The Purple Onion Festival (POF) fundraising show was held on September 15 at Market Hall to help make it possible for POF to take place on September 22.
It allowed supporters to make donations at the door for the POF, a grassroots festival in celebration of local food and culture in support of the local food revolution. The revolution is an all-volunteer initiative of Transition Town Peterborough (TTP).
Executive director of Farms at Work, Pat Learmonth, spoke about the diminishing number of farmers in the county and the reduced farm acreage sending up a red flag of concern for local food security in the not too distant future.
Guy Hanchet spoke passionately on behalf of For Our Grandchildren about the importance of the Climate Change Rally which will be held at the Water Street entry during the festival.
According to Hanchet, a novel idea to raise awareness and get young people out for this event is the colour purple. He said that the festival organizers had attempted to set a new Guinness Book Record for the largest number of people in one location wearing the colour purple. However, it was still all in the name of creating more awareness of the need to act now on climate change.
“Everybody has to become aware of the climatic change,” said Gail, a supporter at the event.
“As more people become aware, it will make the world a much better place. We’re riding electric bikes because we’re concerned about the environment.”
“I feel guilty about owning three cars.” added her husband, who was also present to support the initiative of TTP.
Similarly, Katie Allen from P3 Sustainability in Peterborough was there to support the event. She believes that it takes a village to help build a resilient community, and if you care about it, you have to start building it from the inside.
The initiative is geared towards supporting everyone, she says, and about building community and economic development not only in downtown Peterborough, but within the greater Peterborough area as a whole.