Come join us in celebrating on the first weekend of October, 25 years of the Hoes Down Harvest Celebration in the Capay Valley (Yolo County). This celebration will promote agricultural arts and sustainable rural living through two fun-filled days of workshops and events. Located within two hours of San Francisco and Sacramento’s busy metropolitan areas, the rural Capay Valley region is home to many small farms that supply Northern California’s families, restaurants, and neighborhood grocery stores with fresh organic produce. The Celebration will offer the public a special chance to enjoy rural life and deepen their understanding and connection to the local food system. Special 25th Anniversary celebratory activities are planned, including cow pie bingo!
On Saturday, October 6th, the Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm will feature educational farm tours, a magical children’s area, games, live music from the area’s best bluegrass players, local farm products and an abundance of fresh, organic food! Hay rides, pulled by a team of draft horses, will continuously tour the farm. Workshops will be offered on an array of agricultural topics such as tree pruning, herb gardening, solar energy, compost making and more! A craft marketplace will showcase farm-made products and an all-organic farmers’ market boasts the bounty of the season: fresh picked almonds and walnuts, a huge variety of melons, apples and, of course, pumpkins! The children’s area has been described as the “Best in the State” with arts and crafts, storytelling and music, farm animals to visit and lots of games and contests — all with an agricultural theme. Kids will have a chance to watch a cow being milked, make felt out of wool and grind their own corn. Adults also have a chance to join in games and contests; be sure not to miss the Manure Pitch-Off, which really lets you get your hands dirty! Over 5,000 people from across the state attended our last Harvest Festival, California’s premier sustainable agriculture festival. There is an admission charge: Adults $20.00 (purchased online) or $25 (at door) per person, Children 2-12 years $5.00, children under 2 years of age free. Camping on Saturday night: $25 per car. Full Belly Farm is off of State Highway 16, just past Guinda in the Capay Valley.
On Sunday, October 7th, a variety of in-depth on farm seminars will be offered on various farms throughout the Capay Valley, highlighting the agricultural diversity of the region. On farm seminars will include backyard beekeeping, pasture raised chickens, a bike ride tour of farms in the valley, in-depth farm tours, and sausage making. Admission for individual workshops: $10-35. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited so register early!
The Hoes Down Harvest Celebration is a program of the Ecological Farming Association, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit sustainable agriculture, local organizations and worthy projects benefiting the environment and rural communities.
For more information on both these events, please visit www.hoesdown.org or email info@hoesdown.org or call (800) 791-2110. Facebook: facebook.com/HoesDown.
Dedicated to honoring and promoting the knowledge of agricultural arts and sustainable rural living through inspiration and education.
