Fun + Food + "4H" ers = Fair (Marin County Style)

It's either a case of pure genius or incredible good luck. 

Fair planners had no idea that a gallon of gas would be nearly $5, and the environment on everyone's mind, a year-and-a-half ago when they came up with the 'green' theme for this years fair.  Marin is at the forefront of sustainable consciousness (if not living), and what better place to showcase the ways one can drive, live and consume in a green fashion. 

And green it is; from the moment you enter and stroll through the alternate fuel vehicles display, pass the sustainable living booths and into the main exhibition hall where all manner of carbonless living ethos threads its way through the more traditional exhibits of baked goods, textiles and fine arts displays. 

When we first heard about this year's theme, we wondered how fair planners would successfully knit together their green goal with the more traditional fair attractions of farm animals, ferris wheels and funnel cakes.   We needn't have worried.  Everyone- even the kids- were enthralled with the truck that ran on alcohol ("Powered by moonshine" read the bumper sticker), the prettier-than-they-sound glass earrings that used recycled beer and champagne bottles and the punk-style, shiny black handbag made entirely of reclaimed tire inner tubes.

One nice thing that struck us while we perused the exhibits of ecologically oriented products; going green can involve many consumer choices.  In the vehicle exhibit, for instance, you could find electric bikes for those who don't mind going a bit slower (20mph), sitting alongside electric motorcycles capable of going 110 mph for the speedier set.  Prius' are common in Marin, but the fine-art painted, plug-in one we saw, was a beauty.  A stylish, classic 1966 Ford Mustang convertible that has been converted entirely to electrical power was right next to the truck that runs on biodiesel (soybeans).  One car is even plugged into a bunch of solar panels in a next-door exhibit, making it the ultimate green car; runs on electricity provide by the sun.  You don't get much greener than that.

Fair organizers have thoughtfully managed to incorporate the green theme in the food court too.  All vendor food is served in recycled and biodegradable containers and utensils.  And there are signs ("Healthy options available") out in front of each food vendor listing a low-fat, sustainable or organic variation of what they are serving, although most of the families we see in the umbrella-shaded eating patio, are enjoying the more typical fair food like hot-dogs, burgers and grilled corn.

After a decidedly un-green lunch of barbecue and potato salad, we paid a visit to the main exhibition hall that houses the household arts (quilts, preserves and baked goods) featured at every county fair.  Dot Miller, a small, elderly woman is sitting next the cookie display and just a few feet away from the pies.  We ask her if she's there to thwart anyone trying to sneak a sample.  She is, she says, and so far no one has dared try!  We can however, take a moment to stop and smell the roses (our favorite- the mauve hybrid tea).  Award winners are standing proudly in their vases across from the baked goods. 

Around the corner from the preserves (traditional) and water bottles decorated with recyclables (green) are the quilts where the vintage "log-cabin" creations mix nicely with the free-form "going green" designs.  At the end of the hall is the "The Green Life" exhibit featuring furniture built with sustainably forested wood and organic cotton bedsheets. There is also an extremely large earth globe spinning away in the middle of it all, just in case you've forgotten the theme.  We're tired, but we can't sit in most of the chairs on display; they are the art chairs, another competitive exhibit. 

Over in the corner, Chef Eric Gower, the Breakaway Cook, is cooking away in his demonstration kitchen.  People crowd around as he hands out samples.  It's a blend of vegies, herbs and flowers all sauteed together in olive oil.  A young girl pronounces it good, if a bit salty.  She likes the idea of eating flowers.  Meredith McCarty, another chef (Healing Cuisine) and exhibitor, is taking a break from her booth and samples it too.  She agrees with the girl; good, but salty.

Outside, the fair is in full swing; families, couples, teens and seniors try their luck at the games and take a whirl on the rides in between visits to the hemp and bamboo clothing booths in the green exhibit aisle.  Fernwood Cemetery even has a booth here, which suggests being green doesn't need to end at death.  A Johnny Cash tune drifts out from the animal barnyard where the usual suspects (chickens, goats, cows, horses and the aforementioned Wilbur) lay around waiting to be petted.  Not usual, are the llamas.  Inside the barn, 10 year-old Jenna Wagner from San Rafael is presenting her chicken to the judge in the showmanship competition.  The animal contingent seems smaller than the county fair of memory.  Maybe methane-producing cows aren't really PC here at the "Greenest County Fair On Earth".

In the concert hall, singer and Marin native, Lara Johnston (who sounds like Bonnie Raitt and looks like your kid sister) is belting out a soul standard.  The crowd is appreciative, for the music and the shade.  Everyone is enjoying the musical vibe.  Themes come and go, but some things- like good music- never change.

Details:

The Marin County Fair runs through Sunday, July 6. 

Hours: 11a to 11p

Prices: Adults $14, Kids (4-12) and Seniors are $12 and Kids under 4 are Free.

Marin County Fair website.

See more photos in our MoreMarin Slide Show.
See all the photos in the MoreMarin Photo Album.

Comments

[Tandy]

Thanks for the great coverage of the green exhibits and vendors featured at the "Greenest County Fair on the Planet" this past weekend at the Marin County Fair. Eco Zen Boutique would also like to say "thank you" to everyone who helped to make our first event a successful one.