Education
Our educational offerings range from hour long lectures to multi-week intensives. We've hosted courses on dozens of topics over the years and can tailor these experiences to hands-on one-on-one trainings to groups of 50 or more. Below you'll find our calendar of upcoming events followed by a list of some of our past workshop topics. Don't see something you're interested in? Drop us a line and we'll let you know if it's something we can offer.
2026 Workshops
Sunday March 29th - Fundamentals of Coppicing and Pollarding
Join us for this daylong intensive and learn how to manage trees and shrubs so that they resprout after cutting, yielding fuelwood, fenceposts, building poles, craft and weaving material, livestock fodder, decorative stems for the floral industry, biomass, and much more.
In this workshop, you’ll -
- See dozens of examples of coppicing and pollarding
- Learn best practices for cutting and stem management
- Learn about the wood properties and sprouting abilities of well over 20 different species
- Help harvest and process materials from managed trees
- Leave with stem cuttings from some very reliable sprouting species
- Discuss the potential for applying these techniques on your land
The workshop runs from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
Note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available. We keep our course sizes small to maximize potential for discussions and student interaction so be sure to register early.
Click here to register
In this workshop, you’ll -
- See dozens of examples of coppicing and pollarding
- Learn best practices for cutting and stem management
- Learn about the wood properties and sprouting abilities of well over 20 different species
- Help harvest and process materials from managed trees
- Leave with stem cuttings from some very reliable sprouting species
- Discuss the potential for applying these techniques on your land
The workshop runs from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
Note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available. We keep our course sizes small to maximize potential for discussions and student interaction so be sure to register early.
Click here to register
Sunday, May 24 - Farm, Homestead, and Useful Plant Tour
There’s a lot going on here on our 52 acres and we’ve done and learned a lot in our 13+ years here on site. This will be the first annual ‘holistic’ tour of our farmstead, where we have an opportunity to explore the many interconnected details of our working landscape including -
- a half dozen buildings - sheds, pole barns, shade houses, a root cellar, high tunnel, and passive solar super insulated house
- a diverse and integrated water system that features passive, gravity fed low pressure irrigation, several rainwater catchment systems; a farm pond used for recreation and irrigation; and networks of ditches and swales
- close to 100 species of ‘useful plants’ ranging from trees for timber, craft, screening and coppice use; edible and medicinal perennials, plants for pollinator support; fertility; and a working outdoor shiitake farm that produces close to 1000 lbs of mushrooms annually
- a working family woodlot where we can examine and discuss a range of applied forestry practices including selection management, crop/mast tree release, a patch cut, the creation of deadwood resources including snags and downed woody debris, and access and trail development and erosion control measures
- conversations on site analysis, design and decision making and how our processes might be adapted to your unique context
This will be a very full day of conversation, touring and learning and will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm rain or shine. Bring your own lunch. Workshop tuition is $75
Register here
- a half dozen buildings - sheds, pole barns, shade houses, a root cellar, high tunnel, and passive solar super insulated house
- a diverse and integrated water system that features passive, gravity fed low pressure irrigation, several rainwater catchment systems; a farm pond used for recreation and irrigation; and networks of ditches and swales
- close to 100 species of ‘useful plants’ ranging from trees for timber, craft, screening and coppice use; edible and medicinal perennials, plants for pollinator support; fertility; and a working outdoor shiitake farm that produces close to 1000 lbs of mushrooms annually
- a working family woodlot where we can examine and discuss a range of applied forestry practices including selection management, crop/mast tree release, a patch cut, the creation of deadwood resources including snags and downed woody debris, and access and trail development and erosion control measures
- conversations on site analysis, design and decision making and how our processes might be adapted to your unique context
This will be a very full day of conversation, touring and learning and will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm rain or shine. Bring your own lunch. Workshop tuition is $75
Register here
Sunday, June 7 - Ecological Building and Hands-On Earthen Construction
This daylong intensive balances a mix of tours of existing, owner-built structures on our small farm/homestead that demonstrate a range of natural and green building materials and principles, along with a hands-on introduction to a range of earthen building techniques.
