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.
While we work on Farm Aid’s 2023 HOMEGROWN Village, check out last year’s exhibits below.
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Eat Your ZipcodeIn Farmers We TrustPowering the FarmTap the SourceThe Fertile GroundThe HOMEGROWN Skills TentArt & Games in the HOMEGROWN VillageThe 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?
Making Sure Your Food Is Safe & Equitable
Presented by National Farmers Union
Come learn about how you can make sure the food you’re growing is safe and learn how much farmers make from your purchases!
Farmers Markets Don’t Just Happen! Advocate for local food with the Farmers Market Coalition.
Presented by Farmers Market Coalition
Surrounded by beautiful farmers market posters, festivalgoers can engage in quick and simple federal policy advocacy to support the farmers markets that serve as the backbone of resilient local food systems in communities across the country.
New Resources for Meat and Poultry Processing
Presented by Flower Hill Institute
We are supporting the farmers and ranchers who are developing a more resilient, diverse, and equitable meat and poultry food system.
Eating Indigenous: How do Indigenous Foods Fit in the Modern Food Systems?
Presented By North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS)
Learn about the work of North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), founded by the James Beard Award-winning team behind The Sioux Chef, and learn about how Indigenous foods fit into a healthy, modern, climate-friendly food system.
Farmer Foodshare Food Access
Presented by Farmer Foodshare
Visit Farmer Foodshare’s booth to learn more about how eaters of ALL income levels in the Triangle can access fresh, delicious, locally grown food.
Climate Resilient Community Gardens
Presented by North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension – Community Garden Program
The problems of the world can be solved in a community garden. Paraphrased from Bill Mollison.
School Gardens are The Answer!
Presented by Happy Roots
School Gardens can save the world!
The Art of Kentucky Resilience
Presented by Community Farm Alliance
Learn about the resiliency of Kentucky’s local food systems in the aftermath of historic flooding while participating in a paint-by-color farm quilt creation.
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?
Cultivemos
Presented By National Young Farmers Union / Cultivemos
Show your love for produce with a veggie tattoo, and join us in leaning into and learning about farm stress and how eaters can support wellness for ag communities.
Keeping Our Animals Healthy
Presented by Kidsfarms & Junior Vet Academy
Teaching Kids Holistic & Veterinary Health Care for Farm Animals.
Agricultural Jenga!
Presented by NCAT – ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture
Join us in a game of Jenga with a trivia twist! Our booth is a place for participants to interact with farmers and agriculture specialists on topics related to what a farmer deals with on a daily basis, to demystify agriculture and farm practices and discuss issues that are important to farm families, the ecosystem, and the community.
Factory Farm Detox: How to Support Higher-Welfare Farmers
Presented by ASPCA
Test your food label knowledge and learn new tips and tricks on navigating labels in the marketplace to avoid factory farmed food, support higher-welfare farmers, and improve the lives of farm animals.
Two Truths and a Lie: Farming in the U.S.A. Edition
Presented by RAFI-USA
The childhood game of two truths and a lie, with a farmer-focused twist.
De-MIST-ifying Farm Bill Advocacy
Presented by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Stay cool with CFSA staff who will de-MIST-ify the 2023 Farm Bill and guide you in taking direct advocacy to support farmers in North Carolina.
We Want You
Presented by Farmer Veteran Coalition
WE WANT YOU to support local farmers, to learn more about the connection between military veterans and agriculture all while have a fun time visiting Farm Aid’s Homegrown Village.
Veteran’s Farm of NC
Presented by The Veteran’s Farm of NC, Inc
The Veteran’s Farm of NC teaches Veterans how to start farming in many agricultural production models of livestock, crops, horticulture, mushrooms, hydroponics, apiaries, and much more with some of these models being taught at Farm Aid 2022!
De-Stress with FRSAN
Presented by Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network National
This exhibit will help identify healthy coping strategies related to farm stress and give concrete ways to access the coping strategies.
North Carolina Farm Link – Land Access
Presented by NC Farm Link
Visit the NC FarmLink crew and become an empowered farmer and farmland advocate to better support the future of farming in your community and region.
Get Registered to Vote with HeadCount
Presented by HeadCount
HeadCount harnesses the power of music to drive social change. Since 2004 we have registered nearly 1 million Americans to vote, organized action villages at dozens of major live music events, and spearheaded massive social media campaigns promoting civic participation. We amplify the voices of musicians and their fans, while channeling our collective energy into measurable action. With 50,000 volunteers, street teams in more than 50 cities, and affiliations with over 200 touring musicians, HeadCount ranks as one of the largest music-oriented non-profit organizations in the U.S.
