Demonstrations at the 2010 Southwest Michigan Harvest Fest

There's a lot to see, do and learn at Harvest Fest. Here's another roster of activities to fit into your day here! Scroll all the way down the page to check them out.

Old-time Farming Skills
All Day, throughout the Festival site
Enjoy demonstrations and activities provided by Tillers International, including
  • Blacksmithing
  • Coopering
  • Chair Caning
  • Oxen Plowing
  • Rope Making
  • Draft Horse Hay Rides
  • From Grain to Flour: Hand Grain Processing and Grinding
  • Sorghum Pressing with Animal Power
  • plus… Museum & Re-Invention Lab
Local Medicine & Wild Edible Plants
1:00 PM; Meet behind the Woodshop
Shawna Greenway with her boys
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.
Tower Raising
Windmill for electrical power
12:45, 2:15 & 3:45 PM; Field across from Music Tent
Watch as Four Elements Energy raises a 60-foot wind turbine. Plus, enter to win a chance to push the button and make it go.
Making Biodiesel
All Day, Biodiesel Co-op Booth
Jar of biodiesel
Ian Smith 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.
Preserving the Harvest: Saving Seeds
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM, Demo Tent
A friendly Master Gardener will present handy tips on how to save seeds from your garden produce to plant next year. It's fun — and easy — to keep your 2010 favorites growing.
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.
Woman outdoors at spinning wheel
Renewable Energy Options at a Glance
Noon – 12:45 PM, Museum Building
Here's a great opportunity to learn and ask questions of someone who lives renewable energy. Art Toy of Four Elements Energy will outline a range of solar and wind choices that make sense for Michigan homes and businesses. Art's home was featured on CNN — visit for yourself.
Attracting Beneficial Insects
3:00 – 3:45 PM, Demo Tent
Discover how to modify landscapes and gardens to promote natural enemies of damaging insects from Farm 'n Garden owner Ben Yost. Discussion will focus on the major groups of beneficial insects and spiders and consider how to use plants and care practices to strategically attract a specific insect or spider to control a targeted pest. A guided field search will accompany the discussion.
No-Cost, Low-Cost Household Energy Efficiency Tips
4:00 – 4:45 PM, Museum Building
Energy equals money, and Nora Reid-LeZotte of Four Elements Energy will tell you how to save all around the house. Watch out — Nora's enthusiasm will have you trying every tip.
Last updated 25 Aug 2010
 ©2010 Southwest Michigan Harvest Fest