SMETHPORT — For the past 20 years or so, the biodynamic gardeners of Evergreen Elm have taken home ribbons from the McKean County Fair for vegetables that are usually larger, juicier, more fragrant and vibrant in color than found in the average garden.
Evergreen’s entries at this year’s fair netted the same results for gardeners from the Bradford agency that provides residential care for people with mental disabilities. Once again, the group took home 28 ribbons for 28 entries in the vegetable judging competition Monday, said Larry Rotheraine, biodynamic master gardener with Evergreen.
Of the ribbons awarded, the group of special gardeners received 17 first-place ribbons; two second-place ribbons; three third-place ribbons; two fourth-place ribbons; one fifth-place ribbon; and two honorable mentions.
“We have the biodynamic science, which enables us to do this,” Rotheraine said of Evergreen’s gardening secret.
In addition, he said the garden also does well because of “an atmosphere of laughter and love of gardening that permeates the Elm Street garden” in Bradford.
Rotheraine said key individuals from the Evergreen garden are Randy Johnson, Patty Price, Robert Tubbs, Kari Johnston and Jeff VanScoter. These people work in the garden seven days a week, in a rotating pattern.
Rotheraine said Price, however, works in the garden almost everyday because she enjoys it so much. Rotheraine said he considered Price’s potted basil plant entry one of the best he has seen. The plant is so fragrant and healthy that a fair official wanted to buy it for personal use, Rotheraine noted.
Other award-winning plants grown by the Evergreen gardeners include an eggplant and purple pepper by Tubbs; butterhead lettuce and curly endive by VanScoter; rhubarb and round hot peppers by Johnston; and yellow thin-skinned peppers and green flat pod pole beans by Johnson.
Rotheraine said the group plants their first tomatoes in the garden sometime near the Easter holiday, which is considered very early in a region that can have frost until Memorial Day. Rotheraine said they are able to plant early by using a method referred to as biodynamic tomato igloos. The method can be found on the internet by googling tomato igloos.
Debbie Price, executive director of Evergreen, said the individuals with the garden program “take great pride in the produce they grow.
“They nurture the garden and the garden, in return, nurtures them,” Price said. “We will be celebrating all their ribbons received in a special celebration.”
In other fair news, fair officials said Veterans Day will be observed today on the grounds, with all veterans and active duty personnel admitted free with proof of military service. The Era had incorrectly stated Veterans Day was observed Tuesday on the grounds.
Other activities today at the fair will include the miniature horse pull at 6 p.m. at the large show arena; the Twin Tiers Community Band from 6 to 7 p.m. at the mini stage; and the talent contest at 7 p.m. at the stage by the Charles Iron building.
