/Tell/Taste Herbal Ales
$45 for EGC members • $55 for non-members
sunday, september 11 2pm-4pm
Join herbalists/gardeners/fermenters/alewives LIZBETH CLAY and NANCY MAURELLI for a show-tell-taste of herbal ales. We will gather at Dogwood Hill to share how to harvestand prepare herbs like yarrow, lemon balm, and nettle to become homemade herbal ale.
Lizbeth and Nancy will have some ales prepared with 2022 fresh herbs to taste, and we'll explore ideas on what plants lend themselves to being the base herb and others that add flavor or other qualities.
Animal Husbandry
Backyard Chicken Husbandry
$55 for EGC members • $62 for non-members
Saturday, august 20 9am-12pm
Adding chickens to your backyard may seem daunting but with the right infrastructure and the right birds chicken keeping can be made easier. We’ll introduce new chicken keepers or those wanting to refresh their skills to basic chicken husbandry. Topics shared will include: brooding chickens in your garage or basement, introducing chickens to the backyard, fencing and housing infrastructure, feed types, egg collecting and adding new layers to your existing flock. Come prepared to practice chicken handling and experience daily chores that will keep your flock happy, healthy and safe. Hosted at Bramble Hollow Farm.
Backyard & Homesteading Scale Chicken Processing
$90 for EGC members • $100 for non-members
Sunday, october 9 9am-1pm
This skillshare is a hands-on experience of on-farm chicken processing. The day will include tutorials on every step of the process and the chance to process birds together as a group. We’ll review the necessary tools and equipment for backyard and farm-scale processing. Come prepared to work on the processing line as we as a group process farm-raised chickens. At the end of the day you’ll take home a cleaned broiler chicken ready for your kitchen. Hosted at Bramble Hollow Farm.
Wild Crafting
Natural Dyes: From the Wild to Wearable
$65 for EGC members • $75 for non-members
This late summer/early autumn hands-on workshop will walk you through the dye process of 3 or 4 native dyes; From plant identification to processing, then preparing your fabric/yarn, to dyeing. Participants will take home 2 dyed items that may include wool yarn, cotton towel or bandana, or silk scarf. Dye availability will depend on Mother Nature, but may include either goldenrod, river birch, walnut, pokeberry, Maximillian sunflower, or bur marigold. Bring a bag lunch and wear or bring clothes, shoes, bug repellant, and sun block appropriate for collecting dye material in the wetland and other areas of the farm.
Contact Lexi at wingstemfarm@gmail.com or (540)947-0147 to sign up. Register before August 22!
Winter Joy: Greenery Wreath Making
$60 for EGC members • $65 for non-members
This seasonal workshop will teach you two wreath-making techniques with both grapevines and metal backings, using a variety of provided Wingstem Farm-grown greenery and accents. Participants will leave with a wreath!
Members-Only Special Events
Pachamama Season of Blessings Potluck Gathering
goose creek gardens • sunday april 24 5pm
An invitation to gather together over a delicious, shared meal and ask for the blessings of mother nature & great spirit as we begin the growing season.
Abundant Joy Potluck Gathering
location TBD • sunday july 10
An invitation to gather in the warmth and light of summer, sharing gifts, crafts, song, spirit, and joy together as a community.
Harvest of Gratitude Potluck Gathering
location TBD • sunday october 23
An invitation to gather together in gratitude for the gifts and abundance of the season and to cultivate resilience and mindfulness going into winter.