Something DIY
Create something new with garden bounty
Have a bumper crop of herbs and veggies from your backyard garden? Culinary- and garden-focused events this month will provide ideas on how to use that bounty.
You can learn about the processes and materials needed to make fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles and even hot sauce at an event titled Ferment All of It! It’s set for 6 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Comstock Township Library. Registration is required at comstocklibrary.org.
Creating herb-infused food enhancers will be the focus of two workshops. On Aug. 11, Haley Terpstra, owner of Herbal Meadows Botanicals, will show participants how to turn extra herbs into oils and salts during an Herbal Culinary Salt & Oil Blending Workshop. It starts at 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Powell Branch. Registration is required at kpl.gov.
Lea Sevigny of Joyful Wildcrafting will discuss local summer herbs and how to preserve their benefits in an Herbal Oil Workshop at 1 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. The cost is $16 for KNC members and $20 for others. To register, visit naturecenter.org.
Registered dietitian Gretchen Kauth will discuss the merits of and tips for making nutritious vegetarian meals during the Aug. 19 session of the Eating the Healthy Way series at the Portage District Library. It begins at 6 p.m. Registration is required at portagelibrary.info.
Finally, learn everything about herbs, from foraging to preparing them for eating, drinking or medicine making, at the Michigan Herbal Conference Aug. 21–23 at Tillers International, in Scotts. The weekend-long event will feature hands-on activities, lectures and walks to learn about the science behind herbalism. The cost to attend is $225. To register, visit tillersinternational.org.
Something Fun
Tour Binder Park Zoo by bike
It’ll be a safari by bike when Tour de Zoo happens at Binder Park Zoo Aug. 14.
The event runs from 6–9 p.m., during which participants can ride their bikes through the grounds of the zoo, see animals and watch the sunset over the zoo’s African Savanna. An after-party will feature live music, food, beverages, games and giveaways.
Binder Park Zoo is located at 7400 Division Drive in Battle Creek. Tickets are $50 until Aug. 8 and $60 after. To register, visit binderparkzoo.org/tour-de-zoo.
Something Timeless
Kellogg Manor offers free tours, concert
You can take a stroll through lush surroundings when the Kellogg Manor House offers free tours and a lakeside concert
Aug. 16.
The century-old Tudor-style house was built by cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg and his wife, Carrie Staines Kellogg, on the highest point overlooking Gull Lake. Its grounds include a carriage house with chauffeur’s residence, greenhouse, caretaker’s cottage, boathouse, authentic Dutch windmill and lakeside pagoda.
Docent-led tours will be offered from noon to 3 p.m., followed by an outdoor concert by the Cereal City Concert Band of Battle Creek from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/Kellmanortour.
Something Aloft
Kalamazoo Balloon Fest returns
The sky will be filled with color during the Kalamazoo Balloon Fest Aug. 21–23 at Gull Meadow Farms, in Richland.
This annual event draws dozens of balloonists who take part in daily fly-ins and nightly balloon glows, in addition to giving flights for a fee. The event will also offer food for purchase, a car show and live entertainment.
The balloon festival is free, but parking is $10 per vehicle. There is an additional fee for family activities provided by Gull Meadow Farms. For more information, visit gullmeadowfarms.com.
Something Alt-Country
Old 97’s to play Bell’s
The Old 97’s, a pioneering band of the alt-country music movement of the mid-1990s, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe.
The Old 97’s have released 13 studio albums, including 2024’s American Primitive.
The band Buga, from Brooklyn, New York, will open the show.
Tickets are $30.85 and available at the Bell’s General Store or bellsbeer.com.
