2026 Programs
Wednesday, January 7
9:30 AM Socializing/Business
10:00 AM Program
Topic: “Composting”
Speaker: John Pitroff
Place: The Lenox Club
Mtg. Coord.: Mary Spina
John Pitroff, founder and owner of Second Chance Composting, will show slides and speak about his award winning composting process in the Berkshires. He’ll address topics such as what we can and cannot compost, and why it’s important to compost locally and on a larger scale. He’ll explain his commercial food scrap collection from schools, supermarkets & events as well as residential collections and community composting programs. Learn from the expert how composting can be made easily accessible to all!
** Please RSVP to Mary Spina at casaspina@aol.com or 413-496-1574 **
Wednesday, February 4
9:30 AM Socializing/Business
10:00 AM Program
Topic: “BEAT – Pesticides – Zero Tolerance
Speaker: Brittany Ebeling
Place: Berkshire Botanical Garden Classroom
Mtg. Coord.: Bobbie Anne Salinetti
Brittany Ebeling, executive director of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), will speak on pesticides and their side effects. Brittany lives in Sheffield where she co-owns Little Bean Farm and Pantry.
** Please RSVP to Bobbie Anne Salinetti at bobbianne245@aol.com or 413-243-1898 **
Wednesday, March 4
9:15 AM Socializing/Business. 10:00 AM Program. 12:00PM – 2:00 PM Workshop
Topic: Floral Design, Techniques and Secrets of Botanical Arts Entries; to be followed by Hands-on Workshop
Speaker: Sarah Jane Boynton, Cohasset GCA
Place: Berkshire Botanical Garden, Classroom
Mtg Coord.: KK Zutter
Have you ever wondered how exhibitors transform dried plant material into jewelry and other exquisite works of art? Join award-winning exhibitor Sarah Boynton as she reveals the techniques and creative process behind her prizewinning Botanical Arts entries. Through a lively slideshow, Sarah will share her methods for collecting, preserving, and assembling plant materials, along with insider tips, design strategies, and planning ideas to inspire your own show-stopping creations.
** Please RSVP to Abbie Shoobs at afs1091@gmail.com or 201-207-2545**
WORKSHOP
Discover the magic of creating your own Botanical Arts pin in this hands-on workshop led by Sarah Boynton.
Participants will design and craft a wearable work of art using natural plant materials while learning more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into successful Botanical Arts entries. Sarah will share practical tips on selecting, preserving, and assembling plant elements, as well as insights into what judges look for in show pieces. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned exhibitor, this workshop offers the perfect blend of creativity, learning, and fun, and you’ll leave with both a finished pin and the confidence to enter your own Botanical Arts creations in future flower shows! Registration required. Spaces are limited. $15 charge for Botanical Arts Kit.
Wednesday, April 1
10:00 AM
Topic: French Gardeners’ Breakfast
Place: Orleton Farm, Home of Mary Waller
31 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge
Chair: Janet Pumphrey
Please come and celebrate Spring at the French Gardeners’ Breakfast!
Wednesday, May 6
9:30 AM Socializing/Business
10:00 AM Program
Topic: “Collective Voices for the Common Good:
Speaking up for a Healthy Planet”
Speaker: TBD
Place: The Lenox Club
Mtg. Coord.: Janet Egelhofer- Conservation Committee
A guest speaker will highlight best practices and resources as we continue our ongoing activities and focus on grass roots advocacy of Massachusetts environmental issues in conjunction with GCA Zone 1 and other local organizations knowledge for success! The instruction and workshop will be approximately 1 hour/15 minutes.
** Please RSVP to Janet Egelhofer at janet.egelhofer@gmail.com or 413-575-5394 **
Wednesday, June 3
Noon Luncheon
Topic: Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Place: The Lenox Club
CELEBRATE! VOTE! MEET! CONGRATULATE!
Wednesday, July 8
10:00 AM Program
Topic: Field Trip to Red Shirt Farm
Place: Guided Tour & Lunch at their store
Speaker: Jim Schultz
Carpooling suggested- 60 Williamstown Rd. (Rte.7), Lansborough
Mtg. Coord.: Nordie Sundberg
Join owner/farmer and former public school teacher Jim Shultz for a personal tour of his 10-acre farm featuring a wide variety of vegetables and herbs as well as heritage chickens, turkeys, pigs and more. Learn about their growing practices using regenerative principles including no-till, composting, cover crops and rotational planting.
Our visit will conclude at the on-site farm store where we will enjoy a tasty farm-fresh lunch.
** Please RSVP to Nordie at lenoresundberg@gmail.com or 413-298-3707 **
Wednesday, August 5
9:30 AM Socializing/Business
10:00 aM Program
Topic: “Sun Printing on Fabric” – Cyanotype Demo and Workshop
Speaker: Mary Lou Bradley
Place: Berkshire Botanical Garden, Center House Kitchen
Mtg. Coord.: Cynthia Tindale
Learn about cyanotype, the process of printing on treated fabric, paper or other materials using sunlight. The first prints ever made using this process were of algaes and leaves. After a presentation and demonstration, make your own cyanotype print on a piece of fabric or paper. Materials for printing will be provided, but bring your dried flowers, leaves or other item(s) to make your print— the flatter the items the better.
** Please RSVP to Cynthia Tindale at cynthia.tindale@outlook.com or 718-309-4443 **
Wednesday, September 9
9:30 AM Gathering/Business. 10:00 AM Program
Topic: “Rubbish, Stink and Death”- the history, current state, and future of our planet’s water quality.
Speaker: Steve Chapra
Place: Berkshire Botanical Garden, Classroom
Mtg. Coord.: Mary Howard
Dr. Steve Chapra explores the history, current status and future prospects for global water quality. Since prehistoric times little was done to address the deadly consequences of consuming contaminated water until the late 19th century, when American and European engineers collaborated to tackle urban pollution and waterborne illnesses. Another milestone occurred in the 1970’s with passage of the Clean Water Act, but climate change, urbanization and resurgence of waterborne diseases threaten any progress made. Dr. Chapra will outline these challenges and propose ways in which ordinary citizens can contribute to mitigating them.
** Please RSVP to Mary Howard at hcadesign@gmail.com or 917-837-2920 **
Wednesday, October 7
TIME: TBD
Topic: Field Trip: “Aquaponics Greenhouse”
Speaker: Officer Jason Turner
Place: Berkshire County House of Correction, 467 Cheshire Rd., Pittsfield, MA
Mtg. Coord.: Judy Zahn
Can you imagine growing organic lettuce in water? We’ll see how the folks at Berkshire County House of Correction do just that. They produce over 1,000 heads of lettuce in their aquaponics lab (aka greenhouse) every week. Come see this amazing project!
** Please RSVP to Judy Zahn at judyzahn2024@gmail.com or 413-441-7681 **
Wednesday, November 4
9:15 AM Business
10:00 AM Program
Topic: Dream Green Recycling
Speakers: Patrick Kennedy and Kyle Danforth
Place: Berkshire Botanical Garden Kitchen
Mtg. Coord.: Paula Gimblette
What to do with that old refrigerator, mattress or computer? The Dream Green Recycling will pick them up and much more. “We’re trying to divert as much material from landfills as possible,” Patrick Kennedy said,” and we’re trying to make it easy, affordable, to recycle those items.” Come and learn what they will do with your old sagging mattress!
** Please RSVP to Paula Gimblette at pgim07@yahoo.com or 413-298-3150 **
Wednesday, December 9
TIME: TBD
Topic: Holiday Gathering
Join in for a joyous holiday.
