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Sunday, May 19, 2013
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
September 18, 2012
DALLAS -- Old Mill Feed & Garden will host an event this weekend focusing on growing food locally, whether it be on a farm or in your backyard garden.
"Beyond the Harvest: Celebrating the Season and Planning for the Next" will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the store, 1313 Main St., Dallas.
Old Mill Manager Andrew Hendersen said the event is an expansion of its annual canning classes that took place this time of year. "Beyond the Harvest" will feature speakers on topics such as soil management, pruning fruit trees, food preservation and a cooking demonstration using food grown in a typical garden. There will even be a chance for people to vote for their favorite tomato during the "Tomato Taste-off" contest.
"This is basically for anybody, from farmers to home gardeners," Hendersen said.
A number of local farms and businesses will have booths at the event, including Heritage Farms Northwest, McK Ranch, Bermudez Family Farm, Teal Creek Farms, Oak Point Nursery, Your Hometown Harvest, Akha Farms, Mill Creek Nursery and Gleaners Food Bank.
Dallas FFA will sell tri-tip sandwiches made with McK Ranch beef and Rogue Ales will be offering samples and selling bottles of its beer.
Oregon State University soil scientists will also be on hand to analyze soil samples.
Hendersen said "Beyond the Harvest" is meant to highlight the bounty of the local area, as well as teach people new ways to raise, preserve and enjoy their harvest.
"We are a big fan of local farms," Hendersen said. "Each year we try to host better events, and what better way is there to improve this event than to bring in other farms to showcase what they do?" he said. "We know a lot of the farms and they were all gung-ho about doing it."
Hendersen said if this weekend is a hit, the plan is to develop "Beyond the Harvest" into an annual event.
"People are welcome to come to any portion or all of it if they want to hang out all day," Hendersen said. "It should be fun. We are really excited about this."
Harvest Celebration
What: Beyond the Harvest.
When: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Old Mill Feed & Garden, 1313 Main St., Dallas.
Admission: The event is free, but preregistration is required. Call 503-831-1222 to register.
Demonstration and speaking schedule: 11 a.m. -- Nate Rafn: "Cooking from the Bounty"; noon -- Edith Faulk: "Food Preservation Basics"; 1:15 p.m. -- Teresa Matteson: "Managing Soil Quality"; 2:15 p.m. -- Amy Garrett: "Cover Crop Selection and Planting"; 3:15 p.m. -- Todd Wilson: "Pruning Fruit Trees."
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