FARMINGTON — Bringing back the “ole time” arts and crafts, the number of artisans and demonstrators expected to display their work at the sixth annual Apple Festival on Saturday has been expanded, said Cindy Kemble, an organizer.

The festival, planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fairbanks School Meeting House on Route 4 north of Farmington, features a variety of demonstrations such as tatting, wood turning, candle making, glass blowing, chair caning and rug hooking. Each artisan will have some of their work available for sale and viewing, she said.

One new feature, a soup and sandwich luncheon will be offered this year along with an apple fall novelty table, apples, pumpkins and mums, a food table and kid’s corner.

Fresh, canned and dehydrated items from Stone Soup Garden will be also be available. The garden located off Farmington Falls Road at the Oliver House of Life Enrichment Advancing People is a community collaborative that did better than expected this season, said Maurice Martin, LEAP board president.

Sarah Pine, an intern from the University of Maine at Farmington Community Health Department has been working for LEAP at the Stone Soup Garden. She plans to showcase the effort with photos from the garden including community volunteers, the sale of the harvest at the Sandy River Farmers Market and other events within the community.

She also has a slide show that shows the progression of the project throughout the past three seasons, she said.
A food dehydrator was purchased by the garden group and Pine has dried a lot of foods from the garden, Martin said. Many of these would make a soup pack with dried tomatoes, herbs, peas, beans, turnip and a variety of other vegetables.

The garden, like Stone Soup, was created with contributions from many, he said. No supplies were purchased, with people donating handfuls of seeds left over from their own gardens. Many have volunteered and worked in the gardens over the summer, he said.

Two dehydrators have been added to the Shared Use Kitchen with donations from Martina Eastman and Carolyn Jensen. The kitchen is being planned for the Fairbanks School but planners are still working on grants, Kemble said.

The festival is an annual fundraiser for the Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association, which is constantly raising funds to improve the building, she said. Along with raising funds for the kitchen, they would like to expand an area in back of the building for storage.

The festival, held rain or shine, is one way to showcase restored arts. They would like to find even more artists, including those who pan gold, make corn husks dolls, do calligraphy and other “ole time” arts and crafts.

For more information, call 778-3808 or 778-4272.

abryant@sunjournal.com