Talk and Book Signing at the Toadstool
2014-03-22 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Toadstool Bookshop, Lorden Plaza, Milford, NH, United States
To celebrate the publication of The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook, I’ll be at the Toadstool Bookshop in Milford, NH for a discussion about hens, eggs and cooking. Come at 2 pm for the talk, and then stay to chat.

Chicken Keeping Talk
2014-03-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Newbury Public Library, 0 Lunt Street, Byfield, MA, 01922, United States
I’ll be giving a Backyard Chicken Keeping Talk at the Newbury Town Library. This program is free and open to the public.

Chicken Keeping Talk
2014-03-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Chelmsford Agway, 24 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA, United States
I’ll be at the Chelmsford Agway for a morning talk about backyard chicken keeping. This seminar is free and open to the public. Bring your questions!

Chicken Keeping Workshop
2014-04-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
This 2-hour workshop in my backyard will cover the basics of what you need to know to have your own small flock of laying hens. You’ll learn everything from feeding, to flock dynamics, to predator protection, to coop design, to what to do with manure (you’ll get to see my composting system.) You’ll even get to pick up a chicken!
$40 per person, includes iced tea and homemade cookies.
Limited to 12 participants. Children age 8 and over are welcome to sign up.
The workshop runs rain or shine. Cancellation policy — up to one week before the event you will get a refund of $30. No refunds after March 29. Sign up using the “Pay Now” button.

Talk and Book Signing
2014-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA, Select a Country:
I’ll be at one of my favorite indie bookstores, Porter Square Books, to do a talk and book signing.

School Vacation Storytime
2014-04-24 10:00 - 10:30 | Billerica Public Library, Billerica, MA, Select a Country:
I will be at the Billerica Public Library for a school vacation storytime on Thursday, April 24, at a10 am. Of course, I’ll have a hen with me.

Meet and Greet in Roslindale!
2014-04-26 12:00 - 15:00 | Joanne Rossman, 6 Birch Street, Roslindale, MA, 02131, United States
I’ll be in Roslindale Village (just outside of Boston) in Joanne Rossman’s original, quirky and creative shop. I’ll be there to meet and greet and chat. Come by anytime between noon and three pm.

2nd Grade Visit
2014-05-02 08:00 - 17:00
I’ll be visiting with the second graders at the Thoreau School in Concord, MA and teaching them all about chickens and eggs. Of course, I’ll have a hen with me!

Kindergarten Visit
2014-05-07
A hen and I will be doing Tillie Lays an Egg storytimes for all of the kindergartners at the Peter Noyes School in Sudbury, Ma.

Birches School
2014-05-08 08:00 - 17:00
The Birches is a nature-based school in Lincoln, MA. They are hatching chicks and will be keeping them on campus as a permanent flock. I’ll be spending an hour with the students talking about chickens and their care.

Advanced Chicken Keeping Class
2014-05-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
UPDATE: This class is full. If there is enough interest, I will create a morning session. Please email me if you’d like to be on the wait list for the afternoon program, or to sign up for a possible morning class.
This 2-hour class is for people who already have chickens. I’ll go over all of the major ailments that chickens get, and a few of the more obscure illnesses that I’ve seen. I’ll talk about practical and effective health care, from maintenance to what to do in the case of a sudden health crisis. I’ll talk about the issues that aging hens have, what to do to keep them active and comfortable, and when to euthanize. Internal and external parasites will be covered. I’ll also delve into some of the more problematic chicken behavior, from feather picking to hen-on-hen aggression. This class takes place in my backyard at Little Pond Farm in Carlisle, MA.
Iced tea and cookies provided! $40 per person. Adults and teenagers only (graphic photographs from autopsies will be shown.)
The class runs rain or shine. Refund policy: refund of $35 up to May 14. No refunds after May 14.

Northshire Bookstore Cookbook Group Program
2014-05-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Northshire Book Store, Manchester Center, VT, Select a Country:
The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont, has a cookbook group (why don’t all bookstores have this? Brilliant!), and I’ll be their guest on Sunday, May 18th at 11 am. The cookbook group will choose recipes ahead of the event and will bring dishes from The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook to share with each other and general event attendees. I’ll speak to the group about the book, my hens, eggs, developing recipes, and more. Q & A with audience, and a book signing will follow.
The Northshire Bookstore is in a beautiful corner of western Vermont. It’s worth the drive!

