We are all a little blurry-eyed this Monday morning as we wander around the farm, picking up tables, hay bales, scarecrows, pumpkins, and misplaced items. This weekend’s Hoes Down Harvest Festival has come to an end, and in its wake, there are a multitude of things that must be cleaned and organized and a multitude of people to thank. We farmers are exhausted, but incredibly thankful, feeling a new surge of energy to keep farming for the most amazing community.
Over the last four days we have had over 350 volunteers help construct stages, move tables, hang lights, decorate the farm with corn stalks and pumpkins, chop vegetables, direct parking, and more. As guests arrived on Saturday, they were greeted by a beautified farm ready to host over 2,000 guests for the day. The straw road and welcome sign led guests to a farmers market filled with local goodies, craft vendors selling incredible wares, a silent auction with over 100 donated items, close to 20 workshops throughout the day, stages filled with music and games, and a Children’s Area bursting with activities for all ages. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gave their time and expertise and volunteered.
These activities and events don’t just happen spontaneously. They take months of planning by our coordinators. Alexa, Anna, Cathy, Claire, Dru, Judith, and Susan (and many more, including myself) take time out of their busy schedules starting in April to put together a weekend that will be enjoyed by all. This year we were helped by the EcoFarm staff who helped shoulder some of the planning load from this group of full time farmers, and EcoFarm’s board members who helped with numerous preparation and day-of tasks.
This festival is seamless from start to end due to donations and sponsors. Amazing supporters from the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, Nor-Cal Produce, CCOF USDA Organic Program, and Nugget Market went above and beyond, making generous monetary donations, donating produce, bringing volunteers, and helping promote the event. Over 30 fiscal sponsors help to bring this weekend to life, joined by another 40 food sponsors who donated milk, cheese, meat, beverages, and many more items that our chefs (Sycamore, Lauren, Isac, and Marley) and volunteers prepared during the weekend.
People enjoy the festival because they get to experience being on a working farm. Crowds filed through the flower fields, checked out chicken coops, and carved pumpkins that were grown with love. 80 Full Belly Farm crew members worked tirelessly to make the farm as bountiful and beautiful as possible, not just this weekend, but every day. We think of this event as a way to celebrate not only our extended community, but a way to honor the community that works to feed everyone day after day. It’s always a pleasure to see our crew at the Hoes Down with their families, dance throughout the night, and see the wonder in their eyes as they witness their workplace get transformed into a fully functioning festival.
Mostly, we come away with a heart FULL of community! This weekend couldn’t happen without all of you – our CSA members, farmers market shoppers, friends, family, and the folks who show up year after year to celebrate with us. We hope you enjoyed the festival, and hope we will see you at another event in the future. Thank you for making our community larger, stronger and richer. All money raised this weekend will go to benefit organizations supporting future farmers, sustainable agriculture, and rural communities. We feel honored to put on the Hoes Down Harvest Festival for you and for them.
Hannah Muller
Photo credits: Ella Galaty