This workshop will explore the pros and cons of a range of building techniques, discussing their suitability for different climates and contexts. And during the hands-on afternoon session, we’ll dive deep into several earthen construction techniques which offer some of the most accessible and egalitarian building strategies around.
Cob, adobe, wattle and daub, earthen floors, earthbags, and natural plasters are all different forms of earthen construction that adhere to very similar principles. By mixing clay-rich subsoil, sand, and straw, you can create a durable, massive building material capable of lasting generations.
Despite their low R-value, earthen building techniques can offer a fantastic opportunity to sculpt healthy, inexpensive, low carbon, DIY outbuildings, garden walls, interior walls and partitions, 3 season cabins, and much more. You can even transform a building’s existing interior finish with a clay or lime-based plaster or adobe floor.
During the course of the day you’ll -
- Experience several examples of these materials and techniques on-site including a wattle-and-daub bathhouse, an earthen floor in a 20x30 super insulated home, plaster-and-lath interior and exterior walls, and an earth-bermed root cellar with earthbag retaining walls
- Learn about the most poplar forms of earthen construction including cob, adobe, wattle and daub, earthbags, and natural plasters
- Understand the fundamental mixes for different types of earthen building and learn to identify suitable materials
- Bring your own soil samples to examine their suitability for construction
- Have an opportunity to create different materials mixes and gain experience building with them
This workshop runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm and will be held rain or shine. Tuition is $100. Bring your own lunch. Limited work trade available. We keep our course sizes small to maximize potential for discussions and student interaction so be sure to register early
Register here
This workshop will explore the pros and cons of a range of building techniques, discussing their suitability for different climates and contexts. And during the hands-on afternoon session, we’ll dive deep into several earthen construction techniques which offer some of the most accessible and egalitarian building strategies around.
Cob, adobe, wattle and daub, earthen floors, earthbags, and natural plasters are all different forms of earthen construction that adhere to very similar principles. By mixing clay-rich subsoil, sand, and straw, you can create a durable, massive building material capable of lasting generations.
Despite their low R-value, earthen building techniques can offer a fantastic opportunity to sculpt healthy, inexpensive, low carbon, DIY outbuildings, garden walls, interior walls and partitions, 3 season cabins, and much more. You can even transform a building’s existing interior finish with a clay or lime-based plaster or adobe floor.
During the course of the day you’ll -
- Experience several examples of these materials and techniques on-site including a wattle-and-daub bathhouse, an earthen floor in a 20x30 super insulated home, plaster-and-lath interior and exterior walls, and an earth-bermed root cellar with earthbag retaining walls
- Learn about the most poplar forms of earthen construction including cob, adobe, wattle and daub, earthbags, and natural plasters
- Understand the fundamental mixes for different types of earthen building and learn to identify suitable materials
- Bring your own soil samples to examine their suitability for construction
- Have an opportunity to create different materials mixes and gain experience building with them
This workshop runs from 9:30am to 4:30pm and will be held rain or shine. Tuition is $100. Bring your own lunch. Limited work trade available. We keep our course sizes small to maximize potential for discussions and student interaction so be sure to register early
Register here
Sunday, August 23 - Water Systems for the Farm and Homestead
Water is life - and the ability to source, collect and distribute water is essential to the well-being of our farms and homesteads. During the past few years in New England, we’ve been increasingly experiencing the challenges that come with irregular precipitation patterns like flooding and drought. These realities make clear the imperative to place water as a central aspect of our our land use designs.
In this daylong workshop, we’ll examine the fundamentals of hydrological assessment, design, and management from the perspective of the small farmer and homesteader. We’ll look at a suite of water harvesting, diversion, and distribution techniques and systems on our small working farm and homestead, discussing design options, materials, armchair engineering, and troubleshooting.
