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Fall Farm Festivities
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: September - 2022
Just in time for harvest season, The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is offering Farm Fest for the entire family, Saturday, September 10. For more information, visit themountainrlc.org/upcoming-events or call (828) 526-5838.
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is a spot like noother on the Plateau.And on Saturday, September 10, from noon to 5:00 P.M.,the public will have a chance to see for themselves just whatmakes this locale so special.Farm Fest is for all ages, and the outdoor community eventincludes tours of the MRLC’s Many Hands Peace Farm, whichincludes poultry, a shiitake patch, hoop house, food forest,garden, apiary, and mountain meadow. The farm fully utilizesorganic and regenerative agriculture practices.Learningstations include opportunities to gather more information abouteach area of the farm.In addition, hiking trails enable participants to meander fromthe farm to the top of Little Scaly for a brief tour of the MRLC’sfacilities, including a view of Blue Valley as well as a scenicvista of four states (on a clear day) from the lookout tower.Infact, the annual Farm Fest provides a peek into MRLC’s fourecosystems: mountain meadow, waterway, temperate rainforest, and old-growth forest (one of two in North Carolina ofthe National Old-Growth Forest Network).In addition to these explorations, also offered is entertainment,games, face painting, an apple cider press, and garden and for-aged foods for sale.Farm items for sale include garden produce,eggs (chicken and duck), as well as herbal teas, mushroomtinctures, and herbal salves.In addition to being immersed in the farm and natural environ-ment, information will be available about other farm opportuni-ties – school or other group events, farm foraging dinners,mushroom foraging tours, edible and medicinal plant foragingtours, herbal workshops, beekeeping workshops.Involvement with the farm includes volunteer and apprenticeshipopportunities, as well as community networking to worktogether on projects to help local and wider communities.Cost for the Farm Fest is $20 for adults and $10 for 18 yearsand under; plus, there are scholarships available for admission.The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center was foundedin 1979 by a group of friends and Unitarian Universalistsfrom across the Southeast.Available is a full range ofdin-ing,lodging,andmeeting space facilitiessupporting in-house adult and youth program events and events sponsoredby third party vendors for conferences, workshops, familygatherings, wellness events,hiking treks, and more. It’slocated at 4872 Dillard Road, just outside Highlands.For more information and scholarship application, visitthemountainrlc.org/upcoming-events or call(828) 526-5838.
by Deena Bouknight
