This year’s UK Organic Food Festival – now in its ninth year – looks set to be the biggest and best yet.

Running on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September at Bristol Harbour, the festival will be the highlight of the Soil Association’s Organic Fortnight.

The Organic Food Festival isn’t just about food, though.

It’s a real celebration of all things organic and natural.

This year there will be recession-busting cookery demonstrations, a unique Kids’ Taste Tent (where the kids get to do the tasting, rather than the other way round), live music, a winter vegetable planting masterclass and even seminars on how to set up urban gardening communities. Here’s where you can find the schedule of events at the Organic Food Festival.

There will be the usual much-loved collection of companies who share a common, ecological philosophy, along with new names who are doing their bit for the environment. It’s a chance for you to meet the people behind your favourite brands, do some serious shopping and snap up a bargain, along the way.

This year’s exhibitor list sees the return of some of my favourites, including:

• Gartner Organic Wool (you have to pop along and see the amazing range of natural colours this guy’s sheep produce. And he’s really friendly!)
• Spiezia skincare, who not only do amazing work with getting our cosmetics to be 100% organic, but also do some great things in their local community – ask them – they’ll probably blush…
• Andy and Dave Hamilton from Self-sufficient-ish. They’re a fab duo who have done so much to promote growing-your-own. Andy and I used to share a double-page spread in the now-defunct Tastes of Britain magazine, so I’m looking forward to finally getting to meet him! He knows his stuff!
• Abaca Organics are the only company in the UK producing certified organic mattresses – pop along and meet them if you fancy a lie down and a fascinating natter!
• You might also want to visit the Soil Association stand, to talk to them about their work as a charity and consider becoming a member – there are usually lots of goodies for those who join on the day – plus free entry into the Festival for members old and new.

In total there are over 150 other companies, all excited about the chance to meet directly with their customers.

You’ll find organic cleaning products, organic bedding, organic clothing, more food than you could reasonably even sniff in a day and even an organic beer tent and bar…

It’ll be the fourth time I’ve been to the Organic Food Festival and I’m glad they’ve shifted it by a week this year, so I don’t have to miss my friend’s wedding on the 5th – just kidding …

If any of you are in the area and fancy going along, how about telling everyone via the comments box and maybe we could arrange to meet up?

I’m really looking forward to it.