Specifically, we’ll unpack -
- The fundamental principles of hydrology, discussing how water flows across landscapes both above and below ground and how that understanding should influence the placement of buildings, agricultural systems, and access ways
- The basics involved in understanding and calculating your site’s water budget
- A range of drainage and diversion structures including ditches/swales, culverts, French/curtain drains, gutters
- The basics of rainwater catchment, storage and distribution off existing building roofs including sizing and design calculations, material choices, and costing
- Water storage in soils using subsoil plowing and infiltration swales and basins
- Spring identification, development, and design
- Pond siting, design, construction, and maintenance
- Basic irrigation systems using high efficiency distribution including drip and mini-wobbler sprinklers
We’ll spend the majority of the day in the field, looking at these strategies and discussing the decisions and management that goes into it. While all knowledge and experience levels are welcome, the workshop is geared towards students who consider their knowledge ‘beginner’ and ‘intermediate’.
The workshop runs from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
As always, note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available.
Click here to register
In this daylong workshop, we’ll examine the fundamentals of hydrological assessment, design, and management from the perspective of the small farmer and homesteader. We’ll look at a suite of water harvesting, diversion, and distribution techniques and systems on our small working farm and homestead, discussing design options, materials, armchair engineering, and troubleshooting.
Specifically, we’ll unpack -
- The fundamental principles of hydrology, discussing how water flows across landscapes both above and below ground and how that understanding should influence the placement of buildings, agricultural systems, and access ways
- The basics involved in understanding and calculating your site’s water budget
- A range of drainage and diversion structures including ditches/swales, culverts, French/curtain drains, gutters
- The basics of rainwater catchment, storage and distribution off existing building roofs including sizing and design calculations, material choices, and costing
- Water storage in soils using subsoil plowing and infiltration swales and basins
- Spring identification, development, and design
- Pond siting, design, construction, and maintenance
- Basic irrigation systems using high efficiency distribution including drip and mini-wobbler sprinklers
We’ll spend the majority of the day in the field, looking at these strategies and discussing the decisions and management that goes into it. While all knowledge and experience levels are welcome, the workshop is geared towards students who consider their knowledge ‘beginner’ and ‘intermediate’.
The workshop runs from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
As always, note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available.
Click here to register
Sunday, September 13 - Small Scale Earthworks
Learning to design land use patterns with topography in mind helps to ensure conscious and careful soil and water management. While we are very intentional about the use of heavy machinery in our work, these tools are remarkable in their capacity to reshape the landforms we tend to improve access; mitigate existing resource concerns; direct, capture, or divert surface runoff; and build more resilient working landscapes.
In this workshop, we'll
- discuss the fundamentals of ecological earthworks with an examination of the principles of keyline design;
- learn how to read readily available high-resolution contour maps along with basic surveying tools (primarily a laser level) to analyze and lay out design ideas in the field
- examine several already-implemented systems including -
- a 1/2 acre on-contour hedgerow with 50 multi-purpose woody species
- a 1/4 acre berry production planting on top of swales set at a 1% grade
- a gravity-fed water system utilizing overflow from an artesian well
- drainage structures including off-contour swales, French drains, culverts, waterbars and broad-based dips
- discuss equipment options, suitability, costing, sourcing and techniques including excavators, tractors with earth shaping implements, and dozers
- and, in the afternoon, we’ll use a rented mini-excavator to install additional earthwork features on our working farm that may include terraces, a roadside drainage ditch, and/or waterbars.
Leave this intensive with practical knowledge and skill to design and implement your own earthworks. This workshop is geared towards students of all knowledge and experience levels, including beginners.
The workshop will run from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
Note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available.
