This year, The Beartaria Times National Festival will step it up with new speakers, bands, vendors, workshops, and micro-events!

Here are some insights of what to look forward to!

Micro-Events:

This year, the growing festival team will utilize the banquet tent to host micro events each night. Plans include having the Singles Mixer on Friday evening, which was missing from previous years.
Festival management also plans to host a business mixer on Saturday Evening as an addition to the festival to promote networking and the economy in our community.

Expected Workshops:

Arm Candy Chainmail will be teaching how to make chainmail.

Farming Artist will have a workshop to discuss and demonstrate the intricacies of beekeeping.

Fermenting Bear will demonstrate the art of fermentation in a hands on lesson.

Fort Brown Bear will demonstrate the full process of how to process a meat bird by old and new processes.

Practical Bear will be discussing how to achieve financial independence at all income levels.
This will include strategies and services to eliminate debt, reach financial goals, and leave a legacy for future generations.

Food Vendors:

This year, we expect some great food and beverage booths. Here is a snapshot of what we are looking forward to!

Beartaria Beef
Handcrafted lemonade, iced tea, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages
Fruiti Fizzis
Organic Popsicles
Ice Cream by the scoop
Homemade Kombucha
Homestead Goods
Organic Smoothies, Frappes
Distilled Water
Fermented Goods
Donuts, coffee, oatmeal bar
Sourdough baked goods
Lumpia (Filipino eggrolls) and Pancit (noodles with chicken, cabbage, carrots)
Puerto Rican Food

General Vendors:

This year we are looking forward to meeting some amazing vendors and welcoming back some vendors from previous years. Here are some vendor product and services you can expect to see in 2024.

Ceramics, prints
Precious metals
Chainmail jewelry
Musical Book
Books
Handmade, vintage silks/scarves
Herbal remedies for wound care, arthritis, aches and pains, and supplying nutrients through the skin
Body, hair, and kitchen soaps and shampoos
Bath bombs and bath soaks
Kitchen and laundry soaps
Baby care cosmetic items
Regular cosmetics;
Herb-based animal toys (catnip, mice, etc.)
Plant-based insect repellents and insect bite relief
All Natural Clothing
arts/crafts/creations
handmade crocheted (and possibly hand-sewn) items such as head scarfs, bags, hats, or dish towels made with natural/sustainable materials (wool, cotton, linen, etc.)
leather goods
Bear-related metal art.
Honey
Honey products
Bee pollen
Bee Propolis
Beeswax
Beeswax candles
Seeds
Tinctures, teas, tallows, salves, balms, also hair braiding & hair beads/tinsel for children
Garden Products / BioChar
Homeschooling Curriculum / Books
Wood bear cutouts, stickers, magnets, and olive oil.
Safety/Security/1st Aid

This year Beartaria Times will also be adding a concession store to help with odds and ends that festival goers may need to help make a more comfortable experience.

Big things are in the works and the festival is right around the corner!

Ticket Sales end August 4th!

Social media shows doomsayers, pessimists, and even truther-prepper types blasting out warnings of impending doom and gloom. You may feel the urge to fight if you can bear this without your emotions causing you to flee or freeze.

But what does fighting for your future mean? Unfortunately, much internet commentary directs your focus to what others are doing and how they affect you, calling for action to demand change. While this may have its place, it neglects the freedom we already possess and can inadvertently bypass our authority and control.

Here are a few simple things to think about that can help you fight against the future you don’t want, by building the future you do want.

Financial Future

Securing your financial stability is the cornerstone of building a successful future. This starts with becoming debt-free. Debt is a shackle that limits your freedom and ties you to a system you might not align with. Aim to clear your debts quickly and avoid taking on new ones.

Next, focus on land ownership. Owning land provides a place to call home and offers opportunities for self-sufficiency, such as gardening, raising livestock, or even setting up a small business. This autonomy can buffer against economic uncertainties and offer a sense of security.

Continually work towards a sustainable income. Whether through traditional employment, investments, freelancing, or entrepreneurial ventures, ensure your income sources are diversified and resilient to economic shifts. Build skills that are in demand and can be adapted to various roles. Financial independence is crucial in crafting a future you control rather than one external force dictates.

Education

Education is the foundation of personal and professional growth. Embrace self-study and continuous learning. The more skills and knowledge you acquire, the more adaptable you become in a rapidly changing world. Invest in personal improvement by setting aside time for reading, courses, and practical skill-building.

Homeschooling is another powerful tool. It allows you to tailor education to your family’s needs and values, ensuring your children learn what truly matters. Foster a love of learning in your household, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills over rote memorization.

Family Protection

Protecting your family goes beyond physical safety; it involves being a guiding force and a source of stability. We must also protect our families from negative and misguided influences. Be a leader to your children by setting a positive example. Teach them resilience, self-reliance, and the importance of moral values. Strengthen bonds with your siblings through support and cooperation, creating a solid familial network.

Honoring your seniors is equally essential. They possess invaluable wisdom and experience. Encourage intergenerational communication and respect, ensuring your family’s heritage and lessons are passed down.

Mindset

Your mindset is the driving force behind every action. Take ownership of your life and decisions, understanding that responsibility and accountability are keys to freedom. Respect your time and finances, recognizing them as finite resources that require careful management.

Develop a mindset of resilience and adaptability. Life is unpredictable, and being mentally prepared for challenges ensures you can face them head-on. Cultivate a positive outlook, focusing on solutions rather than problems. This proactive attitude will guide you in building the life you want.

Community Building

No one succeeds alone. Connect with people who share your values and vision. Building a community of like-minded individuals offers support, shared resources, and collective wisdom. Engage in activities and friendships that bring joy and complement your life.

We would like to take it a step further by saying, we don’t build the future we want as a reaction to the future we don’t want. We build, because we love, its fun and fulfilling. Our fight is to thrive, not to survive. Survival is a consequence of thriving. So aim high! Take control of your life, embrace self-responsibility, and connect with others on the same path.

Those looking to connect with a broader network should consider joining our Community app. It’s a platform dedicated to bringing together individuals who strive for independence. Whether you’re looking for advice, collaboration, or simply companionship on your journey, our thriving community is a valuable resource.

The power to shape your future is in your hands.

Christopher Gardner (Topher) is preparing an exclusive dome building workshop in Missouri and applications are now open!

The workshop will be for a small crew of 12 people!

This workshop would be a three day event of at least 3 hours of serious labor and skill building each day with approximately 2-3 hours a day of study and lectures.

In this workshop you will get your hands dirty as you are guided through the process of building the foundations of a Dome structure and framing it out to completion of the first of 3 stages in the dome construction process.

The labor will consist of learning and executing proper earth bag techniques and concepts while learning from the best!

This workshop is in high demand and to facilitate it Beartaria Ozark Campground has listed an application for anyone interested.