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   Happy Dancing Turtle and Pine River-Backus Community Education are proud to host the 20th Annual Back to Basics sustainable living event at Pine River-Backus School on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Attend the 8:45 a.m. keynote address and the 8 am to 4 pm vendor/exhibitor fair for free; no registration is required.

   Forager chef Alan Bergo will present the keynote, The Grocery Store Outside. His popular website, foragerchef.com, and his insatiable interest in wild food earned him a national reputation, two Taste awards as well as a James Beard award. The author of “Forager Chef: Flora,” his talk will explore common Minnesota plants that are available for most anyone to harvest.

   The Back to Basics Vendor/Exhibitor Fair is open to the public from 8-4. Visit more than 55 booths of sustainably themed vendors and chat with knowledgeable people while shopping for things like honey, sauces, jams, mushrooms, garden supplies, tea, books, fiber craft supplies, jewelry, body care, candles, pottery, and hand-crafted art and clothing items. Take time to chat with experts on gardening, agricultural and environmental issues, community resources, clean energy, natural remedies, and more. For more information, go to happydancingturtle.org/back-to-basics.

   Happy Dancing Turtle is a nonprofit dedicated to growing good stewards of the planet by providing education, programs, and experiences for youth and adults that inspire wonder and empower change.

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