Register here
In this workshop, we'll
- discuss the fundamentals of ecological earthworks with an examination of the principles of keyline design;
- learn how to read readily available high-resolution contour maps along with basic surveying tools (primarily a laser level) to analyze and lay out design ideas in the field
- examine several already-implemented systems including -
- a 1/2 acre on-contour hedgerow with 50 multi-purpose woody species
- a 1/4 acre berry production planting on top of swales set at a 1% grade
- a gravity-fed water system utilizing overflow from an artesian well
- drainage structures including off-contour swales, French drains, culverts, waterbars and broad-based dips
- discuss equipment options, suitability, costing, sourcing and techniques including excavators, tractors with earth shaping implements, and dozers
- and, in the afternoon, we’ll use a rented mini-excavator to install additional earthwork features on our working farm that may include terraces, a roadside drainage ditch, and/or waterbars.
Leave this intensive with practical knowledge and skill to design and implement your own earthworks. This workshop is geared towards students of all knowledge and experience levels, including beginners.
The workshop will run from 10am - 4pm rain or shine. Students should bring their own lunch. $100 tuition
Note that we will not turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please reach out if you'd like to request the sliding scale tuition. Limited work trade available.
Register here
Additional Workshops, Courses and Presentations We Offer
Introduction to Permaculture Design
This intensive workshop covers the ethics and principles of permaculture design and provides a solid introduction to the permaculture design process. Permaculture is the study and practice of the ways human beings, as individuals and societies, can participate in creating ethical and ecological support systems. It is a design science that integrates a wealth of complementary disciplines including agriculture, forestry, energy production and management, economics, transportation, architecture and community development with the intention of creating permanent, truly sustainable human settlements through appropriate, protracted design.
The Art of Traditional Woodworking
Traditional or 'green' woodworking is the process of shaping raw unseasoned wood using simple hand tools. Historically craftspeople split out materials for products from freshly cut, straight-grained logs using wedges. These rough pieces were then shaped by hand using a drawknife and foot-powered spring-pole lathe. After seasoning, these 'riven' or split parts can be properly sized and assembled. Green woodwork demands the craftsperson follow the wood's grain - thus it is inherently stronger and more durable than wood that has been sawn. All sorts of products can be made from green wood including chairs, spoons, bowls, cabinetry, tool handles, etc. During this intensive day-long workshop, students will explore the art and science of working green wood through lecture, slides and most importantly, hands-on experience. Course topics include - an overview of green woodworking tools and techniques; native wood qualities and uses; wood science; tool selection and sharpening skills; and plenty of hands-on experience riving (splitting) and shaping wood using hand tools. Each student will leave the course with a data CD full of articles, plans, tools lists and more - a wealth of information to help one start their own workshop. We'll also explore the potential of coppice forestry on the islands - a highly productive, renewable and truly sustainable form of ancient forest management.
Winter Tree Identification
This afternoon event, led by permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk, will focus on the winter identification characteristics of trees and shrubs. Starting at City Hall park, we'll explore the species diversity that surrounds us in Burlington, learning how to distinguish woody plants based on their foliage, branching patterns, buds, twigs, leaf scars, bark, growth form and habitat and how to use a field guide and dichotomous key to help guide us. This event will be held outdoors, so dress appropriately please bring an eastern tree field guide if you have on.
Forest Gardening
Learn about the concepts, design and maintenance of forest gardens - integrated gardens modeled on the structure of natural forests that incorporate fruiting tress, shrubs, and vegetables, fertility providing plants, medicinals, beneficial insect habitat and more. Forest gardens can be as simple or complex as you like and are well suited to compact urban lots.
Lawn to Garden Conversions
In this evening workshop led by Mark Krawczyk, we will discuss simple, chemical-free strategies to eliminate lawn, build healthy soil and establish beautiful, productive gardens. Additionally, we'll examine the design, installation and maintenance of perennial, edible forest gardens, providing a dynamic, productive alternative to conventional landscaping.
