Lots Events this Fall - Free and Open to All!
Muchos eventos este otoño - ¡Gratis y abiertos a todos!
NOTE: Most programs have Facebook events. View our Facebook page to look them up or check for updates!
NOTA: Muchos de nuestros programas tienen eventos en Facebook. ¡Visite nuestra página de Facebook!
SEPTEMBER
Gathering of the Fairies
Saturday, September 16, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
UPDATE AS OF FRIDAY, 9/15: This Event is ON!
Celebratory activities in the garden for fairies and their friends include storytelling, building a fairy house and creating a fairy wand. Everyone is invited to come dressed up as their favorite magical being. Donations are encouraged to support the Growing Center and future Gatherings of the Fairies.
Contact: Betsy Larkin at betsy@thegrowingcenter.org
OCTOBER
Harvest Festival: Gathering in Gratitude*
Sunday, October 1, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Rain Date: Sunday, October 15
Harvest activities and games, pumpkin decorating and a celebration of the bounty nature shares with us throughout the year.
Contact: Lisa at 781-953-4826 or info@thegrowingcenter.org
30th Anniversary Kickoff Event
Saturday, October 14, 3:30-5:00 pm
In the fall of 1993, a group of community activists, volunteers, high school students, elected officials and neighbors came together to break ground on a quarter-acre sized parcel of hilly land outside of Union Square to build what was to become the Somerville Community Growing Center, a brand new model for community gardens across the country. The Center opened in the spring of 1994 with a full season of public events for all to enjoy. (Read more about our history on our site and history page.)
Now we are about to celebrate 30 years as a beloved community gathering space and home for urban agriculture, cultural events and nature education! Join us as we celebrate autumn and kickstart our 30th celebrations! More information will be added to our 30th Anniversary page as it gets solidified.
Interested in getting more involved? Join our 30th Anniversary Steering Committee! Email info@thegrowingcenter.org.
Seasonal Salvage Sale & Makers' Market
MOVED TO Sunday, October 22, 12:00-5:00 pm
An innovative Yard Sale in two parts: the first a curated, seasonally-themed sale featuring salvaged housewares, clothing, jewelry, books and decorative items; the second, a craft/artisan fair offering everything from clothing to prints to jewelry. Read more about the event on our Salvage Sale page!
Contact: Betsy Larkin at betsy@thegrowingcenter.org
AntiMorris Dancing and Pumpkin Carols
Monday, October 31, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, rain or shine
Pumpkin Carols followed by the AntiMorris at Sunset, danced by Recently Traditional Fictional Morris. The dancers shall fade silently into the night upon conclusion of the dance.
Contact: Jeremy Kessler at greenguy@peculiarity.net
NOVEMBER
Community Read Aloud and Growing Together
Saturday, November 4, 11:00 am
Reading of "I Love You More Than Dumplings" by Cayla Kwok
Join us for a reading of I Love You More Than Dumplings, written by local high school student Cayla Kwok and illustrated by Jeri Llorca. Cayla, an Arlington resident, has published her own children’s book. In it, she shares her story of bonding with her grandparents over her favorite food—dumplings! This story is a window and a mirror into the experience of children with multiple heritages. At the end, we will make our own pretend dumplings out of felt, Velcro, and other items. You’ll also learn about the local non-profit, Loving Little Minds Home Library Project, an organization that aims to increase access to diverse children's books for families of young children, as everyone deserves to be a main character.
All ages welcome. Program is focused on ages 1-8.
Contact: Paula at Paula@thegrowingcenter.org
Growing Center Fundraiser at American Flatbread
Tuesday, November 14, 4:00-10:00 pm
Join us on November 14 at American Flatbread in Davis Square for a special fall fundraiser! They're donating $4 for every large pizza ordered, and $2 for every small pizza ordered - right to the Friends of the Community Growing Center! Gather your friends or family and make a reservation for pizza (or bowling!). This opportunity also applies to carry out and delivery orders (when placed through americanflatbread.com). It runs 4:00-10:00 pm.
Honoring the True Roots of Herbalism: A Dialogue about Plants, Decolonization & Liberation (Virtual Talk)
Wednesday, November 15, 6:00-7:30 pm
Join Nathalie Rodríguez and Denise Goitia, queer biracial Latinx folk herbalists and community healers, in a dialogue about plant medicine, liberation and healing justice. This talk is part of the Growing Center's Community Herb Project, initially funded through a grant from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Register through this link.
