Soule Homestead Education Center

Volume 24, Issue 3
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Soule Homestead Education Center
September 2016 to November 2016
Heart &
SOULE
Harvesting Community
25th Annual
Harvest Fair &
Joe Davies Folk
Festival
Saturday,
September 17th
(News coverage of the first Harvest Fair from August of 1992)
10am-5pm
Sunday,
“So what do you guys grow over there at Soule Homestead?” It’s a common question that
we get here when people come to the property for the first time and see tractors, barns and
fields of vegetables growing out back. We wish we could take credit for those gorgeous
crops but they are grown by Farmer Frank of Golden Rule Farm and Farmer Dave of Plato’s
Harvest who both lease land from us. What we do grow here at Soule is community! A
dedicated group of people that want to save spaces like this and use them to their fullest
potential. This mind set was seeded when people came together to start Soule Homestead
25 years ago. The first year wasn’t easy and it took the work of a large number of people to
get this organization off the ground. When it came to the fall of 1992, it was time for a well-deserved celebration.
September 18th
11am-5pm
Led by founder Karen Dusek, the first Harvest Fair was held on Saturday, October 10, 1992. For many people in town, this was
their first introduction the new Education Center. On the agenda were many events that we still have incorporated into our festival
today. Music, family fun, hay rides and craft demonstrations have always been the foundation of this celebration and no matter
what trends come and go, they will remain. Most importantly, 25 years later, we continue to reap the benefits of being part of such
a rich community full of committed people that are willing to nurture our mission.
Notes from the Executive Director - Meghan Connolly Riley
As we say goodbye to summer, I just want to take a minute to thank everyone that
supported our Pop-Up Farm Dinner in July. It was an amazing night of friends and
food that was made possible by our partners including Farmer Dave Purpura of
Plato’s Harvest, Martha Stone of Martha’s Eat Local, Mayflower Brewery and
Fortua crowd funding. We hope to increase our food based programming in the
future through more events like this and also with cooking classes. We will keep
you posted! For now, we are in full swing for the Harvest Fair and Joe Davies Folk
Festival. As our biggest event of the year, there is lots to do and we are all hopeful
for great weather and a huge crowd to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We hope to
see you and your family!
Notes from the Education Director - Laurie Amberman
By the time you read this, everyone will be back to school and summer fun will be
just a memory. Ahhh, but what great memories! Especially for all us here at Camp
Soule. Our staff worked with town officials to become a certified camp so were able
to run full week programs packed with fun!
I want to especially thank Alyssa Fortin for running a photography fundraiser here
at the farm that raised close to $2,000 for scholarships to help families send their
children to camp. Speaking personally for the families who received this support, I
can say they were truly happy and thankful. You may visit her spectacular work at
www.alyssafortinphotography.com
SAVE THE DATE
Holiday Fair
December 5th, 2016
Don’t spend the holiday season
inside of a mall buying the same
old presents! Come down to
Soule and learn how to make and
decorate your own wreath using
our farm-fresh greens.
Drop
your children off to use wool
sheared from our sheep to make
a felted Christmas ornament. If
shopping is your thing then
purchase unique, handmade
goods that put dollars back into
our local economy. We will also
have homemade soup and baked
goods available and Holiday
Pictures with a Farm Animal!
We hope to see you all then!
Many thanks also go out to all the volunteer guests who graciously gave their time
and talents to the campers at Camp Soule. Amanda Meyer and Marilyn Thayer from
the Middleboro Public Library, on multiple occasions came down to the farm to read
books and play games. Longtime member and volunteer Heather Kundzicz with the
help of her children ran a wool felting workshop. Volunteer and workshop teacher
June Abramson taught us how to dye wool and showed us how to use that wool in a
needle felting craft. Martha ‘Mike’ Schroder longtime volunteer, workshop teacher
and organizer of South Shore Foragers, spent time identifying wetland plants and
trees around the farm. Maura Erwin of Apponequet High School came for a
watercolor painting technique workshop and to help us paint scenes from around the
farm. Tricia Cassady, the Middleboro Conservation Agent and local botanical artist
and teacher, visited campers to identify plants and lead a watercolor painting lesson.
See Tricia’s work at https://www.facebook.com/The-Art-Nature-Studio. Also, a very special thank you to Melissa MacWilliam,
our always enthusiastic camp counselor on a job well done. Thank you to all of our volunteers, campers and staff for helping to
make our first summer of camp a big success!
6th Annual Soup & Bowl at Soule!
Saturday, October 15th, 10am-Noon
For our 25th anniversary we are “mixing” it up with one
of our favorite programs. This year we are inviting you
to paint your own bisque-ware bowl to keep. Paint your
bowl in October and pick up your bowl at our Holiday
Fair on December 3rd (see box above).
