It’s officially fall and in South Florida that means there’s no better time to plant your garden! So whether you’ve planted and tended your own garden before or just want to know how to get started, Fairchild’s Edible Garden Festival and Scarecrow Contest on Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24, will teach you all you need to know about growing your own backyard garden including herbs and vegetables that lend well to the South Florida climate. During the Festival, Fairchild will also host a scarecrow contest this year! The competition is open to everyone—individuals, groups and businesses.
While at the Festival, guests can gather new tips and recipes from our popular culinary demonstrations taught by local chefs using local products. Learn about composting, permaculture and so much more in one of the gardening lectures. There will also be a farmers’ market where local growers will showcase the best fruits, vegetables and herbs available in South Florida. Invite your whole family to come out and have fun while learning how to plant your own garden and enjoy fresh, local food that’s in season.
About the Scarecrow Competition
The Fairchild Garden-to-Garden volunteer fundraising committee has organized Fairchild’s Scarecrow Competition as a part of the Edible Garden Festival taking place on October 23 – 24, 2009. One hundred percent of all entry fees, ballot sales and donations from the contest will benefit The Fairchild Challenge Satellite Programs.
Scarecrow displays will be set up around the garden on October 17, 18 and 19, and will remain in place through October 31. A $1 donation will allow anyone the opportunity to vote on their favorite scarecrow. The voting period is from Wednesday, October 20 through Sunday, October 31, 2010.
But don’t wait—registration information and entry fees are due by Friday, October 8.
For full details of the competition and registration information, visit www.fairchildgarden.org.
Saturday Oct 23: Lectures and Workshops
Garden House
10:00 a.m. Don’t Forget the Fruits, Noris Ledesma
2:30 p.m. Organic Vegetable Gardening, Andres Mejides
Outside Demonstrations
10:30 a.m. Slow Food School Gardens workshop
12:30 p.m. Growing great soil with compost and amendments:
Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton, Lannette Sobel
Corbin A
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Rain Barrel and Compost workshop
2:00 p.m. Cheese making demonstration with Hani Khouri
Saturday, Oct 23: Cooking Demonstrations
11:30 a.m. Tuna Poke with Cumin Crisp
Jeff McCormick, Seasons 52
More
Gardening Q& A table: Leatrice Linden, Master Gardeners
Kids Activities
TBD
Sunday Oct 24: Lectures and Workshops
Garden House
10:00 a.m. What do I grow and How do I grow it?
Herbs and Veggies with Carolyn Coppolo
11:30 a.m. Tomato time! Beefsteaks are BORING! Margie Pikarsky
1:00 p.m. Growing up with Gardening, Richard Campbell
2:30 p.m. Your Edible Organic Garden, Ben Thacker
4:00 p.m. Permaculture 101, Cassidy Fry
Outside Demonstrations
10:30 a.m. Drip Irrigation workshop, Muriel Olivares
12:30 p.m. How to Make a Raised Bed Garden, Urban Oasis Project
3:00 p.m. Intensive Vegetable Gardening, Dylan Terry
Sunday, October 24: Cooking Demonstrations
12:30 p.m. Cooking Begins in the Garden
Norman Van Aken and Justin Van Aken, Norman’s 180
2:30 p.m. How to Cook with Fresh Herbs
Lori Hollander
Gardening Q& A table: Leatrice Linden, Master Gardeners