Workshops and Presentations
Enriching In-person Activities for Adults and Seniors
Call (508) 944-1370 to book your workshops today!
GARDENING & NATURE | FOOD & NUTRITION | HEALTHY LIVING | GENERAL INTEREST | HOLIDAY & SEASONAL
GARDENING & NATURE
Designed for all levels of inside and outside gardeners, our gardening and nature workshops feature the latest news and research, along with resources for finding more information as well as senior-friendly products. Custom programs available.
Things have come a long way with indoor gardening! Today you can grow all kinds of flowers, herbs, and even vegetables inside in the comfort of your own home. Learn about the types of indoor gardens, what light sources and nutrients are needed, and more! Sample indoor gardens, including supernutritious microgreens, will be presented. Great for people with limited mobility or for people who live in smaller spaces and want to garden year-round.
Indoor Gardening
Unique Garden Ideas
Tired of the same old garden? Whether you enjoy growing indoors or outdoors, come check out these unique (and easy) garden ideas. We will review several common and uncommon vegetable, herb, and flower plants that you can grow, including what to plant and when, companion planting techniques to increase yield and deter pests, and more. Participants will leave with their own garden planning sheet, along with information on where to purchase hard-to-find seeds and other supplies. Great for indoor and outdoor gardeners in any season!
Make Your Own Aromatic Herb Garden
Come learn about the culinary properties of garden herbs and then plant your own! Topics include growing and drying herbs, using herbs for flavorful cooking, and herbs for medicinal uses. We will also review how to preserve your herbs at the end of the season, and what herbs are both edible and ornamental. Participants leave with a small planter/seed starter and their choice of a variety of seeds to make their own personal herb garden. Please note – seed selections are limited by availability and season.
Drought Resistant Gardens
It’s no secret that our climate and environment are changing. Many communities now have water restrictions or outright bans on outside water use. Come learn about specific drought tolerant/resistant plants for your indoor or outdoor garden. Get tips on water conservation, along with tons of varieties of vegetable and flower plants that need less water and are either native to, or do well, in New England. Great for home gardeners, people interested in the environment, and anyone else interested in gardening. Available customized to local city/town ordinances and restrictions. Please inquire for details.
Specialty Gardens: Healing, Tea, Wildflower, and Edible Gardens
Studies have shown that exposure to nature, whether indoors or outdoors, lowers both blood pressure and stress. A garden is a peaceful space that helps reduce anxiety, relieve stress, and promote a sense of wellbeing. Come learn about the healing properties of plants and flowers so you can create your own healing, edible, or tea garden. We will review select products and where to find them, including seeds, adaptive equipment, and more. Great for indoor and outdoor gardeners of any skill level, people looking for new garden ideas, or folks who just like gardens.
FOOD & NUTRITION
Our popular food and nutrition workshops feature exclusive Therapy Gardens recipes, along with the latest nutrition and food-related research. We sometimes bring samples, but a kitchen is not necessary.
How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet
Did you know that the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes? It’s the one diet that is definitvely proven to work and has become the bedrock of healthy eating. Not only that, but the food is delicious! If this sounds good, then come learn how to put it into practice. Topics covered include how to follow the Mediterranean Diet, healthy eating, and some fantastic recipes. Great for people looking to follow a healthy and flavorful diet.
Delicious Diabetic Cooking
Most diets focus on what you can’t have instead of celebrating what you can have. Don’t let diabetes or pre-diabetes ruin all your food fun. Come learn how to prepare delicious low sugar, low carb meals. From easy one-pot dinners to larger meals, we will review the foods, spices, and condiments that are both delicious and diabetic-friendly. Also great for people following a low carb or Keto diet, or for those who just want to eat healthy.
Italian Family Recipes
Italian food is versatile, delicious, and made for sharing! Learn how to prepare a variety of red sauces that go with everything from pasta to eggplant in this beautiful presentation. Using both fresh and canned tomatoes, we will review how to pair different pasta and pasta alternatives with different sauces. Family recipes for braciole, pasta fagioli, and more will be shared. There’s even some old family photos! Great for home cooks and anyone who appreciates Italian food and culture.
Copycat Recipes: Make Your Favorite Brands at Home (and make them healthier!)
