{Pssstt . . . don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post!}
I am so excited, in conjunction with Community Farmers Market, to be able to invite you to the second annual Heirloom Tomato Fest at Need More Acres Farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky on July 19, 2012. From 5-7 pm, you can
- taste a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes
- waste live chef demonstrations
- enjoy live music
- view tomato art from local artists
- add your own touch to the Need More Acres barn as part of the community mural, which will be led by SKyPac
This awesome free event is sponsored by:
- Home Cafe’ & Marketplace
- Community Farmers Market
- Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese
- Hillbilly Grillers
- Borderland Farms
- Fatted Calf
Here’s what happened at last year’s Tomato Fest, in the words of Need More Acres owner, Michelle Howell:
“On July 21, 2011 what started as a simple collection of Heirloom Tomatoes and an invitation to our family, friends, and loyal customers turned into a story we will be telling for years. Nathan had hoped to host a tomato fest for years and the time had finally come. We spread the word, cleaned up the farm and waited for the big day to arrive. Friends from Community Farmers Market arrived early to help us prepare for the event and we set out tents, seating, and lots of good food. About an hour before the event a sudden storm decided to be our first guest and in minutes it was gone. What was left in its place was fallen trees, blown down tomato plants, destroyed tents and scattered utensils! Huge fallen trees were blocking the path of our guests so believing that the Tomato Fest was over we set in on cleaning up and settling in for the evening. But. Moments later someone said, ‘come out front…you won’t believe this.’ Looking down the road there was a row of cars that reminded us of the Field of Dreams movie! Neighbors, fellow farmers and customers had cleared the way and we welcomed nearly 200 people onto our farm. It was a mess, we had to scrounge for new eating utensils, and the electricity was out all evening! What we gained was true community and support from everyone who has always cared so much for our family. We will never forget Tomato ‘tornado’ Fest 2011 and look forward to 2012 (think we’ll skip the tornado this year!).”
Want to attend the Tomato Fest? RSVP on Facebook to let ‘em know you are coming!
To celebrate this cool event, we are hosting a fun giveaway in conjunction with Need More Acres of a great book that we love and know you will, too! Enter to win a copy of the Heirloom Life Gardener by Jere and Emilee Gettle (of Baker Creek Seed fame). You can complete the tasks on the giveaway widget below for additional entries. (Please note: we will be verifying entries for completion, so you actually should do the task listed if you want to win! Blog comments are mandatory so we will have a way to contact you if you win—all others are optional. If you are already following on any of those listed on Facebook or Twitter, that counts and you can check those tasks off as completed.)
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Not tried many heirlooms. I’m just being introduced thanks to Need More Acres! Id love to try the Banana Legs or Garden Peach. Im not a huge tomato fan (am I allowed to say that on here?!), but Ive heard that I could become a tomato lover by trying the heirloom varieties!
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I love every heirloom tomato I have ever had from Need More Acres. I am not sure of the names, but maybe I can learn them at Tomato Fest! Sadly, I have one heirloom tomato plant in my garden, but I didn’t write the name of it down so I can’t remember it. It is pretty tasty too!
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I wish I coukd go! But, work in LaGrange till 5!! Let me know of any events close to Oldham County!
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I am a huge fan of the black heirlooms…yummy!!!
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We used to have a family heirloom pumpkin we called, possum pumpkin. It was gray with pink stripes with a reddish pumpkin color. You never had to add much sugar and it made the best tasting pies! I’m all for heirlooms… sure not for Monsanto’s GMO stuff!
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i dont have one – but i would like to try the Chocolate Cherry tomato
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Pittman valley plum is my favorite! it is elongated (3-4in.) with a pointed tip! great for sauces!
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This book looks awesome!
We just purchased 11 acres of land and are looking forward to having our own heirloom organic garden!
I’ve enjoyed growing heirloom tomatoes in my backyard this summer. We do wish we lived closer to enjoy your events! Thank you for this give away – I’ve been really wanting this book!
Blessings,
Shelby
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LOVE the heirlooms, I usually put in 30+ and that is JUST for the two of us.
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love the Matt’s Wild Cherry tomatoes. Still looking for a bigger tomato favorite. I’m growing Cherokee Purple and Brandywine this year for the first time to taste.
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Brandywine is wonderful…
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I haven’t tried many tomatoes in general but would love to try all the different kinds I can as I love to make sauce!
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cherokee purple
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Those tomatoes look beautiful. My tomatoes are just getting started here. I hope to be eating some by the end of the month.
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Cherokee Purple for eating fresh and Canestrino for canning!
I love heirlooms! Cherokee Purples are my favorite, but trying lots of miniature varieties this year since they seem to do much better in hot SoCal summers than the larger types. Yum!!!
I love many heirloom varieties like Black Krim and Purple Cherokee and Green Zebra and of course Sudduth’s Pink Brandywine, but my hands down favorite for color, size, and flavor is Mary Robinson’s German Bicolor also called german stripey by some growers. UMMMM!
