Farm and Food Weekend features helpful workshops
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Ozark Folk Center Craft Village is preparing to host a variety of workshops on herbs, gardening and homesteading.
The Ozark Farm and Food Weekend will take place Friday and Saturday at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View.
Jeanette Larson, craft director at the Ozark Folk Center, said there is no preregistration, and people of all ages are welcome to join in the fun.
Admission will cost $12 for teenagers and adults, and $7 for children ages 6 to 12.
Children under 6 will be admitted free, and family passes can be purchased for $29.50, she said.
“We have more than 20 crafts people in the Ozark Folk Center State Park Craft Village, all of whom make, demonstrate and sell their crafts,” Larson said. “These crafts are based in large part on the resources of the Ozark hills, so you can visit with our woodworkers and learn about how to use the wood from the trees around you, or
visit with our chandler about the special uses of beeswax.”
Participants will also have the opportunity to travel to Dennis Berry Farm to pick blueberries for a workshop on Saturday, she said.
Larson said The Skillet Restaurant will feature local produce from several Stone County farms, organic grilled chicken and burgers.
String band Pretty Lil Miss will perform throughout the day Friday on the outdoor music stage.
On Saturday, folk-music and comedy group Kickin’ Mule will play throughout the day.
Larson said the goal of the event is to share knowledge on working with the land and small-scale sustainable farming practices available at the Ozark Folk Center State Park.
“It allows people to find new resources for fresh food and to learn new ways of producing and preserving their own food,” Larson said.
Linda Odom, a presenter at the event, is a soap-maker and the proprietress of the Village Apothecary Shop.
“I will be presenting a program about lemon balm and other lemony herbs. I will be talking about culinary uses, as well as medicinal uses,” she said.
Her workshop will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Odom said she enjoys the opportunity to interact with and teach park visitors.
“There are lots of events and workshops offered at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. There are many opportunities to learn from master artisans,” Odom said.
Her husband, Troy Odom, will also present a workshop Friday.
Troy has been a part of the Ozark Farm and Food Weekend for two years.
“I will be speaking about utilizing limited space for gardening, as well as how the plants I grow relate to some
of our crafts at the park. For instance, we are growing cotton and flax between the print shop and the spinning and weaving shop. Both yield fibers that are used in the making of our products,” he said.
“Encouraging folks to grow their own food and share their knowledge with others is one of the objectives of the event. We participate in a food swap or trade program between craftspeople at the park. Those who grow or produce excess vegetables or product — such as milk, cheese or eggs — will trade with others,” he said.
Troy said extra produce is often given away to others who don’t garden.
“I think programs like this are important because they connect people to growing and using plants, animals and their environment for food, health and well-being,” Linda said.