Harvest Festivals can be the culmination of a good growing season- or a feel like a bland mix of pumpkin spice and everything nice. Lucky for us, our vibrant local food scene is bursting with phenomenal farms of all flavors. They each celebrate their love of local food and drink in unique ways. Family friendly and full of fall fun, find the hip harvest party of your dreams below…

Urban Roots 20th Anniversary Party

20 years of awesomesauce. Urban Roots is one of those groups that’s just got it going on. Through their Market Garden Program they work with inner city youth interns that purchase, grow, maintain, harvest and sell- sometimes even  serve- the produce they raise on their urban farm plot. Cook St Paul is one of the local restaurants that carry their produce. The Chef + Owner of that fine establishment, Eddie Wu, is the emcee for the night’s festivities. *See Cook St. Paul’s listing below too* Live auction items for foodies and farmers alike to drool over. Featuring BANG Brewing and Chowgirls Killer Catering. If you want to have fun and support changing our food systems at the same time, this is your ticket. Those tickets are available Through Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!!) evening.  Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Thursday, Oct 12, 6pm- 9pm
Tickets $75 and up Available through Wed
Harriet Island Pavilion, 200 Doctor Justus Ohage Boulevard Saint Paul, MN 55107

Harvest Days at Oliver Kelley Farm

We love the way they make historical farming come alive here! Help bring in the harvest at the Kelley Farm by helping out with field work, playing 19th-century games, making corn husk dolls and more. They had their grand re-opening this spring and if you haven’t seen all the ways they make the old new again this is so worth your time!

Thursday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
$6-$12, free for Minnesota Historical Society members and children 4 and under
Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Road, Elk River; 763-441-6896; mnhs.org.

Apple Fest at Carpenter Nature Center 

Photo courtesy of Laurie Schneider

The Carpenter Nature Center is one of those unique places that grounds you to the past while looking towards the future. Celebrate the harvest at Carpenter Nature Center with hayrides, live animal programs in between the live music sets, apple brats, caramel apples, pumpkin decorating, bake sale, cider-making demonstrations and more. Jams, jellies, squash, honey, maple syrup, salad dressings and more volunteer crafted goodness for sale at the Apple Shack.

The orchard was started by the original land owners, and with good management including integrated pest management system using minimal spraying and planting new trees every year (like 300 this Spring!) they maintain about 2,000 apple trees! These are the varieties ready this weekend; Honey Crisp, Haralson, Regent, Macintosh, Cortland, Connell Red.
PYO – Pick Your Own is only available during the Apple Fest!

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14-15
FREE
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings

Stillwater Harvest Fest

Two Words: Pumpkin Regatta. That’s right, those crazy huge gourds are hollowed out and paddled down the old St. Croix…and it is hilarious. Along with the giant pumpkin weigh-off (serious food growing skills on display) a pie eating contest, this feels like enough of an off the wall festival to make the list. Also not to miss; a chili cook-off, microbrew tasting, food trucks, kids tractor pull, costume parade and live music. But those pumpkins! Totally family friendly event except parking, bc: Stillwater. Full schedule of events HERE 

Oct 14-15, 10 am – 6 pm
FREE
Stillwater Riverfront, 101 Water St. S. Stillwater; harvestfeststillwater.com.

Oktober Wine Festival

Chateau St Croix is hosting an afternoon of German fun paired with beautiful fall colors in the Saint Croix Valley. The reason this event made the list: Federweisser wine tastings! Federweisser is the product of fermented freshly pressed grape juice (from the 2017 harvest) known as must. It is semi-sweet and refreshing. This is a German tradition that you will love, or at least be able to say you’ve tried   The festival includes live German Music 1-4pm, German Food by Adventures Food Truck, a Hammerschlagen, Local Oktoberfest Beer and amazing scenery.

