Bee Keeping, Wine Making, Organic Gardening and Fiber Animals are a few of the subjects that will be in the spotlight at the “Home on the Grange Share and Learn Event” hosted by Oxford Grange.  The all-ages Agricultural Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 9th, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, and will feature guest speakers, demonstrations, vendors, live animals, and more.

Oxford Grange Hall is located at 482 Oxford Road (Route 67), in Oxford, Connecticut.  This is a free event, and the public is encouraged to attend.

The featured speakers start at 10:00 AM with Organic Gardening by Guy Beardsley from Eco Gardens of Shelton, CT.  Beardsley will discuss testing and amending soil, seed preparation, planting, bugs and diseases, care throughout the growing season, cultivation, and harvest.  

Join Tess Szamatulski of Maltose Express at 10:30 AM with a discussion on Wine Making. Maltose Express from Monroe, Connecticut sells beer making and wine making ingredients, equipment and supplies for brewing beer and making wine at home.

Author Al Avitable from Bethlehem, CT will be taking the stage at 11:00 AM to discuss Bee Keeping with Honey Bees.  Avitable is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University Of Connecticut, Waterbury, the Program Chair of the Connecticut Bee Keepers Association, and is active with the Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival.  He co-authored “The Beekeeper's Handbook.”

Beginning at 12 Noon, Robert Owsiany will moderate a Question and Answer Session on the raising and keeping of rabbits and chickens. Owsiany is the Agricultural Director for the Town of Oxford, and was the Vice President of the former Oxford Horse and Livestock Association. 

The Keeping of Fiber Animals (goats, sheep, alpacas) will be the 1:00 PM topic presented by Spinner and Shepherdess Pam Blasko of Dream Come True Farm from Oxford, CT.  Blasko spins her own unique yarns from the fiber of the animals she raises. 

The final discussion of the event will be on the topic of Natural Pollinators.  This will be presented by Charlotte Pyle of the Natural Resources Conservation Service at 1:30 PM. CT NRCS Landscape Ecologist and PhD Charlotte Pyle is a strong supporter of the Earth Team Volunteer Program, and is often referred to as the “invasive plant guru” due to her extensive research in the study in the field.

In addition to the speakers, Coon Hollow Farm will be selling ag-based products such as honey and maple syrup, and will have a display of live sheep, weather permitting.  Other vendors will be taking part in the event with a variety of items, including plants, seeds, homemade soap, knitted items and more.  Animal displays will include chickens, rabbits, goats, and alpacas. Childrens’ activities include face painting, seed planting and more. 

Oxford Grange will be selling sandwiches, baked goods, beverages and more from the Grange Kitchen.

Founded in 1928, Oxford Grange No. 194 has been serving its community for over 85 years through community service, family-oriented activities, agricultural and legislative initiatives and more.  Meeting are held the first and third Fridays of each month at 7:30 PM, at the Grange Hall. The community is welcome to their meetings. 

For more information, contact Oxford Grange President Maggie Buck at (203) 267-6796, or via e-mail at oxford@ctstategrange.org.  Oxford Grange can be found on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OxfordGrangeCT.