Hi Mark. Good seeing you today.
I tried registering for SquareSpace and was daunted by the choices. I didn’t see a way to simply register (but admittedly am terrible at this sort of thing). Maybe we should do this together to get it started? I’m around tomorrow and Friday morning if you are available. My mobile is 917-881-7286. Just let me know when.
The two URLs are: TheWorkshopExperience.org …and… HillsdaleWorkshopAlliance.org
Meanwhile, below is a list of pages and text for the site. The only text that’s 100% good to go is the Home Page, the rest is a place holder until Margaret gives it a polish…
Home ….. About us ….. Workshop Calendar ….. Our Partners ….. Our Region ….. Contact
Home Page:
The Workshop Experience is the product of Hillsdale Workshop Alliance, a collaboration between Hudson Valley neighbors, each of us a producer or expert in our fields. We joined forces to showcase our offerings together through this website—experiential learning events we create in gardening, culinary arts, floristry, crafting, writing, natural history and more. These workshops and classes are set against the bucolic landscape of Hillsdale, New York, and its surrounding area, at the crossroads of the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. Our carefully curated workshops allow curious minds and hands to explore a variety of life-enhancing skills, and have fun while doing it. Check out the WorkshopExperience events calendar HERE.
About Us:
The Workshop Experience is overseen by Hillsdale Workshop Alliance, a group of creative friends who care deeply about quality, expertise and the beautiful setting we find ourselves in. Our mission is a simple one:
The Hillsdale Workshop Alliance curates and promotes experiential learning in creative fields in and around Hillsdale NY through their website TheWorkshopExpereince.org. Whether the instructors are local experts, or visiting maker/instructors, the goal is high quality workshops (and outdoor adventures?) presented in beautiful settings that can be enjoyed by local audiences and visitors alike. This effort highlights our historic rural region and the gifted talent that exists here, while teaching valuable skills to a diverse audience.
Partners:
Margaret Roach – A Way to Garden
Matthew White – HGS Home Chef & HGS By Hand
Jenny Elliot and Luke Franco – Tiny Hearts Farm
Mark Holthusen – Spring Hill Farm
Jim & Pam Carden – Taconic Ridge Farm
Our Region:
The Workshop Alliance is centered in rolling hills of Hillsdale, New York and the surrounding rural hamlets that abut the Berkshires just minutes away to the east. Long known as the “Gateway to the Berkshires”, this historic area is also known as the Roeliff Jansen Region which includes Copake and Ancram NY, following the Roeliff Jansen Kill a major tributary that flows to the mighty Hudson River. Our historic towns and working farms set against wooded hills have inspired contemplation and creativity for centuries. The goal of The Workshop Experience is to shine a light on gifted experts, creatives, makers, authors and artists through the carefully curated workshops we share here. The beauty of our region simply adds one more layer of pleasure to the programing of meaningful learning experiences.
Contact:
The Hillsdale Workshop Alliance curates and promotes the diverse learning experiences on this site, but does not produce them.
If you have a question about a specific workshop or class, please contact the producer of that particular event.
Questions for Hillsdale Workshop Alliance may emailed to us at XXXXXXX.
Should we say something about creating custom retreats?
Dear all,
Margaret polished my rough text for The Workshop Experience homepage for the new website. Before proceeding on text for the other pages we wanted your feedback. The objective was to make this feel casual rather than a big official entity. Of course we can grow into something more formal over time, if that makes sense, but we both think this fits a “world class but low-key” vibe that suits our offerings and region.
If you like this direction, Margaret (who was featured in today’s NY Times! -https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/insider/gardening-columnist.html) can fairly quickly write up the remaining website text. We would then set up a Zoom meeting to discuss the website design and a few other issues/ideas about the entity and our launching event in September. It will feel good to finally set our flag in the ground and start spreading the word.
Have a read and let us know what you think…
The Workshop Experience is the product of Hillsdale Workshop Alliance, a collaboration between Hudson Valley neighbors, each of us a producer or expert in our fields. We joined forces to showcase our offerings together through this website—experiential learning events we create in gardening, culinary arts, floristry, crafting, writing, natural history and more. These workshops and classes are set against the bucolic landscape of Hillsdale, New York, and its surrounding area, at the crossroads of the Hudson Valley and Berkshires. Our carefully curated workshops allow curious minds and hands to explore a variety of life-enhancing skills, and have fun while doing it. Check out the Workshop Experience events calendar HERE.
Best, Matt (and Margaret)