Starting July 21, visitors to White Feather Farm in Saugerties can expect to take part in the second annual Soil Fest, a three day celebration of soil. The second annual festival includes live performances, workshops and food intersecting art, science and ecology.
The host of Soil Fest, White Feather Farm, located in Saugerties takes place at White Feather Farm, which “aims to create connection between community, culture, and land,” according to their website, They do so by advancing, and promoting education about, “sustainable farming and other food production, distribution and consumption techniques and practices that reduce climate change and create healthy soil and a vibrant ecosystem.” They also showcase local talent, artists, writers and experts.
Soil Fest Events
Soil Fest kicks off Friday, July 21 and continues through Sunday, July 23. The first event begins at 2:00 pm Friday, called “Sensory Kinship of the 3rd Kind.” This workshop will be led by Lisa Schonberg and Allie Wist. The two will conduct a series of exercises using multi-sensory means of communication, like smell, taste and sound. Later that day, Schonberg will also host a performance of percussion and electronic music featuring and responding to soil soundscapes.
On Saturday, Soil Fest attendees have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Some of these include a chromatography workshop, a carbon sponge workshop, and alternative grain beer tasting. There will also be food available from a locally owned and operated mobile catering company, From the Ground Up.
Additionally, Saturday night will feature a live performance by the band Dust Bowl Faeries. They are a New York based cabaret-inspired indie rock band. Described as a “faerie-tale fusion of gothic polka, dark carnival and angsty folk music,” they draw inspiration from circus songs, murder ballads, vaudeville, jazz and klezmer music.
On the third day of Soil Fest, attendees can participate in workshops where they make easy to ferment foods with harvest from White Feather Farm. There is also a workshop entitled “Drawing with Biochar,” where participants choose among various sizes and types of wood to make a set of charcoal drawing sticks.
Finally, Soil Fest closes with a live performance of “Arm of the Sea: Riparian Rhapsody.” Arm of the Sea is a mask and puppet theater that combines art, ecology and social action. The “Riparian Rhapsody” performance explores Catskill ecology to reveal the intricate interactions between forest and stream, while it lyrically makes the case for protecting streamside buffer zones.
Tickets for each event can be purchased here.
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