Rodale Institute's GardenFest! '96 =20
To Take Place August 3
Organic Food Court, Farmers Market Stands, Free On Site=20
Parking Among New Features.=20
KUTZTOWN, PA- GardenFest!, a celebration of organic gardening and food, =
will be held this year on Saturday August 3 at the Rodale Institute =
Experimental Farm near Kutztown, PA. =20
The annual event is sponsored by Rodale Institute, and features =
workshops and demonstrations from garden experts and authors from across =
the country.
Over three thousand people from across the country attended GardenFest! =
last year.
Twenty garden workshops are being offered, running continuously from 9 =
am to 5 PM, at seven different sites. Topics include growing =
perennials, vegetable gardening, water gardens, composting, cooking, and =
the many uses of herbs.
Michael Ableman of Santa Barbara, California, will give his presentation =
"From the Good Earth", a photographic tour of gardens and farms around =
the world. Ableman will be the keynote speaker at the International =
Federation of Organic Movements' world conference in Denmark later in =
August. Mr. Ableman's approach to growing is so unique, his farm is =
zoned for education. He was featured along with Rodale Institute in the =
December 1995 issue of National Geographic magazine.
Other presenters include tree fruit expert Lee Reich, herbalist Judith =
Benn Hurley and TV=20
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GardenFest! at Rodale Institute
Page 2 of 2
host Jeff Ball. Mike McGrath, editor in chief of ORGANIC GARDENING =
magazine, will attempt to answer 1,952 garden questions in 60 minutes, =
and Bertha Reppert has tips for organic herb growers. All of the guest =
speakers will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions and =
autograph books.
Food choices have been expanded. Several local caterers and restaurants =
will offer=20
healthy lunches, snacks and beverages in a new food court.=20
This year, attendees can take home a bounty of fresh, organically grown =
food and plants. A new growers market will be located on the path to =
the parking field. Visitors can browse the stands on their way in, and =
save their shopping for the way out, so they won't be burdened with =
packages all day. A half dozen local organic farmers will set up stands =
for the day.=20
There will be guided tours of the world-renowned Experimental Farm =
throughout the day. The Rodale Institute bookstore, featuring a wide =
range of books, unusual hand tools, plants, gifts and crafts, will be =
open all day. A book sale will take place under a tent outside the =
store.
Families are encouraged, with adult-supervised children's programs =
throughout the day. There will be nature walks, a butterfly release, =
pasta-making, crafts, games, and the new "worm tunnel" in the children's =
garden. Children ages 5 and up are welcome at any time.
Attendees can also tour Food: The Essence of Life. This museum quality, =
indoor exhibit traces the evolution of food and agriculture =
technologies from the Neolithic era to the present. Celebrating the =
first anniversary of its opening last year at GardenFest, new activities =
for children have been added. Kids can fill out a passport at each =
station they visit, and enter their completed passport in a prize =
drawing.
Art In The Garden is an exhibit of original paintings and sculptures by =
regional artists. All of the work being shown will be for sale.
A market of Pennsylvania handcrafts will line the path from the =
bookstore
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GardenFest! at Rodale Institute
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to the garden, featuring the work of 15 craftspeople from around the =
region.
New this year will be free parking on site. No longer must attendees =
park at Kutztown University and ride a shuttle bus to GardenFest! =
Directions to the Rodale Institute Experimental Farm are provided in the =
registration kit.
Garden equipment and supply companies will have displays and =
demonstrations of garden power equipment, seeds and plants, tools, and =
supplies for successful organic gardening.
Live bluegrass music will be performed throughout the day by the Plywood =
Cattle Company Band.
The fire that destroyed Rodale Institute's operations shed will not be a =
setback to this year's GardenFest. The blaze took down a large =
outbuilding that was not part of the GardenFest! site. The remains of =
the building and debris will be removed before the festival opens.
Preregistration for GardenFest! is $25, which includes passes to three =
lectures, filled on a first-come, first served basis. Additional =
lectures are $7 each. The deadline for Preregistration is July 26. =
General admission to GardenFest! on August 3, which does not include =
workshops, is $8 for adults and $5 for children 5 to 12 years of age. =
Parking is free. GardenFest! brochures and registration forms are =
available by writing: GardenFest!, 611 Siegfriedale road, Kutztown, PA =
19530. Or, call 610-683-1400 Monday through Friday.
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