Category Archives: Events

Plant Community on FPF!

Posted on Monday, April 7, 2025 by 2 comments

Do you know what brings Vermonters together? Gardening. Spring is coming and folks are seed-swapping on Front Porch Forum! We’ve noted dozens of events* all across the region where folks are invited to curate their upcoming gardens with the help of fellow neighbors.

Some keep it simple:

“The Barnet Public Library is holding a Seed Swap event. Bring saved seeds, unused seeds or just come pick some up for yourself. We hope people participate in our first seed swap. The more the merrier!”
• Dylan, Barnet Forum

“Many growers have extra seeds that might not ever get used. Bring them to the Sudbury Seed Swap and take home new ones. If you’re a beginner, this is a great opportunity to pick out some seeds & get started.”
• Mike, Sudbury Forum

Some are ready to mix and mingle:

“Local home gardeners are invited to our first annual SEED SOCIAL. Chat about the coming season; share garden plans, stories, and experiences; ask for advice; and be the first to sign out packets of heirloom seeds from the 2025 Seed Catalog! Light refreshments.”
• Linda, Charlotte Forum

“Join the Caledonia #9 Grange – come bearing seeds and some food to swap with each other. Swaps are a great way to try out new varieties, to share leftover seeds, save money, reduce waste, and to introduce others to the varieties you love best. It is also a great way to build community and share knowledge and know-how together.”
• Jeanne, Hardwick Forum

Or, learn tips of the trade:

“Master Gardener Rachel Babin will serve up “Seed Starting 101.” Rachel will demystify indoor seed starting with practical advice and hands-on demonstration. We’ll also be starting seeds for the Children’s Garden that was wildly successful last year in its first year.”
• Judy, Waterbury Forum

“Learn to easily grow fresh, nutritious sprouts, microgreens or mini greens right in your own home—no garden needed. This free class is open to all, but we will have microgreen growing kits available for a $10 fee which includes soil, seeds, and a reusable container for those who wish to buy them.”
• Emily, Bristol Forum

Some need help getting started:

“Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool will be planting its very first garden this spring! We are looking for donations, including mulch, soil, wood for garden beds, native plants, trees, and shrubs, kids’ gardening tools. Your support will allow our children to connect with nature, food systems, and the local community in meaningful ways.”
• Jen, Hinesburg Forum

*Postings are lightly edited for brevity

More Apples, Please

Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 by 2 comments

Front Porch Forum members are doing more than just looking for apples… they’re finding, picking, offering, cooking, and eating them! See just how much is happening with apples on all the Forums across Vermont:

Seeking Apples …

  • In Lincoln: “Does anyone have crabapples they are willing to part with?
  • In Morrisville: “Our four-year-old daughter and I have been invited to an apple-pressing party, but we have no apples to bring! Do you have trees in need of picking? Can we pay you to pick a few five-gallon buckets worth? Thanks!”

Come and get ’em Apples…

  • In Mad River Valley: “We have a bumper crop this year! We have plenty left even though we had many pickers over the weekend.”
  • In Burlington: “Free Liberty apples in a box on the green belt in front of Catherine Street home. Take what you want!
  • In Derby: ” I have a few apple trees that have quite a few apples on them. They are not perfect, they have blemishes, some I’m sure have worm holes in them. But if you have the time & willing to cut around these things to cut up & freeze or can, they make great apple pies, cakes etc. Free for the taking.

Need Help with Apples…

  • In Lyndon “I have apples that I would like to have pressed into cider. Do you know of anyone offering this service.”
  • In Grand Isle: “Cleaning out the garage and found a Squeeze Master Fruit Apple Cider press. I think someone was looking for one on the forum a few days ago. Can’t find the manual but all the pieces are here. Only used once. Good YouTube videos on how to assemble and use. Free to whoever could use it. Just email us.”

Events about Apples…

  • In Hardwick: “Community Cider Pressing this very Saturday at the Grange in downtown East Hardwick (across from the Church). Bring apples, containers and crank out some cider to take home. Apple Fritters, Hot Dogs, Live Music, and Badminton too! Free Event!!
  • In Hinesburg: “Apple pressing will be happening at the Fall Fest on the Town Common behind the Hinesburg Police Station. Help make delicious fresh cider with an old fashion hand crank cider press. Bring your own washed apples either from a local orchard or from your own trees or wild ones.”

Have you had enough yet? Post your apple needs and happenings on FPF!

Tips for a Better Yard Sale

Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 by No comments yet

Summer begins, and, along with it, YARD SALES! People are filling up FPF‘s local Forums and Community Calendars with sale announcements. Not only do members write in to advertise the details of their yard sales, they also use FPF to ask neighbors advice on how to have a better yard sale!

  • “I’m a rookie at yard sales, and earlier this spring I sent out a request for Tips for a Better Yard Sale. The neighborly response was great — useful, friendly, and often amusing. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet some of you at our Sale this spring? Do you think I should leave extra time for socializing?”
    •Vance in Randolph

In response, people posted great tips — make signs, start early, use bins and tables to separate items by price, have a free pile, wash items before selling — and… “Advertise on Front Porch Forum

An Evening of Courageous Conversations

Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 by No comments yet

On November 18, FPF participated in a virtual event celebrating Vermonters taking One Small Step. VPR and StoryCorps have spent the last several months connecting residents with different views who might never talk otherwise for a simple, personal conversation. Hear voices from the project followed by an interactive conversation with participants and experts, including Front Porch Forum’s co-founder Michael Wood-Lewis. Learn about the project’s intentions and how to incorporate “courageous conversations” into our daily lives. Listen to the show here.

Front Porch Forum and Braver Angels joined the panel to share how we help facilitate these conversations, build community and provide the tools to do have these conversations.

World Localization Day

Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 by No comments yet

June 21 is World Localization Day! This day is all about thinking globally but acting locally. Getting most of our food from local farmers, recirculating our money into the local economy as we spend on our day-to-day needs, and helping to grow meaningful employment opportunities.

It’s clear that there’s no “back to normal” So what comes next?

A new human story founded on the principles of connection and diversity is emerging. It’s called Localization.

Be part of this progressive, inspirational and life-affirming movement for change! Register to join this world-changing program of inspirational talks, interviews, films, humor and music.