Please pre-register by Tuesday, October 11th
$12 per bowl
We Give Thanks for our Members
& Volunteers!!
Saturday, November 19th, 6pm.
Join us for a fun potluck with our staff, board
of directors, volunteers and members. Email
us at info@soulehomestead.org to let us know
you are coming. We hope to see you!
Keep this middle insert for quick reference! More information on upcoming programs are listed on the back. To pre-register for any of
our programs, please email us at info@soulehomestead.org or call us at 508.947.6744. You can find more updates and pictures on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/soulehomestead or on Instagram@soulehomestead. Save these dates, we hope to see you this fall!
SEPTEMBER 2016
SUNDAY
MONDAY
4
5
11
Labor Day
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
6
7
8
9
10 Volunteer Work
Day 9am-1pm
12
13 First Farm
Fun 10-11am
14
15
16
17 Harvest Fair and
Joe Davies Folk
Festival
10am-5pm
18 Harvest Fair and
Joe Davies Folk
Festival
11am-5pm
19
20
21
22 4H Soule Kids
23
24 Family Fun
10am-11am
25
26 Drama Kids 27 First Farm
Fun 10-11am
2-3pm
29
30
28 STEAM
10:30-Noon
OCTOBER 2016
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3 Drama Kids
2-3pm
4
5 Homesteading
4-5:30pm
9
10 Columbus Day 11 First Farm Fun 12 Homesteading
10-11am
4-5:30pm
6 4H Soule Kids
7
8
13
14
15 Quilting
9am-3pm
Soup and Bowl
10am-Noon
16 Rug Hooking 17 Drama Kids
10am-2pm
2-3pm
18
19 Homesteading
4-5:30pm
20 4H Soule Kids 21
22 Rug Braiding
10:30-12:30
South Shore
Foragers
10am-Noon
Spinners with
Soule 7pm
Honey Harvest
10am-Noon
23
24 Drama Kids
2-3pm
30
31
25 First Farm Fun 26 Homesteading
10-11am
4-5:30pm
(Halloween)
27
28
29 Rug Braiding
10:30-12:30
September Events:
Volunteer Work Day: Saturday, September 10, 9am-1pm. Join us for final preparations for our biggest event of the year, Harvest Fair!
All ages are welcome and any amount of time is appreciated. Pre-registration is appreciated so we can provide snacks!
First Farm Fun: Tuesdays, September 13 and 27, 10-11am. Geared towards ages 2-5 but siblings are welcome too. Meet a farm animal,
hear a story and make a craft. Indoor space if weather isn’t cooperating. Members are FREE, Non-members $4 per child. No preregistration is needed.
Harvest Fair and Joe Davies Folk Festival: Saturday, September 17, 10am-5pm and Sunday, September 18, 11am-5pm. See flier
below for more details or visit our Facebook page for all the latest updates on our biggest annual event. We hope to see you!!
Family Fun- Nature Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Saturday, September 24th, 10am – 11am. Can we use all of our senses to explore the
farm? Bring the family down to find out! Members: FREE, Non-members: $4 per child (adults are FREE).
Drama Kids: Monday, September 26, 2pm-3pm Drama Kids International provides a unique curriculum in fine arts and
communication. Our prime aim is to give children ongoing confidence and verbal skills. We are excited to offer classes at Soule Homestead
this fall for our Home School community. The first 8 week session will be $100. For more info and to register; www.dramakids.com/ma1.
STEAM: Wednesday, September 28, 10:30-Noon. See details on page 5.
October Events:
Drama Kids: Monday, October 3, 17 and 24, 2pm-3pm See additional details above.
Afterschool Homesteading Club: Wednesdays, October 5, 12, 19, 26, 4pm-5:30pm. Do you have a child that loves to learn? In this four
week afterschool club we will have fun learning skills like animal husbandry, farm chores, and cooking.
First Farm Fun: October 11, 10am -11am. See additional details above.
First Farm Fun- Un-scary Halloween Edition! October 25, 10am-11am. Help us get ready for Halloween with a special “Un-Scary”
program filled with games and fun. Don’t forget to wear your costume! Members are FREE, Non-members $4 per child. No pre-registration
is needed.
Quilting Workshop: Saturday, October 15, 9am-3pm. Are you looking for a fun group to work with to improve your quilting skills? All
skill levels are welcome. Bring a portable sewing machine and supplies. Fabric requirements will be given upon registration. Members are
$15 and Non-members are $20 per session. Pre-registration required.
