O R G A N I C

Dorchester, New Hampshire

We would like to thank the following generous sponsors of the 2012 workshop series:

* Agnes M. Lindsay Trust

* Baker River Realty

* Cafe Monte Alto

* KTM Auto

* NRCS High Tunnel Grant

* Davis Conservation Foundation

 * NH Electric Co-op Foundation

* Lizzie Cheney Charitable Trust

* The Lavoie Foundation

* Patagonia

* Stacey Lucas

* Stuart Family Fund

* Turtle Ridge Foundation

* Cogswell Benevolent Trust

* Stannard & Dorothy Dunn Charitable Foundation

* Lavoie Foundation

* WR Berkley Corp Charitable Foundation

* Deld Family Foundation

* Arthur Ashley Williams Foundation

 

     D Acres of New Hampshire
                             Organic Permaculture Farm & Educational Homestead

                     1997-2012 Progress Towards SustainAbility   


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Workshops & Events...

 

D Acres of New Hampshire offers a variety of fun and exciting workshops, classes, and community events throughout the year, all of which are open to the public. Topics include permaculture, gardening, woodworking, cooking, food preservation, animal husbandry, sustainable forestry, and ecological construction methods.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are held on-site at D Acres: 218 Streeter Woods Road, Dorchester, NH.  Directions are available here.

 

Click here to register for an event!

 

In 2012 the theme is the Year of Local Economy: Currency in Community

 Please contact us if you have workshops or events that you would like presented at D Acres.

 

 

EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

Permaculture Design Through the Seasons

Permaculture Through the Seasons

Certification Course at D Acres of New Hampshire

7 Weekends from April to November 2012

This course is especially useful for homeowners, planners, design professionals, community organizers, farmers, and gardeners. It is adapted to a wide variety of learning styles and is presented via lecture, images, video, group discussion, hands on experiences, exercises, and design projects.  Throughout the course each student will be working on a design project for their own property. The course will meet on Saturday and Sunday of the identified weekends, and tuition includes 4 nourishing organic meals and simple accommodations for one night each weekend.

 

Course graduates will receive a Permaculture design certificate.

 

If you are working toward a sustainable future and want practical tools and applicable methodologies, then this course is for you!

 

The course will meet at D Acres Organic Farm & Educational Homestead in Dorchester, New Hampshire.

 

Tuition is $1200 which includes Saturday lunch & dinner, Sunday breakfast & lunch as well as overnite accommodations. Course starts in April and meets one weekend each month for 8 months with the July North Permaculture Convergence optional.

The weekends of the course are April 21-12, May 12-13, June 23-24, July Convergence, August 18-19, September 15-16, October 21-22, November 17-18.

 

The Instructors:

 

Steve Whitman has been teaching courses in sustainability and Permaculture in the northeast and internationally for seven years, and began practicing Permaculture years before.

 

Josh Trought, Regina Rinaldo & Beth Weick comprise the D Acres staff teaching cadre. We provide hands-on practical systems study & implementation of rural farm & community scale permaculture.

 

And guests!

 

Topics covered will include:

·         Permaculture ethics and principles

·         The Design Process

·         Food and Energy Security

·         Natural Systems and biodiversity

·         Site Analysis and assessment

·         Backyard Gardening and Sustainable Agriculture

·         Natural Building and Appropriate Technology

·         Sustainable Forestry and Creating Food Forests

·         Animals in the Permaculture System                   

·         Solar Greenhouse Design

·         Village Design and  local economics                    

·         Preserving the Harvest

·         A Design Project for your site!

