Common Ground Festival

When I first read about the new Common Ground Festival, I immediately invited our kids and grandkids to join us there. This festival ticks a lot of boxes that mean something to me.

• family oriented

• local food and music

• expert led tours

• Community Expo about protecting our environment

It looks like they were excited to attend.

Throughout the day anyone could join interesting educational events that took place in various spots on two farms, Headwaters Farm and Foragers' Farms,. At the same time, local musicians entertained, there was an arts barn for kids and adults, another barn held a living lab and local food purveyors kept us fed and hydrated.

We weren't sure how we'd meet the desires of all 8 of us. Then I noticed something new: our youngest grandchild is a very good map reader and had researched the festival at home. She knew everything about the festival before she set foot on the grounds. Why not let Nora take the lead? Sounds like a plan.

The two farms are very close to each other. It was just a short walk to our first activity.

Our map reader was taking her job seriously.

Between the two farms the views extended to Lake Ontario.

For city kids, there is something about farm animals that is magnetic.

Goats and horses were petted....

.... and smiled at.

Not too far from the barn, T.J. was demonstrating cider pressing. Ewen got to use the press and....

.... it worked! Look at that cider. Your mouth is watering. Everyone watching got to sample the cider. The kids proclaimed it as good as the cider at grandma's.

Around the corner from the cider press was the Community Expo.

And, around another corner and in some welcome shade, our map reader had scouted out the Veggie Garden Food Prep table. The grandkids lucked out and were able to do the prep work for pico de gallo which we all got to sample later. And, as an aside: that volunteer was amazing! She remembered everyone of the kids' names!

More consulting by the map reader and her aunt.....

... and we were off on a hike to the southernmost part of the farm.

Randee's Bees were extracting honey from some frames. Some of the grandkids got to scrape the wax off of the honeycombs. That might have been the highlight of the day for one of them. Everyone got a sample of the delicious honeycomb. Yum! I think some of the kids kept their sample sticks as a memory of the taste.

When you have walked to the far end of the farm and then have to make your way back, and it's getting warm, it is pretty wonderful when a tractor-drawn wagon appears. There was space for the grandkids.

Back in the food area, samples of salsa were tasted and a bottle purchased.

The grandkids quickly felt at home on the two farms. Every so often one would disappear and I would wonder where they went? This time, Charlotte had been enticed into the art barn to try out bekky O'Neil's natural inks.

The rest of us had a late lunch.....

... and got in some head hugs.

Later, I wondered where our map reader was? She'd scouted out an activity where natural items like plants and feathers were placed on light sensitive paper and exposed to the sun. Below, they are placing their items on the paper which would then be placed under the piece of glass.

Everything needed to be just right... and there was a tiny bit of wind. Would it work out?

I can tell by our map reader's hands that she is a bit worried about the outcome of her paper being put into a bath of chemicals to develop her picture. It's starting to look good!

By mid afternoon, the kids were returning to their favourite places.... the trampoline....

.... and the barn where Joel was challenged to Kiss the Goat.

The last activity on our map reader's list was to make bagels. Bagel dough was formed and handed over to be boiled and baked. Our map reader was concerned that she might not get her bagel back. Her dad tried to sooth her fears by letting her know that a bagel can be fungible. Not sure she bought it.

The last time I saw Emma was around 8 or 9 years ago at another festival. Turns out she lives around the corner from our son, Joel, in Toronto. Small world.

Not sure if our map reader believed the fungibility of the bagel. But, she ate it and seemed to love every crumb.

As did Frances.

While the rest of us did some walking, Grandpa took the wagon ride around the farm. Our day was drawing to an end, and we all were getting a little tired. Having a lot of fun can do that to you.

The dried piece of photographic art was picked up....

... and we headed back to our cars.

Thank you, Headewaters Farm and Forager's Farms. It was a beautiful day!