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Fall 2012 - Spring 2013

Workshops and Classes

Information and RegistrationCall 301.283.2113 Email accofound@accokeek.orgVisit www.accokeekfoundation.org

Located 10 miles south of Washington, D.C. at the southern tip of Maryland’s Prince George’s county, the Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park offers unique outdoor experiences including a living history farm, nature trails, scenic river views, a public fishing pier, heritage breed animals, picnic facilities, and native gardens. Piscataway Park is free and open to the public daily, from dawn to dusk.

Weekend ToursWeekend tours of the National Colonial Farm exhibit area are available. Tours begin at the Museum Gift Shop and Visitor Center, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 pm. Tours are $5 per person.

Become a MemberThe Accokeek Foundation is a member-supported, nonprofit organization, originally founded to help preserve the view from Mount Vernon as it was in George Washington’s time. Your tax-deductible contribution supports educational programs in history, agriculture, and environmental stewardship which serve the Southern Maryland community including tens of thousands of school children and visitors annually.

An individual membership is $25, a family membership is $45, and a sustaining membership is $100.

Members receive • Discounts on classes and events• Special invitations to “Friends

Only” events• Quarterly print newsletter• 10% discount at the Museum Gift

Shop and Visitor Center

Planning Your Visit

Cheese-making WorkshopSaturday, August 410 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.$40 non-members$30 membersJoin Eileen Watts of Hard Bargain Farm for a hands-on exploration of basic cheese-making. Participants will assemble two recipes: a semi-soft farmer’s cheese and a 30-minute mozzarella. Milk will be sourced from local, grass-fed cows. Participants will receive printed recipes—and cheese—to take home.

Backyard BirdsSaturday, September 810 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $40 non-members$30 membersBirds can bring feathered fun—and free insect control—to a backyard garden. Join Naturalists, Ann Bodling and Chris Ordiway as they introduce you to the backyard birds of Maryland. From red-breasted robins to cheerful bluebirds, we will identify several common birds of Maryland and discuss how to attract them with shelter, water, and food. Basic birding skills will also be taught. Weather permitting, participants will take a guided trail walk.

Introduction to Biodynamic AgricultureMonday, September 176 p.m. to 8 p.m. $15 non-members$10 membersBiodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming that emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationships of the soil, plants, and animals as a self-sustaining system. In this introductory lecture we will take a look at the essentials of biodynamic agriculture, particularly from a home scale, gardening perspective.

A Fungi ForaySaturday, October 610 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.$5 suggested donationJoin biologist Tovi Lehmann for a foray into the fascinating world of fungi. In this two-part workshop, Tovi will introduce participants to mushroom life cycles and habitats, as well as the important role that fungi play in the natural world. Tovi will also discuss the basics of mushroom identification. Participants will take a guided trail walk to hunt for fungi. Please wear close-toed shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather.

Livestock 101Saturday, October 138:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.$50 non-members$40 membersEver wonder what the difference between a cow and heifer is? Here is your chance to find out. This intensive class covers everything from farm jargon and basic animal anatomy and physiology to basic husbandry through a combination of classroom and field (barnyard) instruction about the various heritage breeds of livestock preserved by the Accokeek Foundation: American Milking Devons, Hog Island Sheep, Ossabaw Hogs, Buckeye Chickens, and Black Turkeys. Participants will receive their own copy of The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals to take home.

Food Justice Series: Food and Farming MixerSaturday, October 134 p.m. to 10 p.m.$5 suggested donationThe Food and Farming Mixer is a great networking opportunity amongst the farm and food systems community

and will feature opportunities to get to know more about the various orga-nizations in the area that are work-ing towards a more sustainable food system. This evening will include a tour of our certified organic vegetable farm operation, a short hike, a discussion about our food system and sustainable agriculture, a potluck, music and more! Please bring lawn chairs, hiking boots, bug spray and a dish to share.

Farming for SeedSaturday, October 209 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.$40 non-members$30 membersJoin Accokeek Foundation Ecosystem Farm staff, Becky Cecere Seward, and Molly Meehan for this exciting exploration of the ins and outs of growing for seed, seed saving, and the historic and cultural context of heirloom vegetable varieties grown at the Ecosystem Farm. All participants will receive a copy of Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth.

Skill, Scale, and SustainabilityFriday, November 2 to Sunday, November 4 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.$225 non-members$220 membersJoin Shane J. LaBrake for a 3-day intensive workshop that blends philosophy and pragmatic advice with hands-on training and real-life problem solving as you develop your small-scale agricultural endeavors. Based on lessons learned from a lifetime of work and travel in food and farming, Shane provides unique insights from his practical experience of reconciling idealism with the nitty-gritty, day-to-day reality of maintaining a viable and sustainable enterprise.

