FLX Fermentation Fest
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sat, 08/12/2023
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Welcome bacteria to the Nature Center for this flavorful, funky, and fun event!
Ignite your imagination this summer as you join the kraut mob, discover delicious products at the vendor fair, and hear from fermentation experts about everything from gut health to fermenting your food waste to sourdough. The festivities will be headed by fermentation educator Soirée-Leone, who will end the day with a keynote presentation on “How We Eat and Fermentation.”
Families can also enjoy a family-oriented workshop on fermented foods, the sticky, slimy fermentation petting zoo, kid-friendly crafts, and more!
ACTIVITIES
- Keynote Lecture | 3pm
End the day with a keynote lecture from Soirée-Leone on “How We Eat and Fermentation.” - Kraut Mob | 10-2pm
Led by our friends at Fruition Seeds, join the kraut mob and make some gorgeous sauerkraut to take home! Bring your own quart jar or buy one at the nature center. - Vendors | Ongoing
Check out the vendor fair and some of the most delicious fermented products that the Finger Lakes region has to offer. - Kids Activity Zone | Ongoing
Fermentation isn’t just for grown-ups! At the activity zone, kids can enjoy the sticky, slimy Culture Petting Zoo; participate in themed kid-friendly crafts; listen to a Sourdough Storytime; and more! - Nature Is Good for Your Gut Hike | TBA
Did you know that walking in the woods has an impact on your gut health? Join CNC naturalist Angela Cannon to explore the ways that our bodies are connected to our environment.
WORKSHOPS | 10-3PM
Learn from fermentation experts during a 45-minute demonstration-style workshop.
Fermentation and Food Waste | Soirée-Leone
Curious about how the practice of fermentation can connect to your daily routines? Are you committed to lessening your food waste but you aren’t sure where to start? Join fermentation educator Soirée-Leone to learn how to minimize food waste and use fermentation to help keep edible food out of landfills and compost bins. Using a week’s worth of food scraps to demonstrate, she will talk about the many ways to transform “waste” into something useful and delicious!
Fermentation Starters and Cultures in the Wild and at the Grocery Store | Soirée-Leone
Have you ever looked at a fermentation recipe and felt overwhelmed by the ingredients list? Do you have questions about the best ways to source starters and cultures? In this demonstration you’ll learn from fermentation expert Soirée-Leone about how to collect and use plant-based sources of cultures and the cultures at the grocery store to jump start your fermentation journey!
Food, Ferments & Gut Health | Erin Harner
In this engaging talk, integrative registered dietitian nutritionist Erin Harner will explore the science behind fermented foods and their impact on the gut microbiome. She will also discuss how food and food components like fiber and phytonutrients affect gut health, as well as how and when to incorporate ferments into your diet. There will be plenty of time for Q & A.
Fermenting with Kids: An Interactive Workshop for Families | Erin Harner
In this engaging demo and discussion, Erin Harner, integrative registered dietitian nutritionist, will both show and share how to get kids involved in home fermentation projects, how to incorporate fermented foods into your whole family’s diet, and demonstrate a simple and delicious carrot ginger brine-based ferment that you can make at home. There will be samples for tasting and plenty of time for Q & A.
Fermentation & Seed-Saving | Petra Page-Mann, Fruition Seeds
Discover the joy of fermentation and seed-saving! This workshop led by Petra Page-Mann from Fruition Seeds will explore the science behind fermentation as a seed-saving technique and give participants the knowledge to do it at home.
Basics of Sourdough | Lizz deSimone
Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread, and with this workshop you can learn to make sourdough at home! Led by sourdough expert Lizz deSimone, this workshop will cover the science of sourdough, techniques and recipes, and common issues.
Sourdough 201: Tips & Troubleshooting | Lizz deSimone
Do you want to take your sourdough to the next level? Find the help you knead! Led by sourdough expert Lizz deSimone, this workshop will focus on troubleshooting dough shaping, fermentation steps, flours, flavors, and add-ins to show you how to make every loaf delicious.
Switchels & Shrubs: The Original Electrolyte Drink | Kate Aghaghiri, Flower to Flower Herbal Crafts & Gifts
Would you love to taste a refreshing drink on a hot day called “Haymakers’ Punch”? How about a shrub mocktail? Learn the history, recipes, and benefits of the original electrolyte drinks called switchels and shrubs. Students will gain a historical perspective of these drinks, receive recipe ideas, and—of course!—enjoy taste-testing on a summer day.
Plant-Based Cheeses | Spirit & Abundance
Dip into the world of dairy-free cheeses with Ali Lawrence of Spirit & Abundance! During this workshop you’ll learn the basics of making plant-based cultured cheeses and explore some of the diverse possibilities for vegan cheese.
Fermented Condiments | Spirit & Abundance
Explore what flavors fermentation can create in condiments! This demonstration will detail how to make your own fermented hot sauce and mustard to create layers of flavor. Learn how to customize condiments to your taste and learn about fermenting other condiments for your pantry.
Beginning Homebrewing | Brian West, Upstate New York Homebrewers Association
Humanity’s love affair with beer began thousands of years ago and hasn’t slowed down yet! Join Brian West from the Upstate New York Homebrewers Association for an interactive demonstration on brewing your own beer. You’ll learn about the process of making beer, get familiar with the basic equipment, have a chance to smell and taste samples, and get connected to further reading, suppliers, and information
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.