This preliminary schedule is subject to change. More details will follow!

Breakout 1 – 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Peter Picone, DEEP – “Learn about Late Winter and Early Spring Native Plants that Provide Food and Cover for Wildlife” 

Wildlife and native plants are inextricably linked.  Late winter and early spring can be times when food and cover are increasingly important part of the landscape for many wildlife species.   In this talk you will learn about the wisdom of planting native plants that provide components of the valuable micro-habitats. Mr. Picone will share with you tips, strategies and examples of how you can make a difference for wildlife in surrounding.

Valerie Champany, Red Tail Valley Farm –  “Growing Vegetables 101, and More!” 

Red Tail Valley Farm is 100% women owned and operated, 15 acre sustainable farm founded in 2019. Farmer and owner, Valerie Champany will speak on growing vegetables and preserving her crop.

She has experience growing :

Arugula, Asparagus, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Carrots, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Hot peppers, Lettuce, Kale, Onions, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Sugar Pumpkin, Spinach, Summer squash, Sweet peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Winter squash, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Oregano, Parsley, and Sage. She preserves Jams and Jellies, makes Candles, dries Medicinal Herbs, makes Tea, and Dries flowers.

Michelle Lengyel and Deni Van der Voort, Master Gardeners and QCGC Members –  “Integrated Pest Management”

Michelle Lengyel is a Master Gardener and the Civic Chairperson for Quiet Corner Garden Club. She is the recipient of the CT Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Certificate of Individual Achievement for Historic, Memorial and Public Gardens for her leadership in the design and planting of the QCGC Memorial Garden on Providence Street in Putnam. When not volunteering her time, Michelle enjoys tending to her many perennial gardens around her yard and when asked what her favorite perennial is, the answer is always, “a free one”!

Deni Van der Voort is a Master Gardener and Member of the QCGC serving on the Civic Committee. She is managing the Abington Social Library – Landscape and Garden Restoration project funded in part by the Garden Conservancy, Garden Futures Grant Award 2024 and the Connecticut Master Gardeners Grant 2025. She also participates as Co-Chair of an ongoing Master Gardener project with Mystic Aquarium. Her interests include historical gardens, restoration gardens and community projects. Her garden interests evolved from a square foot vegetable garden for her children while living in San Diego, CA to period landscape and floral gardens for her home in Woodstock CT.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a cost-effective practice of managing pests including insects, weeds, and diseases while maintaining plant quality while minimizing the impact to the environment. During this open discussion, we will share information on what is IPM and why it is important. We will look at the various components of IPM that create an effective pest management practice. We will explain the Growing Degree Day calculation and how it becomes an important source of information in your garden planning and maintenance and the use of Phenology to understand the relationship of biological events. Finally, we will cover pesticide safety so that when you do determine you need to use a chemical alternative, you do it in the safest way possible.

Keynote – 11:00AM – 12:00PM

Pamm Cooper, UConn Ext., Dept. of Plant Science – “A Walk on the Wild Side!” 

Pamm Cooper works at the University of Connecticut Home and Garden Education Center office offering advice on cultural and pest concerns for gardens, landscapes and natural habitats. She has teamed with Jane Seymour from the Ct. DEEP doing programs on using native and non-native plants in the residential landscape to support native pollinators, butterflies, and wildlife. She has worked for Dr. David Wagner collecting and rearing caterpillars for property bio-surveys on DEEP properties and has contributed to articles for Martha Stewart Living Magazine and Butterfly Gardener Magazine. She is also a nature photographer with photographs published in several books, magazines, and other publications.

This talk features rare or unusual native wildflowers and insects, weather phenomenon of recent years, fauna of Connecticut of interest and other topics.

Lunch – 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Catered lunch boxes from Vanilla Bean Cafe will be available, and must be pre-ordered when you register.

Breakout 2 – 1:00PM – 2:00PM

Yoko Takemura, Assawaga Farm – “No-till Gardening” 

Yoko Takemura owns and operates Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT with her partner, Alex Carpenter. Assawaga Farm is in its 8th season selling Certified Organic vegetables and cut flowers on under 1 acre, very intensively. The farm is on Nipmuc land and is bordered by the Five Mile (formerly, Assawaga) River. They do everything they can to promote a healthy and diverse population of all organisms, large and small, above and below ground, to which they employ regenerative practices such as no-till, multi-species cover cropping, on-farm “Static Aerated Pile” composting, compost tea brewing, and perennial hedgerow installations. They are almost completely hand-powered and excited about eliminating most plastic in the fields!

