A beginner’s guide to foraging the weeds from your vegetable garden
Learn the fundamentals of foraging local plants including dandelions, purslane, and lamb’s quarter, so you can “eat your weeds.”
In this workshop, Backyard Growers offers a new perspective on common plants that pop up in your raised garden beds. By the end of this workshop not only will you have the fundamental tools to forage these local plants, but you’ll also attain a deeper appreciation for how these plants came to be and their place in our diets, too.
Learn how to identify common plant challenges and overcome them in your vegetable garden.
Plants communicate their needs to us, but it takes a careful observer to understand what they’re saying. From too much watering to under- or over-feeding, this workshop will help attendees recognize common issues and needs of your specific crops as well as amendments to help mitigate the problems.
From left: Summer Meals for Kids intern Vincenzo Videtta, intern Anna Riley, intern Julianna Francis, Summer Meals for Kids Coordinator Rayna Duffield, and intern Joey Wang.
Families who need a little extra help putting food on the table this summer look no further: The Open Door Summer Meals program is back, with walk-up locations opening next week!
Children and teens under age 18 are welcome to visit any of the participating sites during scheduled hours to receive free, nutritious meals through late August. The Open Door is proud to sponsor three federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites this year. The Open Door will privately sponsor 10 additional free Summer Meals for Kids sites where meals will be offered to children and their families with flexibility and choice.
Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows:
Gloucester Walk-Up Locations:
The Open Door at 28 Emerson Avenue will serve meals Monday through Friday. Monday through Wednesday meals will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and meals will be available Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Riverdale Park (Mobile location in the area of 69 Veterans’ Way) will have meals available from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Willowood Gardens (Mobile location in the area of 40 Willowood Road) will have meals available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Pond View Village (Mobile location in the area of 23 Lepage Lane) will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Gloucester High School at 32 Leslie O Johnson Road will have meals available from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 7 through August 8 at this site.
Field Days at Burnham’s Field with East Gloucester Community Church (in the field abutting Sargent, Burnham, and Pleasant Streets) will have meals available at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays from July 5 through Aug 23 EXCEPT for July 26.
Story Hour at Sawyer Free Library with Backyard Growers at the Garden Beds at 2 Dale Avenue, accessible through the Middle Street entrance will have meals available select Thursdays including June 29, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 10, and August 24 at 10:45 a.m.
Gloucester Enrolled Locations:
Summer Learning at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants at 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through July 27 at this site.
Summer Program at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site.
O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site.
Camp Spindrift at 27 Atlantic Street will have meals available for participants from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 25 at this site.
Ipswich Walk-Up Location:
Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Ipswich Enrolled Location:
Winthrop Elementary School at 65 Central Street in Ipswich will have meals available for enrolled participants from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 10 through August 10 at this site.
The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program strives to accommodate all allergies and special diets, and to learn more about the program or inform staff of a dietary need, please call 978-283-6776 or email summermeals@foodpantry.org.
Meals may contain choking hazards for children under the age of four.
The Open Door Sumer Meals for Kids schedule will be updated as needed throughout the summer at FOODPANTRY.org/summermeals.
About the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
The Open Door is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Get ready to be swept away by a patriotic musical extravaganza as the Firebird Pops returns to Hammond Castle Museum for an unforgettable seaside concert celebrating the essence of America. Artistic Director and Conductor, Brendan J. Kenney will lead the Pops’ powerful strings and brass ensembles in inspiring renditions of beloved classics like “America the Beautiful” and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” But that’s just the beginning! Experience a symphonic journey through the vibrant landscapes and rich cultural traditions that define our nation, with original compositions like the breathtaking “American Sketches” and a captivating tribute to Alaska’s legendary Iditarod. From Sea to Shining Sea promises to be a magical evening that will ignite your American spirit to kick of your holiday celebrations!
Rain or Shine!
Hammond Castle Museum Member savings apply! Learn more or reserve your tickets at: https://bit.ly/FPOJuly
On Thursday, July 6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. join OLIVIA GALE for a Sea Shanty Sing Along at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street.
The Gloucester native, musician, and teacher will entertain us with an engaging performance of sea shanties, nautical ballads, and other folk music written about the sea. Olivia welcomes audience participation as a part of her show too! So come one, come all! It will be great fun!
Join the Sawyer Free Library this Wednesday, June 28 at 11:30 a.m. for an extra special storytime presented by Through Me to you Puppetry. Puppet friends take turns reading stories and singing songs during this special interactive story time. Afterwards, children & families can meet the puppets!
This fun event for young children and their families, will be held inside Brown’s Mall at Movement Arts Gloucester MA on the top floor of the Brown Building, where regular Library storytime is held. Enter at 186 Main Street or 11 Pleasant Street and take the elevator to the 5th floor.
Drop in, no registration needed. For more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.
This event has been made possible through the generous support of the Constance T. Rhinelander Fund.
JOIN US! for the eighth season of our free, outdoor summer concert festival called Music on Meetinghouse Green starting on July 7th at 6:00pm with the John Baboian Berklee Jazz Ensemble. Mayor Greg Verga will be on hand to offer opening remarks. Your free-will donations will support the great work of Pathways for Children. The Causeway Restaurant will be on hand with mouth-watering chowders and lobster rolls for your picnicking delight, so bring folding chairs or blankets with some extra cash!
Location: 50 Middle Street, at the corner with Church Street, on the lawn in front of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Gloucester’s historic 1806 Meetinghouse. Parking: free on-street and in several parking lots nearby; limited HC parking on the green. More info at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org
MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN, FULL SUMMER SCHEDULE
July 7 The John Baboian Ensemble, to benefit Pathways for Children with food service provided by The Causeway
July 14 The Goddesses, to benefit Backyard Growers with food service provided by The Lobster Roller
September 8 Alek Razdan and his Jazz Ensemble, to benefit Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation with food service provided by The Causeway
OUR SPONSORS Thanks to our sponsors, who make this unique music festival possible, 100% of your free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.
Platinum: John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Scobie Ward, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, anonymous Lanesvillian Friends
Silver: Fred Cowan & Dick Gardner, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan, Karen Bell, Beverly & Addison-Gilbert Hospitals, Dick Prouty
Bronze: Jerry Ackerman, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson
JOIN US ON FRIDAY EVENINGS ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!!
SeniorCare is pleased to announce the return of its Sunset Cruise Fundraiser, an evening cruise aboard Cape Ann Whale Watch’s Hurricane II, on Thursday, July 20, 2023. The evening includes a light dinner, dancing and entertainment with DJ Scottie Mac, and raffles. All are welcome– tickets are $30 each and can be purchased by contacting SeniorCare at 978-281-1750 or online at www.seniorcareinc.org. Sponsor opportunities are available.
Tweens and Teens are invited to celebrate summer break this Friday, June 23rd at 3:00 pm with Local Paper Artist Katherine Morrison at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in Gloucester. Everyone will all leave this hour long program with a stamped mini-book and having flexed your creative muscles!
There is something for everyone this summer at the Sawyer Free Library ! Discover all that is happening at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org, call 978-325-5500, or the Library 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester.
Cape Ann Community 