October 14^th – 15^th, Noon – 5pm
FREE
Chateau St Croix, 1998 Hwy 87 St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

Oktoberfest “Friends in Need Food Shelf” Event

The Historic Hope Glen Farm is a stunner, with 130 years of stories that adds to its charm. This is their big annual event, and the only way to get to see the farm without being at a private event. With around 1,000 people expected to visit during the 4^th annual open house style event, it’s a good thing they have the support of the police for parking, the Lions for cooking and the all the other festival trappings; a silent auction, music, food, games, a petting zoo and henna tattoos. All proceeds benefit the Friends in Need Food Shelf located in Hastings. The $10 ticket gets you lunch and a chance to enjoy this once a year community event. This land looks amazing!

Oct. 15, noon – 4pm
$10 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12,  free for children 3 and under
Historic Hope Glen Farm, 10276 E. Point Douglas Road S., Cottage Grove

Bail Out Houston: From the Eastside to Sunnyside

This makes the list because Cook St. Paul is one of those places that walks the talk; they buy local, create out of this world meals, and have a collective heart that beats for ALL…
Plus Bi Bim bop. And Peterson Craftsman Meats hot dogs with Koritos. Love how the food world is coming together to make this happen. This is a fund and item raiser to help send Eddie Wu back down to Houston and cook meals out of Fire Station 55 in order to feed the first responders, and the people in the Sunnyside neighborhood. Eddie was barely back in the city from his first trip down right after Hurricane Harvey when he decided he needed to go back. He can’t stop, won’t stop until the people are fed! They are working with Mayor Sandra Massie Hines to coordinate how to best support Sunnyside, a neighborhood similar to The Eastside of St Paul. Food + Music, I can support that bailout.

Sunday Oct 15^th, 4-10pm
$20 cover
MN Music Café: 501 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130

Harvest Potluck

This event elevates the term ‘melting pot’ to another level! Big River Farms http://www.mnfoodassociation.org/  is a teaching farm that works with immigrant farmers, so asking everyone to bring a dish to share to a potluck…well, you’ll have to taste it to believe it! Along with the amazing array of global dishes, (of course cooked with locally grown food) there will be beer, wine and cider, wagon rides, live music, a raffle and crop art. Very family friendly. A great time to try out that new recipe you’ve wanted to make… This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy this peaceful farm, eat great food and meet some amazing new farmers. Link to Details. http://mnfoodassociation.org/events

Sunday, Oct 15 4-7pm Free – Bring a dish to share
Big River Farms – MN Food Association
14220-B Ostlund Trl. N, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

Farm Day at Natura Farms

First Time Farm Day! As some of you might remember, Natura was one of the farms in the direct path of that nasty hail storm this June. They weren’t able to open up for their typical PYO strawberries or raspberries, but did have their farm stand open and now, after a season of healing, have invited us all to come down to the farm. There will be  a Pizza Truck, Raffles, Vendors with handmade Quilts, Art, Honey, Veggies and more!  As a Farm Day treat, they’ll have horse drawn wagon rides available for the first time EVER! There may even be (weather permitting) the possibility of some Fall raspberry picking. Please check out the Facebook Event Page to stay up to date.

Oct 21,  12pm-5pm
Free
Natura Farms 19060 Manning Trail North

Wheee! What a ride this weekend could be! My bushels and packed. My baskets are bursting and I couldn’t be happier to get in all that this Fall has to offer.

Go get your Forks into some new farms this weekend, and let me know where you went and what you ate!!

Dig In!

Michelle

The post Forks’ Weekend Spread – Harvest Time! appeared first on Forks in the Dirt.

June16
Gibbs ‘Farm Fridays’ (for the family)

Gibbs Demonstrations – Ice Cream Making

This a unique farm experience for so many reasons; it’s nestled on the edge of the city and it showcases both pioneer and Dakota ways of life and gardening side by side. Farm Fridays feature weekly themes. They pack so much into their space, with the bonus of super friendly, knowledgeable staff in full pioneer garb. My kids are never sure how to talk with these costumed people, which adds to our quirky memories. This Friday we’re missing “Dakota Moons”, which (I think) is about planting with the moon; someone tell me what I missed! Gibbs Farm is open weekends too, with ‘Ice Cream Sundays’ featuring their homemade ice cream, on, you guessed it- Sundays.