Lia Babitch, Turtle Tree Seed Initiative – “Saving Seeds from Pollinator Plants”  

Lia Babitch grew up on a biodynamic farm in Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, PA, graduated from Kimberton Waldorf School and then Macalester College. She completed a two and a half year Biodynamic Farming and Gardening apprenticeship with the Severn Valley Biodynamic Land Training in Gloucestershire, UK and Herefordshire, UK, where she first started formal learning about saving seeds. Upon returning to the US in 2009, she became the Seed Garden Manager and Co-General Manager at Turtle Tree Seed in Camphill Village in Copake, NY after training with Beth and Nathan Corymb, the founders of Turtle Tree Seed, and she has been there ever since. She is an active member of Camphill Village. Lia lives, along with her husband and two children, in a household which includes 5 folks with developmental challenges and several young volunteers who come for a year or two from around the world. Turtle Tree Seed Initiative’s mission includes efforts in growing, breeding, trialing and research of varieties of seeds for agriculture and horticulture and to promote and provide a seed supply from diversified farms and gardens. They are located in rural Hudson Valley NY on a 735-acre integrated community with farmland, gardens, and pastures. More information can be found at www.Turtletreeseeds.org.

Amelia South, Black Sun Farm –  “Garden Foraging & Medicinal Mushrooms”

Amelia is the owner of Black Sun Farm in Killingly, a small market garden and herbal remedy producer. She is a professional foraging instructor and Herbalist and teaches foraging walks both public and private. She’s been foraging wild foods since 2006 and studying Herbalism intently since 2018. Her passions include hiking barefoot in the forest, helping others reconnect with nature, watching your face light up when you taste a new plant you love for the first time, and helping people heal their bodies without pharmaceuticals whenever possible.  She loves to cook and hugs trees regularly.

Breakout 3 – 2:30PM – 3:30PM

Christine Leo, M.Ed., Certified Traditional Herbalist – “The Home Medicine Chest”

In many ways, Christine Leo is a lot like the herbs and flowers she loves to tend.  Planted in Dudley, MA over twenty years ago, she has cultivated a love for creating the right environment to see others blossom and bloom.  An educator, holding a Masters Degree from Lesley University in Education and Curriculum Development, Christine has taught in both the public and private sectors, including in her home town of Dudley.  Her true gift is bringing subject matter to life, through tangible experiences, where the senses are engaged and learning becomes light and beautiful. 

Her love and respect for medicinal herbs began when her daughter was diagnosed with Lyme Disease.  Over the years she has earned a certification as a Traditional Medicinal Herbalist through Rosemary Gladstar’s “Science and Art of Herbalism” program, as well as completing Alternatives For Health’s “Herbal Apprenticeship” program.  

Christine keeps a vast herb garden where she loves to grow and collect new species, as well as share them with other interested growers.  She currently teaches workshops throughout Massachusetts, where local growers were encouraged to use their plants in making teas, tinctures, salves, and syrups.  

By continuing to teach locally, Christine hopes to encourage others to strengthen their relationships with the plants they grow.  Offering simple techniques, tips and tricks, she brings this  access to others. 

Her program today covers “The top 5 herbs to grow in a beginner’s medicinal garden and how each specifically benefit the family. Tips on growing, storing and using each herb will be explored, with show-n-tell style suggestions (jars, drying racks, simple remedies etc.)”

Michael Radzvilowicz, QCGC Member, Vice President – “Starting Plants from the Seed Up!” 

Ready to get a jump start on your garden this year? Join us for an informative session on seed starting! We’ll cover everything you need to know to successfully grow your own plants from seed, from choosing the right seeds and starting mix to providing proper light, water, and nutrients.  Learn the secrets to avoiding common pitfalls and transplanting your seedlings into the garden for a bountiful harvest. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this presentation will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to grow your dream garden from seed.

Mike’s passion for gardening took root in his childhood, tending to the family vegetable patch alongside his father.  He learned early on the satisfaction of nurturing tomatoes from tiny seedlings to ripe, juicy fruits, a process that sparked a lifelong fascination with growing his own food.  Mike would consider himself a garden experimenter, and his curiosity has led him to explore a wide range of gardening techniques. From the structured efficiency of raised beds and container gardening to the water-wise approach of drip irrigation, he’s embraced diverse methods to cultivate a thriving garden. His interest in preserving gardening traditions extends to experimenting with heirloom varieties and once grew and harvested a backyard patch of wheat to create his own loaf of bread. Mike has also worked with season extension techniques like overwintering and winter sowing, with the goal of enjoying the fruits (and vegetables!) of his labor year-round.  In recent years, Mike has broadened his horticultural horizons, delving into the world of native perennial plants and discovering the joy of nurturing annual flowers from seed, adding even more color and vibrancy to his ever-evolving garden. 

Jean Pillo, Eastern CT Conservation District – “Creating Rain Gardens”

Jean Pillo has a MS degree in Biology from SCSU. In 2024, she retired from the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District after 18 years of service to 36 eastern Connecticut communities as a Watershed Conservation Project Manager. Combining water quality investigations performed as the coordinator of The Last Green Valley water quality monitoring program and stormwater monitoring as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, Jean has drafted multiple watershed plans for protecting and improving water quality. 

Jean also has served as a member of the Town of Woodstock Conservation Commission for 26 years and counting. She is the lead on their Pollinator Pathway Initiative. More information on that program is available in the display area.

You will learn how to design and install many types of rain gardens with perennial plants that provide multiple benefits, including food for wild life, water quality protection, and flood reduction. Discover which native New England species are suitable for rain gardening and why reducing storm water is so important!