Saturday 11:00

with Janine Russell of Boujee Broom Company
Discover the charm and tradition of broom making with Janine Russell of Boujee Broom Company. This hands-on workshop will share a bit of the lore and history behind this beautiful folk craft before guiding participants in creating their own mini broom to take home. It’s a fun and memorable way to connect with old traditions, learn a new skill, and leave with a handmade piece of Terrapin magic.

Offered at 11:00 outdoors at Tent next to the garden and again at 2:00 inside the Community Room. Limited sign-up. Please sign up at the entrance gate!

Saturday 11:30-12:00 & 1:30-2:00

Take some time out of your energy-filled festival experience to slow down and center yourself as the music of the harp floats over you. The harp is an ethereal instrument that has a soothing effect on the body, mind, and senses. During this journey, Kimberly will specially curate a woven soundscape for festival goers in search of restorative repose. You may wish to use this space for meditation or even to take a short magical nap, as one of a harper’s traditional roles is to lull people to sleep.

Kimberly Williams is a dynamic multi-instrumentalist from Coleman Falls, Virginia. She has been playing the harp for over 25 years and has studied with well known harpers from Ireland, Scotland, and the US. Originally a saxophonist, she has followed her inspiration to learn multiple instruments, including mallet percussion, hand drums, flutes, whistles, and more. Possessing the heart of a teacher, Kimberly also enjoys sharing her love of music with students of all ages.

Saturday 12:00-1:00

With Adam Jewell

The workshop will focus on outdoor cultivation. Starting and selecting seeds. Fertilizing and pruning. Harvesting and curing.

Saturday 12:00

Join Maggy Liell for an engaging, hands-on workshop that helps children explore how everyday actions affect the land and waterways around them. Through an interactive watershed demonstration, participants will see how water moves across the landscape and how pollution can travel through streams and rivers over time. This fun, educational activity encourages young learners to think about the environment in a new way and discover simple ways they can help protect our water for the future.

Maggy Liell is a multidisciplinary artist and outdoor education specialist from Bloomington, Indiana, who has long called the Blue Ridge Mountains home. After serving on the restoration crew at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, she joined the Claytor Nature Center in Bedford, Virginia, where she helped maintain 500 acres of trails, gardens, and river ecosystems while developing educational programs for young people, including camps, field trips, and university visits. She continues to share her knowledge through regional outdoor events and has been a longtime volunteer and advisor with the Sedalia Center.

Saturday 1:00-1:45

Dawn Gardner of Wild Violet Herbs is a first generation farmer, herbalist and a creative. She has grown a garden in every place she’s ever lived. Moving to Bedford in the summer of 2025 with the intention of starting an organic farm was a coming home of sorts— she grew up in Campbell county.

Always looking for a more natural path for healthy living, Dawn has allowed the plants to be her teachers and the lessons have been abundant. As an herbalist and a farmer, she is excited to share her knowledge and the fruit of her farm with the community!

“Plants are healers, friends and feeders of the body and soul. We all can benefit from a life more integrated with plants.” – Dawn

Saturday 1:00

With Vasilia McCrady. This is an overall educational program that covers the good and the bad about beekeeping.  It will cover the basic knowledge of beekeeping, hive life and information on equipment.  I also will cover pests & diseases to be on the lookout for and resources that are available for those interested in continuing their journey for beekeeping.

Bio: I am an educational beekeeper located in Blue Ridge, VA and owner of Heritage Apiary. I am currently in my 6th season of beekeeping and manage 24 hives.  I maintain 4 separate apiaries including hive management for companies and individuals looking to increase their biodiversity and provide sustainable agricultural practices.  I am the president of the Roanoke Valley Beekeepers Association and proudly promote community outreach within the club. My main focus is to educate those interested in learning more about our pollinators and support the next generation of beekeepers. I actively join schools, libraries, clubs and events to share my knowledge and conduct Apiary tours for those interested in suiting up to get a closer look.  

Saturday 1:00-4:00

Scott McStacy is a lifelong advocate for sustainable agriculture and natural building. As the founder of Sativics Agricultural and Seed to Structure LLC, he focuses on regenerative farming, soil health, and using industrial hemp as both a crop and a construction material.

Through his work in hemp-lime (hempcrete) building and education, Scott promotes practical, earth-friendly solutions that connect farmers and builders in Virginia. As president of the Virginia Industrial Hemp Alliance, he helps unite the state’s industrial hemp community and advance the use of hemp in sustainable agriculture and construction.

Saturday 2:00–4:00

Get colorful with Anna Wills at our Tie-Dye Tent, where kids & adults can learn a variety of tie-dye techniques and create something bright and one-of-a-kind. Attendees may bring one item from home to tie-dye for free, or purchase an event T-shirt for $20, which includes the tie-dye experience.

Join us from 2:00–4:00 pm, right beside the stage and garden, during Bigfoot County’s Grateful Dead set for a groovy afternoon of music, color, and creative fun.

Saturday 11:00

Michael Okuley has been foraging mushrooms for over 15 years, across 23 states and 7 countries. He typically spends time every month of year in the woods harvesting wild edible species. In this presentation he will discuss the flora and fauna as well as the most common species of wild edible mushrooms that exist in the blue ridge mountains. This includes tree and plant identification, exposure and ground temperatures, as well as some favorite recipes on how to prepare them and how best to preserve and store. Proper gear and safety measures will also be covered.

Saturday 2:00 – 3:00

with Jason Fowler of Land & Table. From meatless meat to milkless milk, cage free eggs, and beyond, the grocery store is full of food products that claim to be better for you and the environment – but the truth is much more complicated. Join Jason Fowler of Land & Table, for a swift survey of popular foods on the grocery store shelves and how to decode modern food marketing. Will your favorite health food survive scrutiny? We’ll also discuss where to find the real healthy, eco-friendly foods – surprise, it might not be in the grocery store at all!

Bio: Jason is the co-founder and president of Land & Table, a non-profit focused on growing and empowering the local food movement in the Lynchburg, Virginia region. For over a decade he has been working to reconnect local food, land, and community. Jason and his wife Pam have seven kids and have called the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia home for the last twenty years.

Saturday 4:00-4:30 

with Jeff Drees
1. Poi Foundations (Beginners)
No experience required. We will start from scratch, covering basic planes and simple rhythm. Perfect for anyone who wants to start spinning but doesn’t know where to begin.

2. Beyond the Basics (Experienced) Level up your flow. For those who know the fundamentals and want to move into transitions, stalls, and flashy tricks to add flair to their dance.

The Details
When: Catch Jeff between sets to learn skills you can immediately show off to the music! Gear: Please bring your own poi if you have them. A limited number of practice sets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bio: While Jeff is not a professional, Jeff’s 15+ years of flow arts experience can help lead you into practicing the art form. Flow arts combine prop manipulation with dance and mindfulness, offering a moving meditation that builds coordination, reduces stress, and helps participants find their “flow state.”