Van Buren’s J40 Farm Crawl returns Aug. 13

KEOSAUQUA - The J40 Farm Crawl returns for the 13th Annual celebration of all things local on Aug. 13. A day filled with farms, food and fun for kids of all ages. The J40 Farm Crawl showcases eleven businesses ranging from family farms to local artisans and crafters. Highlights include: an Amish school benefit breakfast, live music by The Galvinators, farm tours, horse drawn wagon rides, glassblowing demonstrations, bread baking, free ice cream and demonstrations by several other local crafters and artists, along with special discounts at the participating farms and shops.

Start the day off with a delicious home cooked breakfast of biscuits and gravy or pancakes and sausages at the Lebanon Amish School. Once your tummy is full, hit the road to find all the adventure that awaits the day.

The farm tour at Lengacher’s Greenhouse will feature horse-drawn wagon rides, bounties of beautiful mums and fresh produce. Don’t forget to stop at their new business, Shallow Creek Variety Store filled with household and craft items. Explore the greenhouses at Lebanon Produce and treat yourself to some homemade maple syrup, pickles and jam. Enjoy wood-fired clay oven bread baking and self guided garden tours at Bloom and Bark Farm.

While at Bloom and Bark, sample and purchase mead from East Grove Farms, taste some sweet wine from Crane Winery, then add some more sweetness at the booth of Holton Homestead who will be sampling all the good stuff made by bees.

Make sure to visit the internationally renowned Milton Creamery to sample their wonderful cheese. The Troy Academy, one of the first institutions of higher education west of the Mississippi, will be open for guided tours. Yoder’s Indian Creek Furniture will have their showroom full of beautiful handcrafted hardwood furniture along with discounts on furniture. In addition to all the eye-catching beauty, entice your taste buds with some free homemade ice cream.

Featured artists you can find at Bloom and Bark during the Farm Crawl include; Fiber artists Leilani McDonald, Gregg Cotton and Sonja Hoie will teach and demonstrate the art of spinning wool. Leilani will also have her handwoven rugs available for purchase. Villages Folk School artist Pat Crawford will be creating dyed fusion art along with other Folk School artists who will be demonstrating and selling a wide array of their art. Glass artists Tim Blair, Jim Topic, Ian Anderson and Tristan Edmunds will be demonstrating their glass blowing talent shaping molten glass into beautiful pieces of art continually throughout the day. Make sure to stay for live music performed by The Galvinators from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Van Buren Art Club will be serving up hot dogs and brats to keep your tummy from rumbling.

The J40 Farm Crawl begins Saturday, August 13th at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., with the Amish School Breakfast served from 7:30 a.m. — noon (free-will donation). The Farm Crawl is a fabulous opportunity to share summer family fun along Iowa’s Historic Hills Scenic Byway and celebrate the local businesses that add vibrancy to the Iowa landscape.

Maps and brochures can be downloaded at www.villagesofvanburen.com and www.bloomandbark.com, check out THE J40 Farm Crawl Facebook page, or contact Kim Steele-Blair at bloomandbark@netins.net or (641) 233-8210.