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Habitat For All
Homegrown Food Festival

Saturday Evening and Sunday,
September 19 & 20

2026 Homegrown Food Festival

Sunday, September 20, 12:00-4:00

Valentine Farm, 162 North Road, Bethel

The Art of Farming

Gloria Varney, co-owner of Nezinscot Farm, in Turner, Maine, has evolved the farm from the state's first organic dairy to a diverse, complex farm that includes a cafe and bakery, homemade cheese and meat, and a well-stocked fiber studio. Gloria will help us understand the joys and challenges of family farming in Maine. 

Saturday, September 19

The Gem Theater, Cross St. Bethel

Doors open at 5:00 for food and drink

Presentation at 6:00

Sunday, September 20
Home Grown Food Festival Schedule

All Day Activities - 12:00-4:00 PM

Cooking Crazy, Eating Wild with John Reilly: John will demonstrate how to create flavorful foods from your garden and landscape. Come and taste homemade pasta sauce as well as pickles and relishes from his garden. With a little creativity, you can add a little wild to your standard recipes.

From Forest to Fork with John Gonter: John Gonter is a wild food educator and enthusiast. A Registered Maine Guide, he teaches foraging, fishing and hunting. He offers classes on how to cook and store wild foods around New England. Come and sample a variety of wild food including wild turkey, bear sausage, Casco Bay seafood and possibly foraged mushrooms!

The World of Bread - The bread loaf, at its core, is intrinsically simple - water, flour & salt. Yet, why does the bread aisle at your local grocer feel like such the opposite: an overwhelming jumble of various descriptors and flavors. Join Caleb Clark, bread maker at the Gemini Cafe, and explore the world of both modern and ancient bread making methods with emphasis on fermentation techniques, grain varieties, and most importantly, taste!

Beekeeping with Maggie Corlette: Maggie is a professional beekeeper and is here to help you learn the art and science of beekeeping. She will also have bee products for sale from the bees maintained with 4th grade Meroby Elementary students.

Hand-Churned Apple Cider Demo: Take a turn at churninging apples and enjoying this fall favorite.

Habitat For All Garden™ is open: Get your garden questions answered, see some season extension options, and taste some late season vegetables.

Bethel Food Pantry: Executive Director, Dave Bean, will answer your questions about food insecurity in the area and how the Bethel Food Pantry is working to address food needs for the community.

Timed Workshops

12:15 - 1:15 Introduction to Basic Cheese Making - Join Susan Vogt Brooks to learn how to make queso blanco, a traditional Latin American cheese. There are many variations of this versatile cheese made throughout the world. We'll be using goat milk, but the process is the same for making farmstead cheese using milk from cows. Participants will get to sample the results. Class size limited to 15. Tent 1 

12:15-1:15 Making Jams and Jellies - Join us for an informative water bath canning demonstration with Certified Master Preserver Annette Cochran from No View Farm. This event is perfect for anyone interested in learning how to turn fresh fruit into delicious jam while ensuring it is safely preserved for long-term enjoyment. Tent 2

1:30-2:30 Kraut and Kraut-chi Class - creative ferments made with various vegetables and fruits from the September harvest season. Learn the basics and how to incorporate interesting and favorite flavors making ferments that jazz up every dish in your life, with Anna Sysko and Mattie Rose Templeton. Attendees will help make the ferments and can take some home! Limit 12 participants, but all can watch! Bring 2 16oz canning jars. Tent 1

1:30-2:30 Wild Mushroom Cooking Demonstration with Greg Marley - 

2:45-3:45 Making Kombucha with Ann Speth

4:00 - Free Community Supper - Chili will be provided. Bring a dish to share and placeware. Please indicate if you intend to participate on your registration.

2025 Highlights

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