Meeting on Common Ground

My partner and I went to the Common Ground Fair, MOFGA's annual "Celebration of Rural Living", which is held every September in Unity, Maine. Under bright blue skies, with a crispness in the air that belied the early Autumn season, thousands of individuals made the pilgrimage to this year's 29th renewal of the event.

Though my partner has been to the fair several times and has tried on more than one occasion to get me there, this was the first year that I have been able to attend. This is not for a lack of desire: given my growing interest in gardening, the environment and progressive politics, I have understood the Common Ground Fair to be an event that I would likely be interested in attending. And so it was as we pulled in to the fairgrounds at about 9:45 Saturday morning that I was able to see what the fuss is all about.

And there is a lot to fuss about. MOFGA's soiree has grown well beyond the boundaries of organic gardening, and it has truly become a "common ground" where people from many walks of life gather together. (Except for those people who actively oppose a woman's right to choose what happens to her body. They were lined up on the Route 202 with placards showing "images of death" to those driving toward the fairgrounds. To each his or her own.) Certainly there is a heavy agricultural flair to the fair. There are livestock demonstrations, vegetable contests, yarns woven from sheep, lamas and alpacas (who are shown off outside the tents), herbs, bulbs and seeds, and a farmers market. There are demonstrations and lectures about organic farming and many other related topics.

Along with all of this, however, there are sections dedicated to Maine-made products, arts and crafts, environmental issues, "green" households, Native American culture, and social issues, among others. While all walks of life appear to be present among the crowd, there is a definite left-wing/hippie leaning in the politics and the patronage represented. This is a good place to find out what is happening to the people and places in the state of Maine and areas beyond our borders (like the guy who was educating us on all the good things that happen in Cuba). Oh, and there is food. Some of it, on the surface, is standard fair fare - french fries, fried dough, blooming onions and lemonade - and there were some ethnic entries (my favorite being the Korean booth called "Downeast Seoul"), but there is a difference. All food vendors are required to sell all natural or organically produced foods. Thuse the french fries were made from organic Maine potatoes cooked in safflower oil and seasoned with sea salt. The fried dough was made from organic whole wheat flour. And so on. The food was wonderful, and even the indulgent stuff wasn't as bad for you as normal.

We only had a few hours to spend at the fair, which is unfortunate because there is much to see and learn. We hardly had time to stop and listen to the musical acts performing under the tent, or the group of Native Americans who were drumming and chanting, or the bagpipers who were wandering the grounds playing the melancholy songs that issue from their pipes. We also didn't have as much time as we would have liked to get tips about gardening, or information about solar energy, or biodiesel. Likewise there were lots of books available in the media tent that would have been fun to peruse and purchase. I did manage to make a connection with the couple who publish the Wolf Moon Press, and get some information about the kind of articles that they are looking to include in their magazine and online. Perhaps this can be a starting point for a place to get my work in print.

There are many opportunities to learn, to connect with people, and to connect with the land that supports us every day at the Common Ground Fair. This year's three day event ends on Sunday, September 25. Next year is the 30th anniversary of the Fair, and it will likely to be bigger and better than ever. Check out the Common Ground Fair, and check out the MOFGA web site to learn more about how they continue to promote organic gardening and the continuation of the rural culture within Maine.