People talking about sustainability and slow food, organic farmers, wildcrafters, locavores. People choosing local stores, locally produced goods. What are the common elements? Awareness of where food comes from. Thoughtfulness about the environment and what we consume. Understanding the need to nurture and foster community.

These are serious life-changing and world preserving concepts. On September 12 you can discover the fun, joyful, playful and indulgent side of local food, local products and things “homegrown” by attending the HomeGrown Festival after the Ann Arbor Farmers Market closes, from 5-10 at that same familiar location next to the Kerrytown Market Shops. Admission is free and open to all.

Why is this a must-attend event?

First because it is a community celebration. Music, food, drink, families, and all the good things that make a festival …festive. There will be kid activities, demonstrations, tastings, and music. You can buy full meals of locally sourced food by local chefs, and even beer and wine grown and produced in the surrounding area. An unusual additional treat will be hard cider and mead.

Chef Demos by Nick Seccia (of The Henry Ford) and Scott MacInnis (of Tranche de Vie Catering).

Demos of spinning wool into yarn by Spinners Flock.

Reskilling demos by Transition Ann Arbor.

Face painting for kids by Touchstone Cohousing.

Bike valet service by the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition.

Enjoy music with Billy King, First Flight, Chris Buhalis and Ann Arbor Dub Project.

But you should especially be a part of the Homegrown Festival because this event promises to be fun, creative and celebratory, all with the underlying intention “to get folks involved in creating a food system that is sustainable, fair and accessible to all.”

There are a multitude of sponsors and contributors who have contributed to make this a free community supported event. They include :

People's Food Co-op Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room Ann Arbor Branch, Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, Inc. Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum

I will be there with a table of my own, selling cookbooks and giving out reprints of this blog as well as more information on foraging and wildcrafting locally. Please drop by and say hi!

For more information homegrownfestival.org phone: 734.995.3663 email: EatLocal@HomeGrownFestival.org

Homegrown art by Melanie Boyle

Linda Diane Feldt is a local Holistic Health Practitioner, author, and teacher. Full disclosure: I am also a board member of The People's Food Co-op, the primary sponsor for this event.