A community celebration of local FARMS: Food, Art, Relationships,
and Music — Sustainably!
by Rachel Levi
EarthDance Farm Education Coordinator
On Saturday, July 20th, EarthDance will be hosting Pesto Festo at the Ferguson Farmers Market (20 S. Florissant Rd). This free community celebration of local FARMS—Food, Art, Relationships, Music… Sustainably!—invites all market goers to revel in the basil season and engage in a variety of family-friendly activities that promote personal health and the health of the environment. Highlights of the day’s festival will include a pesto cooking contest, chair massages by The Bloom Connection, pesto cooking demonstrations with Operation Food Search, upcycled crafting with Perennial, and educational, interactive booths promoting environmental stewardship and community building.
The Ferguson Farmers Market boasts goods from over 60 local growers, bakeries, artists and restaurants. Weekly live music and regular special events make the Ferguson Farmers Market a fun, festive place to shop and socialize. EarthDance thanks the Market for its sponsorship of the Pesto Contest, and for co-hosting the Festo! Winners of the pesto contest will receive $10, $25, or $50 in Market Bucks to redeem with any vendor.
Alongside the festivities, EarthDance will spread the word about Hoop-a-Thon STL, the organization’s Indiegogo campaign (www.hoopathonstl.org) to raise funds to build a hoophouse at EarthDance’s Organic Farm School. EarthDance invites attendees to join them in “hula hooping for the hoophouse,” during the final hour of the market. Pesto Festo will conclude with a live hula-hooping performance and a hooping free-for-all. Participants are encouraged to bring their own hoops and join in the fun!
After market closes, EarthDance will host a free farm tour and volunteer opportunity. Store your market purchases in the farm’s walk-in cooler, and take a tour from 12:15-1pm. Visitors are invited to participate in a farm beautification project from 1-2pm.
Pesto Cooking Contest Guidelines:
This contest is for pesto dishes, but that will, by no means, limit your creativity! Think kale pesto, Thai basil pesto, cilantro pesto, marjoram pesto, creamy pesto…Your pesto dishes must be registered at the contest booth by 10:00 a.m. Our judges, local food bloggers Stephanie Tolle of Iron Stef, and Kimberly Henricks of Rhubarb and Honey, will critique your dish based on presentation, originality, and taste. Judges will announce the top three entrees at 11:00 a.m. The winners will receive $50 (first place), $20 (second place), and $10 (third place) in Ferguson Farmers Market bucks.
Details about this event are available at the EarthDance website at http://www.earthdancefarms.org/events/pesto-festo/
Questions about Pesto Festo 2013 may be directed to Rachel Levi, EarthDance’s Education Coordinator, email: rachel@earthdancefarms.org. Phone: (314) 521-1006. www.earthdancefarms.org.