The merchants of Rockridge Market Hall are dedicating an afternoon of demonstrations, food tastings, and book signings to backyard farms and local food artisans. On Saturday, Apr. 21, the community and visitors alike are invited to enjoy activities such as cheese making, butchery demos, honey harvesting, fruit preserving, tastings from local food producers, and a goat petting zoo.

See below for Schedule of Activities

Pioneering urban farmers Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal will demo honey harvesting (with ample tastes) from 1:00 to 2:00, followed by a panel discussion and signing their new book, “The Essential Urban Farmer.” Margo True, Sunset Magazine Food Editor editor of Sunset's popular book, "One Block Feasts," will moderate.

Closer to Home begins at 11 am with ongoing tasting and demos throughout Market Hall until 4:00 p.m. The Oakland’s Havenscourt Homestead’s Nigerian Dwarf Goat Petting Zoo is available from noon to 4:00 p.m.

Marin Sun Farms Butcher Shop will give tips for the home cook during chicken and rabbit butchery demos; Pop-up Oyster Bar at Hapuku Fish Shop will offer fresh, briny, local shucked oysters; and, Fiscalini Farms will offer tips on making fresh mozzarella.

Lovers of lemons will especially enjoy the presentation at noon offered by Market Hall Bakery Chef and Director Neucimar Dias da Silva called “When Life gives you lemons,” and will include tips on preparing lemon curd and lemon preserves.

Those anxious to start their gardens will delight in the organic vegetable and herb offerings from Kassenhoff Growers Nursery with Peggy Kass and Helen Krayenhoff on hand to help with selections.

(Free and open to the public except for purchases.)

2pm Book Signing
with Novella Carpenter & Willow Rosenthal

• Panel Discussion moderated by Margo True
• Honey Demonstration
• Tips for Urban Farming

>> View Printable PDF of Closer to Home Schedule