April 2010
Land's Sake Newsletter
5% Day for Land's Sake at Whole Foods
Upcoming Events!
Annual Meeting
Tomorrow, Thursday, April 29, 7:15pm
Weston Library

Land's Sake's annual meeting is open to the public. On the agenda: an update on the search for an Executive Director and a discussion of Land's Sake's future in light of the findings from the recent organizational assessment.

EcoFest
This Saturday, May 1, 1:30-4:30pm
401 School Street, Wellesley

Come visit us at Wellesley's EcoFest. Bring your kids for games and activities geared for showcasing local sustainable ways of living. We'll have honey, syrup, chickens and chicken tractors there!
Join Our Mailing List
Hello Land's Sake friends,

Save the Date
Get your grocery list together. Hone your cooking skills. Buy your sweets for your sweetie at the Wayland Whole Foods on June 16. On that day 5% of the day's sales will be donated to Land's Sake! We are excited about this. Proceeds from this day could help us purchase a much needed farm vehicle. Please support us by doing your shopping that day and encourage your friends to do the same! Thank you, Whole Foods! Will be sending more reminders about 5% day at the Wayland Whole Foods.

Membership renewal season
Spring is membership renewal season. For those of you who have renewed your membership, thank you! If you have not yet renewed or to become a member for the first time, please visit our website.

Green Dollars
Green Dollars are still on sale through May 31. Green Dollars provide members a 20% discount and non-members a 10% discount on all food items available on the Land's Sake farm stand including honey, maple syrup, bread, vegetables, fruit and pick-your-own crops. Green Dollars are sold in $10 increments in amounts of $10 ($8/$9 cost), $50 ($40/$45 cost), $100 ($80/$90 cost) an $300 ($240/$270 cost). Green Dollars must be purchased by 05/31/10 and redeemed by the season's end 10/31/10. For more information or to purchase, please call the office at 781-893-1162.

Also, the planting season has officially begun! Our greenhouse is full of seedlings and we've been busy these past three weeks prepping the ground for these young plants. We look forward to seeing you at the farmstand in early June and sharing the first of our harvest. In the meantime, please read on for more information about our summer youth programs, an update on our search for a new Executive Director and information about the first Supper Club of the season.

Happy spring!
Sign up now for youth summer programs!

It's time to sign up your children for our popular summer outdoor education programs. Give your kids the gift of a great summer outside learning, working and playing at Land's Sake farm, the Green Power farm and on the town trails. For more information, please contact Douglas Cook, Education Director at doug@landssake.org. or visit us online at www.landssake.org. To register, please click here. We have programs for kids entering 4th through 12th grades.



Green Power Summer
for students entering 6th-8th grades
Jun. 21-Aug. 23; weekly from 8am-12noon
Cost: $175/week for members; $200/week for non-members
Stipend paid to students: $2.50/hour up to $20/week
Maximum of 20 students/per week
Kids need fresh air, dirt under their fingernails and that good exhausted feeling which comes from growing and harvesting bushels of fresh veggies. Green Power Summer participants work in their own field alongside Land's Sake farm and education staff while learning about local ecology, land stewardship and the benefits of working as a team.
Student Stipend & Rules: Students will receive a stipend of up to $20/week (averaging 10-15 hours per week). Land's Sake reserves the right to drop a participant from the program if he/she is not contributing in a positive manner and placing an unnecessary burden on the other students and staff. To register, please click here.

Farm and Forest Explorers Summer
For students entering 4th and 5th grades
June 22-August 26; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week from 1 - 4:30 PM
Cost: $110/week for non-members; $90/week for members
Maximum of 10 participants/week
This program will introduce your child to farm, forest, and other ecological landscapes. Together we plant and harvest from the children's garden, feed our chickens and collect their eggs, explore plant communities and animal habitats in the immediate area, create art projects using natural and found materials, and play nature-based games. When seasonally available, the group will make snacks such salsa, pesto, and raspberry smoothies. To register, please click here.

Junior Apprenticeship Program (JA)
for students entering 9th-12th grades
Summer 2010: Jun. 28 - Aug. 27; 1-4:30pm
Winter 2010: Jan. 9-Apr. 17; every other Sat. from 9am-4pm
Cost: none for the 9-week session
Stipend paid to students: $5.00/hour
Maximum of 3 apprentices
The Junior Apprenticeship program is an opportunity for Green Power alumni to return to Land's Sake and take on greater responsibility and interest in our farm and forestry operations.
Summer apprenticeships give participants a solid foundation in the land stewardship, farming and educational components of Land's Sake. Through a varied schedule, participants can expect to help maintain the Weston trail system, increase their knowledge of organic farming and help educate youth about the importance of healthy communities under the guidance of Land's Sake staff. For this program, participants must undergo an application and interview process in order to be fully accepted into the program. To register, please click here.
Land's Sake Supper Club begins!

Please join us for the first Supper Club of the season held at the Josiah Smith Tavern on Thursday, May 20. The Land's Sake Supper Club is hosted  monthly and features farm-to-table dinners using produce from local farms, including Land's Sake expertly prepared by chef Sam Hunt. There is a maximum of 40 seats available for each dinner so book your reservation early. The cost for members is $55 and for non-members is $70. To become a member, please visit our website For more information or to make a reservation, please email us.


Executive Director Search Update

The Executive Director Search Committee has received a number of applications and is in the process of reviewing and assessing applicants' qualifications. An initial round of phone interviews will be conducted this week. Applications are being accepted through the end of April. For questions, please email search@landssake.org. For a full job description, please click here. Please feel free to forward the job description to any interested parties and networks.
Adult Education workshops

Don't miss our popular upcoming adult education workshops!

Sustainable Landscape Design
Saturday, May 8, 2pm
Weston Library, conference room
We will discuss what sustainable landscape design, construction, and maintenace looks like and the value of careful site evaluation and soil analysis.  We will touch on water use, compost, lawns and invasive species and conclude with plant materials useful for sustainable landscape design. To RSVP visit registration

Coop Loop
Saturday, May 22, 9am
Land's Sake farm
Ever thought about raising chickens in your own backyard? Wondering how to get started? Already have chickens, but interested in how others raise theirs? Curious about chicken tractors? Please join us for this popular tour of chicken coops right here in Weston. All ages are welcome; however, strollers are not recommended. No dogs, please. Call 781-893-1162 to RSVP.
We are happy to announce that we have moved our offices back into the Melone House. Many thanks to the Weston community and the Community Preservation Act for the making this wonderful space available to us. It is taking some time to unpack. Please bear with us when calling or emailing the office for the next little bit during this busy season.

Thank you and happy spring!
 
Sincerely,
the Land's Sake staff