From Garden Beds to Sourdough Breads: Dive into Goldendale’s Home & Garden Show
By Cole Goodwin
Goldendale, WA April 1, 2024 – This year, the Goldendale Home & Garden Show will celebrate thirteen years of hometown delights on May 3 to May 5 at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds. This family friendly festival is gearing up to inspire green thumbs and home improvement D.I.Y.’ers everywhere to transform their home and garden dreams into a reality.
The three day event will be jam packed with an array of home and garden exhibits, arts and craft vendors, culinary delights, workshops, seminars, and family-oriented activities like storytime, karate, yoga, and more!
"We have a really good balance of vendors, speakers, and activities this year. We anticipate a jam packed weekend filled with engaging seminars, hands-on workshops, and entertainment for the whole family," said Teja Finch, Executive Director of the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce.
Keynote Speaker and Culinary Delights
Azure Standard Founder & CEO, David Stelzer, will be in the spotlight as the event’s keynote speaker, offering his expertise on home gardening, laying good foundations for soil health, and sustainable and abundant gardening practices.
“David is incredibly knowledgeable. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss,” said Finch.
David Stelzer began farming organically as a teenager in the 1970s with a passion for providing truly healthful foods grown without conventional chemical inputs. From small beginnings selling grain grown on the family farm, he founded Azure Standard in 1987 as a way to market not only what he grew but other products requested by his customers.
The festival will also feature a selection of local food vendors, including Siebert’s Custom Meats and Slaughter, D’Avanzo’s, and Crush Smoothie & Juice Bar, to ensure that festival goers will have the fuel they need during the experience.
Workshop and Seminar Schedule
The show's schedule has been thoughtfully arranged to showcase local small businesses and cater to a wide range of interests:
Friday, May 3rd, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sourdough Basics: A Beginners Guide to Sourdough
When: Friday, May 3rd, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Learn how to make Sourdough with July from Gorge Sourdough!
About July:
I started baking sourdough almost a year ago. I fell in love with the delicious bread, the gut friendly benefits and the entire fascinating process of keeping and maintaining a starter and baking a consistent loaf. I want to share this with my community by offering sourdough bread for sale as well as my dehydrated starter to get started on your own baking journey!”
Septic’s 101 and Q&A with Bishop’s Sanitation
When: Friday, May 3rd, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn the in’s and outs of septic systems from experienced professionals!
Abundant Health with Azure Standard
When: Friday, May 3rd, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Learn how to make your garden work for you and your family!
Saturday, May 4th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pollinator Protectors: Intro to Beekeeping with Charlie Vanden Heuvel
When: Saturday, May 4th, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Charlie Vanden Heuvel, years ago Charlie set out to make his childhood dream of beekeeping a reality. As a member of the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program, he now spends much of his time studying bees, mentoring others on their bee keeping journey, and learning all he can about the ancient and modern art of beekeeping.
Compost 101: Turning Waste into Gold with Klickitat County Solid Waste
When: Saturday, May 4th, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Klickitat County Solid Waste breaks down the fascinating science of composting to help you turn your kitchen scraps into nutrient rich soil.
Sourdough Basics: A Beginners Guide to Sourdough
When: Saturday, May 4th, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Learn how to make Sourdough with Gorge Sourdough!
About July:
I started baking sourdough almost a year ago. I fell in love with the delicious bread, the gut friendly benefits and the entire fascinating process of keeping and maintaining a starter and baking a consistent loaf. I want to share this with my community by offering sourdough bread for sale as well as my dehydrated starter to get started on your own baking journey!”
Farming and Soil Health with Azure Standard
When: Saturday, May 4th, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Learn how to lay sustainable foundations for your farm!
Septic’s 101 and Q&A with Bishop Sanitation
When: Saturday, May 4th, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Learn the in’s and outs of septic systems from experienced professionals!
Discovery Garden and Kid’s Corner Schedule
The Discovery Garden will host the Kids' Corner, featuring activities from PAK Fitness, Goldendale Community Library, Washington Gorge Action Programs and more. Highlights include Little Ninjas Garden Dojo, library storytime sessions, karate demos, and the Bloom & Groove dance for families.
Sunday (FREE DAY) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Want the totally free option? Admission will be free on Sunday May 5th!
Enjoy vendors, food, and inspiration from 10 to 3 on Sunday May 5th!
ADMISSION
This year is the first year the event will be charging $8 for admission.
All workshops and seminars are covered with the cost of admission.
“Admission is new this year. This is to help promote sustainability for the event and ensure that the Chamber can continue to host the event in years to come,” said Finch.
Festival goers who want to save some money and have a charitable impact can get a $3 discount when they bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Washington Gorge Action Programs.
Admission is free for Seniors and Kids 8 and under.
Teja Finch encouraged the community and the region to attend saying that the show would be an unforgettable weekend of creativity, community, family, fun, gardening, and learning.
"This festival is a great opportunity for families to engage, learn, and play. The event is a really amazing testament to our communities commitment to fostering a sustainable future and supporting our local businesses," said Finch.
“It’s going to be very exciting, flavorful, educational, and absolutely worth it!” she added.
Secure your spot for a weekend filled with growth, learning, and springtime joy! To register as a vendor, presenter or sponsor for this event or inquire about next year's show visit the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce website.
