The Sustainable Living Fest is all about learning how to use the things that you already have and do things for yourself, says Glennon. “We’re here to help raise awareness about how to live more sustainably and use our local resources in a really thoughtful and efficient – and very satisfying – way. There’s so much here in the Hudson Valley that we can take advantage of.” Workshop participants should bring their own scissors and sewing supplies, along with some preshrunk wool sweaters (thrift stores can be sources for those if none are handy at home). Several sewing machines will be available in the classroom, but participants can bring their own as well.
Another High Meadow Mom, Alexandra Zissu, will teach a master class on “Cleaning and Greening Your Home” from 2 to 3 p.m. Author of The Complete Organic Pregnancy, The Conscious Kitchen and Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning and Greening the World You Care about Most, Zissu will lead the class through each room of the house with straightforward advice, checklists, quick tips and resources, while revealing the hidden repercussions of daily routines that most of us take for granted. Learn how to improve the air quality in your bedroom, avoid mildew in the bathroom and safely launder clothing. Participants in this class will learn how to make green cleaners and take home a sample. For more information about Zissu, visit www.alexandrazissu.com.
Another master class from 2 to 3:30 p.m. will tackle “Butchery for Hunters” (or anyone else who is interested in the topic) with Joshua Applestone, High Meadow Dad, co-author of The Butcher’s Guide to Well-Raised Meat and founder of Fleisher’s Grass-Fed & Organic Meats. Applestone will lead a demonstration dedicated to whole-animal butchery, using a lamb, for those wishing to handle their kill from forest to feast. The class will cover how to break down whole animals into individual cuts, provide and explain what a cut list is for those who wish to use a processor and different cooking techniques for each cut; it will leave ample time for questions. Participants will receive an information packet with cutting instructions, recipe ideas and some fresh lamb to take home with them.
Add culture to your life (literally) with “Making Sauerkraut, Kimchi and Pickles” from 2 to 3 p.m. with Winnie Abramson, author of One Simple Change and the Healthy Green Kitchen blog. Before there was refrigeration and canning, lacto-fermentation was the way that foods were saved. We know now how healthy the process is, increasing the vitamin content of some foods and fostering the growth of natural probiotics that help the digestive system. Participants in this class will learn how to make simple kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles, and take home samples and recipes.
For those who just can’t get enough culture, learn how to make kefir and kombucha from 3 to 4 p.m. with High Meadow Dad Michael Jacobson. Learn the simple steps of making delicious, healthy drinks in a home kitchen. Participants will receives samples and starters to bring home.
“Raising Backyard Chickens” is the topic with poultry farmer Ryan Fitzgerald from 3 to 4 p.m. Starting with the basics, Fitzgerald will discuss the different goals and reasons why a person may want to have chickens, whether for eggs, meat, breeding, selling or just to have them as pets and insect control. Learn how to understand chickens and how to decide which breed to purchase depending on your needs, as well as where to purchase your chickens and how to handle them.
“Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Home” from 3 to 4 p.m. with John Kotsides of Global Dwelling will help participants develop a plan to reduce their carbon footprint that is appropriate for them, their needs and their home. To save energy, a lifestyle change is in order, but Kotsides will guide the class in how to evaluate what differences need to be made and how to go about implementing those necessary changes.
Sustainable Living Fest 2014, Saturday, March 29 (snow date Sunday, March 30), 1-4 p.m., concert 4-5 p.m., $5 individual/$15 family (master workshops extra), High Meadow School, 3643 Main Street (Route 209), Stone Ridge; (845) 687-4855, www.highmeadowschool.org.
