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Cultivating Connections organizes concert with Tim Fain

Creating Connections Montana connects people with food through creative opportunities.

“Feast in the Field” is their upcoming fundraiser featuring world-renowned violinist and composer Tim Fain at the Homestead Organics Farm just south of Hamilton from 5:00-9:30pm with music at 7:00pm on Thursday, July 25th.

Laura Garber, founder of Homestead Organics, said she appreciates the Bitterroot musician’s contributions to the valley.







Cultivating Connections Montana connects events to the community

Youth Camps Director Isabelle Harvey kneels in a greenhouse at Homestead Organics. Marigolds are being grown for seed and to make garlands this fall. Kids Youth Camps are August 5-8 and 12-15.


Doug McConnaha for the Ravalli Republic


“He’s such a great contributor to the community,” she said. “We met him when he was a parent volunteer when his daughter’s class came on tours and now his oldest daughter is one of our interns at the farm. Tim and I have been talking for about a year and a half about him doing a concert for us as a fundraiser and last week we were able to focus on the 25e from July.”

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Garber said the special evening will be great for families, with dinner, music, local drinks and the magic of a working farm. No matter the weather, the evening will be special.

“We have a huge event tent,” she said. “We have a 50-by-30-foot tent that’s great for Tim and the audience. He wants to be close to the audience and this will provide more shade for everyone.”

The dinner features a menu of farm-raised meats, pulled pork, BBQ chicken and vegetarian dishes, vegetables and dessert.

“It’s a fundraiser and includes a buffet dinner — so it’s all going to be picnic style with everyone bringing their own blankets and enjoying the evening,” Garber said. “Our youth farm interns will be giving tours of the farm, donation-based beer and wine, and a silent auction.”

She said that instead of asking all the businesses in downtown Hamilton for a donation, visitors can bring in the items they want to donate themselves.

“It could be the earrings you never wear, the designer jacket you don’t really like, or the second Instapot you got for Christmas,” Garber said. “Take that, donate that, and bid on other people’s treasures. That raises money for us and keeps things in the community. We hope lots of people come out to hear Tim and share a magical night on the farm.”

Tickets are $45 for individuals and $125 for a family and are available at the door or via a QR code on posters around town.

Homestead Organics is also hosting two Kids Youth Camps through Cultivating Connections, August 5-8 and August 12-15.

Isabelle Harvey is the director of the camps, which will include interns from the youth farm as helpers.

“It’s a great way to integrate age groups,” Garber said. “Belle was here as a camper. Belle was an intern at a youth farm and now Belle is the director, so it’s a progression.”

Harvey said the two-week camps will have different programming, so youth can attend both camps if they wish.







Cultivating Connections Montana connects events to the community

Laura Garber, owner of Homestead Organics, and Isabelle Harvey, director of Kids Youth Camps, are looking forward to “Feast in the Field,” the fundraising evening featuring world-renowned violinist and composer Tim Fain on July 25.


Doug McConnaha for the Ravalli Republic


“Both weeks have the same general idea of ​​kids on the farm, learning what we do, plants, cooking and animals, because kids love animals,” she said. “They’ll meet the little pigs. I might bring a calf from my dad’s dairy farm. We have baby chicks and ducks.”

The camp also offers art projects, games, farm activities and cooking activities where children learn about soil, planting, harvesting and making products.

“They’ll plant their own things and cook their own food to take home,” Harvey said. “We’re thinking about making salsa because that’s the perfect time. They’ll enjoy the farm; it’s going to be a great camp. The farm here is perfect for kids.”

The day camp is from 10am to 4pm and is open to children aged 9 to 12.

“We wanted to serve an age group that normally doesn’t have a lot of camps,” Harvey said. “Younger kids have a lot of camps and older kids often have sleepaway camps. We don’t camp on the farm.”

According to Harvey, ages 9 to 12 are the right ages to be safe on a farm and to learn and remember farming and cooking skills.







Cultivating Connections Montana connects events to the community

Animals at Homestead Organics Farm just south of Hamilton are just the right size for learning and petting. This pig will have 12-19 piglets for Kids Youth Camp participants to pet in August.


Doug McConnaha for the Ravalli Republic


“I absolutely love having kids work on the farm,” Harvey said. “The potential is huge for how much kids will learn and connect. This camp is based on a working farm where kids can learn from the farmers and become farmers themselves. It’s really cool to see the science of actually growing things.”

Harvey’s family owns Lifeline Farm and Dairy.

“When I was a kid, I lived on a farm, so I understood the natural world and animals, but I went to school and was with kids who had never been on a farm,” she said. “(The Homestead Organics farm) is so cool with just the right size animals for kids. We teach them about farmers and their food and food production so they can make smarter choices as they grow up. My biggest thing is getting kids to the farm.”

Harvey also manages the self-service Farm Stand at Homestead Organics. In addition to fresh eggs and vegetables, she is expanding the offering to include other local products.

“It’s a one-stop shop for local produce,” Garber said. “We have fresh produce and we’re making value-added food in the kitchen with our interns.”

The Farm Stand at Homestead Organics is open daily from 9am to 9pm for the convenience of the customer. The store is based on the honor system where customers leave the amount based on the items they purchase.

“It works really well with people paying,” Harvey said. “We have really great local produce.”







Cultivating Connections Montana connects events to the community

Farm Stand Director Isabelle Harvey is also leading two Kids Youth Camps, August 5-8 and August 12-15 at Homestead Organics, just south of Hamilton.


Doug McConnaha for the Ravalli Republic


In addition to fresh vegetables from Homestead Organics, locally produced produce is also sold at the Saturday Market in Hamilton. The Farm Stand also has “Stress-Be-Gone” roll-ons from a lavender farm in Plains, hand soap, honey, plus shampoo and conditioner bars.

“A lady sells them at the Saturday market, she lives in Corvallis,” Harvey said. “I’ve had the shampoo and conditioner bars for a while and said we have to get these because they’re so good. We have gifts from Montana or food you can eat.”

CCM also provides fresh vegetables for senior meals and has a youth intern and an AmeriCorps member selling produce at the Darby Farmers Market every Tuesday.

“We have produce and other Montana goods,” Garber said. “In Darby, the production comes from donations.”

Visit Homestead Organics at 175 Skalkaho Highway, Hamilton. For more information visit https://cultivatingconnectionsmt.org/ or email [email protected]/.