Fall Harvest Festival coincides with equinox

OSAP holds harvest celebration

Falling between today's Autumnal Equinox and the full lunar eclipse five days later, the Fall Harvest Festival could not be at a more appropriate time.

"It is a traditional time to have festivals," senior Sarah Kotok, and one of the organizers of the festival, said. "It is a great time to celebrate growth, work and delicious produce."

"I think it's a festive way to usher in the changes of the seasons," Brad Masi, OC '93 and project coordinator for Environmental Studies, said. "It will provide both celebration and discussion of the problems we face."

The Festival is being organized by Oberlin Sustainable Agricultural Project (OSAP) and the Environmental Studies Program (ESP). The City of Oberlin, Seventh Generation, a Lorain county based environmental organization and Oberlin Sustainable Energy for Economic Development of Ohio, are also sponsoring the festival.

Sustainability is the concept of using a resource in a way that can be continued for years without depleting it and making further use impossible.

OSAP President Eric Stewart said he hopes the festival brings attention to the projects of OSAP and the ideas of sustainability.

The Festival is being kicked off by a seasonal dinner and contra dancing today. It continues Saturday and Sunday with workshops in environmental justice and community gardens, wetlands and sustainable energy as well as a symposium that deals with sustainability in the entire community of Oberlin. The wetlands workshop will include a tour of the Black River Watershed area and the energy workshop will address renewable energy resources and energy efficiency.

Kotok said that she thinks the symposium is a great opportunity for students to become aware of issues that effect the town of Oberlin as well as themselves. "It is a great chance to see opportunities within the community. There is a lot of potential in Oberlin," Kotok said.

Stewart said that OSAP currently draws members from both the College and the town. "We have been fortunate to have a wide variety of people," he said.

Kotok is also excited about the farmers market being held in Tappan Square on Saturday and hopes that the visibility of the market will educate people about local foods. The market is usually located on the corner of S. Main and South streets.

The market has been open throughout the summer, and Kotok, as the market manager, worked to develop it. She visited vendors and other farmer's markets, asking them to come to the Oberlin market.

It has been more successful than I would have expected. Response has been quite good," Kotok said about the farmers market.