A daylong celebration of figs, music and other revelry is planned for the First Annual Malibu Organic Fig Festival on Sept. 29 at Vital Zuman Organic Farm in Malibu.
Farm owner Alan Cunningham calls it a combination of “survival and celebration,” and like all community activities at the farm, “an environmentally aware event with a special focus on protecting our locally grown food supply.”
In an outdoor grassy arena surrounded by lush foliage, a variety of musical performances and environmental talks will be presented by Karling Abbeygate and the Monks of Love; Anna Marie Gardner; Andy Lopez, who wrote a book on organic pest control; singer-speaker Loriel Goldman, who is an expert on the Sequoias; singer Kacey Cubero; and guitarist John Samos. Participants can join in during a drumming circle, and to top off the afternoon, an Organic Fig Goddess will be chosen during a contest, which prompted Cunningham to explain, “We have a serious and a goofy side as well.
“The performers are really jazzed to be performing here,” he said with enthusiasm. “It’s different from where they’ve performed before.”
Stephen Vodontis will speak on the farm’s connection to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. As a learning experience, classes of children will use a third of an acre to plant, water, weed and harvest produce.
Cunningham’s passion for organic farming is obvious. “I was born and raised on the property,” he said. His family has owned the farm for nearly 50 years. “This is the heart-and-soul endeavor.”
Unlike many seasonal farms, Vital Zuman is productive year-round and produces a wide variety of edibles including summer and winter vegetables and medicinal and culinary herbs, and has about a dozen beehives.
Cunningham emphasizes the importance of using locally grown food, where the community knows the farmers “without the pimp of a middle man,” he said. He strongly disapproves of a food supply disconnected from the populace that eats it.
“We grow healthy food for healthy people.”
An animal charity event at the farm is also in the making, in conjunction with a Halloween costume party where you can come as your favorite critter. Festivities are planned for Oct. 26.
The Vital Organic Farm is located on Pacific Coast Highway just south of Zuma Beach. More information can be obtained by calling Alan Cunningham at 310.457.4356, e-mailing him at vitalzuman@earthlink.net or logging onto www.vitalzuman.com.