Every year - for over twenty years now - at the end of the summer growing season, the good people at Full Belly Farm in Guinda, Calif., lay down their hoes and throw a party. This year's Hoes Down Harvest Festival happens this coming weekend on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009. If you're looking for a day out in the country and a taste of life on an organic family farm, you might want to check it out.
Full Belly Farm has been widely recognized for its success as a diversified farm practicing sustainable agriculture. This past spring Full Belly co-owner Judith Redmond was nominated for - and won - a Natural Resources Defense Council's Growing Green Award (see Five from the Bay Area are finalists for the Growing Green Awards) Their CSA is one of the most popular in the Bay Area.
In recent years the Hoes Down Festival has attracted as many as 4,000 attendees for educational tours, workshops, hayrides, food and music, and this year's slate of activities is just as packed as usual.
No registration is required for Saturday's festivities. Activities do continue on Sunday with in-depth seminars, hands on activities and farm tours throughout the Capay Valley Region, however pre-registration is required for Sunday and space is limited. Visit the Hoes Down Harvest Festival website for Sunday registration form and more information.
HOES DOWN HARVEST FESTIVAL Particulars -
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Saturday night camping available)
Location: Full Belly Farm, Road 43, Guinda, Calif.
Admission: $20 Adults, $5 Children (ages 2-12)
Camping fees: $20 per car
Note: no admission to the festival after 9 p.m. on SaturdayHighlight and replace each paragraph individually to retain this template's appearance.
Driving Directions to Full Belly Farm
From the Bay Area:
Get on Interstate 80 towards Sacramento and follow it to Vacaville. In Vacaville, get on I-505 north and travel for about 30 minutes. Exit at the Highway 16/Esparto/Madison exit and go left at the stop light at the end of the exit. Follow Highway 16 through Madison (one stop sign) and Esparto (there will be a jog to the right and then to the left) and travel 16 more miles to the town of Guinda. Go through Guinda. About 2 miles past Guinda there is a large 30 MPH sign where the highway veers to the left. There you will turn right down Road 43. Full Belly is at the end of this road.
From the Sacramento Area:
Get on I-5 North. Follow it through Woodland and get off on state Highway 16 west. Turn left at the end of the offramp. There will be several intersections. Just keep going straight. After about 2 miles, you will hit a larger intersection and watch for Highway 16 veering to the right. Keep following 16 through Madison (one stop sign) and Esparto (a stop sign and a jog to the right and then to the left) and then to Guinda. Go through Guinda. About 2 miles past Guinda there is a large 30 MPH sign where the highway veers to the left. There you will turn right down Road 43. Full Belly is at the end of this road.
2009 Hoes Down Harvest Festival website
Full Belly Farm website
Full Belly Farm demonstrates success through diversity
American Farmland Trust video interview with Full Belly Farm
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