Above: Urban Cheesecraft
The Mother Earth News Fair returns to Western North Carolina at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher April 9–10. Mother Earth News is the country’s largest and longest-running publication on self-sufficient lifestyles. The festival features hundreds of exhibitors, workshops, children’s activities, vendor and livestock demonstrations, an alternative energy vehicle display, as well as local and organic food options.
“The community (of WNC) has really embraced the concept of this event, which is designed to empower folks from all walks of life to gain new skills—basic to advanced—to live a more healthy, practical, and sustainable lifestyle,” says Andrew Perkins, the fair’s director. “This year, we have some exciting new features including enhancements in programming related to home butchering, backyard beekeeping, herbal health, and artisan cooking.”
More than 150 hands-on workshops will be led by local and national experts on sustainable and rural lifestyles, such as Tradd Cotter, who will host workshops on mushroom cultivation and usage, and local farm and food instructor Meredith Leigh. Hank Will, editor-in-chief of Mother Earth News told The Laurel, “Whether you are interested in renewable energy, organic growing, cheese making, wood craft, you name it, folks of every skill level will leave a piece of themselves with others and will take a piece of others with them. That’s our goal—to foster a true community of folks who value sustainability and independence and one another.”
For the second year in a row, Claudia Lucero, of Urban Cheesecraft, will travel from her home in Portland, Oregon to lead three workshops on cheese making. She says that during the last decade she has seen people take more interest in connecting to food sources, from farmer’s markets to backyard gardens. “Making your own cheese, yogurt, jam, pickles, etc. goes hand in hand with these interests and ethics … After handing over this power for a while, we’re anxious and hungry for its return. I’m honored to be a small part of this revolution.”
Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Single day and weekend passes can be purchased at the gate for $25 and $30, or in advance for $15 and $20, respectively. A limited number of VIP lanyards (for priority seating at workshops and catered meals) will be available for purchase as well. Children 17 and younger are admitted for free. For more information, and tickets, visit motherearthnewsfair.com.
