Thursday, April 13, 2017

2017 Self-Reliance Fair




Class Descriptions

Fermentation of Kefir & Kombucha
 "Making your own kombucha and kefir is not only cost effective, it’s fun!  Join us as we explore these probiotics, the methods used and learn about what’s needed."   - Cynthia Beiser, Bernalillo County Extension Office

Fermentation of Kimchee & Sauerkraut
 " Probiotics are not just for drinking - eating them is good for you, too.  Kimchee is a growing favorite of chefs around the nation and sauerkraut is a great way to put up all that cabbage you grow during the year.  You’ll learn about both in this session and, time permitting, she’ll talk about fermenting chicken food, too!" 
-  Cynthia Beiser, Bernalillo County Extension Office
Hoop House Construction
"Would you like to extend your growing season?  Would you like to protect your crops from pests and weather?  Build a simple hoop house!  A hoop house (also known as a high tunnel) is a simplified green house.  While similar to a green house in construction, no heating or cooling is supplied and planting is directly into the soil.  Come learn and explore the possibilities!" - Ive Schwebach


Vermiculture
"Vermiculture is defined simply as the growth and maintenance of earthworms, with the out come of Vermicompost. Vermicomposting is the breaking down of organic material through the use of worms, bacteria, and fungi.  In nature, organic matter is decomposed through these organisms.  By managing vermicomposting you are essentially speeding up mother nature's process of breaking down organic matter.  The end product of vermicomposting is a substance called vermicompost or "worm castings". The objective of the class is to give the knowledge and skills needed to successfully raise worms. The few materials you'll need and understanding of sound basic care for the worms."  - Mel Chavez   nmcomposters.org
Bokashi Bucket Composting
Home composting is recycling that produces a useful soil conditioner.  The Bokashi bucket method is a useful choice for, but not limited to, small indoor spaces. It is neat / tidy and requires little physical labor. The science, materials, methods and benefits of several bucket composting options will be presented and demonstrated so that a participant may easily choose, then get started with composting at home.
John Zarola, BCEMC     nmcomposters.org

Composting
Taught by East Mountain Organic Farms. They use a unique way of composting for their 14 acre farm where they grow over 40 varieties of fruits and veggies.

A Year in Keeping Bees
"For this class we will bring a hive set up with 20 frames of visual cards. These cards have different pictures of what is inside a live hive. These cards have the different bees labeled, along with the different stages of development of the brood. They also have additional info about bees and beekeeping. After going through a hive set up and explaining all the terminology we will talk about how a hive progresses through a one year period, and what a beekeeper should be looking at in this year period." 
 - Tyler Schutte owner of NMbeeremoval.com

Permaculture
"Permaculture is an approach - a method - a strategy for designing a resilient, deliberate, sustainable life. If gardening, food storage, grey-water, natural building and alternate energy are tools for self-reliance, then permaculture is the tool box or blueprint that helps to organize and decide how, when and which tool to use. This short class is an overview of the foundational ethics and principles that underlie permaculture, will introduce the design process and illustrate one primary method of permaculture design. Permaculture can help YOU organize yourself and meet the unique personal challenges of creating a functional, more self-reliant lifestyle. Come learn a little more about this singular strategy!"
   - Kathleen Mower is an enthusiastic practitioner of permaculture and holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from Oregon State University. She and her husband live on a small homestead in Stanley where they raise purebred Finnsheep and are working toward a deliberate, resilient retirement in these uncertain times. 

Freezing & Dehydrating
"The freezer and drying class gives research based, expert answers for safely freezing and drying food. Do you know the correct way to make jerky? Which freezer is the best for storing food? Which foods freeze the best and for how long? Come to this class for your answers, as well as food tastings."
 - Cydney Martin, the instructor and Santa Fe County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, teacher the Master Food Preservation program for NMSU at the Extension office in Santa Fe. She can answer your food preservation questions!

Chickens for Food & Fun
“Join us for a discussion of the benefits of keeping chickens for fun and food.  Learn about the different types of chickens, their feeding and care, and how to choose the right flock for your needs.  We will discuss housing requirements, feed types and nutritional needs, laying hens, and meat birds. " 
-  Jossie Neil is a chicken hobbyist who keeps a variety of breeds, some for meat and some for eggs, but mostly for fun.  She volunteers at the Grant County Fair, running the poultry barn and judging poultry.  She believes chickens are like potato chips – you can’t have just one!
Chickens for Food & Fun
“Join us for a discussion of the benefits of keeping chickens for fun and food.  Learn about the different types of chickens, their feeding and care, and how to choose the right flock for your needs.  We will discuss housing requirements, feed types and nutritional needs, laying hens, and meat birds. " 
-  Jossie Neil is a chicken hobbyist who keeps a variety of breeds, some for meat and some for eggs, but mostly for fun.  She volunteers at the Grant County Fair, running the poultry barn and judging poultry.  She believes chickens are like potato chips – you can’t have just one!

