PINE RIVER-Registration for the 13th annual sustainable living event, Back to Basics, is open.
The event offers 45 workshops, nearly 50 vendors, a keynote speaker, door prizes, lunch and school-aged children's programming. It will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 2 at Pine River-Backus High School. The cost is $30 for the full day, including lunch, or $25 for full-time students and seniors 60 years old or older.
Ala carte registration makes it possible to take one or a few workshops instead of the full day registration. Single workshop sessions are $6 and double workshop sessions are $12. Lunch is $9. The full-day kindergarten through sixth-grade children's programming is $20, including lunch.
Registration is available until noon Jan. 31. Walk-in/day-of registration opens at 8 a.m. Feb. 2 at Pine River-Backus High School.
The day will kick off with a keynote presentation by Kent Solberg, livestock and grazing specialist with the Sustainable Farming Association. Solberg will answer many questions regarding the health of soil and what it could mean for the future, food, and natural resources.
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With decades of experience-from owning and operating a farm with his wife to working for a number of agricultural and government organizations supporting agricultural work-Solberg is keen to share information on soil health and regenerative agriculture practices and the impact they can have, a news release stated.
"Kent's got a good sense of the state of agriculture in Minnesota. He's got his finger on the pulse and can tell which trends are happening," said Jim Chamberlin, food and water security manager for Happy Dancing Turtle, a co-host of the Back to Basics event along with Pine River-Backus Community Education.
The vendor area is open to the public all day for free. Available will be a wide variety of products and services designed to help people live a more sustainable and resilient lifestyle. With 45 workshops available, it's possible to get everything from an introduction to a deep dive on topics ranging from winter food production and raising chickens, to do it yourself recipes, crafts and community initiatives.
In the release, Happy Dancing Turtle Executive Director Quinn Swanson said of the event, "We're seeing an increase in registrations, earlier than last year. Some of the more popular workshops are already filled up. I would recommend registering sooner rather than later to make sure you get to attend the workshops you like."
For complete event details, including workshop descriptions, vendor list, and to register and pay online, visit www.happydancingturtle.org .
