Workshop Update

All,

The workshop scheduled for Sept 17th--canning/preserving--is being canceled due to scheduling conflicts.

Sorry for inconvenience.

We are still scheduled for the October workshop--bread baking--and look forward to seeing you there. Details to follow.

as always, if there are any questions or comments, please direct them to Justin in the space below.

thanks,

Hands on Herbs Workshop w/ Liz Meeks

what: herb workshop

when: August 27 @ 10:00am

where: McCoy Garden (807 main st 37206)

cost: free (but we'll pass the hat for our speaker)

This class will focus on identifying and using healing plants that grow naturally in our backyards, or are easily cultivated.

Liz Meeks, community herbalist and gardener, will attempt to dispel the myth that a 'medicinal herb' is something that must be purchased at a health food store or must be concocted by someone in a white lab coat. We will learn that many healing plants, aka 'weeds' offer themselves freely at our doorsteps, in the back alley, and voluntarily in our gardens. We will meet at the ENCM campus, which is home to Versatile Dandelion, Powerful Poke, Incredible Plantain, Iron-rich Yellow Dock, and the often overlooked Smartweed and Amaranth. The garden also offers Echinacea, Rosemary, Sage, Mint, Thyme, Lavender, and Parsley, all with healing properties beyond the kitchen. Let's see what else we can find!

We will go through all the steps of making a fresh plant tincture, or alcohol extract. We will also discuss extracting herbs into vinegar and honey for those who wish to avoid alcohol, or simply want to try something different.

We will touch on basic cultivation techniques for a few of my favorite herbs including Calendula, Comfrey, Holy Basil, St.John's Wort and Yarrow.

The world of herbs offers endless opportunities to explore, create, and connect with the natural world on a deeper level. Please join us for what is sure to be a fun workshop!

As always, sign up in comment space below and direct all questions to justin there.

*a special note for this workshop*

A very slight but very real possibility exist for this workshop to be rescheduled. Liz is scheduled to assist a birth that has yet to be. So it may be that liz becomes preoccupied during the workshop time because shes helping bring a person into the world. Stay tuned here for updates. And look for an email update if we have to reschedule. In advance, thank you for your understanding.

Backyard Season Extension Workshop w/ John Dysinger

WORKSHOP IS STILL ON. COME ON OUT.

What: Season Extension Workshop w/ John Dysigner

When: Sunday August 7th @ 11a.m--1p.m (notice this is a Sunday--maybe the garden is your cathedral this week?)

Where: ENCM (807 Main St. 37206)

Cost: Free. But we’ll “pass the hat” for our speaker

Limit: 35

This weeks forecast has temperatures reaching into the triple digits and believe it or not it’s time to think about the fall!

This installment of the Backyard Foodways workshop series is on extending the season. We welcome John Dysigner of Bountiful Blessings Farm, a beautiful family run farm in Middle Tennessee. You might know them for their strawberries, or as one of the first farms to offer a winter CSA; I mainly know them for their amazing carrots through winter! As mentees of Eliot Coleman, the Four Season Farmer of Main, the Dysigner’s utilize season extension techniques of low and high tunnels, greenhouses, and suitable crops to extend the harvest right through winter and into the next growing season--talk about “food security”! These people don’t stop farming.

For this hands on workshop we will build a “low-tunnel” and plant a fall/winter bed. We’ll discuss suitable fall and winter crops for your backyard, and management of low and high tunnels, greenhouses, and row covers. John will bring materials for low tunnel construction and winter gardening books for sale, so you can go home and construct your very own and start enjoying the bounty of a winter harvest.

There is a lot of wisdom in the Dysigner’s. It’s a real treat to have them on the East Side for this workshop experience.

RSVP/sign up in the comment space below. Direct any all questions to Justin in the comment space.

Cob Workshop #2

Cob Workshop #1

Building the cob oven in the McCoy Memorial Garden.  Find the full album on facebook

Backyard Chickens workshop w/ Ryan ...

What: Backyard Chicken workshop

When: April 2 12 noon

Where: ENCM (807 Main St. 37206)

Cost: Free (but we’ll “pass the hat” for our presenter)

Here we go again! This time it’s Backyard Chickens with Ryan (last name kept anonymous).

The language we have to use around this workshop is “Chickens as pets”.

Ryan has been a backyard shepherd for some time now and has grown a strong flock (actual number kept anonymous) of heritage breeds. AS PETS, he admires their colors, personalities, and educational opportunities provided to his children. Ryan will have blueprints for his tractor coop that he designed to be cost and space efficient. If we are lucky we may build one. We will be comparing and contrasting classic practices, exposing misnomers and discussing breed recommendations.

Come out. Chickens as pets!

Sign up in the comment space below.

Backyard Foodways

Check out our Backyard Foodways photo albums on Facebook.

Thanks to Tatum Stewart for his work with us on growing fruit.
Thanks to Dennis Limon for an extensive lesson on Biodynamics.

