Seedpod Farm Prepares For a Honey-Filled Harvest Festival and Craft Fair

This year’s Seedpod Farm Harvest Festival and Craft Fair is going to be buzzing with activity. The Lewis County Beekeepers Association will be back another year with events such as a people’s choice award, honey tasting and an observation hive.

Each bee colony’s honey has its own unique taste, according to Susanne Weil, secretary of the LCBA for 10 years. People will get the chance to sample around 20 different types of honey from around Lewis County and vote for the best one. 

The LCBA will also be bringing their observation hive this year, where kids will get the chance to watch bees work and see hive tools and equipment. 

The festival will take place at Seedpod Farm in Centralia and is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 22.

Along with beekeeping, there will be other artisans selling offerings including textiles, soaps, preserves and more. 

Julie Gullett, owner of Seedpod Farm, says that they try to have a wide array of products, so that people realize they can buy each material locally.

For example, one year they had people who raise goats and brought in wool. A spinning group then spun the wool and another woman crocheted it, according to Gullett. 

“It’s nice to show the public that you really can purchase things locally here and it’s great for small vendors to have an opportunity to connect with one another as well,” Gullett said. 

Vendors can still register for a table for $25 at http://www.seedpodfarm.com/. 

With nine varieties of pumpkins and 15 kinds of tomatoes on the farm, people can purchase those, along with apples by the cart. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch apple cider being pressed and have then be able take home fresh cider. 

The Good Stuff Food Cart will offer an apple and honey-harvest-themed menu. Food such as apple fritters and cornbread may be on the menu, said Cara Buswell, the owner. 

Buswell said she wants people to know that the actual cart will not be at the harvest festival due to damages, so she will be doing a pop up tent. However, the cooking will still be done on site. 

Gullett says that the festival will also come with a variety of activities just for children and is always very kid friendly.

Along with the beekeeping activities, usually included are giant bubbles, harvest-themed crafts, a sandbox, and an obstacle course, says Gullett. 

“We kind of have a heart for families with kids with special needs, so were very mindful of that and having a laid-back festival in a safe place for kids that might not be comfortable in a high-stress place,” Gullett said. 

Gullett has three children who each help out with a different section of the farm. Her youngest, eight-year-old Elena, has her own flower business. 

Susanne Weil also said that her favorite part of the festival is seeing the kids. She says they become so fascinated with the observation hive and she loves answering their questions about bees. 

“We’re trying to get more young people into beekeeping,” Weil said. “People are interested but it’s not in school curriculum, but at Seedpod Farm’s festival they have a chance to get involved.”

The LCBA also offers scholarships for kids from sixth through tenth grades who have an interest in beekeeping. If selected they get a class, bee equipment and a mentor to teach them about bees. They are now taking applications for 2019 and the deadline is November 16. Applications are available at http://www.lewiscountybeekeepers.org/youth_scholarship_program. 

Along with food and activities, there will also be a band at the Harvest Festival, Gullett said. 

She wants to remind people to leave their dogs at home, as there are going to be other animals at the farm. 

For more information go to http://www.seedpodfarm.com/.