  

For details contact D Acres or call Steve at 603-381-1798 or email steve@low-energy-future.com

 

 

2012 Permaculture Through the Seasons Registration Form

 

This year in conjunction with the Permaculture class we made a movie. The 40 minute video documents practical applications of Permaculture utilized at D Acres. We are showing the movie at regional theaters, co-ops and education centers. The video is available to be shown on your local public access channel. Please request it in your area! Here's a link to the video online and the schedule of public showings:

 

 

January

Jan 12: Knitting Circle 7-9pm

Jan 13: Exclusive Performance by Grammy Nominee & Founder of New York Ragtime Orchestra- Masanobu Ikemiya Friday Jan 13 at 7pm

Jan 15: Open Trails

Jan 22: Open Trails

Jan 26: Writing Group 10-12 am

Jan 27: Potluck/Open Mic

Jan 29: Volunteer Day/Open Trails

February 

Feb 3: Pizza Night

Feb 5: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

Feb 9: Knitting Circle 7-9pm

Feb 11: Wooden Heart - Use power tools to carve a heart! 1-4pm with Josh $16

Feb 11:  Printmaking Workshops- Learn to make prints with Regina 1-4pm $8

Feb 12: Open Trails

Feb 16: Seasonal Cooking

Feb 18-19: Dorchester Rummage & Bake Sale 9am 2pm Dorchester Town Hall

Feb 19: Open Trails

Feb 23: Writing Group

Feb 24: Potluck/Open Mic

Feb 25: Local Currency Organizing Meeting Noon

Feb 25: Regional Farmers Gathering at D Acres 5pm

Feb 26: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

 March

Mar 2: Pizza Night

Mar 3: NOFA-NH Winter Conference Keynote by Frances Moore-Lappe

Mar 4: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

March 8: Knitting Circle 7-9pm

Mar 10: Town Vote

March 11: Open Trails & Bookclub 4-6pm

Mar 15: Seasonal Cooking

Mar 17: Town Meeting

March 18: Open Trails

Mar 22: Writing Group

Mar 24: Pruning with Josh- Check out the orchards. Bring appropriate clothing for outdoor work. $8 1-3pm

Mar 24 Maple Sugaring with Beth 1-3pm FREE

Mar 25: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

Mar 30: Potluck/Open Mic

Mar 31: Clothing Swap

 April

April 1: Farm Feast Breakfast/Clothing Swap & Open Trails

April 6: Pizza Night

April 7: Indoor Seeding with Beth 1-3pm $4

April 7: Dorchester Children’s Easter Party 10am

April 8: Easter & Open Trails

April 14: Member Bring a Friend Dinner

April 15: Open Trails

April 19: Seasonal Cooking

April 22: Open Trails

April 27: Potluck/Open Mic

April 28: Beginning Blacksmithing with Steve Ash 9-4 $40

April 29: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

 May

May 4: Pizza Night

May 6: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

May 12: Dave Jacke, author of "Edible Forest Gardening"  presents in Plymouth NH

May 13: Open Trails & Book Club 4-6pm

May 17: Seasonal Cooking

May 19: Plant Walk with Maria Weick FREE!

May 19: Transplanting Annuals with Beth 10-12 $4

May 20: Open Trails

May 25: Potluck/Open Mic

May 26: Dandelion/Country Wine Making with Regina

May 27: Beginning/Intermediate Blacksmithing w/Steve Ash 9-4 $40

May 27: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

 June

 June 1: Pizza Night

June 2: Composting with Beth 10-12am FREE!!

June 2: D Acres Garden Systems with Josh 1-3pm $4

June 3: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

June 9: Northern Forest Tree Identification with Beth FREE!

June 10: Open Trails

June 16: Treehouse Tour with Josh 1-3 Bring outdoors hiking attire!

