WINTER in the garden
Join Us this Winter for Events - Free and Open to All!
Participe en nuestros actos: ¡gratuitos y abiertos a todos!
NOTE: Check out our Facebook page to look at our Events on social media.
NOTA: ¡Visite nuestra página de Facebook.
For cancellations & date changes: Visit our Updates page, Facebook, or Google Calendar
Para cancelaciones & cambios: Visite página web Updates, Facebook o Google Calendar
NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all on-site events limited to 20 participants.
Events listing
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
Seed Sale Fundraiser (Fundraiser)
Early January through mid-February
Soon it'll be time to think spring and consider what seeds you want to plant in the 2026 growing season! Once again, we are happy to be partnering with High Mowing Organic Seeds of Vermont, who offer us a percentage of seed sales to help support the Growing Center's activities. More info soon on our Seed Sale page.
Open Hours / Winter Play
Sunday, December 21: Winter Solstice in the Garden
Sunday, January 11: Texture play in the Garden
1:00-3:00 pm
Come play and explore the garden in winter! Join nature educator Paula Jordan and volunteers for a winter play activity. We’ll look for textures and colors and play with ice. Note that hazardous weather will cancel. Weather updates will be posted on Facebook. Dress for cold weather, as this is an outdoor-only event. May include walking over wet/snowy or slippery pathways. Accessible porta potty.
Pub Sing (Music)
First & Third Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 pm
A pub-style sing along. Anyone can lead a song, but no-one is obliged to. Drinking songs and sea chanteys always go over well, but anything with a good, singable chorus will be appreciated!
Contact: Jeff at jeff.keller@gmail.com
Introduction to Plant and Wildlife Monitoring (Educational)
for Conservation with Earthwise Aware
Saturday, January 10, 2:00-3:30 pm
Join Claire and Earthwise Aware (EwA) citizen scientists and learn how to observe and record the plants, insects, and animals of the Somerville Growing Center. With these observation events and through the EwA photo documentation using the iNaturalist platform, we contribute to biodiversity science while enjoying the outdoors together in this beautiful little garden. Also learn about EwA’s arthropod (insect and spider) and phenology studies at the Growing Center.
Contact: Claire O’Neill at claire.oneill@earthwiseaware.org
Winter Wander Walks
Sundays: January 18 & 25, February 1 & 8
11:00 am
Grab a cozy beverage, a loved one, and a hat, and join us for a community wintertime nature walk (more like a wander) with Center volunteer and environmental educator Phoebe Grupper.
Open to all ages, these weekly walks invite our Somerville community to enjoy fresh air, gentle movement, and wintertime connection. If conditions allow, we’ll take short, unhurried saunters around the neighborhood. Routes will be mapped to prioritize the clearest, wheelchair-accessible, and least icy paths, but dressing appropriately is essential for comfort and safety —hats, gloves, layers, and sturdy footwear are recommended. Please reach out if you do not have access to those things and we will try to connect you. Each wander will begin and end at the Somerville Community Growing Center. Please register ahead of time at our Eventbrite invitation.
Seed Swap and Free Seeds!
Somerville Winter Farmers Market, 191 Highland Ave
Saturday, January 24, 9:30 am- 1:30 pm
Bring extra seeds to share and/or pick up some free ones, including local natives, for your own 2026 plantings! Learn about the upcoming Maple Syrup Project volunteer opportunities and enjoy the gifts and camaraderie of the winter market.
Growing Center Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 3:30-5:30 pm
LOCATION: Boynton Yards, 101 South St. Conference Room
Join together with the Growing Center community for snacks, information about 2026 plans, how to get involved, and a summary of the 2025 season. Be part of conversations and dialogues to support future planning. Small 2025 Maple Syrup sample bottles for first 35 volunteers to arrive!
Join the Winter Wonder Virtual Book Club!
January 29 and February 26, 6:30-7:30 pm
Join with other volunteers virtually for a nature-themed discussion in preparation for the 2026 Maple Boil. All details to be made available on Eventbrite. January 29 selection: The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. February 26 selection: The “Maple Sugar Moon” chapter of Kimmer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, supplemented with other indigenous writings on sugar maples. Books can be borrowed from the library or purchased from Narrative Bookshop or Porter Square Books.
Register for the Winter Book Club here:
Registration link for January 29
Registration link for February 26
DIY Milkjug Greenhouse Workshop
Saturday, February 7, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
To be led by volunteer Danielle Krcmar. Get some cold hardy plants started for spring. Please bring a clear plastic milk jug, but we will have some extras. Soil and seeds available.