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SO would love to attend!! But I’m just a ‘lil too far away, in Oregon…dang!
ext best thing would be winning the book..:-) Love, love, LOVE heirloom tomatoes!
~Carla
JustRSize Acres
OR
I tend to like Brandywines, but would like to also try the Cherokee Purple for a change.
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I will have to add some of these to my growing list for next year. The pictures above look amazing!
I would love to try a Green Pineapple tomato! It sounds delicious.
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So many choices!! Probably brandywine
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This year is my first time planting ONLY heirloom tomatoes. I havent gotten tomatoes off all of them yet, so hard to say our favorite…but the German Orange Strawberry is incredible and so is the Orange Russian and Radiator Charlies Mortgage Lifter is yummy also, not sure if its the name that makes it so yummy hahahaha Wish California wasnt soooo far away from Kentucky because we would be attending the Tomato Fest for sure!
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I’m growing 10 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Hoping to have a tasting party of my own this Summer!
I have yet to grow any heirloom plants. =/ For my next birthday I’m all that I’m asking for is heirloom seeds to get started! I would love to save my own seed and never have to buy seed again. I want to get back to the “old” way of doing everything.
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We love Baker Creek’s seeds. We put heirloom tomatoes in for the first time this year. Can’t wait to eat some!!
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I am growing one of Baker Creeks new heirlooms this year called “Brown Sugar” as well as my favorite tomato, “Yellow Pear.”
I am growing some Cherokee Purple tomatoes that I can’t wait to try! I also want to try the Genovese tomato someday.
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Love the Purple Cherokee and the heirloom yellow pears
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Love heirlooms! Grow a few, and get them in my CSA. YUM!
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Pineapple tomato is the best!!! But I grow a variety including Purple Cherokee, Juliet, green grape, Old German…Love your seeds, by the way.
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I’d really like to try the Cherokee purples. I’ve heard such good things about them.
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Love Yellow Pears!!! Cannot stop popping them in my mouth. They barely make it off the vine before they’re eaten.
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Just ordered Dad’s Sunset, Cream Sausage, and Hssiao His Hung Shih the other day. Can’t wait to try them out!
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i have a small garden but a huge wishlist at baker creek heirloom seeds. i would live to win this book.
I want to try Heirloom tomatoes in general … we’re growing some non-heirloom varieties but I would love to see variety in our plants.
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I’m a little tomato crazy, and always try to grow way too many varieties! This year I am most excited about my Coyote cherry tomatoes – originally from Mexico. Supposed to be super sweet and flavorful. I can’t wait!
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we have a slow season this year at 3500 feet; heirloom tomatoes got nipped by frost two weeks ago; however, my Cosmonaut Volcov’s are showing promise as are the Super Italian Paste which I have grown before & loved! happy growing!
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Sorry I can’t make it this year…had a spider bite and just out of the hospital [week ago last tuesday] Have a grand time!!!!
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I want to stay in touch…always looking for new methods and produce!
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So far, my favorite tomato is Granny Cantrell. The first one I picked weighted 1.5 lbs. I got over sixty plants from my seeds and this was my first time to do this. Gave away plants to family and friends and they are very happy with the results they are getting.
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I’m growing some Rutgers this year, I haven’t grown them before, but the plants have taken the summer heat very well, they are bushy, full, & fruiting nicely.
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This year, the best grower and producer of tomatoes in my garden has been Purple Prudens and Black Krim. I can’t say enough about Black Krim – last year, it grew the best, didn’t succumb to blight, and kept producing right up through November!
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I have several heirloom tomatoes planted this year. I am waiting for the Cherokee Purple to ripen. I hope my husband likes them.
I love the taste of old timey tomatos. I very rarely buy any at big box stores and try to grow my own. Keep up the good work!
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I’m new to produce exploration and heirloom tomatoes are so intriguing! So many different types with so many different flavors and textures. I hope to make it to the festival and find out even more
What a wonderful giveaway…..The festival sounds really awesome.
I enjoy raising fresh tomatoes along with my other veggies. I wish everyone could have a garden . Think how much healthier we would all be
I love the cherokee purple tomatoes the best…..sorry i hot enter before i finished my above comment
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I would love to go to this festival but it is too far to drive.
I can’t grow tomatoes in my current garden spot. It is too shady. Good for peppers though.
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I live in Ohio and was introduced to heirloom tomatoes about 5 years ago. I find the taste is unbelievable! For the first time in my life I’ve become obsessed with tomatoes!
I have a very small garden on the side of my house. I’ve grown brandywine from seeds and from plant.This year I’m growing green stripey tomatoes from plants and more brandywines. The heat has been an issue. They’ve had a lot of brown bottom rot which the OSU agricultural site said to correct by mulching and adding lime. I’m going to try that.
This is the first year I bought your seeds. I bought the Saint-espirit a oeil rouge bush beans and purple podded pole beans. The purple are doing very well, although they have not begun to flower yet. The others have not germinated. I’ve tried a second planting and soaked them as recommended. I also will be planting your complimentary lettuce seeds in late August. The heat here in northeast Ohio has made it a challenging year for plants that like cooler weather…