March 20, 2002 – "Nuff Seeds to Sow to Get Agriculture on the Go" is the theme of the 5th annual Estate Bordeaux Rastafari Agricultural and Cultural Food Fair. Activities at the fair, to be set up by the Bordeaux tennis courts on St. Thomas, are aimed at enlightening and entertaining visitors all day Saturday and Sunday.
The annual Rastafari Fair doesn't rival St. Croix's huge annual Agriculture and Food Festival in February or even its St. Thomas-St. John counterpart at the University of the Virgin Islands in November in size. But it offers enticements you won't find at either of the others.
Funded by in part by the V.I. Council on the Arts, the fair emphasizes both the "agri" and the "cultural" aspects of the local Rastafari farming community. Last year's event attracted an estimated 3,000 visitors.
A release promotes the locally grown produce that will be for sale, 10 top Ital dub masters, 20 local arts and crafts vendors, events and videos at the Bordeaux Youth Activity Center, farm tours, African dance, holistic health sessions and a wide variety of demonstrations.
The live entertainment lineup includes:
STARLion Family – 5 p.m. Sunday
Jamesie and the All-stars – 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Dezarie & the Fyo Band – 3 p.m. Sunday
Rock Lounge – 3 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Sound Vision/Batch and Crew – noon Sunday
Ras Manny of Lucky 13 – noon Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Sunday
In addition, there will be international music starting at 5 p.m. both days.
Rastafari Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free for children; a $1 donation is requested from adults.
For more information, call 776-3037 or 776-2937
Program schedule
Saturday
10 a.m. – Opening ceremony
All day – Youth Activity Center: educational videos, planting, painting, more
11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – Farm tours
11 a.m. – Broom-making demonstration
11:30 a.m. – Words of Reasonment (agricultural development)
Noon – Crocheting demonstration
1 p.m. – Farmer of the Year presentation
1:30 p.m. – Drip irrigation demonstration
2 p.m. – Beekeeping (no bees) and calabash art demonstrations
3 p.m. – Terrace-making and grafting demonstrations; Herbs and Health with Ras Bobby
4 p.m. – Tool-use demonstration
5 p.m. – Coal pit demonstration
Sunday
10 a.m.- Welcome
All day – Holistic health sessions
11 a.m. – Words of Reasonment (agricultural develoment); broom-making demonstration
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.- Farm tours
1 p.m. – Martial arts, drip irrigation and gluten-making demonstrations
2 p.m. – Raw food demonstration
3 p.m. – Terrace-making demonstration; Spirituality with Issachor
4 p.m. – African dance
5 p.m. – Ital dubbing using a Yaba pot on three stone; grafting demonstration
(All Sunday demonstrations include make-and-take activities)
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