Soup and Bowl: Saturday, October 15, 10am-Noon. Join us for our 6th annual Soup and Bowl event. Come paint your own bisque-ware
bowl and come back and pick up your bowl at our Holiday Fair on December 3 rd. Please pre-register by Tuesday, October 11. $12 per bowl
Rug Hooking Workshop: Sunday, October 16, 10am-2pm. Beginners will learn basic hooking with a simple project and experienced
hookers can bring a project to work on while being supported. Bring a lunch! Geared towards adults, all levels welcome. $5 donation. Preregistration required.
Spinners with Soule: Monday, October 17, 7-9pm. Members of the fiber arts group meet at the farm to work on projects for year-round
events and participate in a short program each month. Members may also bring an item for “show and tell.” Contact coordinator, Barbara
Chadwick at 508.947.2679.
South Shore Foragers: Saturday, October 22, 10am-Noon. This group is a gathering place for people to share knowledge and connect. The
foragers share knowledge about edible plants in the wild, forage sustainably and prepare and sample what we find. $5 per person, with a $10
max per family. No pre-registration required.
Rug Braiding: October 22, 29 and Nov. 5, 10:30am-12:30pm. Three workshops designed for people to learn how to hand braid rugs. New
students must attend the first workshop. Students returning from past sessions may bring unfinished projects to work on. Everyone should
bring scissors, needles, thread and wool. Wool available to purchase here. Members are $10 and Non-members are $15 per session. $5 for
returning students. Pre-registration required.
Honey Harvest: October 22, 10am-Noon.
Join Kevin O’Donnell in seeing just how busy our bees have been this season. As an extension to our Spring Basic Bee Keeping
Workshop, Kevin will show us the process of harvesting the honey they have produced. Everyone is welcome to come view and taste
Mother Nature’s sweetest treat! Pre-registration required. Members: $10, Non-members: $12
NOVEMBER 2016
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3 4H Soule Kids
4
5 Rug Braiding
10:30am12:30pm
6 Rug Hooking
10am-2pm
7
8
9
10
11
Veteran’s 12 Crochet
Day
10am-11:30am
13
14 Spinners with
Soule 7pm
15
16
17 4H Soule Kids 18
19 Quilting
9am-3pm
Annual Member
and Volunteer
Potluck 6pm
20
21
22
23
24 Thanksgiving
26
27
28
29
30
25
November Events:
Rug Braiding Series: Saturday November 5, 10:30-12:30pm. See additional details in October’s listings.
Rug Hooking Workshop: Sunday, November 6, 10am-2pm. See additional details in October’s listings.
Art on the Farm, Crochet a Winter Hat: Saturday, November 12, 10am-11:30am. Just in time for the Holidays! Learn to crochet a
winter hat in the size you pick from baby to adult! Yarn available for free, a small supply list will be given upon registering. Pre-registration
required. Members: $5, Non-members: $10.
Spinners with Soule: Monday, November 14, 7pm. See additional details in October’s listings.
Quilting Workshop: Saturday, November 19, 9am-3pm. See additional details in October’s listings.
Annual Member and Volunteer Potluck: Saturday, November 19, 6pm. Bring a dish and spend an evening with old and new friends
as we enjoy good food and entertainment. Help us elect next year’s Board of Directors and brainstorm the future of Soule Homestead!
Bring a dish to share with a recipe if you’d like. Please call or email so we can reserve your seat.
Full STEAM ahead with The Middleboro Public Library
Bring your walking shoes as we explore our various habitats on the farm! Middleboro Children’s Librarian, Amanda
Meyer is wrapping up the final programing with the Full STEAM Ahead Grant. This grant supports the learning
experiences for pre-school children in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts in Public
Libraries and with their collaborations within our community! Soule will be hosting a ‘Habitats’ program at the farm
for children ages 3 -5 (but older siblings are welcome too) September 28th, 10:30 – 12 noon. Please register by contacting
Amanda Meyer at the library as space is limited. 508-946-2470
Thank you to Middleboro Public Library for including Soule Homestead in this grant program!
A Perfect Partnership
This summer if you came to Soule Homestead, you may have noticed some new faces. We
were extremely lucky to work with Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey and Plymouth
County 4H on the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs program. Due to grant money supplied by the
Attorney General’s Office, our local 4H office was able to place four interns with us from the
beginning of July through August. The youth ranging in ages from 14 to 20 were placed here
in an effort to learn and teach about the benefits of healthy eating and more physical activity.
These interns were enthusiastic, confident and very helpful. You may have seen them hard at
work in the Education Garden or witnessed them helping with the campers at Camp Soule.
Everyone got silly with them during our First Farm Fun program when they led a station on
how to “Eat like a bunny” and another day of fun through our barnyard Olympic obstacle
course. The interns also got to see where their food is produced first hand by working with
Farmer Dave of Plato’s Harvest in the back fields. They got to weed, harvest and of course,
sample some delicious organic produce. We wish Sophie, James, Jess and Paige all the best
as they head back to school and we hope to work with both Plymouth County 4H and the Mass
AGO again in the future. Thank you for all of your hard work this summer!
