By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent ADAMS COUNTY, Ohio — The Wheat Ridge Olde Thyme Herb Fair and Harvest Celebration, Oct. 10-11, is a new festival beginning a tradition of offering herbs, crafts and natural products.
Event organizer and local antique dealer Herb Erwin and his wife, Kim, decided to bring a festival to their farm on Tater Ridge Road.
“An event like this portrays a true image of what Adams County is all about, showcasing natural products that are created by local artisans and craftspeople,” Herb said.
The Erwins had been vendors at the nearby and popular Lewis Mountain Herb Festival which, after 21 years, was held for the last time in 2008. “We decided we would create our own festival,” Kim said. “Something similar that would have the same traditional skills, artisans, artwork, music and the herb theme.
“Out here where we are on our farm is in the middle of the Amish community. The view from our driveway when I look out over the fields and the foothills of the Appalachians – it is just a really pretty setting and we decided that would be the perfect setting for a fall festival.”
The Erwins, who farm full-time, once raised tobacco and milked Jersey cows on their 30 acres. Now they raise pumpkins, gourds and squash.
The local Amish community is involved with the festival, Erwin said. One family will cook original Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels. Another will make fresh cider from locally grown apples. The Amish community schools will serve lunch, with proceeds benefiting the local Amish schools.
Homemade ice cream, baked goods and lemonade are some of the Amish treats that will be available at the festival. Amish furnishings, herbal, plant and garden boxes will be on display.
Other venders will include herbal specialists, growers and creators of herbal teas, butter, soaps, aloe lotions, lavenders and other herbal products. The Ohio Brush Creek Herb Guild will serve their popular herbal soup at the fair.
Metal smiths and woodcrafters will be creating everything from chain saw art to birdhouses and fountains. Quilters, sewers, knitters, potters and weavers will be on hand; honey and local produce straight from the farm will be available. Demonstrations featuring shrubbery trimming, medicinal teas, natural art and cooking with herbal food and spices will also be featured.
“We’re trying to go back to times that are a little simpler,” Erwin said. “People get in such a big rush; around here it is a simpler lifestyle, a little slower in the country. We draw a lot of tourists from the city. I think they’ll really enjoy this.”
The festival will be Oct. 10-11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 817 Tater Ridge Road (just off Wheat Ridge Road), in West Union. For more information call 877-232-6764, e-mail info@adamscounty travel.org or visit www.adamscountytravel.org Published on Oct. 7, 2009 |
