Don't know why I'm even bothering; I'm just going to end going alone again...
Connecticut NOFA welcomes you to the
6th Annual Taste! Organic Connecticut
A Celebration of Connecticut's Organic Agriculture
"Food! Workshops! Kids' Activities! Music! Farmers' Market!"
Sunday September 9, 2007
10AM- 4PM
Hosted by Topmost Herb Farm
244 North School Road, Coventry, CT 06238
From I-84: Exit 67, Route 31 South for 3.5 miles, left onto North School Road. Farm is the 3rd driveway on the left.
From Rte 44: Route 31 North (Bread & Milk Street) 1 mile, right onto North School Road. Farm is 3rd driveway on the left.
Taste! Organic Connecticut...
... celebrates local organic produce through an annual fall festival and farmers' market. We want you to taste the quality and see the variety. Most of all, we want you to understand the availability. The very best foods are right here in Connecticut- grown and produced by your neighbors.
Join us every year on the Sunday after Labor Day for a celebration of local organic produce, products, and practices. We are proud to share both the knowledge and the experience of organic food. Here, you can learn how to find locally-grown products, grow and prepare your own organic produce, and get involved with the groups and businesses that support ecological, sustainable, and socially responsible practices. Enjoy the music, crafts, workshops, children's activities, and great food while you learn about Connecticut's wealth of organic resources.
Join us from 10AM - 4PM, Sunday 9 at Topmost Herb Farm in Coventry.
Rain or Shine.
Just $5 gets you through the gate if you're between 12-80 years old. Younger or older get in free! (Fyi, if you're interested in helping out the WFC, you get in free. You only need to help like two hours... And you'll earn a discount at the store.)
Admission includes entertainment, workshops, farmers market, kids' activities, and porta-potties. Parking, too...
... But please leave Fido at home. No pets, please.
It's All About the Taste!
Today's menus feature ingredients from local organic farmers. Enjoy a variety of delicious offerings from-
The Willimantic Food Coop
Fire Roasted Organic Fingerling Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs
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Slow-Simmered Maple Baked Beans
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Asian-Style Cole Slaw
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Fresh Greens with Heirloom Tomatoes & Balsamic Vinaigrette
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OverStuffed Pitas with Grilled Vegetable Medley and Goat Cheese
Kid's Special! Cheese & Tomato Melt
The Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe
Ezekiel Wrap with Organic Sweet Potato &
Roasted Organic Red Peppers
Fresh, Organic Gazpacho
Sweet Sage Bakery
Kathy Duffy's Delicious Desserts- Too many to mention!
Enjoy Fresh, Cool Topmost Water throughout the day
Other Organic Beverages Selections Available
Don't miss the samples!
Suzanne Duesing and Marylou Amenta will demonstrate how easily you can turn fresh produce into delicious, healthful food. Don't miss the demos- or samples!
...Tasty Tunes...
Tap your toes to the music all day long!
10AM: Will Hare's Roaming Bag Pipes
A great start to a great day
10:30AM: Kidsville Kuckoo Review
The Singasaurus , Jason the Jester and Fairy Princess Emma perform dance-along, sing-along music for the whole family.
11:30AM: Full Gael
Music from Celtic and American Traditions as well as the Canadian Maritime provinces, performed by Will O'Hare and Gary Palmer.
12:30PM: Coop Quintet
Traditional songs as well as familiar favorites, played by Jim Romanow, Robin Lake, Gary Nass, Duke York, and Jason Altieri.
1:30PM: Sophisticats String Band
Everything from 1930's selections to blues to original compositions, played by Lorraine Liswell, Bill Liswell, Kevin Gallagher, and Tom Nielsen.
2:30PM: Echo Uganda
A 10 piece traditional Ugandan Folk Music group brings excitement to the end of the day.
Keep an eye out for the Stiltaristas Stilt Walking Troupe, which will be in your midst, taking things up a notch, throughout the afternoon!
...and the Kids!
Taste! Organic Connecticut is a truly kid-friendly even - lots of fresh air, running room, fun events, and even a special kids' lunch from the Willimantic Food Coop! Be sure to bring the kids over to the The Kids' Tent where we are ready to entertain the tots with a variety of activities throughout the day.*
*Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult when visiting The Kids' Tent.
Workshops and Walks...
Take a Week Walk!
Discover the magic of the green world in the plants beneath your feet. Whether as food or as medicine, all have been useful allies thru the centuries in most cultures. Learn to identify them and hear stories.
Gather at the Entrance Tent at 11:00, 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00. Weedwalk leaders are members of the CT Herb Association.
11AM:
Tent 1: Why Keep Bees?: Bruce Kittredge
Bruce addresses today's crisis in beekeeping and offers advice on how we may help. Learn the importance of honeybees in agriculture, the social order of the hive and the requirements for beginning beekeeping.
Tent 2: Planting at the Edge of the Woods: Pamela Quayle
Landscaping with native flora and other interesting woodland plants often alleviates the difficulties in that transitional area from shade to sun. Learn tips and techniques from a NOFA Accredited Land Care Professional as she presents some her favorite plants.
1PM:
Tent 1: Beginning to Garden: James Roby
Have you always to have a small garden but didn't know how to get started? Dreaming over the seed catalogs doesn't easily translate into the reality of a productive garden? Jim discusses the process as well as best organic practices, and offers tips from his own experience.
