Ancestral Living, Traditional Skills & Homesteading Festival

Herbal First Aid for the Homestead - Krista will explore the use of herbs and natural remedies to treat common injuries and ailments in a homesteading setting. This talk will cover essential herbs that every homesteader should have on hand, techniques for preparing herbal remedies, and practical applications for treating cuts, bruises, sprains, burns, bee stings, snake bites, tick bites, digestive issues, etc. Whether you're a seasoned homesteader or just starting out, this talk will equip you with valuable knowledge to promote health and well-being in your household using nature's resources. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your self-sufficiency and deepen your connection with the natural world!

Regenerative Grazing - A discussion on regenerative grazing, how and why we do what we do. Learn how this benefits our community, animal welfare, and the environment while producing delicious, nutritious meats.

So Your Garden Has Gone Wild...Now What? Intro to Canning - This talk will set you on the right path into the world of canning. We will talk about both water bath and pressure canning, the tricks of the trade, new technology available, and answer and questions you may have.

Fermenting the Garden Harvest - Learn how easy it is to transform fresh garden harvest into nutritious and delicious fermented foods using the centuries-old technique of lacto-fermentation. Discover how bringing the art of fermentation into the home can improve your family’s health and well-being and preserve your garden bounty well after the harvest. We’ll discuss the basic process for fermenting foods at home, as well as sample a wide variety of sauerkrauts, kimchi, pickles, kombucha and water kefir sodas to inspire your own creations.

Ancestral Movement - Pilates is an effective movement practice to bridge the gap between the movement habits and practices of our ancestors and the relative inactivity of our modern lifestyle. Come and find out how to regain the strength and flexibility required to move more in your daily life.

Backyard Chickens - Getting started with backyard chickens- choosing breeds, brooding chicks, feed and nutrition, housing, predator prevention.

Raw Milk: Ancestral Food Turned Illegal Substance, Why You Need It and How to Find a Quality Milk Share - Today we are inundated with the opinions of health bloggers, doctors turned influencers, and pharmaceutical companies all saying they have the key to making us healthy. Why is raw milk any different? Very few of the offered solutions have been consumed since the dawn of civilization. Cultures have relied on raw milk because it has every nutrient our bodies need in a ready to consume form. It seems too easy of a solution, but for many, this food changes lives. In his talk, Robby will go briefly into the history of milk to help you understand why industrial processing of milk was necessary at the time and circumstances when it began, why processing isn't essential now, and the benefits of consuming milk in its unprocessed, raw form from a quality producer and how to find one.

Nutrient Dense Ancestral Eating for Optimal Vitality - Come learn about the 11 Wise Traditions Dietary Principles as taught by the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet. Learn what common ingredients to avoid, and, more importantly, their nutrient dense replacements. Demystify bone broths and organ meats and get inspired to upgrade your own diet with whole, local, foods that provide the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally!

Sourdough: A Journey Through Time & Taste - A fun and approachable introduction to sourdough. Learn some history and the many ways sourdough can be used for bread and beyond.

Seed Saving for Homesteaders and Home Gardeners - Learn the basics of seed saving and why preserving this tradition is an important tool for supporting local culture, healthy eating and food self-reliance in these turbulent times when many gardeners and would be gardeners are staying close to home and working for increased Food self sufficiency for their family and local community. Includes how to avoid crossing, seed extraction, seed cleaning, drying and storage on a small scale.

Homesteading with Native Fruit - We will explore the benefits of cultivating native fruit varieties on the homestead. Learn how these fruits not only provide delicious and nutritious options but also support local ecosystems.We’ll cover practical tips on selecting the right native fruits and caring for them throughout the seasons. Discover how native fruits can enhance your homestead and foster a sustainable future!

From Farm to Lather: Goat Milk Soap-Making Demo - A live demo on making goat milk soap using locally sourced lard, tallow, coconut oil, and olive oil. We’ll walk through the cold-process method and show how these natural ingredients come together to create a rich, nourishing bar of soap.

We're your neighborhood brewery, regardless of your current neighborhood.  We've transformed the old "VFW" into your next favorite place.  Located in Gordonsville, VA, just 25 minutes north east of Charlottesville, its the perfect stop on your way to explore our quaint little town.

We are Buffalo Wild Wings, we have wings traditional and boneless, wraps, burgers, fried pickles, fries, wedges, tots and Pepsi products.

Crozet Creamery is a locally family-owned business that sells hand crafted ice cream, milkshakes and pints.

Club Pilates Charlottesville is a boutique Pilates studio specializing in reformer fusion classes for anyone, at any age or fitness level. Pilates is an effective movement practice to bridge the gap between the movement habits and practices of our ancestors and the relative inactivity of our modern lifestyle. Come and find out how to regain the strength and flexibility required to move more in your daily life.

Egg Brigade Black Soldier Fly Larvae - Veteran Owned - Always grown in the USA!

They sell value-added products such as award-winning jams, pickles, applesauce, vinegars, and herbs. Orchard Hill Farm specializes in heirloom fruits, vegetables, and value-added products. Based out of Louisa County VA, many of their offerings have won awards at the Virginia State Fair. 

 The Toy Barn Homestead, where we craft luxurious goat milk soaps using locally sourced oils and natural ingredients. Discover our unique, aromatic blends that nourish your skin and elevate your everyday skincare routine. where we craft luxurious goat milk soaps using locally sourced oils and natural ingredients. Discover our unique, aromatic blends that nourish your skin and elevate your everyday skincare routine.

Thistle and Stag meadery serves mead made the old-fashioned way! Pure Virginia honey and carefully curated ingredients make for a delicious, enjoyable sipping experience—no preservatives or sulfides and naturally gluten-free.

Deep Roots Milling is worker owned and operated. We mill-to-order one week every month and offer a variety of flour and meal, bolted and unbolted. Virginia grown grains, regenerative agriculture, quality milling and working as a direct link between farmers and bakers are our primary concerns. All products are milled within the walls of historic Woodson's Mill in Lowesville, VA. We are driven by water, making flour with purpose.

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 to disseminate the research of nutrition pioneer Dr. Weston Price, whose studies of isolated nonindustrialized peoples established the parameters of human health and determined the optimum characteristics of human diets. The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research, and activism.

Artisan baking business specializing in fresh sourdough bread and pastries like cookies, brownies, pastry pockets and more. We're passionate about crafting high-quality products for our community.

Earthbound Baskets by Tracy Haines features traditional baskets, handmade in Virginia.

That’s a Mouthful, is a frozen goods company specializing in freshly milled organic ancient grain frozen cookie doughs. Frozen goods you can feel good about!

Midwives providing birth center and home birth services in central Va.

Quilted and crocheted housewares and gifts; made with love.