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UNITY – The Common Ground Country Fair takes over the small Waldo County town of Unity for a long weekend each September for a celebration of rural living. This year, the 48th annual fair, welcomed over 69,000 attendees to the fairgrounds, a new record.
The fair draws a crowd from near and far to see thousands of vendors, speakers, and exhibitors from all over Maine, including Franklin County.
Temple Birch Tappers
Temple Birch Tappers, Michael Romanyshyn and Susie Dennison, have been selling their birch syrup at the fair for longer than they can remember, but they estimate about ten years.
Michael Romanyshyn and Susie Dennison of Temple Birch Tappers (Sylvie Haslam photo)
Their adventures in syrup making began when they inherited Dennison’s parent’s farm in Temple. The land, which housed a Finnish farm for decades, was full of birch trees. As they pondered what to do with it, a friend, Kristen Plummer, sent them an article that inspired Temple Tappers.
In 2015, after a slow start dabbling in the business of birch syrup (and making some “pretty awful tasting syrup,” Romanyshyn said), they attended the International Birch Conference at Paul Smith’s College. They won first prize, amongst competitors from across the world, including Finland, Canada, and Alaska. “Which was a surprise for us, because we didn’t know what we were doing much,” Romanyshyn said.
They were asked, “What’s your secret?” by the other syrup producers attending the conference. They didn’t know what to say, but upon reflection decided it might be Maine. Romanyshyn attributes their particular taste to the different species of birch syrup found in this region: “Maine seems to lend itself.”
By Saturday of this year’s fair, the booth was starting to sell out of their products, including their famous apple birch syrup, which according to Romanyshyn was invented by Dennison. It is made by boiling down apple cider into a syrup and adding it to the birch syrup, which mix well thanks to their similar sugars.
The Common Ground is their primary market, although they sell their syrup in Up Front and Pleasant and the Better Living Center in Farmington, and at the Rangeley Farmers’ Market. They have an online store which can be found at mainebirchsyrup.com. Romanyshyn and Dennison invite anyone to visit the farm and check out the operation. Reach them at templebirchtappers@gmail.com.
Sat Manav Yoga Ashram
Sat Manav Yoga Ashram, a spiritual community and nonprofit located in Industry, runs the Common Ground Fair’s Yoga Tent. Teaching daily movement and breath work classes, Sat Manav attends the fair “to reach a very wide array of people that are looking for alternative ways of living,” says Uma Lescault, President of Sat Manav.
A full Yoga Tent during a morning class taught by Uma Lescault. (Sylvie Haslam photo)
According to Lescault, yoga is “outside of the normal western mindset.” It presents another alternative to consumer-driven, capitalist society that aligns with the Common Ground values.
Although Lescault herself has been coming to the fair since childhood, Sat Manav began to attend in 2019, when fair staff asked them to bring yoga to the fair. Now, they have what Lescault describes as a mutually beneficial relationship. Sat Manav shares their 30 years of experience putting on events as part of the Common Ground Planning Team, while having the freedom to teach yoga.
It is also a chance to meet new people and connect with the community. “We see a lot of familiar faces here,” Lescault said.
Learn more about Sat Manav and its offerings at satmanavyogaashram.com.
The Center for Natural Healing
The Center for Natural Healing, a satellite business of Sat Manav Yoga Ashram specializing in natural healing and lifestyle medicine, also had a presence at the fair.
Doctors Sunyata Shyam PhD and Manu Lescault PhD aim to help their clients achieve better overall health, tackling both chronic and acute illness as well as postural alignment and skeletal health. They utilize physical therapy and massage.
Dr. Manu presents at the Whole Life Tent. (Sylvie Haslam photo)
Dr. Manu, as his clients call him, taught Pahalwani strength training to groups of fairgoers. “It’s a fitness style that increases neuromuscular connection and boosts skeletal, muscle, and joint health,” he said, explaining its roots in ancient India.
This is his second year presenting at the fair, although he has been volunteering for years. “The environment has been very accepting and a wonderful place to practice my craft,” he said.
Dr. Shyam’s cooking demonstrations introduced fair attendees to the concept of Satvic cooking, a diet that is wholesome, clean, pure, and non-harming to the body and the planet. She exemplified her teachings as a coordinator of the Common Kitchen, which feeds thousands of volunteers throughout the weekend.
Dr. Shyam demonstrates how to cook chickpea pancakes. (Sylvie Haslam photo)
“I work to provide healthy, plant-based food for the volunteers,” she said.
Find out more about the Center for Natural Healing here.
Spandits
Spandits, founded by Kelley Cullenberg and Sarah Doscinski, sells their handmade adventurewear at the Common Ground Country Fair.
The company began when Cullenberg coached Doscinski on the cross country team in high school. They later became friends. Cullenberg worked at running camps throughout the years, often receiving running gear as pay. It was always, without fail, boring. “I’m so tired of wearing black, gray, and navy!” she said.
Kelley Cullenberg and Sarah Doscinski of Spandits. (Sylvie Haslam photo)
It inspired her to buy from a US company that sold patterned gear, but it disappointed her expectations: “It was a joke.” It was a choice between quality or prints.
Cullenberg brought her complaints to Doscinski, who grew up as a seamstress. She experimented with making gear and they solved the problem, now supplying comfortable, well-made adventure gear with prints out of the mountains of Western Maine.
Both women now coach runners, so they have ample opportunity to see what works and what people want, which is why their leggings now feature pockets. Their most popular product is their Icelandic tight, which is fit for subzero temperatures.
All of their clothing is handmade in Maine. Now the operation is larger than Doscinski’s sewing skills, but the quality remains the same. They’ve been selling it at the Common Ground Fair for about a decade, and it is always a successful weekend.
Find them on Instagram and Facebook @spandits or at spandits.com.
Frost Glassworks
Frost Glassworks sells hand blown glass ornaments, vases, and more made by Matthew Frost (who happens to be Doscinski’s brother). His pieces are made with assistance from his adult children, who often work alongside him.
Matthew Frost of Frost Glassworks. (Sylvie Haslam photo)
Frost sells his work year round from his studio, conjoined with an antique shop, on Fairbanks Road in Farmington. He has been attending the Common Ground Country Fair for years, since the mid-2000s.
“It is, in my opinion, one of the top places as a crafter to sell your wares,” Frost said. “I’ve been here through thundershowers and hurricanes.”
He noted that the fair is a hub for local people. It provides the opportunity and excuse for neighbors to see his glassworks, as well as people from across the state and beyond.
Reach Frost at frostglassworks@gmail.com or visit his studio at 1151 Fairbanks Road.
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