Jine 17: Open Trails

June 21: Seasonal Cooking

June 24: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

June 29: Potluck/Open Mic

June 30: Intermediate Blacksmithing: Tool Making w/Steve Ash 9-4 $40

July

July 1: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

July 6: Pizza Night

July 8: Book Club & Open Trails

July 13-15: Dorchester Old Home Days

July 14: Basics of Backyard Chickens

July 15: Plant Walk w/Maria Weick & Open Trails

July 19: Seasonal Cooking

July 21: Fermented Beverages with Louise Turner 10-12 $8

July 22: Open Trails

July 27: Potluck/Open Mic

July 28: Intermediate Blacksmithing: Animal Heads w/Steve Ash 9-4 $40

July 29: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

August

Aug 3: Pizza Night

Aug 5: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

Aug 10-11 NOFA-Mass Summer Conference

Aug 11: Pig Raising with Beth 10-12am

Aug 11: Vegetable Preservation Techniques w/Regina 1-3pm

August 11: Rumney Old Home Days

Aug 12: Open Trails

Aug 16: Seasonal Cooking

Aug 19: Open Trails

Aug. 25: Soap Making with Madeline 10-Noon

Aug 26: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

Aug 31: Potluck/Open Mic

September 

Sept 2: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

Sept 7: Pizza Night

Sept 9: Book Club, Community Apple Cider Pressing & Open Trails

Sept 16: Open Trails

Sept 20: Seasonal Cooking

Sept 21,22,23 MOFGA Common Ground Fair  Unity, ME

Sept 23: Open Trails

Sept 28: Potluck/Open Mic

Sept 30: Volunteer Day  & Open Trails

October 

Oct 5: Pizza Night

Oct 6: Garlic Cultivation

Oct 6-7: Dorchester Rummage & Bake Sale 9am-2pm

Oct 7: Farm Feast Breakfast & Community Cider Making & Open Trails

Oct 13: Papier Mache, Root Cellar, & Sheet Mulching Workshops

Oct 14: Open Trails

Oct 18: Seasonal Cooking

Oct 21 Community Apple Cider Making & Open Trails

Oct 26-28: Alumni Reunion Weekend

Oct 26: Potluck/Open Mic

Oct 27: Member Appreciation Dinner

Oct 27: Dorchester Halloween Party 7-9pm

Oct 28: Volunteer Days & Open Trails

 November

Nov 2: Pizza Night

Nov 3: Dorchester Craft & Bake Sale 9am-2pm

Nov 4: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

Nov 10: Spoonmaking & Breadbaking Workshops

Nov 11: Book Club& Open Trails

Nov 15: Seasonal Cooking

Nov 18: Open Trails

Nov 25: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

Nov 30: Potluck/Open Mic

December

Dec 2: Farm Feast Breakfast & Open Trails

Dec 7: Pizza Night

Dec 9: Open Trails

Dec 15: Dorchester Christmas Party 7pm

Dec 16: Open Trails

Dec 20: Seasonal Cooking

Dec 23: Open Trails

Dec 25: Community Dinner

Dec 28: Potluck/Open Mic

Dec 30: Volunteer Day & Open Trails

 

 

Community Potlucks

Join your neighbors in a monthly celebration of community and great food around the time of the full moon.  Bring a friend and a dish to share!

 

 

Farm Feast Breakfast & Open House

The first Sunday of each month from 10am to 1pm, D Acres hosts an All-You-Should-Eat breakfast featuring pancakes made with local flour,  NH maple syrup (in season),  local free-range eggs, D Acres meat, potatoes, and greens, and fair-trade coffee from Cafe Monte Alto (Plymouth, NH).  $5-15 sliding scale suggested donation.  Work off your indulgence with a tour of the working, organic farm. 

 

Can’t make the Feast?  Come by at 1pm for the Open House tour.  Beginning in May, the tour includes a garden walk!  Throughout the year, our miles of woodland trails are open for your enjoyment on the first Sunday of the month!  Join us at 1pm for our Open Trails- snowshoe or cross-country ski in the winter, hike in the summer! *For the safety and preservation of farm and wilderness flora and fauna, Please Do Not Bring Your Pets*

 

First-Friday Pizza and a Movie  Whole-wheat, wood-fired pizza is all-you-should eat for a sliding scale donation of $5-$15. Dinner begins at 6 pm.  Films begin at 7pm, and are FREE to the public. 

