This year’s summer “Solabration” marked the first recognition of the summer equinox at Mount Wolfe Farms, especially grateful this year to have reached the milestone.
It seems there were many causes for celebration aside from the longest day of the year. It was also a prelude to Mount Wolfe’s Open Farm Day, as well as being a day full of beautiful sunshine in which to celebrate the earth’s tilt towards the sun, after a wet and disappointing spring.
“This year we have experienced, along with everyone else in the Caledon area, a very cold, wet, ad late coming spring” said Sheilagh Crandall, mother of Farm Manager Sarah Dolamore, who also lives on the farm. “And so, though we should feel ensconced in the summer season, it’s just starting to feel like summer today. Luckily, our fields are high and dry, and so we haven’t had that soggy weather that many of the farmers in the lowlands have experienced.”
The idea for the solstice celebration came from UK ecologist-turned Caledon resident Jim Jones, who has a long history with Celtic traditions and druidism. He thought it would be an excellent way to celebrate the start of the new seasons. Mount Wolfe had their first organized event last December 21st for the winter equinox.
For the event that took place on Friday June 21, friends and the Crandall clan gathered at the farm, bringing potluck and folk tales from different traditions to share amongst themselves around the traditional bonfire.
Toronto resident Martin Showell made the trip up to Caledon to share some of his research into the original inhabitants of the land, the Mississauga’s of the New Credit and other groups. As well as the summer solstice, June 21 was also National Indigenous Day, the values of which hold particular significance for the people at Mount Wolfe.
“I love the farm,” said Showell. “I love what they’re doing here…very in tune with First Nation’s people. Nurturing Mother Earth so she can nurture us. The community has supported the farm [and] it’s time we start changing the way we are doing things and acknowledge the people who were here before this.”
In that spirit, Uschi Sinn from Aurora brought strawberries to share, and related the symbolism behind strawberries in Ojibwe culture, something she became interested in after her Ojibwe grandson was adopted into the family from foster care. In Ojibwe culture, the heart shaped berry is linked to healers and thinkers. Only a herbalist gifted with and keeping up a high standard of inner power could expect the plant being to reveal his own healing power; only then the plant would allow the herbalist to confer his or her inner curative power upon the plant itself.
Palgrave resident Diana Janosik-Wronski made and brought the traditional Latvian Janis Day cheese and bread. The cheese, made only on this day in Latvian culture, is a round shape and symbolizes the sun. The saffron bread kringle is made for any kind of celebration in Latvia.
In Latvian tradition, Janis Day is the biggest celebration of the year. The roots of this go back to a time before Christianization of the Baltic in the thirteenth century, when paganism had (and still does have) strong roots with the indigenous peoples of Livonia (Latvia).
Now that summer has officially begun, Mount Wolfe Farm is in full swing of operations. They will be selling their produce at the Bolton Farmer’s Market every Saturday beginning at 8 a.m., as well as showcasing workshops from the Ontario Rural Skills Network, including spoon carving demonstrations.
Workshops on scything and blacksmithing are also coming up. More information about the Ontario Rural Skills Workshop can be found by contacting info@ontarioruralskillsnetwork.com, or calling 647-217-5530. Mount Wolfe will also have a farm stall presence later in the summer at the Davis Sunflower Festival.
Farm Manager Sarah Dolamore also encourages the public to volunteer at the farm to learn skills, and can be contacted at 519-400-9213 or info@mountwolfefarm.com.
As for fall festivities, Fall Farm Fest will be taking place again this year to celebrate the harvest, and will include farm-related activities and demonstrations. “It’s an opportunity to spend a beautiful few hours in the countryside,” sums up Dolamore.