Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 27, 1993 TAG: 9308260018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Renaissance people were fascinated with the world around them - with plants, animals, the Earth, the stars and the treasures of the sea.
Each year, The Plant Plant in Christiansburg recreates the Renaissance with wizards, herbal wise women, court jesters, strolling minstrels and jousting knights.
The annual Herb Festival and Renaissance Faire will be Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the gardens on Barringer Mountain Road just off U.S. 11.
There will be live entertainment, herbal food and drinks and educational seminars. Craftspeople will show and sell their wares: crystal prisms, jewelry, sundials, bird feeders, vinegars, sachets, door bouquets, wreaths, books, jams, jellies and candied flowers.
And that's just for starters.
If you're looking for origami, moth repellants, soaps, Celtic runes, weaponry, sculpture, candles or herbal dream pillows, you're in luck.
Entertainment is scheduled throughout the weekend, as are a variety of workshops for herb gardeners and seekers of knowledge.
Here's the lineup:
SATURDAY
\ 9:30 a.m. Music by Sweetbriar and presentation by Elissa Steeves: "Herbs for Cooking and Drying."
\ 10:30 a.m. "My Love Affair with Herbs," seminar by guest speaker Portia Meares, founder of The Business of Herbs magazine.
\ 11 a.m. Music by No Strings Attached.
\ Noon "Landscaping for Wildlife, Hummingbirds and Butterflies," seminar by Laura Long of Wildlife Habitat.
\ 1 p.m. Music by The Blacksburg Community Band.
\ 1:30 p.m. "The Celtic People: Who We Were and Who We Are," seminar by Ellie Stierheim.
\ 2 p.m. "Native American Herbs and Cooking," seminar by Thomas Squier of North Carolina, author of "Living Off the Land" and subject of a recent feature in The Wall Street Journal.
\ 2:30 p.m. Music by Gracenote.
\ 3:30 p.m. "Drying Herbs and Flowers for Decoration," seminar by Jacqueline Hayward of Loving Hearth Creations, and "Heirloom Vegetable Seeds: Saving and Preserving," seminar by Dennis Dove of Buttercup Seed Gardens.
\ SUNDAY
\ 10:30 a.m. Music by Simple Gifts. Seminar, "Cooking with Herbs," and presentation by Thomas Squier on "Herbs of the Bible." Also, children's pottery workshop led by Ellen Braaten. The children's workshop runs two hours.
\ Noon Music by Awakening and presentation by Katherine Chantal, "An Herbal Medicine Chest." Also, seminar by Foli Taylor of The Flower Farm: "Herbs in Colonial Times."
\ 1:30 p.m. Music by Barb Martin and presentation by representatives from For the Birds: "Hummingbird Fancy." Also, workshop by Christine Byrd of New Mountain Mercantile, "How to Combine Herbs, Oils, Essential Oils and Other Natural Ingredients into Low-Cost Body Care Products."
\ 3 p.m. Seminar by Ed Fisher of Cedar Ridge Wreaths: "Everlastings: Harvesting, Drying and Creating an Object of Beauty."
\ 3:15 p.m. Music by The Realm.
The New River Valley Herb Growers Association is sponsoring the weekend festival as a public service to raise awareness about herbs. All seminars are free. Admission to the festival is $4 for adults and $1.50 for children.
You'll want to bring some extra money for food. Some of the offerings include wurstfeaste (bratwurst and sauerkraut) sandwiches, pasta salad, Cajun delicacies, hummus, barbecue pork, baklava, herbal beverages, beer and wine.
For more information, call The Plant Plant at 382-2653.
\ 4-H 4-U: Kids in the community are eager to show you what they've been up to.
The 4-H Fair, featuring displays and programs by youths involved in 4-H, is Saturday at New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.
"It's a good chance for the community to see the variety of activities the youngsters do," said Joyce Martin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Service agent in Montgomery County.
Displays and exhibits representing a range of interests from entomology to electricity will be set up at 10 a.m. for judging. Other events include a bicycle rodeo, illustrated talks, demonstrations and speeches.
The fashion show at 1 p.m. features clothing made by 4-H youths.
A pet show runs 2-2:45 p.m., followed by entertainment with members of the 4-H clubs.
Martin said one traditionally popular event, the live animal exhibition, will be back at this year's fair.
Admission is free. Community members and representatives of other organizations also will have educational exhibits and skill demonstrations throughout the day.
\ HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Ye may hear gospel and bluegrass music Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., in Radford's Bisset Park.
WFNR, 710 AM in Christiansburg, is sponsoring a charity concert for the American Heart Association. Bluegrass and gospel groups will perform to raise dollars for the association. Admission to the outdoor concert is free, but donations are welcome.
Food concessions will be available and WFNR radio personalities will give prizes all day.
\ IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR: The Eggleston Volunteer Fire Department has put on a "Fun Day" every year as long as folks can remember. This year, the event coincides with the department's 30th anniversary.
It's happening Saturday at the Old Eggleston School and Eggleston Park. Events get under way at 10 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m.
There will be an antique tractor pull and show, craft vendors, flea markets and lots of games for everyone. Live bands and recorded music are part of the fun, too.
If you want to make a day of it, plan on having breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals will be served throughout the day.
To get to Eggleston from U.S. 460, take Virginia 730 and follow the signs. The community is in Giles County.
\ MEANWHILE, IN PILOT: Saturday is "Neighbors Day" in this Montgomery County community.
Games start at 3 p.m. at the Pilot Community Center. In addition to games for little kids, there will be softball and horseshoes for big kids.
A potluck picnic is set for 5 p.m., with singing after supper at 6. The Victory Gospel Singers and Pilot Mountain Grass are featured. Bring a lawn chair so you can sit back and enjoy the music.
Neighbors Day is sponsored by the Pilot United Methodist and Pentecostal Holiness churches and the Pilot Ruritan Club. For more information, call 382-4443.
by CNB