It’s often the case that wonderful, free community events, which require a huge commitment of time from a core of volunteers, fade away when those key volunteers burn out or move on.
It’s also often the case that the sudden disappearance of a popular event brings out a cadre of newly-motivated replacement volunteers. Otherwise, the event fades into a warm memory.
We are hoping for the former outcome in the case of Greenfield’s Free Harvest Supper, which apparently won’t happen this year after 11 seasons because too few volunteers could be found to work the many hours several months in advance of the town common meal.
If enough volunteers want to keep the tradition alive, it’s possible the town could host this event again next August. But it’s unlikely for this year, say the organizers who apparently have hung up their aprons.
After announcing the dinner would not take place this August, longtime organizer (and Recorder food columnist) Mary McClintock has started receiving offers from people willing to help. But to produce a meal that serves a thousand people from donated farm crops and locally-produced foods requires several months of planning and far more people than the 100 or so volunteers who work on the day of the meal.
“There have always been enough folks to help out on the day of the supper, but this year there weren’t enough people to spend four to five months organizing it,” she explained.
The volunteer jobs that must be done well in advance include contacting local farms and other food donors, picking up the food, and arranging for enough tables, chairs and other provisions for such a large public event. Restaurants like Hope & Olive and the Stone Soup Cafe contribute space and talent to the effort.
The Free Harvest Supper was started by the late peace activist Juanita Nelson as a way to celebrate the local harvest and encourage people to eat local food.
“If there are people who care strongly about it, and want to start
But it takes a big commitment. Greenfield has been fortunate this past decade that there were people willing to put in the hours over those years.
Many people in Greenfield volunteer in so many ways for so many different charities and projects. It may be the community can stretch itself only so much.
So what will it be? Are there enough people who appreciate this come-together celebration of community and local food and farming to revive what has been a wonderful tradition?
Time will tell.
Reach out to McClintock at mmcclinto@yahoo.com.