What began as a forecast for drizzle quickly deteriorated
into a nearly torrential downpour as volunteers scrambled to erect tarps and
tents to protect vendors and workshop spaces for the First Annual Garlic Festival
of SunRoot EcoSolidarity Association (SESA). While organizers and volunteers
battled the rain, visions of a widely attended event began to melt away before
their eyes. But, participants were not to be discouraged, the visions of a
garlic event were too great to pass up with a little rain. Fortunately for
us all, while it rained the whole day in Halifax, by 9 am on this little farm
in Hants
county, Nova Scotia, the rain had stopped and the cars began to pour in. The
much hoped for day of revelry in all things garlic turned into a fantastic
event.
The idea for the garlic festival emerged out of the Community Voice program
of SESA. This program has been operating for six years with a mandate to provide
fresh, local organic produce to low-income families in the Hants County area
of Nova Scotia, as well as organize workshops and community development projects
which are determined by the participants in the program. In the past, workshops
for this program have included Advocacy for people on Social Assistance, Herbal
Medicine Making, Self-Esteem, and Cooking with Vegetables. This year, the
group had visions of garlic bouncing through their heads.
Through the assistance of SESA, and with a grant from Carrot Cache, the garlic
festival was put into motion. The Community Voice program
included 14 families this past year dispersed from Maitland to Stanley. Participants
excitedly gathered together in February to determine the programming activities
for the year.
The garlic festival soon emerged as the crown jewel of the season and a most
worthwhile event to undertake. The objective of the festival was to raise
money to support the Community Voice program which relies uniquely on foundations
and grants to offer workshops and fresh food delivery. In addition, participants
wanted to highlight the work they have been undertaking and to offer an event
which could actively demonstrate
environmental stewardship and ecological responsibility in the region.
Literally tens of volunteers spread out throughout the day, selling tostados
from El Salvador, Chinese dumplings, Lebanese garlic chicken and hummous,
as well as hotdogs for the less adventurous. Participants sold crafts and
organic vegetables, along with fair trade coffee and crafts from Guatemala.
Those who attended the day were treated to workshops as varied as traditional
wool spinning, homemade ice cream making, Garlic as Medicine, Compost and
Recycling, and of course a session on How to Grow Great Garlic. The event
also featured a performance on Food Security by a roving theatre troupe, Zuppa
Circus, and Farm Tours took place throughout the day.
Children were warmly welcomed at the event and could be seen prancing around
with faces painted, trying their hand at ice cream making - and tasting of
course - and had the opportunity to paint a giant paper mache garlic that
went on display for all to enjoy.
SESA's First Garlic Festival was a great success, with over 200 people in
attendance, including local politicians, as well as folks who came from allover
Nova Scotia, as well as from PEI and New Brunswick, partaking in the activities
and eating every last morsel of garlic flavoured food in sight. Participants
from Community Voice were thrilled with the event and immediately before the
day was done began to clamour and plan for the Second Annual Garlic Festival
next year with visions of more vendors, an animal petting area, and a greater
number of workshops and activities.And who knows, maybe the weather will cooperate
next year, although lovers of garlic hardly seemed deterred by a little rain
this year.
