My hands got their annual-inaugural dirt digging. It happened while aimlessly and, albeit, blissfully walking from plant to plant, plot to plot. At first the stroll was an observational one, surveying casually the end-of-April happenings. I checked on the fruit trees, counted my elderberries and blueberries and inspected the flower beds.
In a moment of strawberry-growth-awe, I knelt to get a closer look, and before I could fully register what I was doing, the muscle memory of the season returned, and my hands tended the soil and pulled weeds around each plant. The first day of hands in earth feels like the strongest of palpable connections; the sensation is a familiar comfort while holding a strange newness after a long winter pause.
At my sink, hours later, I spotted dirt under my fingernails, and rejoiced in the tiny victory that is keeping spring close and knowing it well.
On Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., join Rural Vermont at Johnson’s Foote Brook Farm for an agroecology work brigade. The volunteers will be transitioning riverbank farmland impacted by the July 2023 flood into a riparian buffer zone to increase climate resiliency and adaptation on the farm.
Work brigades are a popular education tool used around the world to strengthen communities, build trust and solidarity through collective labor, connection, mutual aid and knowledge sharing. This will be the first in a series of agricultural brigades hosted by the Agroecology School Collective (an independent project of Rural Vermont). Lunch, refreshments, agroecological education and tools provided.
On Sunday, April 28, starting at 2 p.m., there will be a narrated program at the Johnson Historical Society about the Albert Nadeau Sand and Gravel business, with many members of the Nadeau family present. A reception with homemade cookies will be held for all attendees after the program.
As usual, the Holcomb House will be open before this event, starting at 1 p.m. for anyone interested in looking at the historical society collections. There are new Georgia Balch paintings on display, as well as portfolios of sketches done by Robert Hunter and his wife, Ruby.
There will be a free five-week sun-style tai chi class held at Jenna’s House on Fridays through May, 10-11 a.m. These classes will be taught by Johnson resident Gabrielle Baraby, a trained instructor who has been certified with to teach fall prevention.
Sun style is a gentle form of tai chi known for its slow flowing movements and upright stance. The slow and deliberate movements make it accessible for all ages and can help strengthen cognitive function, improve balance and increase body awareness that helps participants move through their daily lives outside of the practice.
Sun style is also used in a practice known as falls prevention and has been shown to help reduce the risk of falling in older adults. This class is sponsored by the Johnson Public Library with a grant from The Copley Fund and a donation of the space by Jenna’s Promise. Register by calling the library at 802-585-5382 or email johnsonpubliclibraryvt@gmail.com.
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