2009 Speaking Schedule
Nancy & Michael Phillips

We're thrilled to offer our take on earth wisdom whenever the opportunity arises. Hope to see ya soon!

February 14-15, NOFA-VT Winter Conference, Randolph, Vermont. Michael will focus on Apple Varieties for Northern New England with a bioregional exposé of incredible flavor. Nancy presents her always popular Village Herbalist in the Kitchen with recipes to help prevent disease and promote vitality and longevity. Together we will share about Growing and Harvesting Healing Herbs that suit the small farm niche and are a vital part of community medicine. See NOFA-VT's Annual Events page to learn more.

March 4-5, Berkshire Apple Meeting, West Charlestown, Massachusetts. This will be the 17th year that 'organic apple growers and more' have gotten together in late winter to compare lessons learned and explore cutting edge ideas. Yes, this is the circle of dear friends where Michael's Apple Grower finds constant renewal and mirth. A registration flyer is available on the Connections page at Grow Organic Apples.

March 6-7, Michigan Organic Conference, East Lansing, Michigan. Michael is honored to give the keynote talk for this Michigan Farm and Food Alliance gathering. Circles of Connection: On the Farm, Embracing Community, and Always in the Heart promises to explore the stewardship tapestry we each are weaving on our farms and orchards. An apple workshop focusing on Orchard Health 101 will summarize understory ecology, holistic disease management, and our attitude about other species in the orchard. A second talk on Plant Medicines for Plants will appeal to all gardeners eager to understand holistic techniques that enhance plant health and address pest problems. Learn all about this gargantuan learning opportunity at the MSU Resource Network.

March 28, Maine Garden Day, Auburn, Maine. Michael will be touching on a wide array of holistic orcharding techniques in presenting Essentials for the Backyard Apple Tree. This is a workshop designed to get you asking the right questions to grow healthy fruit. You'll find the scoop at Maine Cooperative Extension.

April 18, Grafting and Pruning Workshop, Brownington, Vermont. Michael enjoys this annual demonstration day at the Old Stone House Museum in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Participants get to graft seedling rootstock under Michael's tutelage and then get to take their "trees-to-be" back home. Pruning is explained in layman's terms and then aptly demonstrated.

May 3, Home Orchard Workshop, Brownington, Vermont. Join us for a hands-on session in orchard basics at the Old Stone House Museum in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Michael will overview how to successfully grow apples in the backyard in the morning. We'll plant trees and demonstrate bark grafting (a great technique to put desired varieties on a wild tree) in the afternoon.

May 9, Arnold Arboretum Apple Intensive, Boston, Massachusetts. Michael will teach about everything under the sun as concerns the apple tree. Come learn about pruning, pest dynamics, soil health, good varieties, and apple pleasures. The day will be divided into two parts: Home Orchard Basics in the morning followed by Organic Apple Insights in the afternoon. We'll end this fun day with a rambunctious wassail around one of the grand arboretum trees. The Arnold Arboretum website will guide you to the particulars.

May 16, MOFGA Orchard Class, Unity, Maine. Michael enjoys heading "downeast" to teach folks for a full day on growing apples organically for their families and communities. Come for a complete rundown on orchard pests, allies, diseases, and proven apple varieties. We'll spend time indoors on the theory and roam the Common Ground orchards at the MOFGA fairgrounds for hands-on Q&A time. Check out MOFGA's Events Calendar for all pertinent details.

June 19-21, International Herb Symposium, Norton, Massachusetts. Nancy and Michael are honored to be teaching with herbalists from around the globe at this premier herbal gathering. Nancy explores Cleansing through Herbs, Diet, and Fasting and will lead a "playshop intensive" on Making an Herbal First Aide Kit for Home and Travel. Michael will tackle avian flu when detailing A Holistic Approach to Influenza Pandemics and then veer into Monty Python territory with Medicine for Guys. Insights learned on our community medicine farm will be shared in a session on Growing and Harvesting Healing Herbs. Space fills quickly so go to the IHS website for registration information. And be prepared to dance the night away at the Herbalist's Ball!

August 12-15, California Rare Fruit Growers, Santa Rosa, California. Geez boys! Bringing in a northern New Hampshire apple guy to speak to one of this country's preeminent fruit groups is rare in and of itself! Michael will share insights on a panel on organic orcharding at the social, go deep into Organic Health in an extended seminar, and then entertain the whole show with an inspirational keynote at the banquet. Circles of Connection: On the Farm, Embracing Community, and Always in the Heart speaks for olive and jujube growers just as it does for apple lovers. The CRFG website will soon have details about this summer gathering complete with orchard tours.

August 21-23, Women's Herb Conference, Peterborough, New Hampshire. Nancy will be teaching with many other fabulous women. Her class offerings this year's are Herbal Preparations 101 and Don't Turn a Deaf Ear, along with an experiential herb walk. You can find out about this yearly gathering at the Women's Herb Conference site. Join us for this special celebration of our radiance, our bodies, and our work as wise women and healers!

September 11-13, Common Vision, San Ramon, California. We are going to plumb the depths of holistic orcharding and fruit permaculture with three days of talks and hands-on teaching with Michael and others at the community center of "the hugging saint" just outside the Bay area. Contact Michael Flynn at CommonVision.org for breaking details.

September 18-20, Sustainable Living Festival, Kempton, Pennsylvania. More than 10,000 folks are drawn to the edge of Amish country to hear talks on renewable energy, organic gardening, and other vital life skills. Michael will be presenting on Orchard Health and the Medicinal Use of Fruit and Fruiting Plants and the Garlic Connection and even more! Check out the exciting array of events at PAEnergyFest.com.

September 25-27, Common Ground Fair, Unity, Maine. The preeminent organic country fair in North America, put on by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, has invited Michael to give a series of home orcharding talks throughout the weekend. If you're looking for sustainable inspiration, this is the place to be!

October 23-25, Bioneers by the Bay, Bedford, Massachusetts. Good life visionaries share all sorts of inspiration and practical insights at these national events. Michael will be bringing word of the healthy apple and healing herbs on a schedule yet to be determined. You can get your own ball rolling at Connect for Change and help determine our collective future.

November 7-8, Cider Day, Massachusetts. Come for two days of orchard tours, cider making and tastings, and workshops. This is for all who love apples, fresh or hard cider, apple cuisine, apple orchards or just being in New England in the fall. Apple lovers need to check out Cider Day in Franklin County in the Berkshires! Michael will be there to give a workshop and lead the traditional wassail at New Salem Orchard on Sunday.

Don't forget to check out our schedule of classes as well! Our programs here at Heartsong Farm emphasize meeting the plants and connecting with the spirit of the land. Many find the chance to visit this blessed spot a healing adventure just in itself. Each year we'll be hosting notable community herbalists who will offer advanced teachings as part of our ongoing Further Your Herbal Wisdom series. Orchardists-to-be will want to mark their calendars for our Organic Apple Intensive weekend with Michael held early in the summer. We're honored to have you join us.

We can come to your Conference! Interested in having us come to speak about organic orcharding, community herbalism, and self-reliant living? All you have to do is ask! We'll send you a presentation flyer outlining the types of talks we offer and our needs as regards expenses. Michael is available as well to do organic orchard consultations, which include a site visit and mentoring throughout a growing season.