Free Offerings in the Berkshires

Bring the family for an afternoon of winter activities, including snow tubing for the little ones, a Snowshoe demonstration by NeviTREK Handmade Snowshoes, and a self-guided hike along the Bradley Farm Trail! It’s a Winter Wonderland of family-friendly activities not to be missed! 11AM – 1PM

Presented by Sue Lavallee, Coast of Maine Organic Products. Sue will share her tips, successes (& failures), and wisdom harvested from many years of seed-starting. Learn tips like pre-planning on paper, what seeds to choose, what type of soil and containers, and how to avoid seedling ‘assassins.’ Snow date, Sunday March 15. 10AM. Pre-registration is required.

Presented by Tom Ingersoll and Melissa LeVangie, Massachusetts Certified Arborists.
Are your shrubs a crowded mass of leafy-stems? Do they have few flowers and look dead in the center? Proper pruning from planting through maturity can help improve form and aesthetics, boost disease and pest resistance, and maximize fruit and flower production. Tom and Melissa will explain and entertain while demonstrating various techniques for enhancing the structure and health of your favorite shrubs, ornamentals and hedges. 10AM. Pre-registrations is required.

Did you have problems last year with pests or mold? No flowers on your flowering shrubs? Are deer eating everything? Do you run from roses in fear and trembling? Bring your concerns and join the Ward’s expert staff and other gardeners like yourself who have spring garden problems to solve. 1PM. Pre-registration is required.

Presented by Tom Ingersoll and Melissa LeVangie, Massachusetts Certified Arborists.
Are your landscape trees out of control and looking more like shrubs? Proper pruning from planting through maturity can help improve form and aesthetics; boost disease and pest resistance; and maximize fruit and flower production. Tom and Melissa will explain and entertain while demonstrating various techniques for enhancing the structure and health of your favorite trees. 1PM. Pre-registration is required.

Free admission in 2020 for all children ages 0-17!

The City of Pittsfield Recreation Program and the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires invite the first 100 people through the door during the Public Skate at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires to free admission for skating as well as free skate rental (limited size availability) if needed. 3:30PM – 5PM

Bring the family for an afternoon of winter activities, including snow tubing for the little ones, a Snowshoe demonstration by NeviTREK Handmade Snowshoes, and a self-guided hike along the Bradley Farm Trail! It’s a Winter Wonderland of family-friendly activities not to be missed! 11AM – 1PM.

Presented by Don Ward III, The Don Ward Company.Great gardens start with great soils. Introducing organic material with rich compost can improve your plants’ ability to take up soil nutrients and better support their root systems. Don will explain how to make your own compost and will share more about the different bagged soil choices available at Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center. 2PM. Pre-registration is required.

Bring the family for an afternoon of winter activities, including snow tubing for the little ones, a Snowshoe demonstration by NeviTREK Handmade Snowshoes, and a self-guided hike along the Bradley Farm Trail! It’s a Winter Wonderland of family-friendly activities not to be missed! 11AM – 1PM.

Presented by Sandy Merrill, Gardens by D’esign, New London CT.Herbs may be the easiest plants to grow – so don’t baby them! They love sun and rocky, quick-draining soil. Most were just ‘weeds’ that someone noticed smelled nice when touched, and through trial and error, discovered how versatile herbs really are. Sandy will share tastes, scents, special qualities, and pest-control hints for 13 popular herbs. 10AM. Pre-registration is required.

Kids and Teens under 18 always get free admission!

Presented by Generoso Gallo, Berkshire Greenscapes, Pittsfield, MA. Generoso will explain how to choose the right plant for your conditions and to build your garden designs around those considerations. You will learn how to interpret and uncover the meaning of “full shade” vs. “partial shade” or “quick-draining but evenly moist”. He will share how soil chemistry affects and forms plant communities for a full season of colorful impact in your garden. 1PM. Pre-registration is required.

Javon Williams was just a normal kid until a freak accident gave him amazing superpowers. The only problem? The neighborhood bully, Hoody, acquired his own superpowers and is using them to terrorize the city! Javon attempts to save the city by becoming… The Supadupa Kid! At The Common, First Street, Pittsfield.

Explore dance education practices dedicated to artistry, collaboration, and dance making in workshops inspired by the work of Pillow Lab residency artists. Includes a 3-hour workshop, lunch, a tour, and In Process Series showing with a Pillow Lab artist. Comfortable clothing suggested. Open to all levels ages 16+.

Presented by Jess Toro, Native Habitat Restoration, LLC; Stockbridge, MA.
Through Native Habitat Restoration, LLC; Jess and co-owner Sari Hoy assist landowners, conservation organizations and municipal agencies remove invasive plant species from sensitive environments and landscapes and restore the diversity and function of native habitats. Jess will help you determine the degree of your problem and offer different strategies for clearing small to large areas of Japanese knot-weed, Bishop’s weed, Purple Loosestrife, Oriental Bittersweet, Phragmites grass, Garlic mustard and Creeping Charley and more. If you aren’t sure what your plant is, bring in a photo and sample (in a sealed plastic bag) to get specific advice. 1PM. Pre-registration is required.

The City of Pittsfield Recreation Program and the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires invite the first 100 people through the door during the Public Skate at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires to free admission for skating as well as free skate rental (limited size availability) if needed. 1PM – 2:30PM

Presented by Jenna O’Brien, Viridissima Design, Becket, MA. The art of the container comes from creating combinations that can handle the same environment while making an impact of contrasts and similarities. You’ll catch Jenna’s enthusiasm watching her slides filled with planting ideas and the basic principles about designing a container; then, you will participate in the creation of one from Ward’s current plant offerings. 10AM. Pre-registration is required.

Presented by Ron Kujawski, Garden Writer, Author, and Consultant; Great Barrington, MA. Among the boldest and most colorful flowers in summer gardens are the so-called summer-flowering bulbs. Often unknown to beginner gardeners and under appreciated by veteran gardeners, these “bulbs” are among the easiest plants to grow. What are they; how are they best used; how are they to be cared for? This presentation will provide answers to these and other questions about summer- flowering bulbs. 2PM. Pre-registration is required.

The City of Pittsfield Recreation Program and the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires invite the first 100 people through the door during the Public Skate at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires to free admission for skating as well as free skate rental (limited size availability) if needed. 3:30PM – 5PM

Berkshire County residents are invited to visit Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary for free! Explore seven miles of beautiful trails and learn about our nature education programs for all ages. Stop by our Gift Shop while you’re here! Free for Berkshire County Residents with valid license or ID

WCMA sparks new ways of thinking about the visual world through its innovative exhibitions, programs, publications and initiatives. Always Free!

Presented by Brehan Bruce-Cole and Pat Parkins, Gardens of the Goddess, Becket, MA. Learn the strategies for starting your vegetable garden and maintaining it. From healthy soil to pest prevention, Brehan and Pat will help you enjoy homegrown from early spring through late fall. 2PM. Pre-registration is required.

The City of Pittsfield Recreation Program and the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires invite the first 100 people through the door during the Public Skate at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires to free admission for skating as well as free skate rental (limited size availability) if needed. 3:30PM – 5PM

Presented by Marc Fadding, Certified Arborist, Horticulturist and Owner of Marconica, Inc., Glendale, MA. Proper pruning of fruit trees encourages health, invigorates growth in both the tree and its fruit, and improves the aesthetics of your property. Learn the timetables for pruning and protective spraying as Marc demonstrates. 2PM. Pre-registration is required.