2026 - 2027 Programs
Breakfast Social & Club Meeting
Monday, September 21st, 2026
9:30 AM Breakfast Meeting | 10:15 AM Business Meeting
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
The BGC 2026-2027 year begins with a breakfast social and club meeting. The Executive Board will provide breakfast food. The Hospitality Committee will offer coffee, tea, juice, and water. This meeting is an opportunity to re-establish friendships, get to know our newest members, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow gardeners. The business meeting will provide a brief history of the club, discuss our community gardens, the year’s programs, events and workshops, the proposed budget, and any important information that may need to be relayed to the membership.
The History of the Educational Farm
Chris Bandazian, President of the Board of Trustees for the Joppa Hill Educational Farm
Monday, October 19th, 2026
5:30 PM Social | 6:00 PM Business Meeting | 6:45 PM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
Presentation on “The History of the Educational Farm,” where our Garden Angels maintain three vegetable plots for the Bedford Food Pantry. The farm is also the site of our Bedford Garden Club annual plant sale.
Herbal Seasonings, Gifts From Your Garden
Betsey Golon
Monday, November 16th, 2026
9:30 AM Social | 10:00 AM Business Meeting | 10:45 AM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
‘Tis the season for entertaining and holiday baking. Creating gifts from the herbs you grow to share with friends and family is great fun! Betz Golon will provide recipes, and you’ll do hands on blends to make something uniquely yours to take home.
Holiday Wreath Decorating Workshop
Monday, November 30th, 2026
1:30 - 3:30 PM Wreath Decorating | 3:00 - 4:00 PM Distribution of Wreaths and Member Pick-up
Bedford Old Town Hall, Bedford, NH
Members will enjoy holiday music, refreshments, and fun while decorating wreaths for several Town of Bedford locations, including the town offices, Bedford Library, Police and Fire Department complex, and many more. Members who have pre-ordered wreaths may pick up their wreaths curbside at the Town Hall from 3:00 - 4:00 PM. Members can also bring their own decorations to complete their pre-ordered wreaths at the workshop.
Holiday Social
Saturday, December 5th, 2026
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Bedford Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Members and guests are welcome to celebrate the spirit of the Christmas Season at our annual holiday social! This year our social will be held on December 5th at the Bedford Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Room. The event will be from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Additional details will be provided at the September meeting. Please RSVP when requested.
Winter Sowing Perennials
Monday, January 25th, 2027
9:30 AM Social | 10:00 AM Business Meeting | 10:45 AM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
Hands-on activity with Bedford Garden Club Master Gardeners. Save your “clear” water or milk jugs to bring with you. We will provide the soil, seed, instructions, and tools to grow your own perennials outside all winter long… yes! It’s wonderful. No watering or worrying, and Mother Nature provides garden-ready plants come spring.
A Practical Approach to Pollinator Gardening in Your Yard
Gloria Harvell, UNH Master Gardener
Monday, February 22nd, 2027
9:30 AM Social | 10:00 AM Business Meeting | 10:45 AM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
Gloria Harvell will discuss how any yard, whether urban, suburban, or rural, can have a certified pollinator-friendly garden alongside a traditional landscape of grass and ornamentals. Using her family lots in Manchester, she will demonstrate how it’s done.
The speaker’s fee for this presentation will benefit the certified pollinator garden at Bedford’s Joppa Hill Educational Farm’s native garden.
Gleaning New Hampshire
Kerry L. Rickrode, Hillsborough County Conservation District Manager
Monday, March 15th, 2027
9:30 AM Social | 10:00 AM Business Meeting | 10:45 AM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
“Gleaning” is the act of collecting leftover crops from a farmer’s fields after the main harvest, gathering for use at local food pantries (in this case). It combats both food insecurity and environmental waste.
Raised Bed Gardening
UNH Extension Representative
Monday, April 19th, 2027
9:30 AM Social | 10:00 AM Business Meeting | 10:45 AM Program
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
Learn how raised bed gardening can provide solutions to traditional garden beds. Higher beds make garden activities easier as we “age gracefully”. Materials, soils, siting, and maintenance will all be discussed.
Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, May 15th, 2027
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Joppa Hill Educational Farm, Bedford, NH
The plant sale is our primary fundraising activity to support all our charitable endeavors, education, and scholarships. Each member is asked to provide five labeled plants (either from their garden or purchased) or provide a $20.00 financial donation. All financial donations of $20.00 will be required by May 1st (checks or cash can be given to the treasurer at the April meeting or mailed to the BGC Meetinghouse Road address). The financial donations are used to buy annuals at a NH grower for the sale.
Members are encouraged to volunteer and help the digging teams to divide and pot plants from the numerous gardens of either members or Bedford residents. This can take place either in the fall or in the spring.
The generosity of spirit, hard work, and support from our loyal members has earned respect and admiration from the community. Please join the Plant Sale Team to make the 2027 sale bigger than the previous year!
Membership Business Meeting (All Members)
Monday, May 17th, 2027
5:30 PM Social | 6:00 PM Business Meeting
Bedford Library - McAllaster Room, Bedford, NH
The BGC executive board encourages ALL members to attend the annual business meeting to elect the BGC 2027-2028 officers, Board of Directors, and a 2028 nominating committee. The annual budget, fundraising results, and the May Plant Sale will be discussed, as well as the annual 2026-2027 community garden report. Summer activities will be announced: The June luncheon sign-up, Garden Hops, and other planned events. Your enthusiastic participation is what makes our Garden Club blossom!
Annual Garden Party
Sunday, June 13th, 2027
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Join the members at the annual garden party luncheon. Heather Steward is graciously opening her home and garden to the members so we can end a successful garden year with good food and friends in an outdoor garden setting. Please RSVP when requested to let our host know what you plan to bring to the party.
Annual Mum Sale
Wednesday, September 1st, 2027
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The annual Mum Sale fundraiser helps to support the club’s educational programs and the maintenance of its community gardens. Our beautiful NH-grown 9” potted mums are always healthy and full. The Mum Sale is by order and prepayment only, with a sale period from June to late August. Orders may be conveniently placed directly online, and print forms are available on our website and in the Bedford Public Library foyer as well.
To ensure the highest level of success for the Fall fundraising event, please support this effort by purchasing at least one mum. Members are encouraged to purchase mums for their own use and to promote the sale with neighbors, friends, family and groups.
On September 1st, all prepaid orders will be distributed at the Bedford Village Common parking lot by members loading the plants into customers’ vehicles. In August, members will be asked to volunteer for this event. Tasks include set-up, unloading the mums from the delivery truck in the morning, placing orders in customer vehicles in the afternoon, and cleanup.
We look forward to engaging with members volunteering their time and enjoying the fellowship of others while raising funds for our meaningful work!