Five Rivers MetroParks will host Small Farm & Food Fest on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 10 am to 5 pm at Carriage Hill MetroParks, 7800 E. Shull Rd. This free, all-ages festival features hands-on activities, demonstrations, speakers and a pop-up farmers market that focuses on healthy eating and sustainable living.
Small Farm & Food Fest will offer a mix of modern-day and historical farming, gardening, food preparation, cooking, homesteading and home sustainability information.
“During the pandemic, we saw a lot of people go back to basics, whether it was baking bread from scratch or planting victory gardens,” said MetroParks education coordinator Rick Musselman. “All of these skills can help people live healthier, more sustainable lifestyles and we aim to spark and fuel those interests during Small Farm & Food Fest.”
The event will be held at the Carriage Hill MetroPark visitor center, historical farm and farm house.
- Historical demos and workshops: From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., festival attendees can view canned goods, heirloom vegetable and butter making displays.
- Live animals: Visitors can learn more about the farm’s heritage breed animals and watch draft horse demonstrations.
- Pop-up farmers market: Featuring local growers, artisans and more, the farmer’s market will feature more than 15 vendors.
- Local food finds: Discover the importance of local produce and where to find fresh picks from the growers at the 2nd Street Market.
- Speakers: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 12 local speakers will cover topics that include gardening, cooking, food prep, homesteading and more.
- 10:00 to 10:30 AM: Curing Your Own Bacon at Home: Rick Musselman, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 11:00 to 11:30 AM: Knife Skills in the Kitchen:
Tim Pritchard, Five Rivers MetroParks - 12:00 to 12:30 PM: Baking and Cooking with Edible Flowers: Kate Lowry, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 1:00 to 1:30 PM: Milling Your Own Grains at Home:
Deb Spencer, Five Rivers MetroParks - 2:00 to 2:30 PM: Making Homemade Beeswax Wraps: Shawna Balog, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 3:00 to 3:30 PM: Stocking the Pantry: Bryn Mooth, Edible Ohio Magazine
- 4:00 to 4:30 PM: Cooking with Herbs: Karen Purke McGuffey Herbs and Spice
Historic Farm Barn Talks Schedule
- 10:30 t0 11:00 AM: Caring for Rabbits: Mary Beth Hobson, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 12:30 to 1:00 PM: How to Clean and Filet a Fish: Kelly Kingery, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 1:30 to 2:00 PM: Start Growing Food for Fall: Betty Hoevel, Five Rivers MetroParks
- 2:30 to 3:00 PM: Butter Making for Beginners: Jamie Burton
- 3:30 to 4:00 PM: Caring for Chickens: Sue Nevins, Five Rivers MetroParks
- For the family: Visitors can participate in historical games and enjoy tractor-pulled wagon rides.
Food will be available from a variety of local food trucks such as Kona Ice of Troy, Thai 1 On, Cumberland Kettle Corn, G’s Cue BBQ and El Buen Taco. Festivalgoers also will enjoy live music from noon to 4 p.m. at Carriage Hill MetroPark’s visitors center.
