Farmers’ Market: A Star is Born
Knot II Bragg Farm in Perham is Sea World, Disneyland, and the Cleveland, Ohio, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame all rolled into one for anyone interested in plants, herbal therapy, or the potential for a kinder, gentler form of medicine than can be found at the local pharmacy. Natalia Bragg is the ring-master of the shop, the herb gardens, the farm land, the surrounding woods, and the animals, all except the newest addition, a Border collie named Diamond, who “thus far remains in the rough.”
In addition to being a self-proclaimed natural herbalist, Natalia is a bit of a historian — she shares stories of wintergreen, “our first crop,” gathered and shipped to Europe from the Colonies centuries ago. She is a bit of a scientist — no product she sells is released with less than two years of testing as she studies and experiments, developing natural remedies while building on a foundation of medical knowledge that also goes back centuries. She is a bit of a natural-born teacher as well, encouraging others to take advantage of, “The complete apothecary in The County, un-messed-with diversity, available to anyone.” She is eager to pass on “to anyone who will listen” the secrets she learned at her grandmother’s knee, passed down from seven generations now, at best, photographs in a very old family album. “About fifty people taught me; they are all gone. I don’t want to lose the craft.”
It is Natalia’s bent toward teaching and the imperative to “hurry up” that has launched her latest project. In addition to her on-farm classes, Natalia and her apothecary can be found at the Maple Meadow Farm Fest in Mapleton, Common Ground Fair in Unity, visiting public schools or outreach programs at the University of Maine. In the serendipitous fashion that so often turns us at an unforeseen fork in the road, soon she can be found in living rooms all over the country! Natalia will soon be able to add to her website, “As seen on TV.”
Next week we will visit a bit about her new-found celebrity, an upcoming radio talk show, and other projects she has on tap. In the meantime, you can visit Natalia’s Aroostook Centre Mall parking lot “practice” on Saturday mornings between 8:30 and 1 at the Presque Isle Farmers Market, where she and the other Market members offer fresh, wholesome foods to welcome customers.
The Presque Isle Farmers’ Market contact person is Gail Maynard. Their phone number is 498-8541 and their email is orchhill@gmail.com.