Annual Wreath Project & Sale
Follow this link to learn about volunteer opportunities!
This long-running project is the Growing Center’s largest fundraiser of the year. Volunteers work behind-the-scenes starting as far back as the summer - growing, picking and drying flowers, and gathering nature materials from farms and woodlands. The results: Hand- decorated evergreen wreaths, each featuring a homemade bow, adorned with locally sourced pinecones, delicate dried flowers, and ornamental peppers and berries. You Can Join Us! We are seeking volunteers for various wreath decorating tasks - from making bows and tags, prepping dried flowers and wiring pinecones, to onsite assembly, decorating and home deliveries. Contact volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org.
DECEMBER
Maple Matters: Learn about the Growing Center’s Maple Syrup Project
Wednesday, December 13, 7:00-8:00 pm
At the Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville
The time for the Growing Center’s Maple Syrup Project is right around the corner (tapping starts at the end of January, and the boil will happen in early March)! The Maple Project is an opportunity for Somerville residents to connect with each other and the natural world by tapping local maple trees, boiling sap, and making delicious maple syrup. If you are interested in helping, join us to learn more about how you can get involved and to help set intentions for this year's activities with some related writings by professor, botanist, author and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Robin Wall Kimmerer. Share herbal tea from the Center (and maybe even some Maple Project maple syrup).
Contact: Connor at crohwer@hds.harvard.edu
Winter Foraging
Sundays, Dec 17, Jan 21, and Feb 18, 12:00-2:00 pm
Sage McTaggart will teach us how to identify some edible and medicinal plants on winter walks. Come prepared with a mug to enjoy some tasty teas during an often overlooked season!
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ADDITIONAL EVENTS: FALL 2023
Plein Air Drawing Class in Soft Pastel
Sunday, September 24, 1:00-4:00 pm
Join us for a plein air drawing class using soft pastels with volunteer art instructor David Del Deo. Plein air drawing is a method which works directly from life, and relies on direct observation of colors. We will focus on observing the garden in autumn and representing it with pastels. It is recommended that you bring your own materials. Class includes a demonstration. Limited to 20; first come, first served. All are welcome!
Taste the Molecular Rainbow: What Color and Flavor Tell Us About Chemistry
Thursday, September 28, 5:30-7:00 pm
View the Flier - NOTE: Sept. 28 is Rain Date!
Why do all alliums have that strong garlicky smell? How do I know if the dried herbs you’ve had in my cabinet for five years are still good? In this class you will begin to practice using your senses to teach you about the chemical constituents in your foods and medicine. We will discuss the primary atoms that make up plant molecules, and some common forms that they take. You will get to see, smell, and taste different preparations of the same herbs to learn the flavors and mouthfeel of specific molecules, and to learn which preparations extract which constituents. Bring your favorite mug and a pen and come join me where experiential and scientific knowledge meet! With herbalist Mo Katz-Christy as part of our Community Herb Project.
Mindful Monday Yoga Care in the Garden
with Jenn
Mondays, October 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, 5:30-6:30 pm
An open template for practice to welcome gentle movement and contemplation for your current moment with instructor Jenn Pici Falk, who also offers some online sessions here.
Contact: Jenn at jennpfalk@gmail.com
Nature + Art + Kids: Seeds / Sementes
Sunday, October 8, 2:00-4:00 pm
This Portuguese-language event, co-hosted by SomerViva and led by multilingual volunteers Piéra Varin & Yumi Izuyama, offers storytelling, Brazilian children's songs, land art (making art with nature materials), and BYO picnic!
English language flyer, Portuguese flyer.
Community Read Aloud and Growing Together
Monday, October 9 / Segunda-feira, 9 de outubro, 4-5:00 pm
Community Read Aloud in the garden continues with guest reader Yumi, em Português. All ages welcome. Program is focused on ages 1-8.
Contact: Paula at Paula@thegrowingcenter.org
Family STEM Exploration Fair
Tuesday, October 17, 2:30-5:30 pm
Join the Metro North Regional STEM Network at the Somerville Community Growing Center for an afternoon of FREE hands-on activities with local scientists, organizations and clubs! Part of Massachusetts STEM Week, October 16-20.
NOTE ABOUT 2023 EVENTS: Events noted with an * asterisk are supported in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local commission supported by the City of Somerville. And we thank the Massachusetts Cultural Council for general funding support.
