It’s a Wrap! The Inaugural Garden Expo, “Edible Gardens and Beautiful Tables," is history and has become a joyful memory for Club members and guests alike. Be sure to check Facebook and Instagram for articles and photos about our speakers, presenters, demonstrators, and Tablescapers. We will be thanking them all summer long. It was a rich array of talented, dedicated, life-long food-to-table heroes who offered a full morning of expertise. Their practical wisdom will stay with the 200 participants for years to come. Many guests spoke with President Vicki Mast to share their enthusiasm. It was an opportunity for Club members to meet and speak with many new guests who are interested in joining the Club.

Keynote speakers, Nancy Harmon Jenkins and Barbara Damrosch, hit it out of the park with tales from their gardens over the last 50 years. They generously answered questions and followed up with a very robust book signing.

Pecha Kucha speakers fit together like puzzle pieces as they spoke of their contribution to the field of farming and gardening. Many thanks to Rory Keohane of Tenderwild Farm, Charlie Costello (our own Mr. Tomato,) Franny's Bistro,  Hannah Semler of FarmDrop, and Melissa Kelly, owner of Primo Restaurant in Rockland.

Demonstrators offered vast amounts of garden and farm wisdom.  Merryspring’s John Frommer gave us a floor plan for a mini-farm that would fit in small spaces. Caleb Goossen, from MOFGA, presented a plan for soil conservation. Club member, Blake Sanborn, created two exquisite floral works of art and taught his audience "how to." Chef Phil Lebeton made three delicious summer sauces and offered samples.

Jesse Tobias, Franny's Bistro, Season Downeast Designs, IMY Landscaping, A Little Moore Designs, and Club member, Mary Miller created Tablescapes to lure the eye and inspire summer entertaining.

There is so much more and so many to thank. For those of us who planned the event, it is safe to say that it was bigger and better than we imagined, as it brought us together with our community in such a significant way. Thank you, Club members, for your gracious participation.

The crescendo of the day was a tour of David Kibbe’s beautiful farmlet, Old Soles Farm. It seemed as though the talk of the morning became a reality as visitors could see up close a real micro-farm in progress, 5 5-minute dive from downtown Camden. David was on hand to answer all questions and share his beloved home. At the end of the day, Amy Thomsen and David Kibbe spoke with long-time sailing friends from North Carolina, Herb and Ruth Weise and their son, John. Herb was our oldest visitor to Expo '25. He is 106 years old and, after a brief overview of the farm from David, emphatically chirped, “Okay! What are you going to look at next?” He was ready to see it all. We agree with you, Herb. "What's Next!" 

 It was an honor to be a part of Expo ’25. Many thanks to each and every one of you who believed in a new engagement with our beautiful town of Camden, Maine.