A pair of Slogger boots with a chicken pattern will be given away as a door prize at the Great Appalachian Homesteading Conference.If you go
› What: Great Appalachian Homesteading Conference.› When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Saturday, April 2.› Where: Cumberland County Fairgrounds, 1398 Livingston Road, Crossville, Tenn.› Admission: $32.64 adults, $16.82 children 4-12.› Website: greatappalachianhomesteadingconfernce.blogspot.com.
The Great Appalachian Homesteading Conference on Saturday, April 2, at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds in Crossville, Tenn., is designed for those destined to live so self-sufficiently they can triumph over man-made snafus and crises. It's also designed for those who just want to can some fruit or try an herbal remedy instead of an over-the-counter med.
The wide range of topics includes classes on herbal medicines, an explanation of solar power and how solar cells work led by an alternative energy engineer and a how-to on baking Dutch oven and cast-iron skillet dishes. The latter is taught by the Middle Tennessee Dutch Oven Society, which will offer demos on how to bake bread, pizza and something called Hillbilly Pie in the metal cookware.
Tina Creamer is traveling from Lucas Farms in West Virginia to teach an introductory course on raising dairy goats and cows. One tip for anyone who thinks goats are easygoing because they allegedly eat anything: Think again.
"Goats are very high-maintenance," Creamer says. "They are temperamental. A person really needs to think about whether he or she has the patience and the steady personality to deal with goats."
The event is hosted by Patara Marlow of Appalachia's Homestead, who has set up a Facebook page where new speakers and classes are posted as they are confirmed.
So far, the classes include Canning 101, How To Raise Baby Chicks and Chicken Breeds, Homemade Biscuits and Wood Stove Cooking, Basic Soap Making, Keeping a Winter Home Warm With a Wood Stove, a class on how to offer solid home schooling to one's children and Producing Meat on a Homestead.
For those who find that hard-core pioneer spirit too much a leap of faith, the classes that teach visitors to master individual elements of homesteading like veggie and fruit growing might be more user-friendly than the class on complete off-the-grid living.
And there's live music by The Alley Family and a drawing for a pair of Sloggers boots designed for farmers who must venture into the hen house for eggs.
Contact Lynda Edwards at ledwards@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391.
Schedule
Note: All times are Central. Lunch is at noon.Conference Room A9 a.m. Raising Baby Chicks and Chicken Breeds190 a.m. Medicinal Herbs for Your Homestead11 a.m. Canning 1011 p.m. How To Start Homeschooling2 p.m. Off-Grid Living3 p.m. Off-Grid Living4 p.m. Introduction to HerbsConference Room B9 a.m. Solar Photovoltaics 10110 a.m. Raising Dairy Cows & Goats11 a.m. Producing Meat on a Homestead1 p.m. Organic Tunnel Gardening2 p.m. Organic Gardening3 p.m. Homestead Preparedness4 p.m. Wood Heat 101Outdoor Classes9 a.m. Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Care10 a.m. Introduction to Soap Making11 a.m. 18th Century Food Preservation1 p.m. Homemade Biscuits & Wood Stove Cooking2 p.m. Homemade Biscuits & Wood Stove Cooking3 p.m. 18th Century Food Preservation4 p.m. (no class currently scheduled)In addition to the above classes, the Middle Tennessee Dutch Oven Society will offer Cast Iron & Dutch Oven Care at 9 a.m., Bread Baking in Your Dutch Oven at 10 a.m., Making Pizza in Your Dutch Oven at 11 a.m. and Hillbilly Pie in Your Dutch Oven at 1 p.m.