Wanderings & Wonderment at World's Pure Food Fair — National Heirloom Exposition 2015

Photos: Frances Rivetti

School gardens and sustainable food programs are the beneficiaries of the better and better each year National Heirloom Exposition, the World's Pure Food Fair currently taking place over a three day run the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA.

Here's an event that appeals to county school children and backyard gardeners (such as myself) every bit as much as biodynamic and sustainable farmers, raw and organic food producers.

Stand in the (cool of the) main hall and take in the sheer delight at the sight of such bounty! If you don't already garden a portion of your own food (the sorts of tasty fruits, veg and legumes your grandparents grew), you'd be hard pushed to walk out of this event without an inspiring plan to pick out some heirloom varietals to plant in your yard next season.  

There is all sorts to learn at the expo on a variety of levels. Workshops with celebrated speakers educate and inform on a more detailed level, but wandering the wonderful world of the National Heirloom Expo is super visual and fun in itself. I loved the Dahlia Show and Contest this year.

I was impressed with the crowds who stuck out extreme, record  heat on days one and two of the 2015 Expo, 110 degrees in Santa Rosa by mid-afternoon certainly made for a relaxing vibe!  

 Musicians, entrants in the old time fiddlers contest and outdoor vendors valiantly stuck to their schedules and stages despite soaring temps. In the barn there was an impressive display of heritage breeds of livestock and poultry. I talked to farmers, gardeners and bee keepers from around Northern California and across the country.

The Rural Chicks are one of my favorite Sonoma/Marin County groups of women in the field. It was good to see the lovely Deborah Walton of Canvas Ranch (bottom, center) representing. 

Innovative minds gather at the Expo to showcase their work and their products and to encourage us to dip out toes a little further into the waters of a sustainable future. 

The National Heirloom Exposition 2015 runs through Thursday September 10th. 

 

 

Comments

[Frankpetaluma.wordpress.com]

Great PIXS--really like the last one. Were you able to find a little shade from time to time? :-)

[frances rivetti]

Indoors was fine, it was approaching 110 by the time I slowly made my way around the outdoor vendors and demonstrations. Hopefully it cools down a tad today for the final day.