Lunenburg Elementary School
2014-05-22 08:00 - 17:00
I’ll be spending a half-day with the first graders in Lunenburg, MA. I look forward to meeting them, reading Tillie Lays an Egg, and talking about chickens!

Book Signing at Verrill Farm
2014-05-24 12:00 - 14:00 | Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
I’ll be at the Verrill Farm Asparagus Festival. This family working farm in Concord, MA, has nurtured their asparagus beds for generations. The granddaughter of the man who planted the asparagus is a talented chef who works in the farmstand’s kitchen. I’ll be at Verrill Farm to help celebrate the harvest and the coming growing season. Look for me, and one of my hens, at the entrance to the farmstand. There is a fee for the asparagus lunch (and well worth it!) but you don’t have to pay to meet one of my hens and chat about chickens. All of my books will be available for sale and signing. Stop by!

Chicken Keeping Workshop
2014-05-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
This 2-hour workshop in my backyard will cover the basics of what you need to know to have your own small flock of laying hens. You’ll learn everything from feeding, to flock dynamics, to predator protection, to coop design, to what to do with manure (you’ll get to see my composting system). You’ll even get to pick up a chicken!
$40 per person, includes iced tea and homemade cookies.
Limited to 12 participants. Children age 8 and over are welcome to sign up.
The workshop runs rain or shine. Cancellation policy — up to one week before the event you will get a refund of $30. No refunds after May 24. Sign up using the “Pay Now” button.

New England Mobile Book Fair
2014-06-07 13:00 - 14:00 | New England Mobile Book Fair, 82 Needham Street, Newton Highlands, MA, United States
I’m delighted to be doing a Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook program at a beloved indie bookstore – The New England Mobile Book Fair. I’ll be talking about backyard hens and the pleasures of cooking with their good eggs. There will be time for Q & A afterwards. Of course, I’ll have a chicken with with. Stop by and say hello.

Reading and Book Signing at Tower Hill
2014-06-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Tower Hill Botanical Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, MA, United States
Tower Hill Botanic Garden is one of the premier public gardens in my region. I’ll be there on Wednesday, June 11, for a reading from The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook, and afterwards I’ll be available to and answer your questions. This is the perfect excuse to go to Tower HIll, walk the trails, enjoy the Orangerie and Limonaia, and then talk about chickens. I am so looking forward to it, and hope to see you there!

Revisioning Sustainability
2014-06-23 07:30 - 21:00
On June 22 through 25, UMass Amherst is hosting the Revisioning Sustainability Conference. I’ve been invited to give a presentation to this gathering of food sustainability and permaculture professionals. On Monday evening, June 23, I’ll be talking about Chicken Keeping for Public Spaces and Institutions.

HenCam Garden Party
2014-07-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
Have you ever gone to a party and wished that the conversation didn’t revolve around children, or politics, or family dramas? Do you wish that everyone talked about chickens? If so, then this event is for you! Join me and other like-minded people for an afternoon at Little Pond Farm. I’ll start the party off with a half-hour talk about incorporating chickens into your garden and landscape. Then, wander the property, scratch the goats, pay homage to The Beast, and sit for a spell, watching the hens while you chat about your own animals. I’ll have a bulletin board for you to post photos of your coop and girls. There will be iced tea and homemade treats (for the humans!).
Rain or shine (I’ll put up a tent, and we can mill about in the screen porch and barns if the weather is inclement). $15 per person. $5 for children under the age of twelve.

Ticket choicesAdult $15.00 USDChild under 12 $5.00 USD

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To take a virtual tour of Little Pond Farm watch this video:

Dewey Square Public Market
2014-08-07 11:30 - 13:30 | Dewey Square Public Market, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA, United States
I’ll be in Boston at the Dewey Square Public Market on Thursday, August 7 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. I’ll have a hen with me, and books to sell. I look forward to talking with folks who stop by about good eggs and backyard chicken keeping. Let me know if you’ll be there!

