There's a lot to see, do and learn at Harvest Fest. Here's another roster of activities to fit into your day here!
- Local Medicine & Wild Edible Plants
- Noon; Meet at the Survival Camp to begin
- Take a walk with Shawna to learn about wild edible and medicine plants native to the Midwest. Not all foods are found in the garden, or medicines at the pharmacy.
- Cooking With Sherri Brooks Vinton
- Starting within 1/2 hour of keynote speech (~2:30)
- Join our keynote speaker after her talk and learn how to creatively use our local produce in your everyday cooking — with helpful, practical tips.
- Quilting by Hand
- All Day, Quilt Womyn Tent
- An old-style quilting bee will be displayed, set up on a stretched frame, while members of Quilt Womyn showcase their talents. The group is a small, informal quilting bee of all ages that meets every 2 weeks, and has worked collectively on service projects for hospice and children's hospitals plus round robin quilting.
- Seed Saving With Jeff Fleming + Seed Exchange Table
- 3:00-4:00 PM, Presentation Area, South Exhibitor Tent
- Jeff has gardened for 20 years and has been very active in the Seed Savers exchange program. Learn how to save seeds from many everyday plants from your garden. Trade seeds at the seed exchange table for next year's garden.
- Old-time Farming Skills
- All Day, throughout the Festival site
- Enjoy demonstrations and activities provided by Tillers International, including wheat threshing, sorghum grinding, rope-making, oxen plowing, and hayrides.
- Enjoy demonstrations and activities provided by Tillers International, including wheat threshing, sorghum grinding, rope-making, oxen plowing, and hayrides.
- Making Biodiesel
- All Day, Biodiesel Co-op Booth, North Exhibitor Tent
- Back for a fifth year, Steve Bertman and the Kalamazoo Biodiesel Cooperative will show how easy and fun it is to make biodiesel at home. Whether you're looking for relief from high gas prices or want to reduce your personal dependence on fossil fuels, here's the place for information and advice.
- Spinning & Weaving
- All Day, Weaver's Guild Tent
- Watch as members of the Weaver's Guild of Kalamazoo demonstrate the traditional crafts of spinning and weaving. The group will amaze you with the simple pleasure and beauty of spinning yarn by hand and by wheel. Members create all kinds of lovely and useful projects, from baskets to blankets. Weaver's Guild welcomes beginners, and even has equipment for rental.
- Watch as members of the Weaver's Guild of Kalamazoo demonstrate the traditional crafts of spinning and weaving. The group will amaze you with the simple pleasure and beauty of spinning yarn by hand and by wheel. Members create all kinds of lovely and useful projects, from baskets to blankets. Weaver's Guild welcomes beginners, and even has equipment for rental.
- Survival Camp
- All Day, wooded area by the Family Tent
- Lost in the woods? You could build a shelter, make a fire, eat wild plants, and drink the available water. Adults and kids alike will enjoy learning these vital skills, based on traditional wisdom and demonstrated through the experience and insight of John Windsor and friends.
- Heritage Animals
- All Day, path to Museum
- Come and see some of the animals that once populated the nation's farmyards — and are now returning. A local farmer, Brian Herbert, will be at the fest with his Tamworth hogs and Dexter cattle. Stay tuned for the possibility of more heritage animals.