Full disclosure* This place has been a favorite of mine since I had my birthday party here; we made corn husk dolls (like 30 years ago)!

Details: Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors 62+, $5 children ages 4-16. Free for RCHS members.
2097 W. Larpenteur Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55113 There is local road construction so plan accordingly.

June 17
Breakfast on the Farm – (for the family)

I have not been to Goldview Farm, but I so wish I was going to this event! Start with a pancake breakfast fit for a farm hand; pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk with all proceeds above cost going to their local Food Shelf! (you know we love that) Then, check out the rest of the farm buildings and animals along with special events like: Wagon rides, FFA (Future Farmers of America) petting zoo, kiddie train rides, live music and free food samples. How could you not leave happier?
Details:  7am – 1pm, $5 (kids 5 and under are free) for the breakfast, the rest of the activities are free!
Goldview Farm- Waverly, MN 55390 – South of Howard Lake on County Rd 6 (directions)

June 17
Big River Farms  Volunteer Storm Recovery Day (couples or family with hard working kids)

As many of you know, farmers on the northern end of the Twin Cities got hit hard by the hail storm last Sunday. Big River Farms/Minnesota Food Association is a teaching farm for mainly immigrant farmers (see my full blog article on the farm here). While the buildings and greenhouses survived with just a few dings, the crops in the fields were destroyed. They’re hosting a  volunteer day this Saturday from 10am-2pm. Big River Farms manager, Molly Schaus said, “We’ll be doing anything we can to help farmers feel better about their situation which might be replanting, weeding, watering, or something else”.  Giving a few hands-on hours will reap rewards for you, the farmers, and have that trickle down effect that we Minnesotans are known for. It is a beautiful area, and you will be welcomed with open arms and hearts.
Details: 10am-2pm, Bring gloves, a lunch and water.
14220-B Ostlund Trl. N, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047

(That’s some of the hail, what’s left of tomato plants growing in plastic mulch, and some beaten down Swiss Chard.)

June 17
Cook St. Paul Pop Up Dinner! Feat. Championship Tacos (couples or family)

You know the tacos are going to be GOOD when they offer salsa flights! Eddie Wu’s popular American + Korean breakfast and lunch joint keeps tantalizing those taste buds with these pop up celebrations of local food that are simply out of this world. Someone please eat these Championship Tacos for me. This pop up isn’t showing up on the Cook website yet – and it might not, but if you contact them they’ll get you on their email list, or follow them on Facebook so you too can know all about the tastiest pop ups in town, or just savor their “Bi Bim Bop” any old day.

Details: Dinner service 5- 9pm. $9-$12 for 3 tacos; veg, chicken, carnitas, steak, fish. Al a carte sides – But the salsas!
1124 Payne Ave. St. Paul, MN 55130

June18 *Happy Father’s Day*
Red Barn Pizza Farm (couples or family)

Nothing says “Cool Dad” like eating pizza outside a barn with a cold one of his choice- am I right?! Red Barn Farm uses their chemical free gardens to grow many of the pizza toppings, and use a vegan friendly homemade pizza dough. (GF options available) Order your pizza and wander the 10 acre farm while you wait. Bring full picnicking supplies, a Frisbee, etc… and enjoy your surroundings! This is for the Father that deserves the very best. More Sunday day and Wednesday night pizza bakes throughout the summer. Visit them on Facebook too. ps- that was their big beautiful red barn at the top of the post

Details: Pizza Ordering Hours 11:30-3:30, $25 for a 16” specialty pizza, $20 for a 4-cheese, $10 for a personal size GF and dessert pizza. BYO drinks; beer and wine OK too.
10063 110th St E Northfield, MN 55057

So…whew!
I’m just going to throw all these seeds of inspiration out there and see if anything takes root(ha). Please let me know your experiences with any- or all- of these events. I’d love to hear about them!

I’m off to Dig In to packing, ugh.

Michelle

The post Forks’ Weekend Spread: June appeared first on Forks in the Dirt.