Balsam Moon Preserve Hosts Second Annual Harvest Festival in Pine River

Balsam Moon Preserve is set to host its second annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 6, from 2 to 7 p.m. at 3148 Bungo Creek Lane SW in Pine River.

 

The event offers a variety of activities, including a yarn spinning demonstration by Esther Endicott and members of the local fiber arts club, as well as a wooden spoon carving demo by Mike Austad.

 

At 2:30 p.m., attendees can join a tour showcasing diverse building styles such as timber frame, cordwood, and earthship recycled tires, along with solar applications and a deep winter greenhouse.

 

Children's activities commence at 2:30 p.m., featuring croquet, corn hole bean toss, nature art projects, a story walk, scavenger hunt, and flower arranging for the dinner table.

 

Additional hands-on experiences include corn shelling on a 1930s corn sheller, hand milling acorns into flour for biscuits baked in a wood-fired barrel oven, making wild rice dinner rolls in the outdoor oven, and cider pressing for the meal.

 

A seed sharing station will be available for participants to exchange saved seeds.

 

The gardens are in full bloom with dahlias, cosmos, rudbeckia, zinnias, and morning glories, providing a picturesque setting for walking the labyrinth in the woods and exploring hiking trails.

 

From 4 to 5:30 p.m., live music will be performed by Devil's Dodger and Matthew Weiss of Minneapolis.

 

The evening meal at 5:30 p.m. features pulled pork by Fox Farm Pork of Browerville, roasted vegetables, fresh-pressed cider, acorn buttermilk biscuits, wild rice buns, and a potluck family-style meal.

 

Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish from their garden harvest to share.

 

Balsam Moon Preserve operates on a reciprocity model, meaning no fees are charged for classes and activities.

 

Contributions can be made in various forms, including monetary donations, labor, goods, or expertise in offering a class.

 

This approach values multiple forms of exchange and ensures equitable access to the offerings at Balsam Moon Preserve.

 

For more information, contact Balsam Moon Preserve at 218-587-3808 or via email at BalsamMoon3148@gmail.com.

 

Participants are advised to dress for the weather, as dining will be moved indoors in case of rain.

 

Come and celebrate the harvest season with the community at Balsam Moon Preserve.