Food Justice Series: Farming on the Four DirectionsSaturday, November 102 p.m. to 5 p.m.$5 suggested donationThe final installment of this four-part presentation of the Robert Ware Straus Lecture Series brings together farmers, policy advocates, community leaders, faith- and government-based initiatives focusing on building local, equitable, and sustainable food systems. Topics include a celebration of the legacy of Cesar Chavez, farmworker justice, food access in Southern Maryland, young and beginning farmers, as well as a look at our diverse ancestral farming in this region and looking toward to the future

of farming. This is a wonderful time to come together as a community in soli-darity to cultivate insight and conversa-tion about the pressing matters of food justice and how we can work together to transform our food system.

Tractor Operation and MaintenanceSaturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 28:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.$160 non-members$145 members

This two-day, hands-on workshop demystifies tractors and empowers their users to operate and maintain their machines more safely and with greater skill and confidence. Day one focuses on the fundamentals of tractor operation; reviewing everything from the historical purpose and use of tractors to the functions and safe use of all of the pedals and levers, the drawbar, power take-off (PTO), and the front-end loader. We will end the first day with tractor driving practice for the novices in the class. The second day is a hands-on lesson in do-it-yourself tractor maintenance, performing a variety of routine tractor maintenance

chores including oil and filter change, coolant change, hydraulic-transmission fluid and filter change, air filter replacement, fuel filter replacement, belt tension adjustment, battery care, and a range of other do-it-yourself tasks that are typically performed at regularly scheduled intervals.

Permaculture Design Certificate Course Saturday, March 23 to Saturday, March 309:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. $1,100 non-members$1,000 membersIn this eight day hands-on course, you’ll learn about sustainable food production, renewable energy, water harvesting, natural building, earthworks, animal husbandry and much more, all geared to give you the skills to practice permaculture on any scale, from a city lot, to suburban yard to country homestead. This course is rewarding and challenging for anyone from beginners to those with years of experience in sustainability, horticulture or environmental stewardship. Take it to deepen your understanding and appreciation for the environment and sustainability; forge a path to a career in sustainable food production; or to prepare for a post-carbon world. The last day of the course will have a Biodynamics focus.

Introduction to Biodynamics IntensiveSaturday, March 309:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.$100 non-members$85 membersBiodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming that emphasizes the holistic development and interrelationships of the soil, plants, and animals as a self-sustaining system. In this follow-up to the introductory lecture held in September 2012, we will take a look at the essentials of biodynamic agriculture, particularly from a home scale, gardening perspective in this day-long intensive class. Much of the class will take place outside, please dress appropriately.

The Accokeek Foundation offers a limited amount of scholarships to beginning farmers interested in taking classes and workshops. For more information and to apply, contact Molly Meehan at caes@accokeek.org.

ONGOING Green ThumbsFirst and Third Thursday, and Third Saturday (March through October)9 a.m. to noonThe Green Thumbs is a volunteer group that invites gardeners of all ages and skill levels to lend a hand in the Accokeek Foundation’s Museum Garden and, on occasion, on the National Colonial Farm. Volunteers will have an opportunity to learn more about the history of heirloom vegetables and the practices behind organic gardening, from planting and harvesting to managing weeds and pests. We will work together in the garden space, sharing ideas, knowledge, skills, and stories. Water and light snacks will be provided.

Ecosystem Farm VolunteeringThird Thursday (March through October)1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Volunteers will meet monthly at the Visitor Center for a brief tour along the Pumpkin Ash Trail to the Robert Ware Straus Ecosystem Farm, then work side-by-side with farm staff to learn about sustainable agricultural practices. Please wear appropriate clothing including closed-toe shoes, work gloves, hat or sunscreen, and bring your water bottle.

Stitch ‘n Time Textiles ClubFourth Saturday1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Stitch ‘n Time is a volunteer-based textiles club where members enjoy learning about the cultivation of fleece, dyeing of wool, and colonial textiles. Club members join Foundation staff and other textile artists to use wool from the farm’s heritage breed sheep to card, spin, and knit. The club is open to novice and expert spinners and knitters, as well as those handy with a sewing needle or sewing machine to make costumes for our interpreters.

Southern Maryland FoodwaysThird SaturdayAll Day, with a “Table Conversation” at noonFreeJoin us for a kitchen table conversation as we introduce you to the epicurean delights enjoyed by colonial Marylanders. Learn how our tastes and the food itself have changed over 300 years as we explore “receipts” (recipes) and meal preparation. Themes and menu vary monthly.

Register for Events Online:www.accokeekfoundation.org

3400 Bryan Point Road A

ccokeek, MD

20607