Events & Programs
We are happy to host you for a sustainability tour/visit. School groups, church groups, garden clubs, individuals, etc. are all welcome. Host your staff meeting here and include a pizza lunch or snack of homemade bread & jam. OR just come to hang out, walk the trails and BE. Please call/email to set a time. The labyrinth & trails are self-guided, just call / email to let us know you're coming.
TO SIGN UP: Some classes/activities are limited. PLEASE sign up by contacting us via email, phone (need: your name, phone, email & class/activity), or thru the website (be SURE to indicate class you're signing up for). Schedule subject to change, confirm before coming. Any fees may be paid via cash or check when you come to the class. (we're keeping it simple with no corporate fees on payments and such).
ABOUT FEES: BMP is open to all regardless of one's ability to pay. The last three years we practiced an economy of “reciprocity”, giving in accordance to what you receive (i.e., labor, money, goods needed, etc.), for a balance. While this has been great to offer, the reality is costs are not being covered. As a result, classes/activities will mostly be on a "SLIDING FEE SCALE" of $0 - $50. YOU still determine the rate with some basic guidelines - most are offered at suggested $15-20 range. (some classes do have a "supplies" fee which are noted in addition to class fee.)
BMP's biggest expenses relate to insurance and property tax. Currently no staff are paid, and instructors receive a stipend, which many gift back to BMP, for which we are grateful.
StoryWalk Along Forrest Ridge Trail
Self-Guided & Open most days
The StoryWalk is along the Forrest Ridge Trail for adventurers to join reading One Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova (Minnesota author)
Play Nature Bingo while also out walking & exploring. (Bingo cards in the tote in Gazebo Welcome Center. Return cards to tote when done playing)
Labyrinth & Trails
The Labyrinth in the woods and trails around the grounds are available for walking / meditating. Trails are no longer than one mile. We are also near trails into the Foothills State Forest. Be sure to dress properly, trails may be wet and/or have fallen brush/trees across paths in the Foothills.
* Forrest Ridge Trail (StoryWalk trail)
* Meadow Creek Trail * Twin Creek Trail
* Balsam Pond Trail * Labyrinth
Daycare groups, home-school groups, families, school groups, library groups and all ages are welcome to participate. Want a special activity experience? Let us know and we can set that up as a teacher-guided experience.
Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
Feel free to come snowshoe the trails in the winter months.
CANCELED - SEED SAVING
Canceled due to lack of participation
Barbara Kaufman, instructor, happy to visit with anyone interested. She can be reached at 218-587-2326.
Saturday, Sept 27
Part 1, 10am-noon - Learn the ins/outs of seed saving through presentation
Part 2, 1pm-3pm - Hands on seed saving - tomatoes, cukes, flowers, celery & more
Bring containers for seed to take home - small glass jars, envelopes, old pill botttles, sm plastic bags, etc.
FOR THOSE ATTENDING BOTH PARTS, bring a sack lunch
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara Kaufman, Pine River
Barbara (above-right) is a long-time gardener and over the past number of years she's been learning more about seed saving. She even took a class at Seed Savers Inc in Iowa. She helped start the Pine River Seed Library (located in the local public library). And she's been teaching this class at Balsam Moon for the past 3 years.
The harvest is about done and it's time to save seeds from your favorites! Come learn from Barbara K about how best to save seeds from a variety of plants/produce and flowers.
Part 1 will cover the basics presentation style sharing a variety of resources.
Part 2 will be hands on processing and saving seeds to take home.
You will be able to bring home seeds, so please bring your own containers for them. For dry seeds, you can use envelopes, plastic bags, or small jars or pill bottles. For wet seeds, especially tomatoes or cucumbers that need fermentation, small jars with lids are recommended. If you have seeds to exchange or give away, you are welcome to bring them.
If you have raised some seeds at home but have questions about how to process them, you may bring some with you and we will discuss some appropriate processing techniques. A winnower will be available for processing small seeds such as lettuce.
FEE: sliding fee scale $0-25 based on your resources & what you feel this is worth to you.
NATIONAL SOLAR TOUR
Saturday, Oct 4 10am-2pm Open House
ON SITE TOURS at Balsam Moon
Balsam Moon has been hosting an on-site Solar Tour in partnership with ASES for the past six years and prior to that as private home for many years.
There are numerous applications of solar uses on the property including: solar furnace (2009), solar array (6.6 kw system installed in 2011 - large enough to accommodate an electric car in future); passive solar on: home, electric car - Chevy Bolt (2019), deep winter greenhouse (2019), garage (2020), chicken coop (2024).
In addition to solar applications there are numerous building construction methods such as: timber frame pavilion, cordwood cabins and sauna/shower/toilet building, earthship - recycled tires used with root cellar and chicken coop, wood-fired barrel oven. These methods use resources readily available and all contribute to simple, sustainable living.
FEE: Reciprocity - YOU determine the value to you based on your resources to "give back"
TRANSFORMATION GAME
CALL TO SCHEDULE DATES (over 2 days)
10am-4pm each day (lunch included)
Facilitated by Barb Mann
Maximum of 4 participants/players
Examples of personal game focus:
* What steps can I take in my relationship(s) sot that I feel greater satisfaction and happiness?
* I desire to release those personality blocks that keep me from being joyful, creative and harmonious.
* I intend to gain a greater understanding and awareness, and move through my pattern of wanting to "fix" others.
* I intend to know and clear the obstacles that keep me from full and creative service to the planet.
The Transformation Game is a joyful way of understanding and transforming the way you play your life. It's about looking at your life and the kinds of experiences you create, seeing how you react to them, and how you can use these insights for your own growth. Through the Game you can become more aware of your personal strengths and learn important lessons that can deepen your understanding of how you operate on the Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual levels. By providing new perspectives on current life issues, the Game helps you clarify old beliefs and attitudes and transform reaction patterns. It triggers your creativity and lets you realize your full power and potential.
You play with a particular focus or intention (see examples at left) and this guides your entire experience.
This is not a competitive game. It is not therapy or counseling (those of you with those skills, be mindful in playing). The other players can be helpful in bringing different perspectives to light as you decipher information you receive in playing the game per your focus/intention, as you also serve in that capacity for the other players. It IS meant to be FUN! In the midst of that fun, there may be tears and resistance along with the laughter. It's not about judgment, or right/wrong, good/bad. It is an opportunity to reflect and learn about yourself as you live your life/dream.
FEE: Reciprocity - YOU determine the value to you based on your resources to "give back"