Building a Straw Potato Tower
This class will take place out at the pavilion. The greeters will be handing out a map with the schedule so you will know where to go. It will be from 9:30am to 10:20am.



(I will be updating the booths with a description as I get that information from presenters)

Booths Outdoors

MelodyVon Farms
"Melody Cain from MelodyVon Farms is happy to talk chicken (and duck, and goose, and turkey) with you. Did you know baby turkey poults love to be held and want to cuddle with you?  What do you want to know about raising, keeping, and breeding poultry?  Melody will be here to answer your chicken, duck, turkey, and goose questions.  Learn from her knowledge, experience, and love of all things poultry. " 

Wild Fire Team

Discover Solar
 "Is a full service residential solar energy provider. We provide energy evaluations and organise installations of custom designed residential solar module systems to meet individual families needs. Our installation and monitoring partner has been in business since 1995."  - Kefty Eaton

Rabbits

Gardening

Booths Indoors
SELF-RELIANCE EMPOWERED BY ESSENTIAL OILS
 
Hosted by: Kathy Kuehn and family, Wellness Advocates for doTerra
 
"Because of the power of essential oils, many needs will be met in a Self-Reliant lifestyle.
Because they are so potent and concentrated, it just takes a drop or two to establish health and maintain wellness.
Because they have a very long shelf life, they are easy to stock up with the peace of mind that they will last for many years.
Because their shelf life is so long they can be depended on to stay potent in seasoning food.
Because many of them can clean, shine and disinfect, they will be great for cleaning and hygiene.

Because there are ongoing classes teaching how to use the oils for all the above, you will be equipped for whatever the future holds!"


New Mexico Big Horn Gun Club
"The NM Bighorn Gun Club is planning on having a booth at the reliance fair this year.  The gun club maintains a shooting range off Martinez Road in the Torrance County Park.  The gun club sponsors numerous shooting events throughout the year for pistol, rifle, black powder, and shotgun.  We have a lot of shooting opportunities.  Our website is nmbhgc.org. "  -Karma Welchel


Hydroponics
"We have what you need for year round gardening. Including:soils,nutrients,trays and testing apparatus." Gayle Nissen


Self-Reliance

Master Food Preservers

Food is Free
"A local non-profit volunteer organization that encourages social empowerment through the growing and sharing of fresh food.
In it's fourth year, FIFABQ has gone from two moms and their children harvesting and sharing fruit to a full-fledged non-profit organization with branches of interest that include:  Building a demonstrative urban garden from scratch that will include various types of gardening techniques, establishing a partnership with Rio Grande Community Farms where the focus will be learning and demonstrating seed saving techniques, as well as organizing harvesting teams to head up community picking events and distribute locally grown fruit to our community that would otherwise go to waste. 
In 2016, Food Is Free Albuquerque set a lofty goal of gathering over 2,000 pounds for an End Of Season Food Share (this is in addition to the thousands that had been given away through the growing season). With help from many locals, farmers, and volunteers, the group gave away over 2180 pounds of food to over 300 people during their event. Potatoes, apples, parsley, pinons, jujubes, herbs of all kinds, tomatoes, greens, chiles, squash, eggplants, cucumbers, etc. were brought by our community! 

This year, while FIFABQ recoginzes the importance of continuing the collection and distribution of food, they are excited to really dig into the educating of our community, empowering locals to grow and encouraging sharing and community development. 
Stop by for a seedling, information on growing food in our harsh climate, and find out more about our workshops and volunteer opportunities! 
For more information, check out their website: www.foodisfreeabq.com or their Facebook page: Food Is Free Albuquerque." - Trista Teeter & Erin Garrison

Relief Society (Women's Organization)

Gardening

Homesteading

Wild Fire Safety and More


Hand Work; Knitting etc.


If you have any questions feel free to contact me
DeAnn Payne - Paynelessphoto@gmail.com


Friday, February 17, 2017

6th Annual Self-Reliance Fair

Hey everyone! We are in the planning stage for
the 6th Annual Self-Reliance Fair. When the 
schedule is finalized we will be posting it her ASAP! Thanks for all of your support!

Just as a little teaser...we have a class on vermiculture confirmed! I'm so excited to have found such a knowledgeable and experienced teacher!              ***Excited***

So much more to come! Be sure and like our Facebook page. We will be posting lot's of information there in the next few months!