Herb Garden Workshops at the Bidwell House

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MONTEREY, Mass. — In 2023 the Bidwell House Museum embarked on a project to revitalize their herb garden, one of a number of teaching gardens onsite. 
 
Funded by a grant from Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area and completed by Gardens of the Goddess, the old herb garden was cleared, the space was redesigned and new herbs were planted.  
 
In 2024, the Museum is hosting two workshops with Gardens of the Goddess on July 2 and 16, about designing and harvesting your very own herb garden.
 
First, on Tuesday July 2 at 10 a.m., join Gardens of the Goddess owner Pat Parkins as she explores how to plan an herb garden for both culinary and medicinal uses. You will have the opportunity to work on a rough design for your own herb garden and learn how to prepare the ground to receive your new plants. Bring your ideas, measurements of the area you would like to develop.
 
Then, on Tuesday July 16 at 10 a.m., in the 2nd herb garden workshop, Parkins will show you what to do when your herbs have sprouted and are ready to be harvested. Starting with a sampling of medicinal plants readily found in our area, we will talk about what to harvest, how to identify the plants, how to harvest, and ways to dry these plants. We will also talk about different ways to use herbal remedies, such as teas and tinctures, and how to prepare them.
 
Both workshops will last around an hour. Tickets for each event are $10 for Museum members and $20 for Non-Members.
 
Pat Parkins is the owner of Gardens of the Goddess, a Becket based company that has been working for over 25 years to enhance nature's beauty through artful landscape design, installation and maintenance.
 
These workshops are sponsored by the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
 
Both of these workshops will be presented at the Bidwell House Museum at 100 Art School Road in Monterey and due to limited space, pre-registration on the Museum website will be required. Tickets for both programs can be purchased on the Bidwell House Museum website at https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/events/
 

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Reps. Leigh Davis, Bud Williams Filing Legislation Honoring Freeman

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — State Reps. Leigh Davis of the 3rd Berkshire District and Bud L. Williams, of the 11th Hampden District, are filing legislation establishing Aug. 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing, and Remembrance in the commonwealth.
 
The legislation would direct the governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the courageous contributions of Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved Black woman known as Mum Bett, whose landmark freedom suit helped spark the legal end of slavery in Massachusetts.
 
"Elizabeth Freeman's story began here in the Berkshires, but its impact reached every corner of the commonwealth," said Davis. "More than two centuries later, her legacy continues to inspire us. Establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day will ensure that future generations learn not only about her extraordinary bravery, but also about the power of one person to change the course of history."
 
In 1781, Freeman, of Sheffield at the time, challenged the institution of slavery by filing suit against her enslaver, Col. John Ashley. In the landmark case Brom and Bett v. Ashley, a Berkshire County jury ruled in favor of Freeman and her fellow plaintiff, Brom, granting them their freedom. The case demonstrated the power of the Massachusetts Constitution's declaration that all people are born free and equal and helped pave the way for the Quock Walker decisions that ultimately ended slavery in the commonwealth. 
 
"Freeman's courage changed the course of history in Massachusetts," said Williams. "At a time when the odds were stacked against her, she stood up and demanded that the promises of liberty and equality contained in our Constitution apply to her as well. She risked everything to challenge an unjust system, and her victory helped lay the foundation for the end of slavery in our commonwealth. Her legacy deserves to be recognized and remembered by every resident of Massachusetts."
 
Although unable to read or write, Freeman understood the meaning of freedom and equality and took extraordinary action to secure those rights for herself and others. Her story remains one of the most powerful examples of individual courage in the face of injustice. 
 
Elizabeth Freeman Day will provide an opportunity for reflection, education, healing, and remembrance, said Williams. 
 
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