Perhaps you’ve never been able to attend one of the Mother Earth News Fairs… but you’ve always wanted to.

To give you a taste of what they look like and what goes one, Community Chickens editor, Carla Tilghman and author/presenter Frank Hyman (of Hentopia fame) teamed up to share a little slice of the latest Fair in Pennsylvania with you.  All photos courtesy of Frank Hyman.

Workshops

 There are tons of workshops and presentations where folks share their expertise on topics from “Reducing Chronic Inflammation” to “How to Build with Mud”.

Mud

Uncle Mud (Chris McClellan) and Family are well known for their workshops on building cob structures from pizza ovens to cottages.

Uncle Mud – Builders of earth structures and rocket stoves

PolyFace

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm often shares his gleaned wisdom on smart farm economics at the Fairs.

Farmer and author Joel Salatin speaking to a full tent

Joel and Polyface Farm will be hosting the Mother Earth News Fair in July, 2020.

Mushrooming

Or you can go mushrooming with mycologist Tradd Cotter and learn to identify different fungi native to the area.

Tradd Cotter leading a morning mushrooming

Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and organic gardener, who has been tissue culturing, collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than twenty-two years.

Foray attendee finds a deep rooted mushroom

Display of cultivated shitake mushrooms

Mycologist Tradd Cotter identifying mushrooms after the morning foray he led.

Exhibits

The exhibitions (inside and outside) allow both small and large vendors to share their wares and tempt you with a wide variety of amazing objects.

Knives and other tools on display in the exhibit hall

Seed Sales in the exhibit hall.

Tractors and attachments exhibited outside.

Animals and Activities

There are animals and activities for the whole family from alpaca to chickens, from drawing on giant mushrooms to taking your (well-mannered) dog for a leisurely walk.

Alpaca and her Cria or baby.

A supporter of legal hemp growing.

Buff Orpington chickens

Mother Earth News Fairs are held all around the country and we hope to see you at one of them soon.
The last one of 2019 is being held in Topeka, Kansas, home of the Mother Earth News (and Community Chickens) publishing team.