Welcoming spring

Black River artists host new festival

The County’s newest festival brought art and artists, delicious food, tours and demonstrations, music and more last weekend. The idea behind the Black River Spring Festival came from Conrad Biernacki of Black River Bed and Breakfast. When he realized how many events were happening in the area on the Victoria Day long weekend, he decided to make the weekend a cooperative event and call it the Black River Spring Festival. “When I suggested the idea to others in our community, everyone thought it was a great idea and were enthusiastic to participate,” said Biernacki. We anticipate it soon becoming a signature experience for the County.”

Ritmo Flamenco performers Valerie and Roger Scannura entertain crowds at Quinta do Conde.

With 13 venues to discover, many hosting multiple vendors, the festival was about showcasing the many talented artists, farmers and producers in a part of the County whose small year-round population of about 250 has yet to be fully discovered. While many of the participants were congregated along Morrison Point Road, festival stops could also be found along County Roads 13, 16 and 17. A helpful map and guide made the task an easy one, and locations marked with a giant red poppy on a stick couldn’t be missed.

The two-day festival was an ideal opportunity for everyone to launch their year together said Biernacki. “Some businesses that would typically have started later in June or on the Canada Day weekend changed their schedules and are opening for the Spring Festival.”

A much-anticipated highlight of the family-friendly festival was Vicki’s Veggies annual heirloom tomato seedling sale, where visitors could find Vicki Emlaw serving up her garden goodness. While her tomato seedling sale took a hiatus for a couple of years, she was back at her original location, much to the delight of many. Also on-site was wood-fired pizza, a sauna, a lemonade stand and handspun yarns, as well as puppet making with local artist Krista Dalby, and a children’s craft table.

The festival route, if indeed it was followed to the letter, or the number in this case, presented a nice selection of wares and activities amid the historic scenic beauty of interesting country roads, dry stone walls, majestic century-old maples and a river full to its banks, spilling over just slightly in a few spots, as seen up-close from several of the riverfront properties on the festival stop. Food stations along the route included a number of culinary creations by inventive local chefs. There were organic fresh farm eggs and honey, meat products, along with seasonal rhubarb and asparagus.

The Black River Cheese Company included numerous outdoor vendors, with chocolate tasting, spin-the-wheel games and giveaways. Pyramid Ferments, who now make use of the warehouse space of the former cheese factory, were happy to share complimentary samples of their fermented products. On offer were naturally-fermented kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut and beet kavass. Stop number seven of the festival route included Clayshapes Studio (ceramics), Judy Plomer Gallery (paintings), Keith Beaty Gallery (photography) and Ruth’s Canteen.

Jenna Empey, husband Alex Currie, and daughter Marigold, age 4, take a family moment from selling their wares at the Pyramid Ferments stand.

Entering the farm of Quinta do Conde on County Road 16 was like stepping back to a different time and place. Biernacki says “Quinta” in Portuguese means “cooperative farm”. The 10-acre property with bare fields drying out from spring rains, just begging to be planted, met with roaming sheep and pigs in an adjacent fenced field. Majestic old barn buildings, the ambience of live flamenco performers Valerie and Roger Scannura, together with a delectable mix of cooking smells made the experience a welcoming one for visitors.

A burst of thick wood smoke occasionally filled the air as embers were disturbed to keep the open fire roaring as a whole lamb slow-cooked South American style; it would be five hours before it was ready to consume. Nearby, a suckling pig was roasting, cooking time: three hours. Farmer Joaquim Conde has lived on the property for six years and has farmed it for three. He describes the event as “a fix of good food”, and while he says it is meatheavy at this time of year, once growing season begins, he makes use of seasonal produce, and believes in zero waste. “I like to leave the land as good or better than we found it,” he says.

“We have a number of farms here and there is so much going on in this small area; you are not driving kilometres between farms and they are practically within walking distance,” said Biernacki. “The farm set we have here who are participating, they are both organic and sustainable, and that’s what we love about this because that makes for a wonderful product.”

On County Road 13, a rustic barn houses The pARTnershop, a pop-up art gallery collective with 14 member artists specializing in painting, pottery and photography. A member for two years, Kathleen O’Donoghue describes the group as a “loose friendly group”. Telegraph Narrows’ members Renay Weissman-Stanners and husband Greg Stanners entertained passersby outside the barn. Even though recovering from a cold, Weissman-Stanners gave an impressive and unique rendition of Autumn Leaves, combining both English and French versions. The result touched to the familiar sound of Edith Piaf, which came through in spectacular style.

The scenic drive or walk that is Morrison Point Road included dry-stone walls and an abundance of wild mayapples. For those that made it to the last couple of stops at the very end of the dead-end road, Torild’s Barn, home to a variety of arts and crafts, also put on spinning and weaving demonstrations. Morrison Point Farm, selling honey and eggs, provided informative farm tours, where coowner Bob Burkinshaw was happy to conduct tours and talk about the pastured chickens and goats on the farm.

“The festival helps sustain the livelihood of Afternoon games by re-enactment members included knife throwing, tomahawk throwing, sling shots and archery. said, noting inside the teepee is a kitchen, a bed, living quarters and a fire and cook stove in the centre. our farmers, artists and food producers, and it will introduce new people to our community,” said Biernacki, who credits festival participant and local artist Leslie Fruman for her incredible marketing skills in getting word out about the festival. “The festival contributes to keeping our local economy thriving,” he said.