Two special events are coming up in Decorah to help you get green!
29th Annual Seed Savers Exchange Annual Conference and Campout
July 17 -19, 2009 – Decorah, IA
Organic farmer, author, and teacher, Eliot Coleman will keynote the Seed Savers Exchange 29th annual Summer Conference and Campout at Heritage Farm, Decorah, Iowa, July 17 to 19. Coleman will speak on Saturday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. Other featured speakers include Barbara Damrosch, Coleman’s wife and co-owner of Four Season Farm in Harborside, Maine, and Mike McGrath, host of the popular nationally syndicated show “You Bet Your Garden” on National Public Radio.
With nearly 40 years experience in all aspects of organic farming — including field vegetables, greenhouse crops, rotational grazing of cattle and sheep, and range poultry — Coleman still practices what he preaches. He and Barbara operate a year-round commercial market garden, in addition to conducting horticultural research projects, at Four Season Farm. Coleman’s workshop will focus on the use of hoophouses and moveable high tunnels in growing year-round vegetables on his Maine farm. (A note of interest, Seed Savers is in the process of building one 35’ by 96’ hoophouse and one 30’ by 48’ moveable high tunnel at Heritage Farm).
Coleman is author of “The New Organic Grower,” “Four Season Harvest,” and the newly published “Winter Harvest Handbook”. Articles about the couple have appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, House and Garden, Mother Earth News, Gourmet, Organic Gardening and Downeast. Coleman also designs garden tools for his own use, many of which will be on display at the conference.
Damrosch has worked professionally in the horticultural field since 1977. She writes, consults and lectures on gardening, farming and landscaping and currently writes “A Cook’s Garden,” a weekly column for The Washington Post. Damrosch is author of two books, “The Garden Primer” and “Theme Gardens.” With Coleman, Damrosch was host of the TV series “Gardening Naturally” on The Learning Channel.
McGrath offers advice to gardeners as host of “You Bet Your Garden” on NPR, with tips on everything from fending off pests to wrestling with weeds. He is also garden editor for WTOP News Radio in Washington, D.C., and contributing editor and columnist for Greenprints magazine. McGrath has authored several books, including “Mike McGrath’s Book of Compost,” “Kitchen Garden A to Z” and “You Bet Your Tomatoes!” His most recent book is “Kitchen Garden Box – Save and Sow Seeds of Your Favorite Vegetables”.
This year’s annual conference will also include several workshops on various aspects of gardening and farming, a
panel discussion, field demonstrations, heritage seed swap, lots of good local food, inspiring conversation and even a barn dance. Local vendors will be selling products on Saturday morning
New this year – kids activities! While the registered adult attends the conference, students K-8 can participate for free in our Dig & Discover program! Each child will explore Heritage Farm on an adventure scavenger hunt; find out how the four B’s – bees, butterflies, birds and bugs – help in the garden; learn the stories behind heritage seeds, and create a garden t-shirt to take home.
The cost for the weekend conference is $75 for Seed Saver’ members and $100 for the general public. One-day only registration is also available. Registration details and a list of scheduled events are available at www.seedsavers.org or by calling Seed Savers Exchange at (563) 382-5990.
Seed Savers Exchange is the largest non-governmental seed bank of its kind in the United States. The vast seed collection maintained at Heritage Farm includes thousands of vegetable varieties, many of which are rare and heirloom seeds. Members receive many special benefits, including a 10 percent discount on purchases online or at the Lillian Goldman Visitor’s Center, four quarterly publications and access to thousands of heirloom varieties not available in the public catalog. More info at www.seedsavers.org or call (563) 382-5990 for membership information.
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The Decorah, Iowa Green Initiative
August 21-23, 2009 – Decorah, Iowa
The Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau is kicking off a fun and educational new festival called “Dig IN: the Decorah Iowa Green INitiative” this August 21-23. The WCCVB and partners established this first annual event to celebrate the Decorah area as leaders in “green” initiatives. Dig IN is a weekend-long festival set in idyllic Northeast Iowa featuring off the grid homes and sustainable farm tours, along with live music at both a street dance and garden party, an expert-filled green expo, seminars and forums, and local foods all weekend.
You can read more about the event by CLICKING HERE on the Inspire(d) Site.
Register online at www.digindecorah.com to get full access to a program guide, a map for home and farm tours, plus a chance to a prize package. Registration is $10 for adults and kids 18 and under are free.
For the latest news, event listings, and information, visit www.digindecorah.com.
