Farm & Homestead Day

Saturday, June 22, 2024

At MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity

Farm and homestead day participants work on logsFarm & Homestead Day at MOFGA is a free day of hands-on learning and fun. From its beginnings in 2012 it has been presented by volunteers who delight in sharing their expertise in skills for rural and sustainable living. There are activities for all ages.

Learning to mow with a scythe has been a draw from the beginning, as has been hands-on tool care. Woodworking techniques for utility and beauty are shared. The plant swap is always popular as are fiber arts including spinning, dyeing, and weaving with a variety of looms.

Farm & Homestead Day begins with traditional tea and crumpets.  A variety of musical offerings has everyone dancing and
singing to round out the day.

What to bring: Do you have a small electrical appliance, or bicycle in need of repair? Bring it and learn how to fix it ! Got clothes that need mending? There will be folks to teach this important skill. And bring garden tools and learn to sharpen them yourself. Attendees are asked to contribute vegetables to the Stone Soup; plus a dish to share at the potluck lunch, which includes hearty foods for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores. Most important—bring your readiness to learn and have a great day!

The volunteer organizers, The Rabble, will meet throughout the winter and spring to plan this event. To join, contact us at farmandhomesteadday@mofga.org.

Highlights include:

  • Learning to mow with a scythe.
  • Tool care demonstrations (bring a favorite hand tool from the garden or kitchen to learn tips for keeping the blades sharp and the wooden handles well-oiled).
  • Learning to repair small electrical appliances or bicycles (bring one from home that needs attention!).
  • A wide variety of fiber arts, including knitting, mending, rug hooking, dyeing with plants, sewing with a treadle machine and much more!
  • A worm composting workshop and other gardening offerings.
  • Cooking workshops.
  • A potluck lunch.
  • A plant swap (bring some to share).
  • Music (bring your ukulele and your singing voice).
  • And more! 

Schedule:

  • Tea, crumpets and more!
  • Scything: Hay in a Day.
  • Plant swap (bring potted-up plants).
  • Tool care and sharpening household wiring.
  • Small electrical appliance repair (lamps, toasters, etc.).
  • Bicycle repair (bring one to fix).
  • Blacksmithing bentwood kitchen spoons.
  • Wee folk homes/toad abodes.
  • Yoga.
  • Chess.
  • Beeswax candle making.
  • Weaving on the earth loom.
  • Natural dyeing.
  • Tree ID walk.
  • Mushroom inoculation.
  • Worm composting.
  • Simple cold frames.
  • Tanning hides.
  • Make a deer skin pouch.
  • Spinning wool.
  • Rug hooking.
  • Intro to pottery.
  • Seedy art.
  • Broomcorn for a hand broom.
  • Baking pita bread.
  • Raw foods.
  • Sour dough bread.
  • Stone soups (vegan, vegetarian and omnivore). Bring something for the pots!
  • Stone soups (made in the morning).
  • Potluck (bring something for the vegan, vegetarian or omnivore table).
  • Medicinal plant walk.
  • Making an apple ladder.
  • Plant a kitchen garden
  • Fermenting vegetables.
  • Making tortillas.
  • Ukulele, learning and jamming.
  • Singing Rounds: Sacred to Silly.
  • Puppet making.
  • Treadle sewing.
  • Machine skills.
  • Mending matters.
  • Needle felting.
  • Crochet dishcloths.
  • Table loom weaving.
  • Skinning hides.
  • Sheep: Difficult Birthing.
  • Basic wood carving.
Kids watch a goat milking demonstration.

Lend a hand to help make this event possible! Sign up for volunteer shifts. 

Please consider carpooling with people in your family or friend unit, or use Group Carpool to organize rideshares.

For more information about Group Carpool, please visit their FAQ page. MOFGA does not assume responsibility for anything that transpires before, during or after use of Group Carpool rideshares. 

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