ecoliteracy.org

Center for Ecoliteracy creative director Karen Brown delivered a talk on "Help Wanted: 50,000,000 New Farmers," at the inaugural National Heirloom Exposition to be held in Santa Rosa, California.

The exposition, September 13–15, calls itself the “World’s Fair” of the heirloom industry. It is a not-for-profit event which will donate funds it raises to school gardens and food programs. The Exposition is scheduled weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., providing a daytime educational opportunity for school-aged children and youth. Speakers from around the world will address topics that include home gardening and farming, GMOs, cooking, seed saving, food education, and more.

Event organizers expect to display over 2,000 varieties of heirloom plants and heritage animal breeds. Dozens of seed companies, garden tool companies, and garden accessory craftsmen and their wares will be featured, as well as plants and plant starts, garden-inspired art, and organic and original food products. Top chefs will provide cooking demonstrations using the produce grown for the Exposition and will participate in celebrity chef competitions. Special seminars and educational opportunities will be available for school groups.