On a perfect September day under glorious blue skies – what a change from last year’s heavy rains – we enjoyed the Trust for Working Landscapes’ biggest annual event: Harvest Fair. The Fair, replete with fun & food, is many a family’s favorite Island event, perfect Americana in my book.
![people milling about](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384169231_ow5uE-M.jpg)
![pie contest](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384158233_LUm5C-M.jpg)
Slides, swing, fun
Slides & swings kept the kids entertained.
![slide down the chute](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384151300_u4eCy-M.jpg)
![slide in action](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384164997_nxKRz-M.jpg)
![big swing](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384162621_px9dS-M.jpg)
Animals
What celebration of farming would be complete without animals?
![petting a rabbit](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384152543_2fot9-M.jpg)
![horse ride](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384157515_BpDEd-M.jpg)
![chicken](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384164250_zWEJd-M.jpg)
Four years of growth sheared off in ten minutes. Like many aspects of farming, sheep shearing is not as idyllic once witnessed in person.
![sheep being sheared](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384158692_wcs5m-M.jpg)
![raw wool](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384159126_Ge5vA-M.jpg)
Cider
The highlight of the Fair for me (and many, many kids) is the fresh-made cider. The community is encouraged to press their own apples and turn the crank a couple of times.
![cider stand](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384159807_D9mSQ-M.jpg)
Raw material.
![raw material](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384163789_eYbNb-M.jpg)
![apples waiting to be pressed](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384154318_YA6zV-M.jpg)
The apples go into the hopper where they are mashed to make the pressing easier.
![filling the hopper](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384160387_jiTeZ-M.jpg)
Turn the crank (from an old boat trailer) and out comes the juice.
![kids loved the apple press](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384170499_bDtmx-M.jpg)
Apple mash compost.
![apple mash](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384156511_BYvnj-M.jpg)
When it comes to apples, almost everyone wants to lend a hand harvesting.
![child picking apples](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384169580_5fLp6-M.jpg)
Beer
Cider is good and beer is too! Ed and I imbibed courtesy TWL for our efforts volunteering both at the Fair and in its preparation. The beer garden was new this year – I suspect given the crowds it will be back.
![hale's ales](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384147829_VfKqe-M.jpg)
![beer garden](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384170816_Lgviy-M.jpg)
Oh, and we ate s’mores too … yum!
![yum ... s'mores](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/photos/384163005_Sfovb-M.jpg)
On the walk home, when asked how she liked the Fair, my daughter responded: “Too much sun, too much play, too much horsey-back rides.” Can you ask for anything more? Thanks TWL!
Here it is: I love, and feel blessed, to live here.