Cultivating Farm Safety & Health
Presented By North Carolina Agromedicine Institute
Providing real time resources at your fingertips for farm safety and health.
Farm Aid’s Advocacy Action Center
Presented by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Right now, Congress is writing a new farm bill. How does the biggest piece of federal agriculture policy impact you? How can you be part of working for climate-friendly, socially-just farm policy? This interactive activity will allow you to get involved and use your power to take action!
What are the farm-based innovations, alternative energy sources, growing methods, and models will power us into the future?
Let’s Build Something Together!
Presented by Transfarmation
Transfarmation shows how together we can build something new that benefits people, land, and animals. We’re working with farmers to convert factory farmers to make a better future for farmers and their families, consumers, animals, and the planet.
Hemp from Food to Fuel
Presented by North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension
“Hemp: A plant that can feed you, house you, clothe you, and heal you.”
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?
Effect of Soil Health on Water Quality and Climate Change
Presented by Waterkeepers Chesapeake and Waterkeeper Alliance
This exhibit will show the importance of protecting and replenishing our soil health and its effect on water quality, and climate change.
Water is Life
Presented by Waterkeepers Carolina
Interactive and augmented reality water-based exhibits for all ages.
Picture the Future
Presented by North American Marine Alliance
Capture the meaning of climate change in our coastal communities with this interactive exhibit featuring sea level rise displays, dialog with young people, and selfies to spread awareness.
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?
Activism by Numbers
Presented by Dakota Rural Action
A community collective mural art project that visualizes food and agriculture systems are they are meant to be.
Heritage Breeds: Pillars of Permaculture
Presented by The Livestock Conservancy
Heritage breed livestock and poultry improve the health of pastures in a regenerative agriculture operation by fertilizing our fields and eat pesky weeds and bugs to help improve soil health while increasing the biodiversity of our ecosystem.
Soil: It’s Alive!
Presented by NewSoil Vermiculture
Get your hands dirty with our vermiculture compost exhibit! See first hand how worms can be used to create nutrient rich compost! Based in Durham, NC, we are a black-owned farm, partnering with worms and farmers to create healthy soil for all.
Home Kitchen Hacks to Save the Planet
Presented by The National Grange
Learn how you can start simple in your quest to save the planet by shopping, storing and cooking smarter to reduce food waste, and repurposing kitchen waste in a way that keeps soil and water healthy.
Soil is Our Common Ground
Presented by Kiss The Ground
How healthy soil and regenerative agriculture are key solutions to the climate crisis.
To Cool The Climate and Restore Rural Prosperity, Stop Land Grabs
Presented by National Family Farm Coalition
In the “Let’s Make a Land Grab” game, Homegrown Village guests will learn how equitable access to land for family farmers and farmworkers – especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color – prevents land, water and other natural resources from being controlled by transnational investors and agribusinesses that destroy the health, longevity, and prosperity of our rural environments and communities.
Farmland Access In The Triangle
Presented by Triangle Land Conservancy
We see the Triangle region as an increasingly healthy and vibrant place to live where wild and working lands are protected and everyone has access to open space, clean water, and local food, and are working to preserve farmland and provide access to beginning farmers.
Come play some games and do art projects in the HOMEGROWN Village
Cynelsa Broderick
Presented by See Why Designs
Join multimedia artist Cynelsa Broderick of See Why Designs in a collaborative chalk art project in the HOMEGROWN Village. Reflect on how climate change is affecting you and what brings you hope for our future.
The HOMEGROWN Skills Tent promises to be chock full of learning and fun! Participate in workshops and demonstrations to learn new skills.
Skills Tent 2022 Demonstrations
(Schedule subject to change)
1:00pm Easy Does It: Backyard Animals 101
Presented by Catherine & Alexander Collier from Half-Pint Hollow Farm
Meet, snuggle, and learn about some naturally smaller heritage breeds that are family friendly and can thrive on smaller plots of land. Also learn how to naturally improve the soil and manage your small plot to efficiently feed your flock.
2:00pm Fungi Power: Gourmet Mushroom Growing 101
Presented by Robert Elliott from The Veteran’s Farm of NC, Inc.
