If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to can your own tomatoes, raise a few backyard chickens, harvest rainwater, or simply cook a better meal with what’s growing two feet from your back door, mark your calendar. The “Let’s Dig In” homesteading event lands at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and it’s bringing one of Milwaukee’s most beloved culinary voices along for the ride.

Acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and educator Michael Feker — the man behind IL Mito Trattoria e Enoteca, Zesti Global Eatery, and IL Mito Café — will headline the day with a live culinary demonstration built around fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the kind of approachable, flavor-first cooking that has made him a fixture in the Milwaukee food scene.

A Day Built for Curious Cooks and Aspiring Homesteaders

“Let’s Dig In” is designed as a family-friendly, hands-on celebration of sustainable living. Expect live demos and educational sessions covering canning, backyard chickens, water retention, solar energy, DIY cleaning products, regenerative farming, food preservation, wellness, and more. Add in farm-fresh food, food trucks, and interactive homesteading experiences, and you’ve got a full day that’s equal parts classroom, county fair, and family kitchen.

The speaker lineup leans into voices respected in the homesteading and sustainable living space, giving attendees a wide-angle view of what it really looks like to live a little closer to the land — whether you’re working with forty acres or a city lot.

Chef Feker Takes the Stage

Known for a dynamic stage presence and a knack for tying food to something bigger than the plate, Chef Feker’s demonstration will focus on simple, flavorful ways to weave fresh and locally sourced ingredients into everyday cooking.

“Events like this are about more than just food. They’re about empowering people to take ownership of their health, their homes, and their connection to the land,” said Chef Feker. “Whether you’re growing your own herbs, preserving food, or simply cooking more meals at home, it all starts with understanding where your food comes from and how to use it well.”

It’s a fitting message from a chef whose career — spanning successful restaurants, television, radio, cooking classes, and international culinary tours — has always circled back to the same idea: food is how we connect.

Tickets and Discount Codes

Tickets are available now through Eventbrite, and there are a couple of ways to save:

– Use code CMF for 50% off ticket pricing.
– Use code shindig for a limited-time discount (expires April 25, 2026).

Grab tickets and find more event details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982074821146/

Learn more about Chef Michael Feker at https://www.cheffeker.com/, and explore his restaurants at https://www.ilmitotrattoriaeenoteca.com/ and https://www.zestieatery.com/.

Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader, a weekend gardener, or just someone who wants to cook a little more intentionally, “Let’s Dig In” is shaping up to be the kind of day that sends you home with dirt under your nails, a full belly, and a few new ideas worth trying. Don’t sleep on it.