The Common Ground Country Fair, the signature event of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) in Unity, Maine, is moving forward as an in-person event this year. April Boucher, Common Ground Country Fair director, said, “After months of discussions, research and planning to determine if we can meet our primary goal of supporting
By Leah Penniman Leah Penniman is the author of “Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land,” and serves as founding co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a people-of-color-led project that works toward food and land justice. The first part of Penniman’s 2020 Common Ground Country Fair
Carey Gillam. English photo Decades of Deceit – A Critical Eye on Pesticides, Science and Industry Saturday, September 21, 2019 – Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, Maine Investigative journalist Carey Gillam has covered corporate and political news, including 17 years as a senior correspondent for Reuters. In 2018 her book “Whitewash – The Story
Sarah Alexander (left; MOFGA’s executive director) introducing Anne Devin. English photo United We Grow: Veterans in Agriculture Sunday, September 22, 2019 – Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, Maine After 27 years on active duty as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, Anne Devin transitioned to full-time farming in 2016 with the vision of replicating an
Common Ground Country Fair keynote speaker Jonathan Rosenthal talked about new economies that use strategies such as cooperatives and public ownership to give power back to communities. John Williams photo From Local to System and Rural to Urban: Building a New Economy Sunday, September 24, 2017 – Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, Maine During
Richard Silliboy (left), vice chief of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, introduced keynote speaker Sherri Mitchell (center), shown here with April Boucher, Common Ground Country Fair director. English photo A large crowd gathered on The Common to hear Mitchell’s heartfelt speech. John Williams photo Standing on Indigenous Rights Saturday, September 23, 2017 – Common Ground
Common Ground Country Fair keynote speaker Jonathan Rosenthal talked about new economies that use strategies such as cooperatives and public ownership to give power back to communities. John Williams photo From Local to System and Rural to Urban: Building a New Economy Sunday, September 24, 2017 – Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, Maine During
Will Allen described Growing Power Inc. during his keynote at the Common Ground Country Fair and said the program is growing farmers because, in part, “it costs 10 times more to send somebody to jail than to help fix their life.” English photo Will Allen lunching and talking veggies with MOFGA member and Exhibition Hall
Sole Food Street Farms, founded and directed by Michael Ableman, employs 30 people and produces 25 tons of food each year on large parking lots using an innovative moveable box system. English photo April Boucher, Common Ground Country Fair director, presents a shirt to Ableman. English photo Street Farm – Growing Food, Jobs, and Hope
Fifty by 60 – Amanda Beal, president and CEO of Maine Farmland Trust, described how Maine could produce 50 percent of its food by 2060 during her keynote speech at the Common Ground Country Fair. English photo U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (right), a strong supporter of Maine-grown and organic food, attended Beal’s keynote speech and
