Common Ground Country Fair facts for kids
The Common Ground Country Fair is a special event in Unity, Maine. It happens every year in the fall, usually the third weekend after Labor Day. This fair celebrates organic living, farming, and gardening. It's put on by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). You can find it at the Common Ground Education Center. All the food you can buy at the fair is organic! Lots of people visit, usually around 50,000 to 60,000 each year. The first fair was held in 1977.
Fair History
The Common Ground Country Fair started in 1977. Its first home was in Litchfield, Maine. Later, in 1981, it moved to Windsor, Maine. Then, in 1996, MOFGA bought 200 acres of land in Unity, Maine. This is where the fair has been held every year since.
The very first fair was a way to raise money for MOFGA. It collected $22,000. In 1989, a big storm called Hurricane Hugo caused flooding. This delayed the fair's opening on a Saturday.
The fair has also made changes to be more eco-friendly. In 2008, they tried out water bottle filling stations. This was to see if people would stop buying plastic bottled water. It worked so well that they stopped selling bottled water completely the next year! For many years, you couldn't buy coffee at the fair. But by 2011, vendors were allowed to sell organic, fair-trade coffee.
In 2017, the fair became even greener. It was powered completely by clean energy sources. These included a large solar panel system and even a small wind turbine.
Sadly, in May 2020, the fair had to be canceled. This was the first time it didn't happen since it started. The reason was the COVID-19 pandemic. The fair director said they would plan a special online event instead.
What to See at the Fair
The Common Ground Country Fair has a special feeling. You can see many cool things there. People show off traditional skills, like spinning wool or woodworking. You can also learn about alternative energy, like solar power. There are many vendors selling handmade crafts. You'll find farmers' markets with fresh produce. And the food courts offer lots of delicious organic meals.
The fair also hosts many groups working for good causes. In 2009, about 64 different groups were there. They shared information about important social topics.
A writer from The New York Times visited in 2012. She said the fair was a "grand celebration." It's not just for organic farmers. It's also for people who spin and weave. You can see woodworkers and jewelry makers. There are even people who work with oxen, horses, and mules. Sheep herders and their dogs also show off their skills. Plus, you can find poets, musicians, and experts on solar and wind power. There are also people who save seeds and care for worms! The air at the fair smells fresh and natural, not like cotton candy.
The Portland Press Herald newspaper reported in 2013 that the fair is different. Instead of rides and cotton candy, people come for veggie burgers. They also attend workshops on things like worm composting.
The fair is famous for its many vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food choices. A food writer, Avery Yale Kamila, said in 2014 that the Common Ground Country Fair is the best for meat-free options. It wins "the blue ribbon" for being so friendly to vegetarians every year. The Maine Campus newspaper also noted in 2019 that the fair has "significantly more vegan and vegetarian options" than most fairs.
Keynote Speakers
Each day at the fair, there's a main speaker called a "keynote speaker." These speakers give important talks. Besides the keynote, there are hundreds of other talks and demonstrations. You can learn about many different topics. Some past keynote speakers have included Wendell Berry, Scott Nearing, Helen Nearing, Elliot Coleman, and Vandana Shiva.
Poster Art Contest
MOFGA holds a yearly contest for artists. They choose a new piece of artwork for the next year's fair poster. This artwork also appears on other fair items. People who live in Maine and are MOFGA members can enter. In 1987, the famous artist Dahlov Ipcar had her art featured. In 2011, a painting of canned goods won. In 2014, a drawing of medicinal herbs was chosen. The 2018 poster showed two special pigs called kunekune pigs. The artist, Arika von Edler, painted them to show livestock not raised for meat.
