Last week, September 10 – 12, 2024, was a celebration of Heirloom Foods at the National Heirloom Exposition, sponsored by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Ventura, CA.

Table after table filled with gorgeous displays of hundreds of unique varieties of veggies and seeds. Showing just a few: Paul with his Greek Red Butternut Squash, petite rich sweetness melon, chili table, and squash table.

The staff created an enchanting presentation of great speakers, exhibitors, vendors, food demonstrations, native plants, music, lunch stands, and heirloom seed swaps! 

The Organic Garden Club had a terrific time and felt right at home among Family and Friends! We were so busy, as organic gardening enthusiasts flocked our booth, interested in our Club activities, local meetings, and our meetings on Zoom. 

Gorgeous squash carvings were at the Heirloom Expo, most created by Carl Franklin Jones.

Organic Garden Club members were outstanding as speakers, vendors, and exhibitors! For example, Michael, Pat, and Ron had informative displays at their tables to enlighten the guests with organic solutions to living soil, solar oven cooking, and beneficial insects,.

Guests enjoyed Bill’s wonderful stories about his display of heirloom organic apples from his backyard orchard and tasting his organic grapes to vote for their favorite! 

It was delightful to connect with members, friends, and kindred spirits and be a part of the excitement and fun at the National Heirloom Expo! Becky found a table of magnificent bell peppers, and we had an enthusiastic conversation with Jeff about compost and living soil in his permaculture garden!

There were so many interesting things to see at the Heirloom Expo: lovely sidewalk chalk painting, large chicken paintings on palm trees, kids with the seeds displays, the Santa Barbara Beaver Brigade, and a table of chilis!

A table displaying a rainbow of Dahlias brought joy and an immediate happy mood boost to all! Delightful for your veggie garden, the pollinators love them and they repel nematodes. Their tubers are edible and their petals are healing for the skin!

Three presidents of the Organic Garden Club through the years had a fabulous time together on the final day of the National Heirloom Expo and have some more marvelous ideas to make our booth even better next year!