Saturday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK — Gear up for autumn gardening! The Billings Backyard Series presents “Putting Your Garden to Bed” with Master Gardener Ben Pauly on Saturday, Aug. 21 from 10–11:30 a.m.
After a great season of gardening, how can you set yourself up for success next year? Ben Pauly will show you the best practices to end your season well by putting your gardens to bed. He will also discuss the joys of autumn gardening and how to make the most of the growing season.
This presentation takes place at Billings Farm & Museum and is followed by a 30-minute Q&A period. The workshop costs $15/person; $10/BF&M members. Space is limited. Reserve your spot at billingsfarm.org/classes-workshops or call 802-457-2355.
After the workshop, be sure to explore the Sunflower House in full bloom. Designed by Ben Pauly, the almost 20,000-square-foot maze-like structure is home to thousands of sunflowers and over 100 different varieties ranging from 18 inches to 14 feet in height.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Master Gardener Benjamin Pauly was born a gardener and raised on 10-acre farm in Minnesota. Summers were spent tending plants and his love for working the land grew from sculpting the homestead to residential landscape designing during the summers as he completed his master’s in architecture. An escape from the winters led him to do natural resource management and organic farming as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa. Craving the rhythms of the seasons of Vermont, Pauly has developed a love of holistic gardening that includes cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and plants that support wildlife and beneficial insects.
Billings Backyard is a series of workshops designed to teach sustainable living skills to adult participants and is underwritten by a generous grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust. Each workshop includes hands-on demonstrations and concrete steps for incorporating these skills into everyday life.
Upcoming workshops
- Sept. 11: Making Jam with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery
- Nov. 13: Felted Soapmaking with Fiber Artist, Tiana St. James
- Dec. 4: Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen with Billings Farm’s Chef Emery
For the continued safety of our staff and guests, all guests over the age of 2 are required to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces. For outdoor spaces, mask wearing is optional for fully-vaccinated persons; unvaccinated persons must wear masks when around people and unable to maintain a 6-foot distance. No entry is permitted without a face covering. Visit billingsfarm.org/safety for details.
