Within this space you usually see tips and suggestions for growing plants or planning a garden scheme. There are often landscape articles and items on cooking or preserving bounteous harvests. I have told you about the Rites of Fall and pesticide application or growing the best roses, but lately another passion has taken charge of my column space.

My latest passion is the South Mountain Fair. I have been on the fair board for 1 year. I want to tell you some of the plans that we are working on for the future, but first I want to talk about the past. About 50 years ago a young man named G. David Bushman became a member of the fair board. Through good times and bad times he remained faithful to the fair board. David has been the secretary since long before I came on the scene with the Master Gardeners. David sends each board member meeting reminders, fills out numerous forms, takes minutes and provides copies to each board member.

David has been doing this type of volunteer work at the fair for 50 years. Now health concerns are making him scale back his efforts on behalf of the South Mountain Fair. I have enjoyed time spent with David and will miss his quick wit.

By helping to put on the South Mountain Fair for 50 years, David has encouraged competition and promoted the growth of superior crops in the Adams County area. For these and many other reasons we owe G. David Bushman a great debt of gratitude. Thank you, David!

Now, on to some of the plans that are in the works. This year we will change the format of the premium book. We will print on better quality paper, so that the print and pictures are easier on the eyes. We will be selling ad space in the book to help defray the cost of producing the premium book. The new premium book could even function as a back up to your Yellow Pages phone book. Wouldn't it be nice to have the numbers of all the people who supported your fair in one place? If you find that two vendors sell what you need, maybe the deciding factor could be the one that supported the South Mountain Fair. Now you will have a place to look to find out the answer to that question.

A patron page will be included. For a nominal fee you can have your name or family listed in the booklet to show your support of the fair. Contact any board member for information on placing an ad or becoming a patron of the South Mountain Fair.

We are also in the process of starting a web presence for The South Mountain Fair. We hope that this makes it easier to access information about the fair, giving the fair a wider exposure. Maps, a schedule of events, and pictures of daily activities are some of the first items that will be displayed on the website.

And the circle of life continues - old buildings come down, new buildings go up; old friends move on, new friends move in; and a new premium book and state-of-the-art website for a long-time institution steeped in local tradition. Look for great things to happen at your South Mountain Fair. We work hard to make this a fair of which you can be proud. If you have suggestions let us know.

We come from the Earth. We return to the Earth. In between we garden. You meet the nicest people in the garden.. and at the South Mountain Fair.

Hope to see you in both places.