This Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, the Rodale Institute will be having its first-ever spring planting festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It’s the perfect time of year to stock up on everything you need to get your garden growing, figure out how to get a perfect organic lawn, or pick up some organic compost.
I will be there all day Saturday, since Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen is sponsoring the organic Applegate Farms hotdog stand (dogs on the grill, of course!). Applegate Farms makes the best organic hotdogs ever, and at last year’s apple-picking festival, they were a huge hit.
I’ll also be speaking about my book, Organic Manifesto, at 1:00, and signing copies afterwards.
But that’s not all! At 11:00 on Saturday morning, there is a Q and A with Ethne Clarke and Doug Hall, editor-in-chief and senior editor, respectively, of Organic Gardening magazine. And at 3:00 Saturday, our very own Nickel Pincher from Rodale.com, Jean Nick, will hold a session on raising chickens in your backyard. She has a chicken farm called Happy Farms, and her chickens are delicious. (But just because you want chickens in your backyard doesn’t mean you have to eat them.)
There is also a container gardening workshop with April Johnson, who is really amazing, and has lots of tattoos.
And one more thing, there is a bargain barn filled with lots of stuff left over from spring cleaning.
It will be really fun, and it be held rain or shine (by now I’m used to weather of all sorts) because gardening happens no matter what the weather. And as one of my favorite new country songs by Luke Bryan goes, “Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby feel a little bit frisky! Rain is a good thing.” I don’t grow corn or drink whiskey or have a baby who drinks it, but it’s a catchy song!
Come on down to the farm! For more info, go to Rodaleinstitute.org/organic_spring_planting_festival.
If I didn’t have to work, I would come out to this one. Oh, well. Can’t win them all. 😉
If I wasn’t headed to New York on Saturday, I would come. Maybe next year.
You made me laugh. Must check out Luke Bryan. I hope he’s cute!
Ditto, Laura! Looking forward to the festival!
Love that song! The Spring Planting Festival sounds like a good time. What a great way to promote organics!
Maria…I love your voice. I can totally hear you talking while reading this. I hope we’ll be able to make it to the farm this weekend.
MARIA,now is the time.. I know u know that it takes 3 things for seeds to sprout(1)soil ,(2)moisture (3) sunshine. I believe that O G has stated u need to allow your seeds to bask in the sun before u plant! When the seed ‘s coat is tough to germinate put them in a jar of sand and shake them all about, or use an abrasive sand paper on the seed, do not forget the sunshine which activates sprouting. These measures are to have the seed to sprout faster. However, have any of you allowed your seeds to pass thru a magnetic field as you plant(do not let the seed touch metal or your hands)? I have had sprouting of sweet corn within three days..using magnets shorrtens the sprouting time.. try it.
great blog! I like you theme
The world of antiques is an amazing and fun way to take your time. With a little knowledge, anyone can make this pastime suitable money making hobby or the complete time career.
Thank you for another good entry. Where else could anyone get that kind of info in such a amazing way of writing.