Led by Connor Stedman, climate scientist and Piyush Labhsetwar, GFN Land Stewardship Manager

Saturday, October 19

10:00 – 11:45 am: Workshop and discussion: Climate strategies for flood management

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Community project: Hedgerow care and planting

(Come for one or both sections!)

Start this morning off by learning from fellow community gardener and climate planner, Connor Stedman, and Grow Food Northampton Land Stewardship Manager, Piyush Labhsetwar. We’ll discuss the reality of GFN being situated in a floodplain and the challenges and benefits associated with this land. We’ll also look critically at the features of the land best equipped to prepare for and respond to natural causes, with one of those being our hedgerow. In addition to providing food for birds, wildlife, and humans, the hedgerow offers a wind barrier and protection from dust and debris from the road, and has the potential to catch debris from flowing floodwater. The types of plants in the hedgerow – from single stemmed trees to multi-stemmed woody perennials – affects how wind, water, and debris will interact with this land and offer practical climate mitigation.

After this workshop and discussion, we’ll move into a community project to care for and add to our hedgerow, to increase its ability to mitigate floodwater, provide food, and offer a long-term strategy for caring for this land.