The National Heirloom Exposition

A small portion of the incredible gourd collection

The 'World's Fair' of the heirloom seed industry (over 10,000 attended in 2012) is taking place next week in Santa Rosa, California. On September 10, 11, and 12, this huge event will show off more than 4,000 varieties of gorgeous, scrumptious, sometimes strange, fruits and awe-inspiring vegetables, grown from heirloom seed. DripWorks is excited for this opportunity to see our customers and display our incredible water-saving products on a national stage.

Some of the world's most renowned speakers on the subject of sustainable gardening and farming practices will be attending, speaking to audiences packed with master gardeners, hobbyists, and pure food enthusiasts.This year's roster boasts one hundred speakers including Jeffery Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology, Organic Consumers Association director Ronnie Cummins, Slow Food Movement maven Carlo Petrini, food historian William Woys Weaver, and environmental author Vandana Shiva, to name a few.

The Heirloom Expo offers exciting opportunities to expand your palate through a variety of  tasting events. Watch live demonstrations by America's best chefs, like Chef Ray Duey, who sculpts works of edible art from fresh fruits and vegetables--always great fun. A plethora of baked goods, jams, and samples of homemade food products will be offered at every turn. You'll find tips on cheese making, meat curing, and sausage making. Perhaps you'd like a lesson in the art of creating custom herbal vinegars or schooling on the savory subtleties of olive oils.

A few of the many varieties of chili peppers

In addition to this endless array of foods, there will be exhibits of old time tools, memorabilia, and machinery as well as quilts, jewelry, photography, painting, and other arts and crafts. On the final day, an heirloom seed exchange will be held, providing an opportunity to snag your favorite seed varieties.

And let's not forget the competitions! Melons and fruits will be tasted and tested, floral displays judged, livestock and poultry perused. Of course everyone loves that perennial crowd favorite-the giant pumpkin weigh-off!

Some of these pumpkins weigh a half ton or more!

Over 250 seed companies and vendors, including DripWorks, will be in attendance at this event, offering exciting products and valuable information relating to sustainable gardening and farming. Visit http://www.theheirloomexpo.com/ for a full list of speakers and events. So take this opportunity to speak to other growers about their experience and visualize what you too can grow.

If you do come, be sure to stop by the DripWorks booth, where co-founder Leon Springer will be set up with products to demo and catalogs, tee shirts, tote bags, and pens to give away. Whether you're a veteran greenthumb or a total greenhorn there is guaranteed to be something at this event for you.
We'll see you there.