Have your
child’s next
Birthday
down on the
farm!
Don’t make a mess
of your house or
worry about where
to fit everyone.
We have the
perfect party spot
here at Soule!
Parties are 1.5
hours and we have
farm animals, trails,
open space and
many options to
customize your
child’s special day.
$7 per child,
$2 per adult with a
(Pictured above; Jess and James our summer interns from Plymouth County 4H along
Alyson and Rodrigo from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Missing from
the picture are interns Sophie and Paige.)
4H Soule Kids Head to Marshfield!
$75 minimum. Call
us today at
508.947.6744 for
more information.
Our first year 4H club, The Soule Kids, just completed a fantastic trip to the Marshfield Fair. The lambs and the children in our
club really enjoyed their experience. Although it might seem like the 4H’ers are just playing around, showing an animal at the fair
takes some serious commitment from many people. This summer the 4H club all took turns coming to the farm to feed and care for
the lambs every night. Other 4H’ers stepped up and cleaned out the pen (along with some really helpful campers from Camp Soule!).
These experiences are a huge part of what 4H is all about, learning to care for something besides yourself and understanding real
responsibilities. One of our older 4H’ers, Maya, commented “It is so fun to go to the fair because I get to make so many friends and
do what I love…spend time with animals.” These lambs will soon be heading back to Black Brook Farm where they will be bred,
but after many hours of training to walk on halter, getting groomed and handled by many children, they are sure to be the nicest
sheep in the flock! Thank you again to Nancy Parks for sharing her lambs with our 4H’ers and allowing them this opportunity.
Another thank you to Bob Reimels for building the lambs a small barn so that our 4H’ers could house these animals and have an
area to work with them. The Soule Kids 4H club is currently full but we have a growing waitlist of families eager to join. If you
would like to get added to the waitlist or if you are an adult that would like to lead a club, please contact Meg at
director@soulehomestead.org.
Soule Homestead Education Center
46 Soule Street
Middleborough, MA 02346
508-947-6744
WELCOME TO OUR
NEWEST MEMBERS!
Tatyana Aleinikau
2016 Board of Directors
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Marese Barry-Belanger, President
Michael Gioscia, Vice President
Check one:
New Member
Renewal
Maggie Charbonneau
Katharine O’Donnell, Clerk
Name ___________________________________
Kristine Gagnier
Bertha Terhune, Treasurer
Address__________________________________
Karen Brother, Ruth Knapp, Jane Lopes,
Robert Nichols, Jeff Stevens,
Paul Singley
Town __________________ State ___ Zip ______
Nicholas and Elaine Guarda
Christine Hebert
Amy Heffernan
Stephen and Alicia Oakman
Carrie Peckham
Katrina Player
Kathleen Anderson – Member Emeritus
STAFF
Meghan Connolly Riley, Executive Director
Laurie Amberman, Education Director
Allyson Amaral, Administrative Assistant
Phone Number (
) ______________________
If you would like email reminders about workshops and
events, please include your email:
E-mail:___________________________________
(We will never sell or loan our mail list)
June Gentile, Secretary
Please make checks payable to:
Soule Homestead Education Center, Inc.
46 Soule St., Middleborough, MA 02346
Caitlin Ramsay
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you!
Rose Family
Office: Mon through Fri, 9AM till 4PM
Property open sunrise to sunset daily
Middleboro Resident
Non-Resident
___$10 Senior
___$15 Senior
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
___$20 Individual
___$25 Individual
___$25 Family
___$30 Family
___$50 Annual Sustaining
___$50 Annual Sustaining
___$500 Lifetime
___$500 Lifetime
Shane and Amy Pothier
Pucillo-Dunphy Family
Breighdyn Simmons
Jessica Stetson
Heather Tavares
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you to all the
volunteers, animal
caretakers and instructors
who contribute their time to
keep Soule Homestead
running smoothly!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Contact us at:
info@soulehomestead.org
www.soulehomestead.org
Hours of Operation
Become a Member – Join Today!
The Soule Homestead Education Center
is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit. We
rely on the support of our members and
volunteers. Members are entitled to a
discount on many programs and receive
the quarterly newsletter, “Heart &
Soule”. Members may also vote for and
serve on the Board of Directors. Most
importantly, your membership shows
your support for our mission. If you are
a member, thank you for your support. If
you are not a member, please join today.
___$100 Small Business
___$1,000 Corporate
Memberships are tax deductible
_____ I enclose an additional $_________ as a special
contribution to the Soule Homestead Education Center.
_____ I would like more information about becoming a
volunteer.