Sick of stuff that's loaded with salt and sugar? Sick of the high prices? Not only is cooking at home nutritionally better for you, it’s also good for your mental health. Learn how to make your own Filet ‘O Fish sandwich, low sodium V-8 Juice, Panera’s famous Broccoli and Cheese Soup, and more! This is a great presentation for people looking to control salt and sugar intake or for those who want to take charge of their eating.
Become a Soup Master - New for 2024!
What's better than a simmering pot of soup on a cold day? Forget the sodium-filled canned stuff and come learn how to make it yourself using fresh and healthy ingredients. We will show you how our extremely popular low sodium chicken stock is made. Get recipes for Italian White Bean and Spinach Soup, Red Lentil Vegetable Soup, Seafood Stew, and more! We will also review helpful products, tips, and shortcuts. Sometimes we even bring samples! If you love soup, this one’s for you!
Chilis, Stews, and Chowders
Nothing says comfort food like homemade chili or stew. Lose the canned Dinty Moore and come learn how to make a variety of mild and medium-spiced chilis and stews from ground beef, pork, venison, chicken, and more. Master recipes for meat-based and vegetarian chilis will be provided. We will also review select products to help make your cooking (and your life) easier.
Picklemania!
Did you know that fermented pickles are loaded with vitamins and minerals? They also help with digestion and can relieve muscle cramps. Learn how to make your own old-fashioned fermented pickles using water, salt, and spices. A variety of additional pickling techniques will also be presented, including vinegar pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, as well as lower-sodium options. Participants will receive their own pickling spice packet and recipes.
Make Your Own Seasonings
Looking to spice up your life? From savory to spicy, come make your own seasoning mix using our herbs and spices. Participants will learn about different seasonings, their health benefits, and how to store and use them. Then everyone will make their own mixes to take home. Make meat rubs, mixes for roasting vegetables, spicy mixes, savory mixes, and more! Great for people watching their sodium intake or following a special diet. Everyone gets their own mix to take home. Seasoning mix recipes will also be provided.
HEALTHY LIVING
Life moves fast and it’s hard to keep up with the latest news and research. That’s why we cut through the noise to bring you the latest health and safety information. We also develop customized presentations for larger organizations or special populations.
Get Better Sleep! - Popular
Everyone knows getting enough sleep keeps you healthy and active. But many older adults have trouble sleeping. Learn how to improve your sleep by making slight adjustments to your routines and practicing specific mental tips to help you fall asleep faster. We will also review the foods you should (and should not) eat before bedtime, as well as nighttime safety tips for practicing “Safe Sleep”, and much more! This is a great workshop for people with trouble sleeping or their unfortunate spouses! All done in an informative and humorous manner.
Cannabis and You: THC, CBD, CBN
Everything you ever wanted to know about Cannabis but were afraid to ask. All in one hour! Not only is cannabis legal, it also has medicinal properties that may help you. Stop stressing and come learn about CBD,THC, CBN, the different types of cannabis, their uses, and what is legal and what's not. We will also review medical vs. recreational marijuana and what’s hype and what’s real with CBD. This is a research-based, unbiased, nonaffiliated presentation. Bring your questions to this lighthearted but informative presentation. Sorry, no samples :)
Health Benefits of Bone Broth
Great soup starts with a great stock. Great stock also makes a great drink! Did you know that homemade bone broth and stock have tons of health benefits? Ditch the store-bought stuff and come learn about the healthful benefits to making your own bone broth and vegetable stock. Participants will sample Therapy Gardens own Bone Broth and learn how to make a variety of broths and stocks on their own. Recipes and tips provided.
How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet
Did you know that the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes? It’s the one diet that is definitvely proven to work and has become the bedrock of healthy eating. Not only that, but the food is delicious! If this sounds good, then come learn how to put it into practice. Topics covered include how to follow the Mediterranean Diet, healthy eating, and some fantastic recipes. Great for people looking to follow a healthy and flavorful diet.
Delicious Diabetic Cooking
Most diets focus on what you can’t have instead of celebrating what you can have. Don’t let diabetes or pre-diabetes ruin all your food fun. Come learn how to prepare delicious low sugar, low carb meals. From easy one-pot dinners to larger meals, we will review the foods, spices, and condiments that are both delicious and diabetic-friendly. Also great for people following a low carb or Keto diet, or for those who just want to eat healthy.
