An uncommon fair grows in Unity The Common Ground Fair evolves into a year-round undertaking

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From a small gathering of organic farmers to a year-round education facility in the aptly named central Maine town of Unity, the Common Ground Country Fair has evolved over the past 25 years.

On Sept. 21, the fair will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration, three days of education, fun, food, crafts, agricultural products, dance and music (see Page 15). More than 60,000 visitors annually attend the fair.

“The fairgrounds are becoming more and more beautiful as the seasons go by,” said fair director Heather Spaulding of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the nearly all-volunteer organization that organizes the fair.

MOFGA was formed in 1971 and is the oldest and largest state organic organization in the country.

“Volunteers have planted extensive perennial garden beds, planted dozens of lovely shade trees and cultivated field plots for demonstrations,” she said.

Each year, more than 1,500 volunteers come together to run the event. Volunteers are always needed, said Spaulding, and in return receive free admission to the fair, one meal per shift and a fair T-shirt.

Rain or shine, the fair gates open at 9 a.m. each day. Booths stay open until 6 p.m. and entertainment begins at 7 p.m.

Spaulding said the fair “allows fairgoers to make connections with a rapidly expanding base of organic farms in Maine. Here we will share knowledge about sustainable living, eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food, buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts, compete in various activities, dance, sing and have a great time.”

The entertainment line-up for the 25th fair features fresh, new acoustic duos and seasoned fair performers, including everything from bluegrass to African djembe drumming to stand-up comedy.

Friday night opens with Knee Deep Jeep, a four-piece group playing a mix of acoustic blues, bluegrass, and folk-rock, certain to get people up on their feet. The dancing continues with The Bernard Tshimongaley Band, an eight-piece group playing hip-shaking grooves straight from the heart of the Congo.

Saturday features a noon performance with Dave Mallett, and the evening’s performances begin with the Nat Hussey Band, a four-piece band playing a mix of blues and folk-rock. The Nat Hussey Band opens for the Boneheads, playing their ever-awesome mix of folk, blues, Cajun and funk.

Performances are held throughout the weekend from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon on the spotlight stage and in the amphitheater. Be sure to stop by and listen to the tremendous talent that exists right here in the state of Maine. It’s going to be a great weekend of entertainment for all.

In the public address forum, besides the four featured key addresses, hundreds of educational talks and demonstrations focusing on ecological farming, gardening and living will take place throughout the weekend. A detailed schedule of events is posted on MOFGA’s Web site, www.mofga.org.

As part of the fair, hundreds of Maine school children will participate in Fair Information Quest, an educational mission that could earn students and educators gardening supplies for their school gardens.

Spaulding said that FIQ is now in its fourth year at the fair and is a treasure hunt designed to gather educational information. FIQ is sponsored by Johnny’s Selected Seeds of Albion and Fedco Seed Co. of Waterville. Friday is traditionally the day that school groups converge on the fair.

Traditionally a blend of old and new, this year’s fair will feature:

. Speeches by Barry Dana, chief of the Penobscot Nation (11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21); Ronnie Dugger, founder of the Alliance for Democracy (2:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21); Jim Hightower, journalist, radio show host and former commissioner of agriculture of Texas (11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22); and Dr. Vandana Shiva, ecology and human rights activist and scholar from New Delhi, India (11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 23).

. Information about genetically modified organisms in the country’s food supply.

. The Maine Folklife Center’s oral history project focusing on MOFGA’s earliest founders.

. A demonstration orchard showing how farmers can earn money in the early years of their orchards, before their trees produce fruit.

. Forestry demonstrations showing how to maximize lumber production and minimize wood going into the pulp stream.

. A public policy teach-in focusing on how the Maine legislative process works and how residents can participate most effectively in the process.

. The opening of MOFGA’s Farmhouse, an ecofriendly dwelling for the new millennium.

Bicycling

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is offering its popular and FREE valet bicycle parking just inside the North Rose Gate at the fair. Cyclists also will get $1 off admission to the fair.

Driving

From Belfast: Take Route 137 North out of Belfast to Knox Corner. Turn right on Route 220 North and drive through Thorndike. After Thorndike, drive about a half-mile and follow the signs to the fair.

From Bangor: Take Interstate 95 South to Exit 43. Take Route 69 South to the intersection with Route 202. Turn right on Route 202 West and follow 202 to Unity. Route 202 will merge with Route 220 and then 220 will branch off to the left. Proceed south on Route 220 and follow the signs to the fair.

