Transition Aromas, an organization that promotes self-reliance, held an old-fashioned community building celebration September 10.
According to Wendy Elder and other committee members, the fair was organized for the citizens of Aromas, and featured locally grown produce and other educational booths that promoted the community’s resilience and self-reliance.
“Our goal is to transition away from dependence on fossil fuels toward lower-energy, lower-carbon, environmentally and economically sustainable ways of doing things,” as stated in the information supplied by Transition Aromas.
The small park, on the corner of Blohm Ave. and Carpenteria Street in Aromas.was full of information on ways to promote stewardship of natural resources.
The tomato tasting booth, gave samples from a bevy of varieties, shapes and colors, and offered a chance to vote on a favorite. Apple pressing gave opportunity for children to learn how to press apples to make juice.
One child dropped apples into the bin, and another child turned the wheel.
Cathy Carlson of Las Lomas Lavender showed her harvest of lavender oil, dried tomatoes, lemon verbena and other herbs.
Other self-sufficiency demonstrations advised gardeners how to make a worm bin, grow a winter garden, or shell beans, among other educational workshops. One popular booth, aside from farming or gardening, featured tortoises and a
variety of reptiles, and snakes, with some of them willing to be held and stroked.
Hobbyists Kevin and Heather Norred take cages full of their animal friends to fairs such as the Aromas Fair to educate folks and offer them up for adoption.
Strengthening neighborly connections, a major goal of Transition Aromas was accomplished in the friendly setting of a small town fair.