It’s early morning at the Sawyerville Community Garden, and gardeners, artisans and volunteers swarm toward the traditional harvest festival. The festival was planned for the same day as the weekly public market, and in the same place. Chantal Bolduc, president of the Garden, was there to present the various produce grown in the garden, as well as the small agricultural producers and processors who were invited.
The Garden site was donated by Dr. Curtis Lowry to the Town of Cookshire-Eaton, on the one condition that it be turned into a community asset. This condition has been well met. On the site is a wide array of local products, organic or in the process of becoming so, transformed products, and even an antique apple-press that produces apple juice. As consumers become more and more interested in fresh and local foods, the garden has become a busy place. “It’s been three years since the garden started,” said Bolduc. In that time, many projects have been carried out. One impressive innovation is an outdoor bread oven, built in the traditional manner.
The site is divided into different zones, with some areas reserved for CoSMOS seeds. The group is under the guidance of Brian Creelman, a well-known seed saver who aims to preserve seeds that are produced locally. Another section has beds separated into rental areas, 40 feet by 40 inches, where citizens can have their own garden. “Right now, 10 persons rent a garden bed,” said Bolduc. The various zones of the Community Garden begin with the bread-oven and a shelter constructed using the olden “timber frame” technique, to be used for various workshops. Not far from there is an orchard area, comprised of fruit trees such as plum, pear, cherry and apple trees. A wide strip is used for berries such as strawberries and blueberries, as well as a section of squash. Behind the garden, work has begun in the woods, where mushrooms are being cultivated.
Enthusiasm is palpable for natural as well as organic and fair-trade products. In this sense, the Karité Delapointe enterprise of Bury was invited for the occasion. The owner, Praxède Lévesque-Lapointe, gave patient guidance to each interested person on the best choice of products, depending on the need to be filled. Karité Delapointe, founded in 2002, creates jobs in Burkina Faso. It helps improve the well-being of African women producers, buying transformed butter directly from them and thus helping them avoid buying almonds via large companies. Lévesque-Lapointe explained that in Africa it is the women who are responsible for managing their family. “Women who are better paid contribute to the well-being of their family by providing food or sending children to school,” explained Lévesque-Lapointe, among other examples of how fair-trade commerce works. “The fair-trade bonus also gives them the opportunity to take courses, for example, to learn how to read and write.”
Among the producers and products presented at the Harvest Festival were the Jardin des Bocages, the Hôtes Épinettes Farm, the Caitya du Caprice Caprin Farm, the honey of Mr. Robert, as well as Brenda Thomas and Suzanne Morrow of the Maraîchère Farm, and many others. The public seemed to enjoy devoting themselves to the market. Some were working in their vegetables, others were at the table, discussing the comings and goings of cars, where passers-by were taking their purchases. Among them were Samuel Tanguay from Thetford Mines and Jason Lessard from Ontario, neighbours newly arrived in Sawyerville. They collaborated in operating the apple press to make juice. Snacks and different foods were served and several guitarists played, all contributing to a friendly atmosphere.
Bolduc would like the public to know that the Sawyerville Community Garden is currently planning the programming for next year. Producers, artists, musicians and others are welcome. For more information, and for those interested in participating in the 2017 edition of the Sawyerville Village Market, contact Chantal Bolduc at 819-889-3196 or chantalbolduc99@bell.net. The Market is planned for Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from the beginning of July to the end of August 2017.