Farm Day at Verrill Farm
2014-09-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
I will be at the Farm Day at Verrill Farm with a couple of chickens, which children will be able to pet. I’ll also have eggs and feathers that can be handled. Come meet the hens and chat about chickens.
The Farm Day runs from 11 am to 3 pm. There will be BBQ and pony rides! I will be there from 1 pm until 2 pm.

Let's Talk About Food
2014-09-27 12:30 - 13:00
Let’s Talk About Food should be an interesting event. If you want to know more about food policy, it’s the place to go. I’ll be at the Author’s Book Signing Booth from 12:30 to 1 pm.

Chicken Keeping Workshop
2014-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
This 2-hour workshop in my backyard will cover the basics of what you need to know to have your own small flock of laying hens. You’ll learn everything from feeding, to flock dynamics, to predator protection, to coop design, to what to do with manure (you’ll get to see my composting system). You’ll even get to pick up a chicken!
$40 per person, includes iced tea and homemade cookies.
Limited to 14 participants. Children age 8 and over are welcome to sign up.
The workshop runs rain or shine. Cancellation policy — up to one week before the event you will get a refund of $30. No refunds after September 24. Sign up using the “Pay Now” button.

Advanced Chicken Keeping Class
2014-09-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Little Pond Farm, 388 Stearns St, Carlisle, MA, 01741, United States
This 2-hour class is for people who already have chickens. I’ll go over all of the major ailments that chickens get, and a few of the more obscure illnesses that I’ve seen. I’ll talk about practical and effective health care, from maintenance to what to do in the case of a sudden health crisis. I’ll talk about the issues that aging hens have, what to do to keep them active and comfortable, and when to euthanize. Internal and external parasites will be covered. I’ll also delve into some of the more problematic chicken behavior, from feather picking to hen-on-hen aggression. This class takes place in my backyard at Little Pond Farm in Carlisle, MA.
Iced tea and cookies provided! $40 per person. Adults and teenagers only (graphic photographs from autopsies will be shown.)
The workshop runs rain or shine. Cancellation policy — up to one week before the event you will get a refund of $30. No refunds after September 24. Sign up using the “Pay Now” button.

Storytime at Tower Hill
2014-10-11 11:30 | Tower Hill Botanical Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, MA, United States
I’ll be at the glorious Tower Hill Botanic Garden for their Family Fun Harvest Day, to do a storytime – ably assisted by a hen! Come for the program, but plan to spend the day. There are miles of hiking trails, gorgeous gardens, and indoor greenhouses (so come even if the weather is rainy.)

Backyard Chicken Keeping For Gardeners
2015-01-16 10:00 | Fitchburg Art Museum, 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg, MA, 01420, United States
Keeping chickens in your backyard and having a beautiful lawn and garden are not mutually exclusive! Done right, the flock will not only add fresh eggs to your table, but also can help with bug control and make rich compost. Come to this free lecture at the Fitchburg Art Museum sponsored by the Laurelwood Garden Club of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. I’ll be talking about chicken care and housing, and how to integrate the hens into your home landscape.

Lunenburg Primary School
2015-01-30 08:00 - 17:00
The First Graders at the Lunenburg Primary School hatch chicks. As part of that curriculum, I’ll be visiting the classrooms to read Tillie Lays an Egg, and discuss all things chicken and egg. I’ll have a hen with me, of course!

Chick Care
2015-02-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Chelmsford Agway, 24 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA, United States
If you’re getting chicks this spring, this talk will tell you what you need to know to take good care of them so that the little ones will grow into thriving laying hens. Free and open to the public.

Getting Started with Chickens
2015-03-07 11:00 - 12:00 | New England Nurseries, 216 Concord Road, Bedford, MA, United States
I’ll be talking about Getting Started With Chickens at New England Nurseries. New England Nurseries is a local garden center that I rely on for seeds (what a selection!) and koi food, as well as plants. They’ve invited me to be part of their Saturday morning lecture series. The talk is free and open to the public. There’s a greenhouse, so even if the weather isn’t perfect, do come out.

Raising Chickens Talk
2015-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 | Dover-Sherborn Community Education, 157 Farm Street, Dover, MA, 02030, United States
Who’s in the Henhouse – Raising Chickens: an introductory slideshow and discussion on what you need to know to get started with your own backyard flock of laying hens. Sign up through Dover Sherborn Community Education.
