Belton, Texas
Workshops
With more than 150 workshops, there is no shortage of informative demonstrations and lectures to educate and entertain you over the weekend.
Speaker Spotlight
Jessi Bloom
N.W. Bloom EcoLogical Landscapes
Top 10 Homestead Hacks for Beginners
Jessi Bloom
Are you looking to save time, money and your sanity as you embark on your homesteading journey? Expert Jessi Bloom coaches folks who are getting started, and she shares her top 10 tips, tricks and wisdom for anyone looking to make their life easier in the garden, on the farm and inside home!
Speaker Bio
Jessi Bloom is a best-selling author, award-winning ecological landscape designer, and speaker. She owns N.W. Bloom EcoLogical Landscapes, based near Seattle, which is known as an innovator and leader in the field of permaculture, sustainable landscape design, construction and land management. Her work has been recognized by government agencies and industry organizations, and makes headlines in national media. She lives near Seattle with her two sons on their permaculture homestead, which is full of functional gardens and rescue animals.
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Joel Salatin
Polyface Farm
Salad Bar Beef
Joel Salatin
Herbivores not only built the world’s deepest and best soil, they provided the foundation for nutrition in most areas. Building soil and eating well are symbiotic activities, but many today view the herbivore as an enemy … a direct result of misusing animals. In this workshop, Joel Salatin introduces the concepts and high-tech infrastructure that allows modern farmers to duplicate the symbiotic choreography of ancient herds. This system also increases yields and offers the most tasty, nutritious food.
Speaker Bio
Joel Salatin’s family owns and operates Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, producing salad bar beef, pastured poultry, pigaerator pork and forage-based rabbits. The farm services 6,000 families and 50 restaurants. Featured prominently in countless media, documentaries and books, the farm offers many educational opportunities for people wanting to learn these pasture-based systems. He has written 10 books about food and farming, both how-to guides and broad cultural works.
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Rosemary Gladstar
Sage Mountain Herbs
Herbs for Family Health
Rosemary Gladstar
Everyone in the family from infant to elder can benefit from the health-giving properties of herbs. In this practical and informative workshop, Rosemary Gladstar discusses creating an herbal apothecary for your home; 12 popular herbs and their uses; popular remedies for health and well-being; safety issues concerning herbs; and books and references to guide you in your herbal studies. Gladstar also looks at kitchen medicine, local backyard remedies, and how to prepare herbs, as well as the importance of ecological herbalism.
Speaker Bio
Rosemary Gladstar has been studying and teaching about herbs for more than 40 years. She is an educator, activist and entrepreneur, serving as director of the Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, the International Herb Symposium, and the Women’s Herbal Conference. Gladstar is the founding president of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of native American herbs. She was the original formulator for Traditional Medicinal Herbal teas and currently leads herbal educational adventures around the world. She is the author of many books, including Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health and Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, as well as Herbal Healing for Women. She lives in East Barre, Vermont.
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Shawna Coronado
www.ShawnaCoronado.com
How to Grow 35 to 40 Organic Plants Within a 2-Square-Foot Garden
Shawna Coronado
Shawna Coronado talks about the easy way to grow vertically and demonstrates how to grow 35 to 40 organic plants within an area that is smaller than 2 square feet using several different planting systems to do so. Coronado also shows full-color photos featuring her extensive front lawn vegetable organic garden and discusses her creative, sustainable ideas for organic soil maintenance, water collection, and sustainable and artful reuse of around-the-house items as vertical wall systems. She also provides suggestions for where to deliver your overabundance of vegetables: Coronado donates more than 100 pounds of food every season to the local food pantry. This workshop is sponsored by Jung Seed.
Speaker Bio
Shawna Coronado is an author, columnist, blogger, photographer, media host and brand ambassador in the realms of green lifestyle living, organic gardening, and low-cost cuisine who campaigns for social good. She is also an on-camera spokesperson and social media personality with more than 375,000 followers on her various social media venues and she maintains a YouTube channel with more than a million views. In 2015 she co-hosted the radio show, “The Good Green Home Show” and appeared bi-weekly at her home garden as the FOX News Chicago “Gardening with Good Day” organic gardening expert. Coronado’s garden and eco-adventures have been featured in many media venues, including PBS television. Along with her green lifestyle initiatives, Coronado is concerned about promoting and teaching healthy living. She was diagnosed with severe Spinal Osteoarthritis, a diagnosis that has led her to change her lifestyle, lose weight, and consume a mostly anti-inflammatory diet. She educates audiences about beneficial diet, food and health practices through her organic living media. She dreams that this will enable more people who suffer from similar conditions to be active. Her successful organic living photographs and stories have been shown both online and off in many international home and garden magazines and multiple books. You can learn more about Coronado from her website.
