If Farm Aid’s stage is the heart of Farm Aid, the HOMEGROWN Village is the hands!
In the HOMEGROWN Village, festivalgoers will explore interactive exhibits and activities that engage all of their senses. Food and farm groups from across the country showcase exhibits about soil, water, energy, food and farming through art, games, and hands-on activities. In the HOMEGROWN Skills area, festivalgoers attend skillshares and demonstrations, celebrate the culture of agriculture and go home with new skills. Farmers, farm activists and festivalgoers come together in the FarmYard to meet and share stories. On the FarmYard Stage farmers and concert artists discuss urgent issues.
Look below for a taste of what was in the HOMEGROWN Village at Farm Aid 2024.
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Eat Your ZipcodeIn Farmers We TrustPowering the FarmTap the SourceThe Fertile GroundAdvocacy Action CenterThe HOMEGROWN Skills TentThe FarmYard Stage
HOMEGROWN Village
What does local food mean to you? What can we build to help us all eat closer to home and support family farmers in our area? How are you growing a strong, local Good Food Movement in your region?
The Long & Short Story of Produce
Presented by HOMEGROWN Youth Market
Chat with the HOMEGROWN Youth Market folks about the different journeys produce makes from the farm and all the stops in between before ending up in your hands.
Make Your Mark
Presented by Rural Vermont
Come make art with Rural Vermont and learn about their work to strengthen the social, ecological, and economic health of the agrarian communities that connect us all.
Build a Plate with Local Ingredients
Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension – Harvest NY
Learn about what’s on your school lunch tray, and how schools in New York State are supporting local farms and getting local foods to our students!
Learning Macros with Micros(greens)!
Presented by Pitney Meadows Community Farm
Learn to grow microgreens with Pitney Meadows Community Farm!
The Price of Food
Presented by GrownBy
You may know the prices in the grocery store, but do you know what the farmers earn? Show off your knowledge of the food system by playing our farm commodity price game.
Getting Wild!
Presented by D.I.G. Farm
Use your senses to learn about plants in your own backyard. Go home able to identify the Top 10 Wild Plants you should be leaving in your garden.
Re-localize the Food System!
Presented by Salvation Farms
Salvation Farms’ exhibit will give a glimpse into what nutritious food that doesn’t make it to your plate looks like, while also helping to visualize what re-localized food systems in the United States could look like if we utilized the estimated 34 billion pounds of edible produce that remain on farms unharvested, unsold, and uneaten annually in this country.
Register to Vote!
Presented by HeadCount
Get registered to vote today! HeadCount is a non-partisan non-profit organization that harnesses the power of music, culture and digital media to register voters and inspire participation in democracy.
Farmers are the backbone of America’s food system and our economy. What does it take to be a farmer? What challenges and opportunities are facing family farmers of all generations and backgrounds? How can we sustain and support the future of farming in America?
Relax With Us!
Presented by the WRASAP Network (feat. Cultivemos)
WRASAP believes in working together to cultivate rural resilience for all, including farmers, ranchers, and agriculture workers as they navigate increasing stress. Join us in collaborating on an art project creating bunting to be used in the HOMEGROWN Village next year!
Collapse Farm Stress
Presented by NY FarmNet
Engage in a game of Jenga where you’ll learn about some of the stressors that farmers face, the ways they can compound, and what things can help to alleviate some of this stress.
Spin the Wheel on Meat Processing
Presented by Flower Hill Institute
If you’re looking to chat about diversified meat and poultry processing systems, this is the spin the wheel for you!
Plant A Seed with Us
Presented by National Black Food and Justice Alliance
Embark on a visual and interactive journey into Black contributions to agroecology and food systems sustainability.
Guess the Weight!
Presented by Grow NYC
Guess the weight on various produce, it’s fun we promise! How much do you know about New York State farmers and the food they grow? Come to GrowNYC’s booth in the HOMEGROWN Village to find out!
Supporting a More Humane and Resilient Food System
Presented by ASPCA
How to fight factory farming with your vote and your fork. Check out the Supermarket Scorecard to see how your grocery store of choice stacks up, and learn how you can support more humane farming practices!
Farm Policy Trivia Game
Presented by Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund
Test your knowledge of food laws and the challenging regulations small food producers most often face and hear about solutions that can help producers better navigate the laws and more easily get their products to their customers.
Take an Organic Spin!
Presented by NOFA-NY
Dive into a lively trivia game to discover what the farm bill is all about, gain insight into organic farming in the Northeast, then snap a photo to showcase your support!
Seasons Greetings to Farmer Veterans!
Presented by Farmer Veteran Coalition
Express your gratitude and send some cheer and joy to farmer veterans in the form of a holiday card!
Blast to the Past
Presented by County of Saratoga
Experience farming in revolutionary times: learn what they grew and how they ate in Saratoga during the American Revolution, and challenge yourself with our 18th-century farm tool guessing game!
No Foodopoly on my Watch
Presented by Food & Water Watch
Impress friends with your knowledge of corporate consolidation in the food system. Learn more about Factory Farm Nation, how it impacts consumers, farmers and the environment, and how we can fight back.
