Spring in the garden!
Join Us this Year for Our Public 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
Events listing
JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH Seed Sale 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 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 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 Due to the potential for extreme cold and a significant snowstorm in the Boston area beginning on Sunday afternoon, we have decided to move the Annual Meeting online. Join together with the Growing Center community for a summary of the 2025 season, outcomes from the Volunteer Survey, 2026 planning, and all the ways to get involved. Be part of conversations and dialogues to support the coming season and beyond. We'll share accomplishments from the 2025 calendar year, including visitor and volunteer numbers and statistics & fundraising and financial data; present the budget for the year ahead; and the proposed slate of Board Members and Officers. Be part of conversations and dialogues to support future planning. We hope you'll be able to join us! 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. 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. Register here to get a spot! Limited to 20 participants. Open Hours / Winter Play Saturday, February 7, 2:00-4:00 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. MARCH 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 Somerville Maple Boil Down Saturday, March 7, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Rain date Saturday, March 14 All are invited! Join in the fun. As part of this project, a team of volunteers taps a swath of maple trees on the Tufts campus, collecting dozens of gallons of sap over a number of weeks. At the Maple Boil Down, coordinated by the Somerville Community Growing Center, we'll boil it all down into real, true 100% hyper-local maple syrup. At this event, youth and adults alike will have a chance to learn about tree anatomy and physiology and experience the process of making fresh maple syrup first-hand. Read more about the Somerville Maple Syrup Project. Introduction to Nature Monitoring in the City Saturday, March 14, 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.oneill@earthwiseaware.org
APRIL
Pub Sing
1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm (Spring/Summer Hours!)
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
Volunteer Orientations
Saturday, April 11, 9:30-10:45 am
Monday, April 27, 6:00-7:15 pm
Get more involved in your community! Learn the history of this unique municipal community green space, its 30-plus year timeline and the story of its founding. Go on a tour to learn all about how its different spaces are used. Hear first-hand the ins and outs of site maintenance, and the ways in which our staff, Board, community use partners and volunteers all steward the space. Finally, learn about the volunteer opportunities and teams you could get involved with at the Growing Center. RSVP (optional) to volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org.
Introduction to Nature Monitoring in the City
Saturday, April 11, 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.oneill@earthwiseaware.org
Spring Nature Walk (as cited in March 30th Boston Globe!)
Sunday, April 26, 11:00 am
Come enjoy fresh air, beautiful blooms, and great company as we explore nature in the neighborhood — and our place within it. This walk series will be led by environmental educator Phoebe Grupper and is perfect for all ages and experience levels. Whether you're a couch potato or a seasoned naturalist, this walk is for you! Register here.
Contact: Phoebe at phoebe@thegrowingcenter.org
Strands of Connection: Seed to Scarf
5 Sessions:
April 18 & May 9 @ 12-1:30 pm;
August 8 & 29 @ 1-4 pm;
Sept. 27 @ 2-4:30 pm
Limited participants / Pre-registration Required
Join fiber artist Miles Hilton and a small group for this collective creative journey to engage Somerville residents in a series of workshops designed to introduce novices to going from planting seeds to a finished product. Participants will learn about: 1) growing and caring for dye plants; 2) spinning yarn from wool using a drop spindle, including the history of the craft, along with a series of drop-in spinning sessions so participants can spin enough yarn for a simple fiber arts project; 3) dyeing yarn over two (August) sessions using dyes from plants grown in the first session to dye yarn spun in the second; and 5) creating a simple woven or knit scarf, or other textile, to showcase at the Center’s Harvest Festival in late September. Supported in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local commission supported by the City of Somerville. Thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for general funding support. To express interest in joining, with the expectation of attendance at all sessions, complete this form ASAP.
Earth Day: Our Power, Our Planet
Sunday, April 26, 1:00-3:00 pm
Rain Location: Somernova’s Community Space, 21 Properzi Way, Somerville, located off of the Aeronaut Brewery patio. Look for the signs leading to the red door.
Come share your knowledge, learn from each other, and meet area advocates. Connect in common space and grow your power! Earth Day 2026 is a call for collective action to reclaim rights and futures, focusing on empowering people to drive environmental change, advance clean energy, and protect communities from pollution and climate impacts. The event will include vermicomposting demo, storytelling and hands-on garden and pollinator craft activities partnering with Wildlife Arts.
Contact: Lisa at lisa@thegrowingcenter.org.
Climate Convening Series 2026: Somerville High School and Middle School Students Take Action
Sunday, April 26, 2:00-3:00 pm (networking & tabling)
3:30-5:00 pm (location TBD)
In May 2025, Somerville middle and high school students shared their knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm in a gathering of area climate and biodiversity activists. Participants came away from that convening eager for further intergenerational partnerships. Join us for a follow-up convening celebrating the climate action projects of these students in Somerville. What are the urgent concerns of the emerging generation of Somerville-area climate and biodiversity activists? What vision for Somerville are they bringing to the table? Please come to learn and to network across generations. RSVPs encouraged. More information here about other upcoming climate convening events. Flyer here.
Contact: Tom at Tom_in_Davis_Square@comcast.net
MAY
Little Songbook: In Bloom
Friday, May 1, 1:00-2:30 pm
Celebrate one year of Little Songbook Opera with Little Songbook: In Bloom, a vibrant concert inspired by flowers, growth, and new beginnings. Featuring works for string quartet and soprano, including original compositions with texts by Virginia Woolf and Amy Lowell. This immersive performance brings opera and chamber music out of the concert hall and into a beautiful, community driven space. Registration Link
Contact: Abbey at littlesongbookopera@gmail.com
Spring Garden Day
Saturday, May 2, 1:00-3:00 pm
Rain Date: Sunday, May 3
Bring and/or take home seeds (possibly seedlings or house plants). Pot up an herb plant from Red Fire Farm. Enjoy Morris dances and participatory Maypole dance with Whistle Pig, Boston’s first queer-led, queer-focused Morris dance team. Lend a hand on craft projects for future events, such as making lanterns for the upcoming Climate Change Theater Action. Enjoy a community gathering celebrating spring in a garden setting!
Contact: Lisa at lisa@thegrowingcenter.org
Compost Workshop
Saturday, May 2, 3:00 pm
Come learn the basics of composting and see how the volunteer managed compost system at the Center works, with Lee, our Compost Coordinator, who will share their passion and knowledge!
Contact: Lee at lee@thegrowingcenter.org