Superfoods and You!
You've heard the term, now put it to good use. Come learn about superfoods and how to incorporate them into your diet, whether you order out, go to restaurants, or eat at home. From blueberries and red bell peppers to green tea and yogurt, let's talk superfoods! Recipes and the latest nutritional information will be provided. Great for people looking to improve their diet and learn some of the latest nutrition advice.
GENERAL INTEREST
All work and no play makes life pretty boring, so we sometimes branch into topics of interest to our audience. Sometimes we keep things low key and only email some of these great topics. Think of them as "off menu", so be sure to join our mailing list today.
Chocolate Tasting and Talk 101
Eating chocolate releases endorphins that make you happy. Come try samples of craft, small batch chocolate, totally unlike the industrial, mass-produced chocolate you’ve had before. Also learn about the ingredients, processing, and where cocoa pods are grown from our own resident chocolate expert. We will also review the latest nutritional and health information. A very popular introduction! Great for all you chocoholics out there!
Experience Israel
As the only democratic country in the middle east, you read about Israel in the news all the time. But what is it really like to be there? What is hype and what is real? Why is this small piece of land so central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? Find out about the history and culture of the Holy Land through a special one-hour tour of the land, people, and customs. Presented by Therapy Gardens Co-Founder, Dr. Ron Rubin. Book early! This one fills up fast.
Experience China! (and Chopsticks)
It’s the world’s most populous country and the number one industrial and agricultural producer in the world. It’s also poised to become a major player on the world stage. Learn about real life in China. Pictures from both the rural countryside and cities featuring cuisine and daily life will be shown. We will even teach you how to use chopsticks! Great for people interested in travel, other cultures, and world events! Don’t miss this fun, informative, and timely presentation.
Local Food Trivia - New & Extremely Popular!
Hermits. Johnnycakes. Moxie. You may know some of these local foods, but do you think you can recognize them all? We’ve compiled a list of some of your favorite regional foods and brands from yesteryear to today. Join us as we present them Jeopardy-style and put your local food knowledge to the test!
Coffee Talk
Half of Americans drink it every day, but there’s more to coffee than Dunkin’ and Starbucks. Join us for some serious coffee talk, from light to dark roast and everything in between. We will also review different brewing methods and equipment, local and national brands, the politics and history of coffee, and much more. If you’re a coffee person, this one is not to be missed!
Tea Time: Herbal Tea
Do you love to drink tea? Then this presentation is for you! Learn about the history and the different types of tea, how they are made, and their caffeine content. We will also show you how to use ordinary garden herbs to make herbal teas, water infusions, and infused oils that are soothing, beneficial, and delicious! Recipes and information on where to find great tea and tea-related products will be provided. Great for tea lovers, home gardeners, and almost anyone who enjoys a hot beverage!
YouTube for Adults and Seniors
Tired of paying for hundreds of channels with nothing to watch? Learn how to set up a custom profile on YouTube. From there, we will review YouTube channels and creators of interest to seniors. Cooking. Travel. Music. How To videos. We will also review online safety, what’s free, and what’s not, and lots more! There’s something for everyone! No computer needed to participate – just yourself. Bring your questions to this fun and casual workshop.
Holiday & Seasonal
Our holiday and seasonal workshops fill up fast. Don't wait. Book yours today!
Make Your Own Festive Seasonings! - Popular
Whether it’s the aroma of Thanksgiving stuffing or a warm glass of spiced cider, nothing compares to the scents and flavors of the holiday season. Come learn how to make pumpkin spice, mulling spices for wine or cider, and other holiday spice blends. Participants will leave with their own blend of a holiday spice mixture, along with recipes for other mixtures. Everyone gets 1 custom spice packet. Additional custom packets available for a small fee. Great for gifts!
Edible Gift Ideas
Festive Holiday Soups
Whether it's for a holiday meal, a get-together with friends or a quiet night at home, we’ve got you covered. Come learn how to make Butternut Squash and Ginger Soup, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup Duo, and Beet and Apple Soup with Horseradish Cream. Samples, recipes, and lots of laughs will be available. Great for vegetarians!
What’s more thoughtful than making an edible gift for someone else? Besides, most people have too much stuff these days! From homemade seasoning mixes to barbeque and hot sauce, come learn to how make easy and thoughtful edible gifts. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!