Community Enrichment

G.A.L.A. believes that offering enriching community events and programs are an integral part of our role in building strong, sustainable communities.  These events and programs provide opportunities for people to connect and network, to share activities and hobbies, support local agriculture, and join hands in keeping their communities beautiful and vibrant.  Information on these events and programs is posted on the G.A.L.A. Calender of Events and Blog Archives (to your right), and also listed on Facebook as they are scheduled.  We ALWAYS are in need of volunteers to help us with the events and programs… so if you’d like to be part of the team that’s bringing sustainable change into communities and people’s lives, give us a “holla” at the office on 603-539-6460.

EVENTS

Contra Dance Series:
The most SUSTAINABLE way to stay warm on a cold winter’s night!
Dates:  Last Saturday of each month from January to April
(Jan. 26/ Feb. 23/ Mar. 30/Apr. 27)
Venue:  Ossipee Town Hall Gymnasium, 55 Main Street, Center Ossipee, NH 03814
Cost:  Adult: $7, Student and Senior (65+): $5, Youth under 14: $3
Type: Contra Dance with a traditional live band and caller. All levels of dancer and all ages welcome!
For more information about the history of Contra Dances, check out this great essay for a Contra Dance group in Ohio!

Farm to Table Feast
Save the date:  Tuesday September 17th, 2013!

G.A.L.A.  MEMBERS will receive a special, advance invitation in June, after which, tickets will be made available for general sale.  In the past this event has sold out within 36 hours, so make your reservations early!  Tickets are $60 for members and $75 for non-members.

In celebration of the growing abundance of local foods and agricultural products, G.AL.A. hosts an annual Farm to Table Feast with the mission of addressing one of the fundamental pillars of sustainability—food and agriculture.  The event literally brings the farming and culinary community to the same table in hopes of discussing and working through some of the barriers that keep local foods from entering the local food markets on more regular and agreeable terms.  At the same time, attendees leave with a renewed commitment to support local food and agriculture. Ultimately, this means the ties people have to their local farms and businesses are strengthened, and more money is kept in the local economy which helps to build resiliency and strengthen our community.

Held in the picturesque Barn at Moody Mountain on Pork Hill Rd, Wolfeboro, the Feast showcases several delicious and uniquely crafted courses made by local chefs, as well as entertaining local musicians, a silent auction and raffle with awesome prizes, a key note speaker and the much anticipated GALA Volunteer of the Year Award.

First Night Chili n Chowder Soup Sale
As part of the community-wide celebrations to welcome in the New Year, G.A.L.A. has a delicious, highly popular Chili n Chowder soup sale between 6:00 and 10:00pm at the Carpenter School cafeteria.  Also available are awesome bike-powered smoothies, hot chocolate, coffee, a variety of teas and an assortment of delectable home-baked goodies such as Becky’s famous ginger cupcakes with expresso frosting and crystalized ginger sprinklings – yummee!!  All menu items are made from local, organic products wherever possible.

GREENING ACTIVITIES

Town Clean Up Day
Ossipee Valley Music Festival Recycling

PROGRAMS

Sustainable Home and Yard Make-Overs:

• Sustain-A-Raisers
• Solar Raisers

OTHER FUN STUFF! 

GALAvanting
GALAvanting is designed to promote and encourage learning, teaching, and telling the stories behind sustainable community building. “GALAvanters” arrange carpools and caravans to nearby events and learning opportunities related to sustainability. GALAvanting destinations may include educational film screenings, sustainability related workshops, winter farmers’ markets, legislative hearings, or any other educational or community building activity.  Join our Meetup group to see where GALAvanters are going next.

Wolfeboro Area Farmers’ Market
G.A.L.A. has a booth every week at the Wolfeboro Area Farmers’ Market (WAFM) where folks come come hear more about our work, enjoy a pedal-powered smoothie, learn from an educational demonstration, and meet some of our most awesome volunteers. The market takes place at Clark Park on South Main Street (across from Huggins Hospital) every Thursday between 12:30pm and 4:30 pm between June and October.

In addition to being the best place to source fresh, local food, the market also serves as a special social gathering space, rich in community spirit. Market goers are also able to learn a thing or two about farm-related trades through a series of workshops by local homesteaders like Virginia Taylor and Karen Downing. These workshops include topics such as how to dehydrate food, ferment and preserve food, make butter, work with herbs, and spin wool.  Email Brenda Lush at crookedpinefarm@hotmail.com to learn more or receive a vendor application.