Coppice Forestry Presentation
Mark Krawczyk shares the history, process and management of coppice woodland in Britain and explores its application to forest management in New England. Coppicing is a traditional forestry system in which broadleaf trees are cut during the dormant season and allowed to re-grow as several stems from the still-living stump. When planted densely and managed regularly coppiced woodlands yield a remarkable amount of biomass due to the fact that new poles re-sprout from already vigorous and well-established root system. Coppiced woodlands sustained the growth and development of Britain for centuries after having virtually decimated their native forests by the year 1000. As our culture rapidly approaches a period of energy descent, coppicing could help to provide a steady source of poles and biomass for fuel, fencing materials, building and craft. It is a model for sustainable forestry that only grows more productive with each passing generation.
This intensive workshop covers the ethics and principles of permaculture design and provides a solid introduction to the permaculture design process. Permaculture is the study and practice of the ways human beings, as individuals and societies, can participate in creating ethical and ecological support systems. It is a design science that integrates a wealth of complementary disciplines including agriculture, forestry, energy production and management, economics, transportation, architecture and community development with the intention of creating permanent, truly sustainable human settlements through appropriate, protracted design.
The Art of Traditional Woodworking
Traditional or 'green' woodworking is the process of shaping raw unseasoned wood using simple hand tools. Historically craftspeople split out materials for products from freshly cut, straight-grained logs using wedges. These rough pieces were then shaped by hand using a drawknife and foot-powered spring-pole lathe. After seasoning, these 'riven' or split parts can be properly sized and assembled. Green woodwork demands the craftsperson follow the wood's grain - thus it is inherently stronger and more durable than wood that has been sawn. All sorts of products can be made from green wood including chairs, spoons, bowls, cabinetry, tool handles, etc. During this intensive day-long workshop, students will explore the art and science of working green wood through lecture, slides and most importantly, hands-on experience. Course topics include - an overview of green woodworking tools and techniques; native wood qualities and uses; wood science; tool selection and sharpening skills; and plenty of hands-on experience riving (splitting) and shaping wood using hand tools. Each student will leave the course with a data CD full of articles, plans, tools lists and more - a wealth of information to help one start their own workshop. We'll also explore the potential of coppice forestry on the islands - a highly productive, renewable and truly sustainable form of ancient forest management.
Winter Tree Identification
This afternoon event, led by permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk, will focus on the winter identification characteristics of trees and shrubs. Starting at City Hall park, we'll explore the species diversity that surrounds us in Burlington, learning how to distinguish woody plants based on their foliage, branching patterns, buds, twigs, leaf scars, bark, growth form and habitat and how to use a field guide and dichotomous key to help guide us. This event will be held outdoors, so dress appropriately please bring an eastern tree field guide if you have on.
Forest Gardening
Learn about the concepts, design and maintenance of forest gardens - integrated gardens modeled on the structure of natural forests that incorporate fruiting tress, shrubs, and vegetables, fertility providing plants, medicinals, beneficial insect habitat and more. Forest gardens can be as simple or complex as you like and are well suited to compact urban lots.
Lawn to Garden Conversions
In this evening workshop led by Mark Krawczyk, we will discuss simple, chemical-free strategies to eliminate lawn, build healthy soil and establish beautiful, productive gardens. Additionally, we'll examine the design, installation and maintenance of perennial, edible forest gardens, providing a dynamic, productive alternative to conventional landscaping.
Coppice Forestry Presentation
Mark Krawczyk shares the history, process and management of coppice woodland in Britain and explores its application to forest management in New England. Coppicing is a traditional forestry system in which broadleaf trees are cut during the dormant season and allowed to re-grow as several stems from the still-living stump. When planted densely and managed regularly coppiced woodlands yield a remarkable amount of biomass due to the fact that new poles re-sprout from already vigorous and well-established root system. Coppiced woodlands sustained the growth and development of Britain for centuries after having virtually decimated their native forests by the year 1000. As our culture rapidly approaches a period of energy descent, coppicing could help to provide a steady source of poles and biomass for fuel, fencing materials, building and craft. It is a model for sustainable forestry that only grows more productive with each passing generation.