Two Truths and a Lie
Presented by RAFI-USA
Sit down with RAFI for a rousing game of “two truths and a lie,” chat with a BIPOC farmer, learn about the programs RAFI offers, and get some tasty recipes inspired by using farm-fresh produce.
What are the farm-based innovations, alternative energy sources, growing methods, and models will power us into the future?
Accessible Farming
Presented By National AgrAbility Project
Farmers are Everyone, a hands-on display of opportunities to explore how adaptive devices help farmers accomplish their goals and the diversity in farming in our nation. AgrAbility will be demonstrating technology and advances to help farmers with disabilities continue in “Powering the Farm” into the future.
TransFARMation
Presented by Transfarmation Project
Transfarmation showcases how leaving factory farming is good for farmers, the planet, and communities.
Virtual Tractor Ride
Presented by National Center for Appropriate Technology
Take a virtual tractor ride through the pastures, woods, greenhouse, and barns of a working farm that will power food production into the future through on-farm conservation practices and energy generation for climate resiliency and local community self-reliance.
Pest Pinochle
Presented by New York State Integrated Pest Management
Try your hand at Pest Pinochle, and peep through a microscope with New York State Integrated Pest Management!
The Journey to Organic
Presented by Farmhand Foundation
The Farmhand Foundation exhibit will immerse visitors in the culture of organic farming, offering education on healthy soil, local, pesticide-free food and showcasing how the Farmhand Foundation supports farmers throughout their entire journey to organic farming.
Water is life. The growing scarcity of clean water affects us all. What are the major threats to our water future? How do farmers practice water stewardship and how can we become better stewards of our water supplies?
What the Frack?!
Presented by Dimock Environmental Research Center
Educational information for farmers and their neighbors about responding to water, air or environmental complaints.
Black gold… topsoil… terra firma… No matter what you call it, soil is vital to growing healthy food. What makes soil healthy and what is soil’s role in the health of our land, water, air, climate and food supply? What can we do to better care for this vital resource?
Climate Smart Kids (the baby Goat kind!)
Presented by The Livestock Conservancy
Join us in learning about endangered livestock and poultry breeds hands on with some San Clemente Island Goat Kids!
Farmland Jeopardy
Presented by American Farmland Trust
Join American Farmland Trust for “Farm Jeopardy” and color on a giant farm mural while learning about the resources provided to farmers and ranchers by AFT.
Feel the Beet!
Presented by SaratogaPLAN
Join us for “Feel the Beet,” a fun tactile guessing game to highlight the importance of quality soil, farmland, and the importance of preserving Saratoga County’s local farms for future generations.
Spin the Wheel and Get to Work!
Presented by Organic Farming Research Foundation
Make your voice heard in shaping a sustainable food system—visit our booth to take immediate action in influencing organic agriculture policy today!
Soil Your Hands
Presented by Agricultural Stewardship Association
Come join us as we showcase several cover crop options, demonstrate the difference between healthy soil and depleted soil, and learn about simple tools and tests you can conduct on your land.
I Vote Environment!
Presented by The Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT)
Make your voice count, and support the environment with your vote at our booth!
Get Your Hands Dirty!
Presented by Pasa
Come to Pasa Sustainable Agriculture’s space to test your Climate Smart knowledge and find out what programs can support your favorite farmer!
Soil to Soul: Discover the Magic of Composting
Presented by Loving Earth Compost
Dive into the fascinating world of composting and soil microorganisms at our interactive exhibit. Learn how to turn kitchen scraps into rich compost, explore the tiny creatures that make soil healthy, and discover how you can get involved in DIY or community composting efforts. Perfect for families, our exhibit features hands-on activities for kids, including making seed balls, magnifying soil microbes to see the invisible helpers of the earth, and engaging in compost-themed storytelling sessions.
Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen alone. Policy is a powerful tool to shift the food systems and agricultural practices in our country. It starts with getting informed, learning about the issues, learning about how to add your voice to the conversation, it can start today in the HOMEGROWN Village at the Advocacy Action Center!
Get a Bills-eye with the Action Center!
Presented by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and FarmSTAND
Join NSAC and FarmSTAND in the HOMEGROWN Village and try your hand at dart tossing to learn about agriculture policy, and take the opportunity to apply what you learn in a letter to your Representative.
The HOMEGROWN Skills Tent promises to be chock full of learning and fun! Participate in workshops and demonstrations to learn new skills.
Click here to check out extra materials – think: bios, how-tos, recipes etc. – from this year’s HOMEGROWN Skills Tent participants.
Skills Tent Demonstrations
1:00pm — It’s the Bee’s Knees: Crafting with Beeswax 101
Presented by Julie Schaer of West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition
Instead of spending lots of money on lip balms and lotions at the grocery store, try your hand at making lotions and potions using beeswax. Come watch this demo to learn how to make these products as well as reusable beeswax wraps, which are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap.