Films vary in content though are suitable for all ages, Lettuce know if you have suggestions for film nites.

Reiki Shares 1:30pm, the FIRST Sunday of each month, open to the public!  Are you curious about Reiki energy healing, and want to give it a try?  Are you a Reiki practitioner looking to share your gifts with others?  Join our circle of Reiki practitioners and community members to welcome this relaxing, restorative energy into your life!  No prior experience with or knowledge of Reiki is necessary. Donations accepted.

Volunteer Days 

The last Sunday of each month is Volunteer Day at D Acres.  Get your hands dirty working in the gardens, on the trails, or building with earthen materials with the D Acres crew.  10am to 4pm; hearty farm lunch included! Please contact D Acres to register. 

 

Cooking with the Seasons with Regina 5:30pm $8 Join Regina Third Thursday of every month in the D Acres kitchen to create a delicious meal using seasonal ingredients grown on the farm. Great opportunity to think outside the grocery store box!

Writing Group  with Ivy Page  $15  10-Noon Our monthly writing group meets in the enchanting northern forest of New Hampshire!  Regular participants work to discover or improve creative writing talents in a supportive, encouraging environment through the use of writing promts, skills-building, and group critique.  All levels and styles are welcome; emphasis is currently on poetry and short-stories.  Beginners are certainly welcome.

*Pre-registration is required for the writing group.  Please contact D Acres: (603)786-2366 or info@dacres.org*

 Potluck/ Open Mic Night  FREE! Join us on the last Friday of every month. Potluck begins at 6ish with food served at 6:30.   Open Mic Night from 8:00 to 10:30...all types of music, poetry, spoken word, etc. are welcome.  Schedule your time slot when you arrive, or call ahead- or, join us as a listener in the audience!  From 10:30 to 12:00, musicians of all kinds are welcome to join in an Open Jam session!  Potluck drinks and snacks are welcome. 

Open Trails  Sundays 1-4pm- Snowshoe or cross-country ski in the winter, hike in the summer! Staff will be available to guide or point you in the right directions. *For the safety and preservation of farm and wilderness flora and fauna, Please Do Not Bring Your Pets*

 

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REGISTRATION

 

Asterisks (*) indicate that pre-registration is required. 

 

To register for any of the above events, please email us at info@dacres.org with your name, the name and date of the event, and how many people will be attending.  You may also call (603) 786-2366 to register.  Please call in advance for confirmation and reservations. For those workshops or events that require payment, cash or checks are accepted at the door.

 

There is a 25% discount for residents of Grafton County and a further 25% discount for members of D Acres of New Hampshire.  Members who live in Grafton County receive a total 50% discount!

 

No one will be denied access to D Acres workshops & events due to inability to pay.

 

Thank you! 

 

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Host Your Own Workshop or  

    Event at D Acres of New Hampshire!


Looking for a venue to host your sustainable, agriculture, art, community-oriented workshop, seminar, retreat or public speaking event? The facilities at D Acres of New Hampshire might be perfect for you. We have beautiful indoor and outdoor space to accommodate small-to-medium sized groups. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are available. 

 

At D Acres, the environment and our local community come first.  We strive to utilize only reusable plates, silverware, glasses, mugs, and napkins.  Food is 90% organic and choices depend upon what can be harvested from the gardens, and what has been canned, pickled, frozen or stored in the root cellar from an earlier harvest.

 

E-mail us at info@dacres.org with information regarding the type of event you would like to host, the date, how many hours you will need the space, and whether you prefer indoors or outdoors. We will e-mail you back with prices and availability. You can also contact us by phone at (603) 786-2366.

 

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Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA)

 

NOFA provides an informative calendar of regional events related to sustainable agriculture.  Please visit their web site at www.nofa.org

 

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permaculture

 

No one will be denied access to D Acres workshops & events due to inability to pay.

 

A 25% discount on all workshops and events is offered to members of D Acres and to residents of Grafton County, so...

50% off for Local Members