Amenia Regenerative Center (ARC), a nonprofit environmental educational organization, will host two classes in June—one on gas digesters and one on invasive plant removal. It will also lead a wild-foraging plant and mushroom identification hike, in addition to hosting weekly community events.

Introduction to Gas Digesters will take place June 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will learn how to build a food waste biogas digester by watching the process in the Amenia Regenerative Center’s greenhouse. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers.

“Our digester will provide all of the food needed for our aquaponic program as well as the natural gas for our outdoor kitchen,” says ARC’s president, Daniel Sheridan.  

The invasive plant workshop will take place June 25 and cost $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Participants will learn about the environmental impact of New York’s invasive plants and how to identify and remove them. The wild-foraging hike is a monthly event that costs $50 for members and $60 for nonmembers. The next hike is set for June 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ARC hosts a free community potluck and fire every Friday (weather permitting) from May through September, and a free volunteer day Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May through November.

“Our federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization provides a valuable resource to the public as we educate the community about environmental sustainability, outdoor survival, biodynamic farming, permaculture, self-sufficiency, land stewardship and forest maintenance,” Sheridan says.