Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Lewis County in conjunction with Mother Earth News is responding to the increasing numbers of people inquiring about raising backyard poultry, beef, and other livestock, food preservation, energy alternatives for homes and farms, and back-to-the-land management skills with a new educational event. A Homesteading Fair will be presented at the Maple Ridge Center in Lowville, NY, September 8 and 9, 2012.

The two-day event will offer more than 90 educational workshops, held rain or shine, under large tents, in a large, approved, kitchen and former barns, and on the expansive lawn at the Maple Ridge Center. Livestock shearing and wool spinning are among the many planned demonstrations.

The Homesteading Fair hours are Saturday 8am-5pm and Sunday 8am-4pm; the first workshops begin at 10am each day and breakfast will be available at the American Maple Museum booth 8am-11am each day.

Homesteading product vendors and food concessions will be on site. For more information or tickets, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County at 315-376-5270.  Like them on Facebook.

All workshops/demonstrations/Do-It-Yourself projects are included in the admission price. Each workshop is 45 minutes long. Workshops will incorporate raising backyard poultry, gardening, food preservation, solar and renewable energy options, developing forestland and maple woodlots, small farm machinery, and raising livestock such as beef cattle, sheep, goats and hogs.

Parking at the Homesteading Fair is free. The public can purchase a one-day-only or weekend pass to attend their choice of workshops. Admission is $10.00 per person, or $15.00 for a full weekend pass. Admission for children 17 and under is free. Homesteading Fair tickets can be pre-purchased by calling CCE Jefferson County at 315-788-8450; visit their webpage  for locations to purchase tickets.

The Homesteading Fair Solar and Renewable Energy workshops include: Small wind energy options, solar for your farm, recycling on your farm, and other energy workshops.

The Homesteading Fair Gardening workshops include: Food preservation, vegetables, harvesting and storing herbs, canning and freezing vegetables, bread baking, and more.

The Homesteading Fair Livestock workshops include: Nutrition, forages, health, fleece and fiber, spinning and weaving, electric fencing 101, meat cuts, pasture management, and raising and managing sheep, beef, goats and hogs.

The Homesteading Fair Small Farm Machinery workshops include: Small tractors under 100 horsepower, soil heath, spreaders, rototillers, beekeeping, brush hogs, small square balers, round balers, hoop houses, building a cold frame and kitchen gardens, composting, information on planting small acreage field crops, and more.

The Homesteading Fair Raising Poultry workshops include: The first steps to a backyard flock, EZ build chicken coops, poultry breeds roundup, turkeys, ducks, nutrition, predator protection, pastured poultry, egg production, electric fencing 101, health, equipment: feeders, nest boxes, and more.

The Homesteading Fair Maple and Forestry workshops include: Making maple confections, woodland and sugarbush management, maple syrup production for the beginner, creating healthier woods for wildlife, and more.

“Information on homesteading skills is something people are asking for. This new event is a great opportunity for individuals and families to learn and to purchase the equipment and supplies they need to get started. This venue is perfect for families interested in the opportunity to learn more about a sustainable lifestyle at an all-day educational event held in conjunction with, Mother Earth’s International Homesteading Education Month,” says CCE Lewis County Executive Director Michele Ledoux.

Course instructors include Jean O’Toole of the New York State Beef Industry Council; Cornell Cooperative Extension Northern New York Regional Local Foods Specialist Bernadette Logozar, Field Crops Educators Mike Hunter and Joseph Lawrence, and Livestock Specialist Betsy Hodge, and Nutrition Educator Cathy Moore; beef producer Steve Ledoux of Adirondack Beef Company; and Dr. Deanna Fuller, D.V.M. of Countryside Veterinary Clinic.

The Pratt-Northam Foundation has provided funding support to spark this event. Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Franklin Counties, the New York State Beef Industry Council, Lewis County Farm Bureau, American Maple Museum, Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Lewis County Maple Producers Association, Lowville Tractor Supply Company and others are providing program support.