A plant’s survival can depend on whether it’s planted properly in the right type of pottery.
To help residents in Lake County and beyond get a better understanding of the right way to plant, the Lake County Plant and Pottery Festival will be happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Far Reach Ranch, 1255 S. Dora Blvd., Tavares.
This one-stop outside shop for all outdoor enthusiasts will feature plants, pottery, food and drinks, and music by a live vinyl DJ playing Christmas and jazz music.
There will be over 25 artists and plant vendors set up for the free festival, including Moon Flower Art Studio, Growing Earthly, Yada Yada Pottery, and other local businesses.
Victoria Sauter, owner of Moon Flower Art Studio, is a self-taught creator of unique planting pots and silversmith and she will be at the festival sharing her expertise on pot-making.
Other self-taught potters — like Greg Neal, of Greg Neal Pottery — will also be in attendance sharing their skills.
“(We are) pulling from some of our favorite pottery artists and plant vendors around greater central Florida,” said Leah Hamil, marketing director for Far Reach Ranch.
During the festival, there will be live pottery demonstrations — including pottery wheel demonstrations and demonstrations of Raku firing, an ancient Japanese ceramics technique used to create a unique finish.
“Ceramics are taken from the kiln while they are still glowing red hot and are placed in a material that would be able to catch fire, such as sawdust or newspaper. This technique is used to starve the piece of oxygen, which creates a myriad of colors within the glaze,” Hamil said, explaining the Raku technique.
The pottery demos will also feature a competitive session where competing potters will race against the clock to create an object given to them.
Hamil said guests who attend the events will gain a greater appreciation for pottery styles and techniques. She added they will learn about native Florida plants from vendors and during the pollinator garden lecture.
Local, green-focused shops like “Growcery Store” — a converted school bus turned mobile classroom and market selling locally grown organic produce — will be set up during the festival with edible plants, herbs and vegetables.
Ellie Salazar, owner of the Growcery Store, said she will also be sharing information about the best plants to grow in the area.
“A lot of people don’t know that you can grow some things all year round, which makes Central Florida the place with the longest growing season in the nation,” Salazar, of Mount Dora, said. “We do garden bed installations and provide free estimates for people within 30 miles.”
Aside from teaching people about plants, Salazar said she also hopes to inspire someone to take up planting.
“The myth about people being born with a green thumb is just that — a myth,” Salazar said. “Planting is something that you have to learn. If you know what to plant at the right time and where, then you can succeed.”
Festival goers will have a chance to glaze paint a Christmas ornament that will be fired and available for pick up the following week from Yada Yada Pottery, 133 W. 5th Ave., Mount Dora.
After working up an appetite from the activities and engaging with vendors, festival attendees can grab a bite to eat from the Gringa Mex and The Canteen Ranch Kitchen, the Far Reach Ranch food truck, will be doing a collaboration with Deli Llama (from Tavares) for the festival.
Or take a sip of one of the seasonal cocktails that will be served during the event — including Christmas spices cider, seasonal beers, wine and a full bar.
For more information about the festival, farreachranch.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
