Most of the world’s garlic is grown in China. In the United States, which grows a small slice of the world’s crop, Gilroy, Calif., calls itself the “Garlic Capital of the World.”
But it’s hard to believe that either China or Gilroy have as much fun with garlic as the North Quabbin region has over the past 20 years.
About a week from now, the 20th annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival will take place.
Apparently the fair’s original organizers imagined they were on to something, but who would have guessed garlic would become the central feature around which a hugely successful and somewhat fanciful festival would emerge and grow?
Of course, there’s a deeper dimension to the two-day fall event, which this year will take place in Orange on Sept. 29 and 30. Thousands now come to the Quabbin to see garlic planting and cooking demonstrations but also to get some lessons on environmental sustainability and how to leave our world a better place.
The festival combines food, games, performances, craft vendors and, of course, garlic-themed items, all with an environmental overtone.
This year, the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary by giving a gift of pollinator seeds at several locations throughout the festival grounds, for example. Organizers said the festival would like to see people “sow seeds of goodness far and wide.”
It’s no surprise, as the festival is organized by Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, an Orange-based non-profit that says it wants to “transform hunger to health, and create resilient lives and communities.”
More than 100 booths will feature local and regional artists, farmers, community organizations and healing arts. There will be more than 80 workshops and demonstrations, activities and performances.
Less all those earthy workshops on sustainability get too serious, garlic games like a raw garlic-eating contest keep things festive.
But almost every aspect of the fair speaks to sustainability and is intended to foster stronger environmental consciousness. The festival recycles or composts virtually all the trash that fairgoers generate. Even the composting toilets generate fertilizer for the fields.
The Portal of the Future at the north end of the festival features exhibits on renewable energy, things like electric cars and bikes, and solar panels.
Festival proceeds keep the event sustainable and affordable and support the festival’s community grant program for local art, agriculture, health and energy projects.
Who would have thought that so much exposure to knowledge about conservation and sustainability could come from such a fanciful idea as a garlic festival? Seeds of Solidarity and all the volunteers who have built this up to such a major attraction over the years should be commended for their work and success. They bring thousands of us together for fun and companionship, showcase our region’s craftspeople and artists, and remind us that we all share this world and need to sustain it.
Nonetheless, we’re still not sure about that garlic ice cream.