During the recent Farm Fest at Ontelaunee Park frequent use of the words “natural” and “organic,” were used with advertisements galore for the Trexlertown Farmers Market to open May 14 at Valley Preferred Cycling Center, formerly the Velodrome.

Another farm market, the Blue Mountain, will be opening to local growers with farm fresh goods at the D&L Trailhead, Slatington.

In the lower level of the historic “Mail Pouch” barn at the park, two cars from the old Ontelaunee train were on display.

The engine was on the second floor in pieces, said Craig Weaver, who is helping restore the train.

There were about as many crafter booths as there were food stands.

Music by “Tuesdays Gone” played on the bandstand and there was more music in the craft area played from the back of a truck.

Plenty of food was available, both for eating at the festival or taking home for the fresh organic taste.

At the Zeisloff House, some Pennsylvania Provincials had set up camp.

Kim Otto was weaving and James and Mary Fenton were using a drop spindle to spin.

Dan Fenton and Capt. Lynn Otto had traveled from the Conrad Weiser Homestead in Berks County.

The Provincials helped build and then were stationed at Fort Everett from 1756-58. They patrolled between the line of forts but had only some minor action.

Inside the Zeisloff House, Paul Trainor, a doctor barber with the Provincials, displayed his equipment.

The Liberty Bell was displayed in Fort Everett.

Hartman’s Meat Market, New Tripoli, offered meats such as a variety of award-winning meat sticks to snack on while walking around the festival.

Rainbow Farm, also of New Tripoli, offered grass-fed goodness.

Y Knot Alpacas of Germansville now has 24 animals. The black one in a picture of four on display is the first one born on the farm.

Y Knot’s alpacas were due for shearing the next day.

Epic Acre Farm of Mertztown offers fresh vegetables but its specialty is peppers smoked over an apple-wood fire.

Crooked Row Eggs by Liz Wagner were being sold from the farm of that name in New Tripoli. Crooked Row Farm is on the Wagner Homestead.

The Bad Farm of Kempton, operated by Beth and David Rice, provides the milk but has the cheeses and yogurt smoothies made for them.

They say it has a smoother texture than supermarket products.

Willow Haven Farm of New Tripoli offers brick oven pizza to eat while touring the farm and picking out a basketful of naturally grown vegetables. The farm also offers raw honey and cheeses. There was a play area for kids.

Joanne Guth said thin slices of raw sweet potatoes go well with dips.

Annika DeMaster’s sourdough bread is more digestible than the everyday variety, she said.

Ridge Valley Farm featured maple sugar. It came as cotton candy, maple sugar and maple syrup. Ordinary snacks and nuts become special when they are dipped in maple syrup and left to dry.

Holben Valley Farm offered smokin’ Texas chili and hickory-smoked pulled pork from its grass-fed pasture-raised black Angus steers.

A kids’ section had a variety of bouncy houses, and kids games such as fish, sharks, ball toss and ducks.

Francine Cooper of Forest Inn uses dishes to make her Garden Glass Flowers that come with a stake.

Artist Jim Rilko of Allentown works with oils and pastels. He had 25 spread on the ground for viewing. He likes painting barn and pastoral scenes.

Access was looking for foster families for people with special needs. Emily Whitmire is from New Tripoli, but the headquarters is in Bethlehem.

Shannon Kuzma is training dogs for Tattered Tails Animal Rescue. Shannon is going to adopt Remington, the dog she dressed properly for the Farm Fest veterans’ benefit.

Their motto is “Saving lives one tail at a time.” Tattered Tails is in Schnecksville.

Money was being raised for two people with long-term illnesses.

Wyatt Newhard had a display of beads of courage – a string of beads for each time he had chemo.

He has had neuroblastoma for years.

Brett Snyder has Lou Gehrig’s disease. New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church was selling baked goods and hoagies to help him.

The church is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has a project each month.

Half the money raised by Farm Fest will go to Mark Fidler, a veteran who lost both legs while in the military.

The other half will go for musical scholarships.