FARMINGTON — A tang of cooking ferns filled the air at the 7th Annual Maine Fiddlehead Festival, which drew hundreds to the Emery Community Arts Center on Saturday.

Ashley Montgomery found the wind to be a bit challenging as she added fresh lemon zest to a pan of fiddlehead risotto. Beside it, tomatoes simmered in fiddlehead and buckwheat noodle salad.

Food trucks served fiddlehead ravioli, locally made ice cream, kettle corn and other treats.

The event “has really grown,” Joyce Morton of Farmington said.

Her husband, Richard Morton, sang along as The Merry Plinksters ukulele group performed.

In a tent set up on another side of the arts center, Michael Romanyshyn of Temple talked about making syrup from the sap of birch trees.

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“There aren’t many maples on my property,” he said.

Talks were also given on wild mushrooms, plant-based diets, pasture-raised rabbits and hemp.

Booths with farm animals included emu chicks, goats and rabbits. Shannon Sillanpaa of New Vineyard told visitors of the circumstances surrounding the two piglets she brought with her. They were orphaned at birth about three weeks ago and she had been caring for them.

“Pigs don’t have a suckle reflex,” she said. “When the piglet latches onto a nipple, the sow releases the milk. I had to teach them everything.” They now know how to drink from a dish.

At the children’s craft area Sebastian Shaw of Farmington made a white dinosaur from a pipe cleaner. Some children made pine-cone bird feeders. Others painted clay pots, then planted seeds in them.

A large Angora rabbit sat calmly in Melissa Gerrish’s lap. The Wilton woman carefully spun wool directly from the rabbit into a soft, thin yarn.

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The first outdoor Farmington Farmers Market of the season was set up at the festival. In coming weeks, it will be held Saturday in the court parking lot on Main Street.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Farmington will be at the market twice a month. The Rev. Paul Dumais and David Wininger are the bakers. Breads, cinnamon rolls, ployes and mixes will be sold.

“We’ll have special one-time offers from time to time,” Wininger said.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net

The Maine Fiddlehead Festival was held Saturday in Farmington. The courtyard of the Emery Community Arts Center was packed with people visiting the vendors or enjoying the sunny day and live music. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Michael Romanyshyn of Temple talks about making birch syrup during the 7th Annual Maine Fiddlehead Festival in Farmington on Saturday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Matilda Holt of Farmington holds a bunny for 2-year old Fian Burns of Wilton at the 7th Annual Maine Fiddlehead Festival in Farmington on Saturday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)

Melissa Gerrish of Wilton spins wool from an Angora rabbit sitting in her lap at the 7th Annual Maine Fiddlehead Festival in Farmington on Saturday. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)


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