Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Page A-3
Folk Faire unites
music, materials
and minds in Takilma
By Darcy Wallace
IVN Staff Writer
Residents from Takilma and throughout
the Illinois Valley shared resources and ideas
Sunday, May 29 on Dome School property in
the first-ever Takilma Folk Faire.
Dancing, local food, a discussion of re-
source management and other activities high-
lighted the event while talented musicians
played throughout the day on two stages. Setup
started as early as 7:30 a.m. and entertainment
lasted well into the night.
There was no shortage of goods for guests
to choose from, with booths featuring dream-
catchers, alpaca from Suri Futures farm, herbs
and plants from gardeners, musical instruments
and countless other locally-produced handmade
crafts and goods.
Selma resident Carol Valentine, who or-
ganized the musical side of the event, said the
Faire came together from the work of many in-
dividuals, often going beyond expectations to
help things run smoothly.
According to Valentine, frequent local
musicians Tim Wallace and Michelle LeComte
had a wedding gig the night before, wrapped
up at midnight, and showed up at 7:30 the next
day to set up and run the sound equipment in
Takilma.
“That’s what it takes: that’s really what
[this event] was focusing on with the commu-
nity coming together to create this,” Valentine
said. “A couple of work parties happened before
where people cleared out the area [for the stage]
and really spiffed up the grounds to be able to
do this. The whole community benefits.”
Americana groove folk musician Alice
DiMicele was the headlining act after dinner,
making a rare appearance in Takilma with bass-
ist Rob Kohler.
DiMicele has performed and recorded
with more than a few well-known artists, in-
cluding Mikey Stevens from Maynard Ferguson
and Gypsy Soul, and has shared the stage with
blues singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt. Valentine
also credited Kohler for how well his playing
mingled with DiMicele’s talents.
“He was awesome — just a wonderful
musician,” Valentine said. “He seemed very
intuitive and had a great sound coming out of
that bass. The music really grooves, and hav-
ing the bass in there kicks it up another level of
energy.”
Fonta Earthsong from Takilma FM also
helped with MCing the event, Valentine said.
In late afternoon, residents gathered in a
circle outside the Takilma Community Build-
ing, brainstorming ideas for becoming more
sustainable not just in Takilma, but throughout
the Valley.
Takilma resident Stephanie Moor said the
discussion on resource management was in-
spired by an idea generated last year in meet-
ings at the Frog Farm, a solar-powered permac-
ulture farm near Hope Mountain.
“It’s about how we integrate and use all
of our land and resources here in the Illinois
Valley holistically,” Moor said. “It was an idea
based off of resource mapping, understanding
what everybody has available to contribute…
and different ways to function in our own local
economy.”
According to Moor, rising costs in food,
transportation and so much else are stimulating
residents to find ways to better manage local
assets and pool them together, so those with a
particular resource or commodity can reach out
to those lacking that resource.
“That talk in the circle was really about
inspiring people to remember that there’s more
than what we’re doing here as individuals,”
Moor said. “There is always a higher bar and
standard to reach for.”
In the discussion, Moor said people brain-
stormed ideas like solar power community
wells, having a central community building,
rotating crops and livestock, and uniting groups
such as loggers, truck drivers and millworkers
to help manage products locally.
Dome School students demonstrated the
biochar project, involving nutrient-rich com-
post incorporating charcoal and waste products,
led by Kelpie Wilson, a freelance writer and
engineer who is working with the International
Biochar Initiative.
“The point of the Folk Faire was to re-
mind people by gathering together and having
a marketplace, as well as sharing music, is part
of sustainability,” Moor said. “It takes all kinds
of people to make a functioning, holistic com-
munity. We have so many resources…we can
direct that energy by showing people how to
care for ourselves and for each other.”
FARMER’S
MARKET
White Yellow Green red
Corn Corn Peppers Peppers
4 for
4 for
2
2
2 for
10
10
Watermelons
Cantaloupes
$
Large
hass
avocados
10
$
6
00
2
4
Strawberries
7
$ 88
eaCh
Cello
00
Tropical
Mangos
10 for
10
$
00
Washington
Cauliflower Jumbo fuji
2 for
apples
3
$ 00
.58
Per
Pound
for
4
$
00
Jumbo
Globe
artichokes
for
2
for
4
hot house $ 48
1
on Vine
10
for
$
1/2 flat
fresh
88
eaCh
for
10 Lb bag
russet
Potatoes
2
4
$
Jumbo
fresh
Pineapples
00
LarGe
5
2
00 $
Whole
Seedless
$ 00
(Photos by Darcy Wallace, Illinois Valley News)
10 for
$ 00 $ 00 $
Mini Seedless
Watermelons
(Above) Activities at the Takilma Folk Faire Sunday, May 29 included tile making
with peace signs.
(Below) The East Fork band was on of many musical acts entertaining guests.
10 for
00
$
00
Tomatoes Per Pound
Large California Large California
Peaches nectarines
1
$ 88
$ 88
Per Pound
Per Pound
1
8lb. bag
bedding
oranges Plants
California naval
4
$ 98
eaCh
10 for
10 00
$
while supplies last • limited to stock on hand • no rainchecks
0317
prices good: June 2 - June 4