RISON - There will be six free educational sessions related to homesteading that will be part of next week’s Pioneer Crafts Festival at the Pioneer Village in Rison.
The festival will kick off with the annual Beans & Greens Supper beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, April 10. Meals are $10 and includes ham, beans, greens, dessert and water, tea or lemonade. The Pickers and Grinners from the Hwy. 15 South Fire Station will be performing live music during the supper.
The festival itself will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11. More than 20 vendors offering hand-crafted items will be on hand in addition to educational sessions and demonstrations. Admission is free.
Britt Talent, organizer of the Arkansas Homesteading Conference, has put together six sessions that will be part of this year’s festival. The schedule is as follows:
- 9 a.m. - Making Herbal Tinctures, Teas and Salves, presented by Cindy Faulk of C the Difference Boutique in Hot Springs.
- 10 a.m. - Soapmaking, presented by Chayne and Ashley Beesaw of Beesaw Heritage Farm near Rison.
- 11 a.m. - Tanning Hides, presented by Shona Jordan of Pike County, a taxidermist and tanner by trade.
- Noon - Backyard Poultry, presented by Frankie Harper of Rison. Harper is the organizer of the Backwoods Poultry Show in Rison and has served as a poultry show judge for the Arkansas State Fair and other events.
- 1 p.m. - Building an Air-Pruning Raised Garden Bed, presented by Britt Talent. This session will go over a hybrid system that incorporates air pruning, hugelkultur and lasagna gardening practices into one bed.
- 2 p.m. - Homesteading Projets, presented by David West. He will be discussing building a rainwater collection system as well as a DIY high tunnel.
In addition, there will also be a genealogy workshop presented by the Cleveland County Historical Society beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the McMurtrey House at the Pioneer Village. The session will go over ways to trace your family history. The Historical Society will also be selling local history books.
At 1:30 p.m., there will be a special ceremony dedicating a Liberty Tree at the Pioneer Village in honor of country music legend Johnny Cash. An elm tree has been planted at the Village to commemorate the original Liberty Tree in Boston where protest against British rule began in the 1760’s, ultimately leading to the American Revolution.
The Liberty Tree project is part of an effort by the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary this year.
The tree is being dedicated to Johnny Cash since he donated the proceeds from his 1976 Bicentennial concert at Rison to help start the Pioneer Village. Cash, a Cleveland County native, had an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution.
Vendors
The Pioneer Crafts Festival is still accepting vendors for next week’s event, especially those who offer hand-crafted items.
Booth rental is $25 and vendors are welcome to set up on Friday to participate in the Beans & Greens Supper. To sign up, go to the Pioneer Village at Rison Facebook page or go to www.clevelandcountyarkansas.com/pioneervillage
Here is a list vendors who have signed up to be at the Pioneer Crafts Festival:
• Southern Hicks offering Christian fantasy novels, children’s books and customer book marks.
• Lana Jane Creations with wreaths, stained glass and 3D prints.
• Paper Pie with books, toys and puzzles.
• Roger Snover with wooden cars, teucks, planes, helicopters, trains, rubber band guns, plus other wooden items like coat hooks and key racks.
• Mrs. Pearl’s Snackables with pretzel mixes, fire crackers, cake pops and more.
• Sky Soda with specialty sodas, waters and energy drinks.
• Strings-N-Things with handmade crochet items and pottery.
• That Busy Chickadee with crafts, up-cycled clothing, homemade tallow products and more.
• S&R Bazaar with leather and wood work, necklaces, bracelets, tumblers, t-shirts and more.
• Sugar Pearls and Denim Girls with handmade bowl coozies, kitchen items and gift baskets.
• Sarah’s Bakehouse with Brownies, cookies, mini cakes, cinnamon rolls and more.
• Carmel’s Tupperware with all new kitchen essentials.
• Hand in Hand Creations with RADA Cutlery, Juanita’s Kitchen candy and homemade items.
• Fluffy Cow Bakery with baked goods and decorated cakes.
• Aunt B’s Coffee with coffees, teas, lemonades, hot chocolates and dirty sodas.
• Popcorn and More with cotton candy and popcorn.