First, the food! Sample abounded, of cheese slivers and granola cups and kombucha splashes. But there were bigger bites, of corn muffins and popsicles and cuban sandwich wedges too. There were free apples, hummus, red beets, chocolate, and a very cool pastrami egg- hard to describe, but delicious.
There were lots of other vendors too- farms and CSA's, educational and environmental groups, home and body products, and more. Here's a list of the vendors: http://phillyfarmfest.org/2015-exhibitors/
I attended a workshop held by the Philadelphia Bee Company. Don, the owner, is an outgoing guy who loves to talk bees, and laid out the basic info for setting up bees at home. Now I know what my next project will bee! (See what I did there??)
There were actually lots of workshops, divided into "Urban Homesteading Takeover" (Including the Intro to Beekeeping one I saw), "Kids Takeover", "Local Cookbook Takeover", and "Butcher's Block Takeover". One of the local cookbook authors was Marissa McClellan, of Food In Jars. Of course, I walked by a table and there she was, signing books! If I had known, I would have brought my copy and asked her to sign it right next to the note my mom wrote when she gave it too me! I said that to here and she laughed, "I get around! I'm sure you'll see me again." I hope she's right!
The whole event was sponsored by Whole Foods, so I got a new reusable grocery bag to hold all my goodies. At the end of the day I came home with a jar of Thai Peanut Sauce, a strawberry plant, and a new bag from Peg and Awl. (Honestly, I shouldn't have gone back to the vendors after visiting the Local Libations Lounge!)
I also got to meet Lauren of Arete Herbs in West Chester- so nice, and so excited about her herb business! And of course, a visit to Herbiary across the way in Reading Terminal Market was in order. I love that place.
So, check it out next year! If it's anything like this year's event, I'll be back for sure and might see ya there.