The fourth annual Homegrown Harvest Festival kicks off Sunday, Sept. 20 at noon to celebrate the storied agricultural heritage of the Goodell Farm, located at 221 Waterford St. in Edinboro, right across from the university campus.
Despite the mild summer, many local area vendors will have plenty of items visitors can purchase at the festival, such as seasonal vegetables, pumpkins, maple syrup, honey products, as well as high-end crafts like jewelry, quilts and pottery.
"Kirk Johnson, an Edinboro-area beekeeper, will be selling honey and honey products," said Julie Manno, administrative assistant for Goodell Gardens.
"Jan Woods, who runs Hurry Hill Farm in Edinboro, will be on hand to sell her wide range of maple syrup products, including the popular maple cotton candy."
Manno said there will be other Erie County vendors throughout the Gardens selling baked goods, gourds, mums and houseplants.
The Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm will also be on hand selling buffalo meat burgers and more.
The free festivities don't end there. Starting at 1 p.m. Mary Beth McCarthy, master gardener, will speak on "The Joy of Fall Gardening."
There will also be live performance by the Tiger Maple String Band from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"We wanted to give the whole region a family-friendly, fall festival that they could call their own," said Manno.
Goodell Gardens and Homestead extends from Route 6N, parallel to Route 99, to the subdivision just south of the Giant Eagle Plaza, totaling nearly 80 acres. The Heritage Garden is a little over 1 acre of botanical gardens.
According to the Goodell Gardens Web site, the property has been owned and farmed by the Goodell family since 1875. Sisters Carrie and Margaret Goodell donated the property to the public after Carrie's death four years ago.
"The sisters wanted the farm to remain intact (not sold off for residential or commercial development) and they wanted it to be a place where people could come and enjoy the beauty of nature, learn about horticulture and the history of the family," said Manno.
Manno said the festival celebrates the property's history as a working farm and also is an attempt to bring people to the Gardens that may not have visited before.
Edinboro students also have an opportunity to gain service hours by helping for the event with parking/traffic control, greeting visitors, and kids' activities.
The festival will be held rain or shine.
The Gardens are open from May 1 until Oct. 31, Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information pertaining to the festival or to acquire service hours for yourself, you can contact Julie Manno before Friday, Sept. 18 at 734-6699.
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