Fresh food, hands-on learning, and community connection—all year long.
Real Food CT is excited to launch our Seasonal Workshop Series for 2025! Each month, we’ll offer a fun, hands-on experience centered around seasonal ingredients, food skills, and celebrating the abundance of local farms. Whether you’re a home cook, a curious gardener, or just someone who loves fresh food, these workshops are a great way to learn something new and connect with your community. We will take some time while we are creating to discuss regional food insecurity and our food system partners.
Here’s what’s coming up:
🥗 June: Salad Lab – Make Your Own Salad + Dressing
Wednesday, June 25th – 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Newtown Community Center
We’re thrilled to kick off our seasonal workshop series with the incredible Chef Pam Buchler, a long-time supporter of Real Food CT and a beloved culinary presence in the Newtown community. Pam will lead us in crafting personalized salads and fresh dressings using crisp lettuces, fragrant herbs, and a variety of seasonal, locally grown vegetables. Participants will enjoy farm-fresh tastings, learn simple dressing techniques, and pick up practical nutrition tips along the way. Chef Pam has been nourishing and supporting Newtown for years, and we’re honored to have her launch this delicious and healthy series with us—a true community-powered start to a summer of fresh flavors!
Focus: Seasonal eating; intro to local farms and early crops
🥒 July: Zucchini Bake-Off – Muffins, Breads & More
Wednesday, July 30th – 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Newtown Community Center
It’s zucchini season! Friendly competition featuring zucchini recipes. Learn about seasonal overproduction, home preservation tips, and reducing food waste.
Focus: Farm surplus; food waste reduction
🍅 August: Tomato Jam + Summer Sauce Night
Wednesday, August 27th – 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Newtown Community Center
Tomatoes are the star of the summer! Learn canning/jarring using fresh tomatoes. Taste sauces, prep jars, and explore food preservation as a tool for food security and waste reduction.
Focus: Gleaning and surplus; preservation techniques
🌻 September: No Workshop – Join Us at Our Annual Fundraiser
This month we’ll be hosting our 5th annual fundraiser at Sticks and Stones Farm, “An Evening at the Farm.” It’s a great time to celebrate the growing season with us! Our event is back and better than ever, promising a night of delicious food, great music, and fellowship among those with a shared passion for nourishing our community. A farm-to-table experience you won’t want to miss!
Your presence at our event not only gives you an unforgettable evening, but also directly supports RFCT’s work with our communities and farmers, growing and distributing nourishing food to people throughout the region. Please spread the word! Share this save the date with your friends, family, and colleagues – let’s celebrate local food and make a real difference together!
🍏 October: Apples & Equity – Make Your Own Applesauce
Date: TBD
Make applesauce with local apples. Includes a discussion on food insecurity and RFCT’s role in addressing it through gleaning and farm partnerships.
Focus: Food insecurity; access, and community food distribution
🌶️ November: Chili Cook-Off + Local Food Roundtable
Date: TBD
Bring your best chili recipe! Community chili tasting followed by a panel with food pantry and food hub leaders discussing regional food access collaboration.
Focus: Regional collaboration; food hub infrastructure
🫙 December: Holiday Pickling + Gifting Workshop
Date: TBD
Try your hand at pickling winter veggies and packaging them up as festive gifts. A perfect blend of kitchen creativity and seasonal celebration! Hands-on pickling of winter veggies with a gifting theme. Includes food justice talk and mini donation drive for partner pantries.
Focus: Winter preservation; giving back to pantries
Why It Matters
Real Food CT’s workshops are a great way to connect with your neighbors, learn something new, and enjoy the best of what each season has to offer. These workshops go beyond food skills—they’re about building community-powered solutions to food insecurity, celebrating local food, and engaging in advocacy for a healthier, more equitable food system. From fresh salads to warm chili, we’re bringing people together through food all year long.
We believe that everyone has a role to play—whether it’s learning how to preserve summer’s bounty, joining a conversation on food equity, reducing waste, or simply sharing a homemade jar of pickles with a neighbor.
Stay tuned for registration/ticketing details and make plans to join us! Let’s grow our knowledge, nourish our community, and work together for food justice in every season. We hope to see you in the garden or around the table soon! For more information or a registration reminder, please email jessi@realfoodct.org.
