Evento

GrowFest! 2012

GrowFest! 2012 is about connecting the dots between the farm or garden and the dinner table. We want to engage you, encourage and give you the tools you need to grow some of your own, gain a better appreciation of what it takes for our farmers to produce the food we all eat, and whet your appetite for the best and freshest produce.

Start your gardens! Get your seedlings, fruit trees and companion plants. Bee Heaven Farm will have over 80 varieties of heirloom tomato seedlings, several varieties of eggplant, hot peppers, basil, arugula, chard, kale, Asian greens and perennial herbs like garlic chives, curryleaf, and lemongrass. Other vendors will have fruit trees, native and companion plants to promote beneficial insect habitat and gardening supplies. SNAP/EBT dollars can be used for buying veggie seeds and seedlings. And those dollars will stretch twice as far, courtesy of Urban Oasis Project/Wholesome Wave Foundation's double-value program, to get those gardens growing!

Questions about growing? Answers here for backyard growers, urban farmers, small and big farms. The UF/Miami-Dade County Extension Office is our local source for growing information tailored to our subtropical South Florida climate. Check out their presentations and demos. There will be special emphasis on organic and environmentally friendly practices, and establishing building blocks for healthy eating.

"What's Organic About Organic?" Florida Organic Growers & Consumers will be here to answer your questions, and will feature the documentary "What's Organic About Organic?" in the classroom building, along with other presentations and demos. Here's your chance to learn what it really means to be organic, why it's important to strive for sustainability, and how locally-grown produce helps keep farms in business and boosts our local economy.

Learn how to prepare healthy food and kid-friendly snacks See local chefs use fresh local ingredients to create fun and tasty dishes, school lunches, and snacks.

Enjoy fresh, great food and drinks!
Tired of that same old fair food? We'll have a great selection of healthy foods showcasing locally-grown Fresh From Florida and Redland-Raised ingredients. Local cottage food and artisanal producers will share their stories and sell their goods. You'll find treats such as jakfruit curry, guacamole, conch fritters, salads,smoked organic local eggs, raw energy bars, fresh goat cheese, organic juices, local fruit jams, fresh organic breads,and lots more!

While you eat, listen to the Robert Morgan Education Center String Chamber Ensemble on Saturday, and on Sunday enjoy the music of local singer-songwriter Grant Livingston.

Explore the park!
The only tropical botanical garden and public park of its kind in the U.S., the Redland Fruit & Spice Park hosts over 500 varieties of tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts and edible plants. If you've ever been to the park, you know what a nice place it is to visit and learn about the amazing variety of edible plants you can grow in South Florida.

Whole Foods Market and Urban Oasis Project are major sponsors of GrowFest! 2012. Additional sponsors include, among others, Slow Food Miami, Kopali Organics, Paradise Farms Organic, Commissioner Dennis Moss, and University of Florida/Miami-Dade County Extension.

Schedule of Demos, Workshops & Presentations:
Backyard Beekeeping Sat & Sun 10:30 am & 2 pm
Confused about organic? FOG has answers Sat 10:30 am; Sun 3:30 pm
Documentary film: "What's Organic About Organic?" Sat 11:30 am & 2 pm; Sun 2 pm
What's the Farm Bill, and why should I care? Sun 10:30 am
Vermicomposting-worms working for you! Sat 11:30 am; Sun 10:30 am
Food Preservation Sun 11:30 am
Transplanting Veggie and Tomato Seedlings Sun 12:30 pm
Worm poop & worm tea-good for plants? Sat 1 pm
Quick, healthy, kid-friendly lunches & snacks Sat 2:30 pm; Sun 11:30 am
Using Rain barrels Sat 3:30 pm
Children's Activities / Ag in the Classroom Sat & Sun all day
old Light bulb & showerhead exchange Sat & Sun all day

Call 305-247-8650 or email GrowFest@beeheavenfarm.com at least 7 days in advance to request materials in accessible format, a sign language interpreter and for information on access for persons with disabilities.