Last week’s cooler weather had many of us remarking that it felt more like fall than what we’d expect for peak summer days. While it’s still only July, we know that October will be here before we know it, with crisp mornings and the first winter squash and leafy greens. Besides the change in seasons and flavors, October marks another very significant event on the farm – the Hoes Down Harvest Festival! YES! We are very excited to share that the 34th annual Hoes Down Harvest Festival will take place here at Full Belly Farm on Saturday, October 4th, complete with dancing, workshops, and general merrymaking!
So…what is this Hoes Down? It’s a celebration of sustainable agriculture and rural living, and a chance for folks to come to the farm to learn, grow, and connect with the land and the farming community here in the Capay Valley. Equally important, it’s an amazing on-farm fundraiser for both EcoFarm (the Ecological Farming Association) and many other local organizations working to support agriculture and rural communities.
You may be wondering, what exactly happens at the Hoes Down Harvest Festival. There’s so much to do and see, including:
- Workshops covering a wide range of topics about farming and sustainability
- Farm tours
- Cooking demos
- Games, activities, and art projects
- A kids area including a hay fort and grass maze
- Delicious, organic food and drinks
- Live music and lots of dancing
- Camping in the magical walnut orchard
And more!
This year’s workshop topics will include brewing and baking with heirloom grains, open-fire cooking, mushroom growing, soil fertility, and so much more yet to be announced. The music lineup is filled with artists that will have you dancing all day and night long and we’re hard at work planning the can’t-miss menu options.
Every year, the Hoes Down planning committee decides on a theme that is reflective of the world around us. This year’s festival theme is “Grounded We Grow,” inspired by the feeling that it is so important to stay rooted in community, support our neighbors, and find joy together.
In that spirit, there will also be an Open Farm Day on Sunday, October 5, offering attendees the chance to visit small farms and attend workshops throughout the Capay Valley.
We can’t forget that so much of the festival is run by an amazing group of volunteers, many of whom have been attending the festival since the beginning. Volunteers scoop ice cream, lead crafts, make pancakes, direct traffic, and more! And as we always say, volunteers have more fun. You could be one of them!
You can find out more information about volunteering, tickets and more on the Hoes Down website. Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 1st.
We look forward to celebrating and connecting with all of you the first weekend of October.