From Waterville: Cross over the Kennebec River on the new JFK Memorial Bridge and follow Route 137 all the way to the town of Knox. Turn left on Route 200 North and drive through Thorndike. After Thorndike, drive about a half-mile and follow the signs to the fair.

From points north: Take Interstate 95 South to Bangor, and follow the directions from Bangor.

From points south: Take Interstate 95 North to Waterville (Exit 33). Turn right onto Kennedy Memorial Drive. Follow the road down the hill and cross over the Kennebec River onto Route 137. Follow Route 137 all the way to the town of Knox. Turn left on Route 200 North and drive through Thorndike. After Thorndike, drive about a half-mile and follow the signs to the fair.

Parking

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association offers free parking for fairgoers in both the north and south parking lots. Free parking in the north lot may be limited. The north and south lots have free parking spaces reserved for elders and handicapped residents. MOFGA provides shuttle service to the fairgrounds from the south lot. The priority is to keep traffic moving smoothly. In the unlikely event that traffic gets backed up, Waldo County deputies will direct some traffic into paid parking lots operated by neighbors.

Riding the train

The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad offers shuttle service to the Common Ground Country Fair from Belfast, Brooks and Unity Village. Ride schedules and fares will be posted as soon as they are available. For information or reservations, call 1-800-392-5500.

Riding the Bean Bus

Midcoast residents can do their part to stop global warming by riding the “Bean Bus” to the Common Ground Country Fair. The Renewable Energy Awareness Project, a program of Compassion Unlimited Respecting Everyone, is chartering two school buses that will be powered by “biodiesel fuel” made from soybeans. SAD 40 in the Waldoboro area has donated the buses to bring people from the midcoast area to the fair on Saturday. Riders will board the buses in Damariscotta or Waldoboro, get their fair tickets ($1 off the admission price) and a light organic snack or box lunch, and sit back to enjoy the ride together, knowing they are contributing less greenhouse gases to the environment. For more information about the buses or to make reservations, call Andy Burt at 882-6848.

Going on all weekend:

. Agricultural demonstrations: Vermiculture (worm composting) demonstrations at the McLaughlin Foundation exhibit in the Agricultural Demonstrations Exhibit Tent (10 a.m., noon, 2, 4 p.m. daily). Other exhibitors will be available at their booths to answer questions about farming and gardening sustainably in Maine. Refer to the Agricultural Demonstration Booths Participant List for information sources.

. Animal demonstrations and exhibits: Draft horse, mule, cow, ox, dairy goat, sheep, pack goat, llama, alpaca, rabbit, poultry and other animal exhibits and demonstrations will take place in many areas of the fairgrounds. Large livestock demonstrations will be going on all weekend in the Large Livestock Demo Area. Look for interesting animal demonstrations in the Animal Products Tent and the Livestock Speakers Tent. Wagon rides will be happening all weekend. Find the animal-drawn wagons near the Large Livestock Area.

. Children’s area: Juggling, stilt walking, arts and crafts, mural painting, log nailing, face painting, sustainability games and more.

. Country store: Sales of fair merchandise, including T-shirts, sweat shirts, tote bags, nightshirts, notecards, posters, caps and much more. Joyce Dubay, designer of the 2001 fair artwork, will be signing posters noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

. Crafts: There will be ongoing demonstrations in the crafts area by: David Lancaster of Heirloom Bowls, and Andrew Leck, the Scottish Lion Blacksmith. Lancaster will be hand-turning wooden bowls, and Leck will be forging wrought-iron home accessories and garden sculptures.

. Entertainment: In addition to the performances scheduled in the amphitheater, on the spotlight stage, and in the children’s area, keep your eyes and ears open for the endless roving entertainment all around the fairgrounds.

. Fleece sale: In the fleece tent.

. Folk arts tents: At the many exhibit booths, Maine folk artists will demonstrate how they make their traditional crafts and practical items used for living in rural Maine.

. Low-impact forestry area: Foresters will be working through a tri-axle load of pulpwood to demonstrate better use and recovery of low-quality wood using a band-saw mill. The activity will be in the vicinity of the water tank.

. Native American basket making: Demonstrations will take place in the Native American Arts and Education Tent.

. Stone working: Members of the Maine Stone Workers’ Guild will demonstrate stone cutting and carving daily.

. Wednesday spinners tent: Demonstrations of spinning, dyeing and weaving many different fibers.

. Whole Life Area: Meditation, dance and exercise programs will be open for fairgoer participation daily.