Producer/Host: Holli Cederholm, MOFGA
This episode of Common Ground Radio commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). To celebrate this milestone, MOFGA put together a 50th anniversary book called “The Organic Farming Revolution: Past, Present, Future.” In this episode, guest host Holli Cederholm dives into the pages of the essay collection — and, more specifically, focuses on essays that conjure up Maine’s harvest season and agricultural community — in conversation with two of the book’s contributors: Eli Berry, a member of MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair steering committee, who contributed an essay about creating common ground through the country fair, and apple historian John Bunker, whose essay talks about the democracy of the apple tree.
FMI links:
Pre-order “The Organic Farming Revolution: Past, Present, Future” here
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Common Ground Country Fair
Crystal Lake Farm & Nursery
Maine Heritage Orchard
John Bunker’s books on apples
Fedco Trees
About the hosts:
C.J. Walke has been involved in Maine agriculture for over 20 years and has worked in numerous capacities for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) starting in 2006. Since 2012, C.J. has worked as farm manager for College of the Atlantic’s Peggy Rockefeller Farms in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he works with students to grow organic fruits, vegetables and livestock products. He holds degrees in park management/environment education and library science. Common Ground Radio debuted in June of 2010 and C.J. has been the show’s host since 2014.
Holli Cederholm has been involved in organic agriculture since 2005 when she first apprenticed on a small farm. She has worked on organic farms in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Scotland and Italy and, in 2010, founded a small farm focused on celebrating open-pollinated and heirloom vegetables. As the former manager of a national nonprofit dedicated to organic seed growers, she authored a peer-reviewed handbook on GMO avoidance strategies for seed growers. Holli has also been a steward at Forest Farm, the iconic homestead of “The Good Life” authors Helen and Scott Nearing; a host of “The Farm Report” on Heritage Radio Network; and a long-time contributor for The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, which she now edits in her role as content creator and editor at MOFGA.
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