Backyard Bio-Dynamics Workshop w/ Dennis Limon

What: Bio-Dynamic philosophy and seed starting workshop

When: March 5, 12 noon - 3 p.m

Where: ENCM (807 main st. 37206)

Cost: Free (donations to speaker accepted)

Limit: 35 people

The second installment of the Backyard Foodways workshop series welcomes Dennis Limon, bio-dynamics guru and educator. Dennis will be joining us in the garden to demonstrate seed-starting the bio-dynamic way, and discussing the philosophy surrounding this mysterious and spiritual gardening method.

We will be starting "leaf" crops--lettuce, kale, collards, etc., etc.--because march 5 happens to be a wonderful time, according the bio-dynamic calendar, to plant these types of crops. Wonder why? Me too! So come find out! A selection of seed will be provided, along with pots, and a bio-dynamically prepared soil mix. However, feel free to bring your own "leaf" seed. You will walk home with a tray of assorted starts to take care of until planting in your personal garden. Also, bring a clean, chemical free container or glass jug to take home a biodynamically prepared compost tea to use on your garden.

Please RSVP in the comment space below. And also direct any and all questions to justin in the comment space below.

The event will be held as scheduled, rain or shine--we can just go inside!

Thanks All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply and Gardens of Babylon for donating a portion of supplies.

Backyard Foodways: A Workshop Series by ENCM

ENCM will present an 9 part, season-long (February-October), workshop series in an effort to develop the urban food-ways of backyards around Nashville. We believe true food security starts in the backyard, or terraces, or even in the indoor kitchen herb pot: where ever people decide to grow something edible and eat it.

Look for workshops each month beginning in February. Topics and speakers include:

• February 19--Backyard Fruit Production w/ Tatum Stewart of Stewart Orchard in Ashland City, TN and man with the best peaches in town.
• March 5--Backyard Bio-Dynamics w/ Dennis Limon, bio-dynamic guru and educator.
• April 2--Backyard Chickens w/ Ryan Fasani, director of ENCM and backyard shepherd.
• June 25--Cob Building w/ Howard Switzer of The Farm and Ecoville ArchiTechs, and long time alternative materials builder. (note the date change)
• July 9--Cob Building w/ Howard Switzer (note the date change)
• August 7--Season Extension and Cover Crops w/ John Dysigner of Bountiful Blessing Farm and offers one of the only winter CSA’s in Nashville. (note this is a Sunday)
• August 27--Backyard Herbs for Tea w/ Bohdana Fasani, herbal enthusiast and radical homemaker.
• September 17--Home Preservation w/ Alan Powell, wild-foods guru, local food artist, naturalist, and man of all things good about food.
• October 15--Home Bread Baking w/ Justin Owings, garden manager of ENCM and long-time home baker.

These workshops are designed for novice backyard and urban growers. Home gardeners, community gardeners, and those thinking about starting a garden for the first time are all welcome. There is limited space, so RSVP promptly. Workshops are scheduled so that participants can immediately apply what they have learned--they are “seasonally appropriate”.

The workshops will be free. However, donations to those presenting would certainly be accepted.

The first workshop starts Saturday February 19 at 12 noon. It will be on backyard fruit with Tatum Stewart. Look to learn about suitable fruit for this region and varieties for your backyard, potential diseases and preventative measures, pruning techniques, and other basics of fruit production.

This will be followed on Saturday March 5 with backyard bio-dynamics with Dennis Limon, again at 12 noon. This will be a “leaf-day” according to the bio-dynamic calendar, so look to learn about said calendar, seed starting the bio-dynamic way, bio-dynamic preparations, and how it all can make a difference in your garden, your health, and the environment. You will go home with seedling starts for your backyard garden.

stay tuned for details regarding specific workshops as their respective date approaches.

all workshops will be at ENCM located at 807 Main st. 37206.

Backyard Fruit Workshop w/ Tatum Stewart

Workshop is now FULL. See you everyone Saturday! (signed 2-17)

Everyone in the Comment Space is officially RSVP'd.

What: Backyard Fruit Workshop

When: February 19 12 noon to 1:30

Where: ENCM (807 Main st 37206)

Cost: Free (donations to presenter is accepted)

Limit 35 people.

As part of Backyard Foodways: A Workshop Series by ENCM, Tatum Stewart of Stewart Orchards in Ashland City, TN, and man with the best peaches in town, will be presenting a workshop on fruit growing. Come learn about fruit varieties suitable for this region, maintenance and management, potential diseases, pruning techniques, and other basics of growing fruit in your backyard.

Please RSVP in comment space below. Please also direct any and all questions to justin in the comment space below.

Rain plan: the event will happen as scheduled rain or shine. we can go inside in the event of rain.

Chickens? Fresh Eggs? In the City?

Three eggs, three "farms".

Top: Whole Foods, free-range organic.
Left: Organic, friends chickens from rural Joelton.
Right: Down the street, urban backyard.

Stay tuned for our schedule of urban gardening workshops; come learn how to raise your own chickens; save $4.50/dozen and have healthier eggs than Whole Foods.

It's Winter, but Spring's just around the corner!

Backyard Gardener Workshop Series!

Come join us this Spring and Summer to learn more about growing and raising food in urban spaces. Check back soon as we post our workshop Series topics and calendar. See you in the garden!