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Howard Garrett
Dirt Doctor
Natural Organic Pest Control
Howard Garrett
The most effective pest control just happens to be organic. Howard Garrett discusses how to protect and work with beneficial insects, as well as what natural, organic pest control products to use in certain situations.
Speaker Bio
Howard Garrett is recognized as one of the leaders in the research, education, and promotion of natural organic products and practices. Garrett was born in Pittsburg, Texas, graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1965, received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in 1969 and served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1970 to 1977. He has extensive experience in natural organic gardening, landscape contracting, greenhouse growing, golf course planning and maintenance, and organic product development. Garrett provides state-of-the-art advice on natural organic gardening, landscaping, pet health, composting, pest control, and how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Books by This Speaker: The Organic Manual
Order Your Passes Today! ×Sit in on dozens of practical workshops from the leading authorities on Modern Homesteading, Animal Husbandry, Organic Gardening, Green Building, Natural Health, Renewable Energy, Real Food and more!
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Exhibitors
Get great deals from dozens of regional and national vendors that feature sustainable lifestyle products and services, including: books, tools, seeds, tractors, organic foods, clothes, solar gadgets and more.
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VIP and Wristband Passes
The MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR now has four great ways to enjoy our events! With each wristband pass, attendees will gain access to the nation’s primer sustainable lifestyle event, packed with over 300 vendors and 150 hands-on workshops at each location! Order single day or weekend wristbands early and save with our pre-order special! Want to enjoy the FAIR in style? Check out our VIP options for individuals and families. Each VIP package lets you enjoy the exclusive amenities at each FAIR! Order your tickets today and see MOTHER EARTH NEWS come to life!
Feb. 8 is the last chance to order advanced wristband passes and get them in the mail. All advanced wristbands ordered after Feb. 9 will not be mailed. Customers must print off their order confirmations or show them on this mobile device to receive their wristband at the gate.
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View Texas FAIR MapDIRECTIONS
Bell County Expo Center
301 W Loop 121
Belton, Texas 76513
From Austin:
Get on I-35 N/US-290 E from E 5th St/Pine St and N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd. Follow I-35 N to Interstate 35 Frontage Rd/S Interstate Hwy 35 in Belton. Take the S Interstate Hwy 35 exit from I-35 N. Continue on Interstate 35 Frontage Rd/S Interstate Hwy 35 to your destination.
From Waco:
Get on I-35 S from N 18th St. Follow I-35 S to Interstate 35 Frontage Rd/S Main St in Belton. Take exit 292 from I-35 S. Continue on Interstate 35 Frontage Rd/S Main St to your destination.
PLACES TO STAY
Holiday Inn Temple-Belton
5247 S. General Bruce Dr.
Temple, TX, 76502
Phone: (254) 778-5511
Fairfield Inn & Suites Temple Belton
1402 SW H.K. Dodgen Loop
Temple, TX 76504
Phone: 254-771-3030 or 1-888-236-2427
Reference MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR to get the special FAIR rate.
Hilton Garden Inn Temple
1749 Scott Boulevard
Temple, Texas
Phone: 254-773-0200
Cicada Springs RV Park
3002 Shady Dr.
Killeen, Texas
Phone: 1-254-699-2924
Holiday Inn Express
1991 North Stagecoach Rd.
Salado, Texas
Phone: 1-254-947-4004
La Quinta Inns & Suites
229 West Loop 121
Belton, Texas
Phone: 1-254-939-2772
Residence Inn
4301 South General Bruce Dr.
Temple, Texas
Phone: 1-254-773-8400
Super 8
5505 South General Bruce Dr.
Temple, Texas
Phone: 1-254-778-0962
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
2609 S 39th Street
Temple, TX 76504
Phone: 1-254-773-5500
Bell County Fair Grounds – Limited RV Parking
301 West Loop 121
Belton, Texas
Phone: 1-254-933-5353
Belton RV Park – RV Spaces and Lodges
2905 South IH-35
Belton, Texas
Phone: 1-254-939-1961
River Forest Inn
1414 E. 6th Ave
Belton, Texas
Phone: 1-254-939-5711 or 1-877-501-0782
Local Camping – Tent Camping, RV Spaces and More
Type “Belton, Texas” into the search to find the closest campgrounds.