May 2010
 Land's Sake Newsletter
 At Summer's Door
Upcoming Events!
Supper Club
Thursday, May 20
7pm-10pm
Josiah Smith Tavern
Please join us for the first Supper Club dinner of the season. This month's theme is "Spring!" Young asparagus and tender greens herald the start of the growing season and provide inspiration for this month's menu. To make a reservation, please click here. Only 10 seats left!

Coop Loop
Saturday, May 22
10am-1pm
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. Click here to RSVP.

Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 19
10am-2pm
Land's Sake Farm
Please come for pick-your-own berries, summertime food including strawberry shortcake, live music, tractor rides, and plenty of farm games and activities for children. Land's Sake strawberries are grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children. Children under 2 and Land's Sake members are free.
Green Dollars
Only two weeks left!
Green Dollars sales end 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 redeemed by the season's end 10/31/10.

For more information or to purchase, please call the office at 781-893-1162.
Land's Sake Membership
One of the best ways you can support Land's Sake is to become a member, or renew your membership. Our work would not be possible without the help of our generous members. In addition to supporting the mission of Land's Sake, members receive benefits as a thank you for your support.

Please consider becoming a member or renewing today. For information about membership, click here. All membership donations are tax deductible.
We're back!
We have moved our offices back to the Melone House. We are so grateful to the citizens of Weston, who voted to use town CPA funds for the wonderful renovations. We are still unpacking our things and getting settled but we are delighted to be "home".
You can find us at:
27 Crescent Street, Weston
781-893-1162
info@landssake.org
This just in!
The Weston High School Environthon team placed seventh out of 41 in the annual Mass Envirothon competition held this month. The team was coached by Land's Sake Education Directors, Casey Townsend and Douglas Cook. Envirothon teams representing schools and community organizations prepare throughout the year for this statewide event in May that tests their knowledge of forest, wildlife, water, and soil resources, and current environmental issues. Congratulations team!
Join Our Mailing List
Hello Land's Sake friends,

While the farm stand is still a few weeks away from opening, the season is in full swing here at Land's Sake. Our farm crew is almost all here and working hard in the fields. Our Spring youth education programs are in full tilt, the Supper Club kicks off on May 20 and excellent progress is being made in the search for our next Executive Director. We couldn't be more excited about the summer season ahead. Please read on for more details!
5% Day at Wayland Whole Foods

Save the date: June 16. On this day, 5% of the total sales at the Wayland Whole Foods will be donated to Land's Sake! Please help us make the best of this great opportunity by doing your week's shopping, or several weeks shopping, that day. Encourage your friends to do the same! Together we can raise significant funds to benefit Land's Sake. We are excited about this partnership with you, our supporters, and our local Whole Foods store!
Land's Sake Supper Club: Farm-to-table dinners at the Josiah Smith Tavern

Please join us for our popular Supper Club dinners at the Barn of the Josiah Smith Tavern in Weston, MA. The Land's Sake Supper Club is a monthly series of gourmet dinners expertly prepared by chef Sam Hunt featuring local fresh produce from Land's Sake Farm and other local farms. Each monthly dinner, held May through December, has a theme featuring seasonal produce and information about current farming activities.



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. BYOB. To become a member, please visit our website. To make a reservation for the May 20th dinner, please click here.

2010 Supper Club schedule:
May 20, 2010 (theme: spring!) only 10 seats left!
June 17, 2010 (theme: strawberries) to make a June reservation, click here
July 15, 2010 (theme: herbs/flowers)
August 19, 2010 (theme: chickens)
September 16, 2010 (theme: storage vegetables)
October 21, 2010 (theme: smoked meat)
November 18, 2010 (theme: fruits and roots)
December 9, 2010 (theme: maple syrup)

For more information, please visit our Supper Club page on our website. You may also email supper@landssake.org.

Also, our chef, Sam Hunt, will be featured in an upcoming 'Celebrity Chef' series in the August edition of Edible Boston Magazine in recognition of his commitment to farm to table cooking. Congratulations, Sam!
Summer Youth Programs on the Farm

Register now for our popular summer youth programs!



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 apply, please click here.

For more information about any of our Youth or Adult Education programs, please email Doug Cook, Education Director, at doug@landssake.org.
Search progresses for an Executive Director

Interviews began this week for the Executive Director position and will continue next week. The caliber of interviewees has been truly encouraging. The search committee will be reviewing the results of the interviews in the coming weeks and will make a recommendation to the Board regarding next steps. In the meantime, organizational changes continue under the guidance of Pete Hyde, former Board Member and Acting Executive Director, and Pat Gray, our invaluable non-profit consultant. We are excited about the direction the organization is going and looking forward to the next chapter in the Land's Sake story.
Farm update

The greenhouses are full and many of our fields are already planted with the first of our summer crops. Our onions, brassicas, peas, flowers and strawberries are looking excellent. All signs are pointing to a great growing season thanks to Melanie Hardy, our farm manager, our experienced crew and the weather.

The farm stand will open sometime the first week of June. We'll post the exact date as soon as we know it-- much depends on Mother Nature! When we do open, our hours will be Tuesday through Sunday, 10 to 6. We look forward to seeing you there.
Once again, we remind you that we could not exist without your support. We are truly grateful for all you do to make our organization a success including the efforts you make in your own lives to live sustainably and eat locally. We are proud of our Land's Sake community! 
 
Sincerely,
the Land's Sake staff