Want to impress your friends by growing your own oyster mushrooms? Come learn a variety of ways to do just that. Using cardboard, toilet paper, and wheat straw, you’ll learn to make a starter kit that you can take home!
2:30pm Small Space, Big Harvest: Square Foot Gardening 101
Presented by Bryn Bird from Bird’s Haven Farms
Have you wanted to garden but it seems overwhelming? Square foot gardening takes all the guess work out of how garden efficiently and effectively. Start from a small plot of land and grow to your dream space in an afternoon. Come learn how to start a small, but intensively planted, vegetable garden and go home ready to start your own!
3:00pm Plant Transfer: Indigo Dyeing 101
Presented by Rosa Sung Ji Chang from Indigo Shade Map
Dye from the Indigo plant is found in textile traditions practiced by various cultures worldwide. Come watch one technique – soy resist printing – in action. Rosa will use soy powder and natural indigo to make patterns on fabrics. This East Asian technique (which is where her ancestors are originally from) provides an easy way to dye fabric without harsh chemicals. You’ll also learn about the Indigo Shade Map, a research-based, interactive map detailing the world of indigo, and its use in culture and art.
3:30pm Eating off the Land: Cooking with Indigenous Knowledge 101
Presented by Robert Kinneen from the North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS)
Join Chef Rob for a discussion about the seasonality and spirituality of certain foods while watching him create a salad using both grown and foraged seasonal ingredients from North Carolina.
4:00pm Selecting the Best: Seed Saving 101
Presented by Reana Kovalcik from Share a Seed and Jeff Quattrone from Library Seed Bank
Gardening season is coming to an end in much of the country…so why not save those seeds for next year? Come learn the three primary methods of seed saving: dry, wet, fermented. Additionally, hear a discussion on why saving seeds is so important and about the culture of sharing seeds.
All Day Activities
Farm Aid 2022 Seed Swap
Facilitated by Reana Kovalcik from Share a Seed and Jeff Quattrone from Library Seed Bank
Farmers and gardeners: Bring seeds from home and come on down to the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent. Meet enthusiastic seed savers, swap 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.
Homegrown Mini-Farm
Facilitated by Catherine & Alexander Collier from Half-Pint Hollow Farm
Come to the Skills Tent to meet and hang out with heritage breed animals!
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.
1:30 pm “Agri-therapy” for Mental Wellness
Farming can be a stressful experience, particularly as extreme weather and climate change take an increasing toll. Yet, working the land and caring for farm animals can be an incredible tool for mental wellness. This is leading people to embrace the mental health benefits of farming. Learn about “agri-therapy” and hear why farmers call 1-800-FARM-AID.
- Marvin Frink, Briarwood Cattle Farm, LLC, Red Spring, NC
- Lori Mercer, Farm Aid hotline operator
- Allison Russell (tentative)
2:30 pm Policy Change: Grassroots for Climate
As Willie says, “We all eat, so agriculture matters to us all.” That means each of us has a part in ensuring a strong,resilient family farm system of agriculture that cares for farmers, eaters, communities, and our soil, water and climate. Hear from elected representatives and farmers about how we can all work together for policies that promote strong farmers and a healthy climate.
- North Carolina State Senator Natalie Murdock, Raleigh, NC
- Georgia State Senator (and farmer) Kim Jackson, Herb’n Soul Sanctuary, Stone Mountain, GA
- Heidi Secord, PASA and Josie Porter Farm, Northeastern PA
3:30 pm Native Agriculture and Pasture Beef for the Climate
Agriculture holds the key to our climate future, and many climate-resilient farming methods come from Native ag practices. Learn how the living legacy of Native agriculture informs our climate future and how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting these climate resilient approaches.
- Eddie Moore, Moore Brothers Natural Beef, Maxton, NC
- Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency and DX Ranch, South Dakota
- Micah Nelson (tentative)
4:30 pm Climate Resilience Starts in the Soil
Good soil is hard to come by—it takes 500 years to build just one inch of topsoil naturally—meaning that for all intents and purposes, soil is a non-renewable resource that must be stewarded wisely. Healthy soil that’s full of organic matter has incredible capacity to take carbon out of the atmosphere and sequester it in the ground, making it one of the most potent solutions to climate change. Hear from farmers who use methods that reduce chemical inputs and build soil!
- Wayne Swanson, Swanson Family Farm, Decatur, GA
- Bryn Bird, Bird’s Haven Farms, Granville, OH
- Charley Crockett (tentative)
