Third Annual Soil Fest at White Feather Farm!
Join us for a celebration of soil at White Feather Farm's Soil Fest 2024! Immerse yourself in a day filled with workshops, demonstrations, and activities that highlight the importance of healthy soil for our environment and well-being. From hands-on workshops on composting and biochar to a soil safari and scavenger hunt, there's something for everyone. Enjoy delicious food from the Ground Up Food Truck, sample alternative grain beers from Arrowood Brewing, and close out the day with a lively performance by O'Sullivan's March. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature, learn about sustainable practices, and have a blast at Soil Fest 2024!
Festival Schedule
Saturday July 27
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Visit our farm stand at Soil Fest and discover over 80 varieties of Certified Naturally Grown and Certified Organic seasonal produce. From crisp veggies and fresh-cut flowers to pasture-raised eggs, our offerings celebrate local, sustainable agriculture. We accept both cash and credit cards.
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Join us for delicious local food served all day from Hudson Valley's first mobile cafe, Ground Up Food Truck. They will be offering everything from sandwiches, snacks, espresso drinks, and more!
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Free Community event: Drop off a sample of soil gathered from your garden or outdoor play area for a lead screening by the USDA. By detecting and addressing soil health, you can take steps to mitigate exposure risks and safeguard your health and well-being. This event is ongoing, you can enjoy our Soil Fest events while you wait for results!
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Free Community Event (Reservation Required): Brooke Singer, founder of the Carbon Sponge Hub at White Feather Farm, will discuss strategies for keeping carbon in the soil for the benefit of microbes, plants, people and climate. The workshop starts with a meditation to tap into the network of living and non-living that is “agroecology,” before discussing how to design a carbon sponge and testing with the Carbon Sponge Kit.
Space is Limited
Carbon Sponge Hub is a sponsored project of White Feather Farm with funding provided by grants from Northeast SARE and The Spark of Hudson.
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Embark on a soil safari adventure, where we'll roll up our sleeves and dive into the earth to uncover the hidden world of creatures and ecosystems lurking beneath the surface. After exploring the wonders of soil, families can embark on a self-guided scavenger hunt around the farm, armed with clues to uncover soil surprises scattered throughout the grounds. From mysterious nooks to unexpected treasures, the journey promises thrills and delights for all.
This is an ongoing event and self guided experience, parents must be present with their children :)
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Free Community Event: Join our farmers Amanda and Celia to explore regenerative practices that enhance soil health and biology. In this group discussion, you'll learn how to create nutrient-rich compost tea by steeping compost in water, providing a liquid fertilizer that boosts microbial activity in your soil.
Discover the benefits of biochar, a powerful soil amendment that sequesters carbon and improves soil structure. During the workshop, we'll demonstrate how to inoculate biochar with our homemade Compost Tea, supercharging its effectiveness and promoting a thriving soil ecosystem.
We'll also delve into Natural Farming techniques, which are rooted in traditional, sustainable, and organic agricultural practices. These methods prioritize soil health and microbial diversity, ensuring a more resilient and productive growing environment.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn more practical skills and techniques that will transform your gardening and farming practices, while contributing to a healthier planet.
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Free Community Event: Join Director of Sustainability Bill Hilgendorf to learn how to turn backyard brush and prunings into biochar, a unique way to address climate change by disrupting the carbon cycle through carbon sequestration. Don’t burn that pile, turn it into Biochar!
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Join Farm Manager Celia Brubaker on a tour around the farm. Explore our organic farming methods and witness them in action as you stroll through our flourishing orchard and vibrant rice paddy fields. Along the way, you'll also get to meet our lively flock of chickens and runner ducks. Gain firsthand insights into sustainable agriculture and experience the sights, sounds, and scents of our farming oasis.
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In this beer tasting, led by Matt Schulze of Arrowood Farm Brewing, participants will sample a range of delicious brews while learning about the brewing processes and beer ingredients with a focus on local grain alternatives. At White Feather Farm, we are growing both sorghum and rice, two grains that will be highlighted during this tasting. Grains are nutritional for humans and have the capacity to feed our soil.
Purchase of a beer tasting ticket grants you free access to the live performance by O’Sullivans March!
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Close out Soil Fest with O'Sullivan's March in the Broken Wing Barn. This dynamic ensemble of seasoned performers is on a mission to keep the rich traditions of Irish, Scottish, Galician, and early American music alive. With expertly crafted arrangements and an infectious energy, O'Sullivan's March promises a vibrant and unforgettable experience that will leave you tapping your toes and wanting more!
Beer will be available for purchase from Arrowood Brewing.