Introducing the Irvington SkillShare "Feast"ival

Back in chilly February, a few of us confirmed locavores, foodies, and homesteader types got together to talk about producing an event for the 15th annual Spirit and Place Festival, which had announced the tantalizing theme of "Food for Thought." We conceived the idea of a "skillshare" - a sort of marketplace for skills, all centered around food in some way. Putting out feelers in our community led to an immediate and enthusiastic response, and we realized we were on to something.

Six months and countless conversations later, we are deep into the planning of our program, the Irvington SkillShare "Feast"ival. And it seems that everywhere we turn, there's somebody excited to hear about what we're doing. Not only that, but the depth of talent we possess right here in our community continues to be humblingly impressive.

Some of us could be called experts, but really we are regular folks - neighbors, small business owners, do-it-yourselfers - hailing from the eastside Indianapolis neighborhoods of Irvington, Little Flower, and beyond. What we have in common is a desire to share some down-to-earth ways of becoming more self-sufficient with regard to our food.

On Sunday, Nov. 7, we invite you to join us in a sensual journey through the seasons. Come ready to see, taste, and experience what it means to be more self-reliant from garden to kitchen, following the example of some 20 presenters in this SkillShare "Feast"ival. Drawing from the knowledge of everyday people, we will offer demos on such kitchen arts as canning, fermenting your own sauerkraut, and home brewing (beer!). The outdoor side of food production will be well-represented too, with presentations on garden plotting, square foot gardening, composting, and more.

We also invite you as participants to share your own insights and ideas, because we envision the SkillShare as a true exchange, not a one-way street. This blog and our Facebook page offer two ways to do this virtually, and in fact we have big plans for this space as a way of documenting the day itself. In the meantime, stay tuned for profiles of presenters and collaborators, as well as more details about the program.