Tent 2: Home Cheese Making: Jane Kerstetter
As goat milk becomes ever more popular and readily available, learn of the delights of the truly delicious goat milk cheese. Jane discusses how to make the most basic and most beautiful fresh chevre from goat milk.
2PM:
Tent 1: Local Food, Far Away Flavors: Jane Maher
With an amazing bounty from your local farmers' market and farm stands, and a few simple additional ingredients, you can create your own exotic, flavorful, healthy, and easy organic dishes. We'll make a coconut curry dish and a stir-fry with black bean sauce and garlic. Come ready to taste!
Tent 2: Extending the Season: Bryan O'Hara
How exciting to be able to grow vegetables both earlier and later than our tricky New England climate permits! Learn the method of making use of hoop tunnels and row covers from a master of crop rotation. Bryan also discusses winter-hardy crop varieties.
Garage: Organic Pest Management: Rob Durgy
A slide presentation and lecture provide insight into reducing the environmental impact of pest control while maintaining and managing soil fertility.
3PM:
Tent 1: Soil Sense: Dawn Pettinelli
"Healthy soils mean healthy plants" has always been the credo of the organic grower. Dawn discusses the management of soil quality and fertility while addressing strategies for achieving the optimum growing medium.
Tent 2: How We Grow Garlic at Wayne's Organic Garden: Wayne Hanson
Well known as a great garlic grower, Wayne is sure to lace his workshop with humor as he provides valuable instructions for growing this herb, which dates back to the time of the pyramid builders. Wayne's wife, Marilyn, joins him to demonstrate how make a garlic braid.
Garage: Seed Saving: The Basic: Bryan Connolly
Bryan's slide presentation provides an overview of general seed saving practices and principles. He addresses the fundamentals of growing good seeds, plant selection, pollination, seed cleaning, and seed storage.
Taste! 2006 Vendors (Company, Description, Name)
Beaded Bag Lady ~ Natural Stone Jewelry ~ Katherine Corbett
Bethany Homecrafts ~ Wool items, braided rugs ~ Mary Lynne Boisvert
Birch Mountain Pottery ~ Wheel-thrown stoneware pottery ~ Susan Geer
Clothworks ~ Handmade hemp bags & clothing ~ Sarah Winter & Mark Svetz
The Copper Nail ~ Wooden items, watercolors, notecards ~ Joke B. Trzaskos
Earthy Mama~ Organic cotton baby clothing ~ Debbie Czark
Forest Spirit Healing ~ Reiki & culinary spice blends ~ Richard DeJohn
Helyn's Clean Solutions ~ All-natural cleaning solutions ~ Helyn Bartholomay
The Herb Gatherer ~ Perennials, ferns, herbal products ~ Pamela Quayle
Jai Products ~ Aromatherapy, aromatic room sprays ~ Denise D'Agostino
Rich Valley Farm ~ Soaps, lotions, creams & balms ~ Susan Parks
Sea and Earth Jewelry ~ Seaglass & beaded jewelry ~ Jen Stone
Silver Birds Jewelry ~ Sterling silver, semi-precious stone & pottery jewelry~ Thea Pastore
Sleepy Moon ~ soaps, soy-blend candles~ Winter Caplanson
Snootyfood ~ Organic & vegan spreads ~ Jane Maher
South River Herbals ~ Natural skin & body care, herbal teas ~ Eva Maynard
Stone's Throw Studio ~ Kiln-fired glass tableware & jewelry ~ Cindy Seiwart
Sue's Herbal Heaven ~ Sue Coombs
Taste! 2006 Farmers Market (Company, Food, Name)
Birdsong Farm ~ Vegetables, honey, beeswax candles ~ Bruce Kittredge
Brown Farm ~ Vegetables, goat meat, knitted goods ~ Sarah Pappenheimer
Full Moon Farm ~ Mixed Vegetables ~ Rob Miller
High Hill Orchard ~ Cider, apple, pears, peaches ~ Wayne Young
Hunts Brook Farm ~ Pumpkins, gourds, vegetables ~ Teresa & Rob Schact
KDCrop Farms ~ Vegetables, "Cato Corner" cheese ~ Kelly Zanger Caisse & Derrick Caisse
Nature's Edge Farm ~ Produce, plants, farmstead crafts ~ John Cristian
Northfordy Farm ~ Vegetables, maple syrup, wool ~ Peter Rothenberg
Roby's Organic ~ Vegetables, fruit ~ Jim Roby
Studio Farm Products ~ Vegetables, berries, jams & jellies ~ Belinda Learned
Topmost Herb Farm ~ Potted herbs, perennials, Topmost Tea ~ Carole Miller
Wayne's Organic Garden ~ Vegetables, handmade baskets & hats ~ Wayne Hanson
Winterbrook Farm ~ Yarn, wool fleece, blankets ~ Kirby & Jo Judd
Wrenhaven Farm ~ Vegetables, melons, herbs ~ Karen Carr
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Even though it starts at 10, I told Alice I'd be there at 8:30 to help setup and work. I swear I don't hate myself..... Whatever. I had a blast last time, even though I went by myself and got sun-poisoned. T'was AAAAALLLLLLLL worth it. Especially for the bagpipes.
If anyone is interested in working, you can pretty much show up whenever. You'll be able to get in free (just tell the people taking money that you're t/here for WFC), and after only two hours of work, you'll earn 10% discount at the CoOp. You could probably get free food and shit, too.