Events & Workshops

2016 Maple Weekend

March 19 & 20

10am - 4pm both days

As part of New York's statewide Maple Weekend, come visit our forest farm and taste saps from maple, walnut, and sycamore trees. Take a self-guided tour and see a demonstration of mushroom log inoculation. Enjoy fresh, local wood-fired pizzas from The Rusty Oven both Sat and Sun.


Saturday: tours, live music, wood-fired pizzas, and a small farmer and craft market from 11 - 3pm featuring goods from local farms. 


Sunday: tours, wood-fired pizzas, and a "how-to make maple syrup" workshops at 11am and a "how to grow mushrooms on logs" workshop 1pm. ($5 fee for each)


 

The Forest Talks

4th Tuesdays from April through October, 5:30 - 8:00pm

April 26, May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25

The forest and its inhabitants have a lot to tell us about the places we call home. These walks bring participants to some of the more majestic forests of the finger lakes. Local ecologists & foresters will be our guides as we learn about all the layers of the forest including topics such as birds, fungi, bog ecology, soil geology, and more. During each hike we practice core routines of forest literacy, along with discussing how what we learn can be applied to our woodlands at home. After the hike we will gather at a nearby pub or coffee shop and continue the conversation.

Cost: $15/hike or $75 if you sign up for the series.

 

Water as a Resource in the Landscape

April 30 & May 1

Learn how to see water as a valuable asset to small and large landscapes by observing the design and implementation of water harvesting and storage systems at Wellspring Forest Farm including ponds, swales, terraces, rainwater harvested systems (including potable use) and rotational grazing systems.

Students will practice site mapping and learn how to use contour tools, participate in hands-on construction of a sanitary (potable) rainwater barrel construction, observe excavation and assist in finishing and planting a 300 foot swale system, and help seed and plant a productive riparian buffer on the farm.

Watch a video we made in 2015 on some of our systems: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCl68DT2jM

Forestry & Agroforestry Short Course


July 29 - August 2, 2016 

Learn forest ecology and management techniques for eastern woodlands from Farming the Woods co-author Steve Gabriel and renowned forester Mike Demunn along with tree propagation and nursery techniques from Sean Dembrowsky of Edible Acres.

Visit local old growth and heritage forests and farms and practice tree ID, stand assessment, marking, and felling techniques. Learn about forest medicinals, and visit farms practicing silvopasture and mushroom cultivation.

This course is designed for woodland owners, famers, extension professionals, Permaculturists, and homesteaders who want to gain a better understanding of the intricacies of management in northeastern woodlands and build their skills in forest mapping, stand assessment, tree selection, and removal of trees with minimal damage.

Cost: $550 includes lunch each day, plus $50 for camping (optional)
 

Fungi Cultivation & Foraging Short Course


September 16 - 20, 2016 

Explore the wondrous world of fungi and learn how to grow and forage mushrooms with Farming the Woods co-author Steve Gabriel and special guest instructors.

During this 5-day intensive course participants will identify wild mushrooms and learn tree ID and forest ecology, inoculate logs, straw, and grain, learn low-tech propagation techniques, build a stormwater biofilter, create a styrofoam substitute, and, of course, cook and eat mushrooms.

Overall, the class seeks to engage participants with the fungal world and through an understanding of it see the positive potential in continued learning and engagement. Each of these practices is framed in the context of eastern forest ecology and ultimately as our role to steward the health of the forested landscape.  


This course is designed for woodland owners, famers, extension professionals, Permaculturists, and homesteaders who want to gain a better understand the role of fungi in a remarkable range of uses as delectable foods, powerful medicines, and even agents to clean up a toxins in the environment.

Participants will build their skills in mushroom identification, cultivation, and propagation and leave the course equipped with the knowledge and tools


Cost: $550 includes lunch each day, plus $50 if camping onsite (optional)



Children's Camps

with EarthArts

Dates: 
July 18 -11
August 29 - September 2 

Ages: 7 and up

Join us for camps at Wellspring Forest Farm in Mecklenburg! We’ll explore the wonders of the natural world and learn how we can support the health of the landscape while providing our food, medicine, and other needs! We will spend our days  in the woods inoculating and harvesting mushrooms, in the garden tending to vegetables, and in the pasture caring for the ducks and sheep. This, combined with EarthArts practices like sit spot, nature crafts, games, and more will offer a new perspective on the farm as a natural system where humans play the part of the steward.