The Wormfarm Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to integrating culture and agriculture in an evolving laboratory of the arts and ecology, will produce the third annual Reedsburg Fermentation Fest from October 4 to 13. The multifaceted food and farming festival focuses on fermentation in all its forms. Fermentation Fest offers 42 classes and tasting events about fermented foods such as kimchi, yogurt, hard cider, chocolate, cheese, beer and bread, as well as preserving the harvest, farming and cooking with local foods.

The signature event is the Farm/ Art DTour, a nationally recognized, 50-mile, self-guided road tour, accomplished by bicycling or driving through the scenic hills and farm fields of northwestern Sauk County, among temporary art installations, field notes about agriculture, pasture performances and artist-built Roadside Culture Stands that vend fresh, preserved and fermented locally grown food. Individual farm tours are also available.

The schedule of classes and speakers is extensive, but two special guests are featured this year. Gary Paul Nabhan, a University of Arizona research scientist and author, will speak on October 6 about the fermenting revolution of human, soil, community and economic health, plus demonstrate the preparation of kishk, a Lebanese fermented corn beer. Nikiko Masumoto, a fourth-generation California fruit grower, agrarian artist and author, will conduct three classes about cooking and storytelling from October 10 to 13.

Location: E7004 Briar Bluff Rd., Reedsburg. For more information and preregistration, call 608-524-8672 or visit FermentationFest.com.