Bill Whitman, interviewed by Elizabeth Hedler

Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This collection contains interviews with people associated with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine. Themes include the process of beginning to farm organically, the early development of MOFGA and its growth; the Common Ground Fair and its expansion; marketing organic food; farming strategies; raising livestock; and MOFGA’s interactions with conventional farmers and the wider community.

Dates

Creation: 2000-2004

Creator

Hedler, Elizabeth, 1972- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

For digitized items free from access restrictions, we are working to upload this material (pdfs, mp3s, jpgs) for public access, but it is an ongoing project. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, contact Special Collections (um.library.spc@maine.edu).

Extent

From the Collection: 52 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

2686 Bill Whitman, interviewed by Elizabeth Hedler, September 21, 2001, at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine. Whitman talks about his family history and their Maine farm; involvement in MOFGA; organic farming as outgrowth of traditional farm life; the beginnings of the Maine Festival and the Common Ground Fair; volunteering for the Common Ground Fair; first fair in 1977; security for the early years of the fair; Windsor fairgrounds; advantages of owning the fairground; coordinating the Common Kitchen that feeds fair volunteers; getting the food for the Common Kitchen; Litchfield fair grounds; changes in the fair; changes in kitchen equipment for the Common Kitchen; influence of Common Ground on other Maine fairs; and the manure pitch. Text: 41 pp. transcript. Recording: C 1980 1 hour. mfc_na2686_c1980_01, mfc_na2686_c1980_02