Fall brings cooler temperatures, a time to prepare for winter and a reminder of why homesteading is so rewarding. For those who have the right set of skills, a willingness to learn and a passion for self-sufficiency, it can be an excellent choice.
WALNUT CREEK, Ohio—Self-sufficiency enthusiasts still have time to get tickets to the Food Independence Summit in Walnut Creek, Ohio, next week. The two-day event on June 20-21 at Timbercrest Camp and RV Park will offer presentations on small-scale farming, beekeeping, cheesemaking, Amish noodle making, mushroom cultivation, cold pickling, canning and so much more.
Speakers include Joel Salatin, a nationally renowned expert on regenerative and organic farming. Salatin the self-described “lunatic farmer,” operates Polyface Farm, a 550-acre farm in Swoope, Virginia. He has written more than a dozen books on farming and food preservation. Other speakers include food preservation and homesteading experts.
“Homegrown food is making a major resurgence, in part due to inflation and supply chain disruptions,” according to a press release by event sponsors. “For a growing number of Americans, backyard gardening is bringing a peace of mind and healthy food into their homes.”
The summit was started last year by sponsors Superb Sealing Solutions and Berlin Seeds, both in Amish communities in Holmes County. Superb Industries moved into the canning industry in 2021 to address a shortage of canning supplies. Berlin Seeds has long been a supplier of seeds to the Amish community.
“Superb developed a high-quality canning lid in 2021 at the request of the Amish-Mennonite community because of a shortage during the pandemic,” says John Miller, president of Superb Industries. They will continue to manufacture the lids.
“Now, we are up against a name brand of more than 100 years,” says Miller, whose family has been canning for five generations. “We identified three specific things that make our lids better. They are 25 percent more corrosion resistant, have a better seal with more rubber in the lid and double the length of the seal.”
With the ability to fill at least 10 percent of market needs for canning lids, Miller wanted to promote them with a regional canning festival. But his marketing advisors told him to go bigger. So, Superb launched a food independence festival that encompasses much more.
Miller says it’s important to think about food independence. “We saw during COVID how quickly we ran out of everything,” he notes. “I grew up in a family where we could live six months on stored food. It’s… important to have at least a month’s supply in a pantry. The Food Independence Summit will teach you everything you need from seed to spoon.”
But seriously, he says, “The goal is to show you how to do one thing. If you come and you want to raise tomatoes on your patio, we can show you how. If you want a big garden, you can learn that as well.”
Tickets for the two days are $152. Register here for attendance and meal tickets.
Source: cleveland.com