2:00pm — So Spore-tacular: Growing Mushrooms 101
Presented by Avery Stemple from Collar City Mushrooms
Do you love mushrooms and always wanted to grow them at home? If so, this demo is for you. Come to the Skills Tent to learn how to grow mushrooms in a five-gallon bucket using both straw and live mycelium.
3:00pm — Soak up the Sun: Cyanotype 101
Presented by Alexandra Norton of Hummingbirds Blooms
Cyanotype is a type of camera-less photography that uses UV rays from the sun to process prints. Learn how to create shapes and designs with botanicals and then how to print your creation on both fabric and paper using sunlight and a photo-sensitizer. These prints will feature flowers and greenery grown locally at Hummingbirds Blooms in Saratoga Springs.
3:30pm — Weaving a New Thread: Willow Growing and Weaving 101
Presented by Jess Clark of Willow Vale Farm
For tens of thousands of years humans have used willow to weave containers for use in the home. However, this art has fallen out of fashion. Help revive this craft by learning to weave a basket with willow (Salix spp.). This renewable and sustainable material can be used for many purposes, one of which is basket-weaving, but also for plant supports, livestock fencing, as forage for livestock and as fuel for fires.
4:00pm — Agricultural Champions: Honey Bees 101
Facilitated by Cindy Elsenbeck from Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association
Take a close look at a live beehive (don’t worry, no bees can get out) and play a game of “find the queen.” While at this exhibit, learn about honeybees, which are the primary pollinators of agricultural crops in the United States, pollinating over 130 types of fruits, nuts and vegetables worth an estimated $15–$20 billion annually. Some crops, like almonds, blueberries, and cherries, rely almost entirely on honey bees for pollination.
All Day Activities
Farm Aid 2024 Seed Swap
Facilitated by Reana Kim from Share a Seed
Farmers and gardeners: Bring seeds from home and come on down to the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent for our annual seed share. Even if you don’t have anything to swap, we’re providing seeds for plants that help to remove toxins from the soil. Come meet enthusiastic seed savers, share some of your own seeds and go home with new varieties to try! If you’re bringing seeds, please keep them domestic, in a sealed envelope and labeled.
Flour-Power: Cooking with Chestnuts
Presented by Noah Simon of Breadtree Farms
Breadtree Farms is working to rebuild a chestnut industry in the eastern U.S. Come hear how to cook with chestnuts and chestnut flour and watch a fermented-chestnut, miso paste demo. While watching the demo, learn about farming systems that produce staple foods from perennial plants – like chestnut trees – that live for hundreds of years, while improving soil health, enhancing water quality, creating wildlife habitat and supporting a healthy climate.
A Wooly Good Time!
Presented by Hudson Valley Textile Project
Join local fiber artists from the Hudson Valley Textile Project in creating bunting with wool from local livestock. The bunting created at this year’s festival will be strung together to grace the HOMEGROWN Village in future years.
On the FarmYard Stage, farmers and artists will discuss pressing issues and share inspiring stories showcasing food and farming in the region and across the country.
1:30pm — Farm Aid Live Podcast: From Compost to Soil and Back Again
Good soil is the life force of a farm. Composting prevents soil erosion, conserves water, promotes healthier plant growth and reduces food waste. Join us for this special panel that will also be a live taping of Against the Grain: The Farm Aid Podcast. We’ll hear from two farmers—one who makes compost and fresh soil and one who nurtures her soil to sustain her orchard.
- Farmer: Hope LaBonty, Loving Earth Compost LLC, NY
- Farmer: Elizabeth Ryan, Breezy Hill Orchard/Stone Ridge Orchard, NY
- Artist: Nathaniel Rateliff & Joseph Pope
2:30pm — Climate Change is Changing Agriculture
Farmers see the impacts of climate change firsthand on their farms. They also are one of the best solutions we have for slowing climate change. Learn how extreme weather can turn the perfect growing season into a nightmare and how regenerative cattle ranching is good for the climate.
- Farmer: William Dellacamera, Ceccarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm, CT
- Advocate: Beckie Phillips, Quality Ranch and Dakota Resource Council, ND
- Artist: Announcement coming soon…
3:30pm — Good Food for Everyone
The food insecurity rate in the U.S. has climbed for two consecutive years, according to the USDA. Community-based farms and farmers are a big part of the solution. Meet two farmers and a policymaker, each of whom works to bring fresh, locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables and culturally appropriate foods to food insecure communities.
- Tatum Lewis, Black Roots Farm, KY
- Hea Gundlach, The Patroon Land Farm, NY
- Rep. Justin Jones, Tennessee General Assembly
- Artist: Margo Price
4:30pm — Growing Local and Regional Food Systems for Community and Climate
Local and regional food systems don’t just provide good food, they build communities and reduce climate impacts. Meet two farmers who are growing local food systems, in addition to community and climate solutions in the Northeast. And hear from Rep. Donna Lupardo, the Chair of the Agriculture Committee, about how we all can be advocates for local food.
- Elizabeth Collins, Otter Creek Farm, NY
- Bruce Howlett, Bobolink Farm, VT
- Donna Lupardo, Chair of the NY Assembly Agriculture Committee
- Artist: Cassandra Lewis
