Woodworking and Forestry Products

The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is nestled in the forest and characterized by a reverence for local wood products.  The Forster Family provides their beautiful farm land, bounded by historic stone walls and forest, for the Festival. The festival fields combined with neighboring lands total more than one thousand acres that have been placed under conservation restrictions by the residents of Chestnut Hill, working in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and regional land trusts.  The  land adjoins state forest land and by virtue of its size and the efforts of groups and individuals, there are several public hiking trails that traverse the public and private lands. 

Sustainable forestry is an active component of the local landscape and woven throughout the fabric of the festival.  Some of the festival infrastructure is part of the Forster Family legacy including the homestead, milk house, and barn.  The family and main stages as well as the tables used at the festival were crafted from pine donated by Heyes Forest Products and built with hands, sweat and laughter by members of the all-volunteer festival committee.  The main stage utilizes black locust foundation posts, a naturally rot-resistant local wood. The festival celebrates the forested landscape of the region, and the traditions and contemporary crafts of those who work in and with with the woods. 

2022 Festival Woodworkers:

Hannon Made – blends of domestic and exotic woods creating wooden household items in exciting and colorful patterns.

Seeds of Solidarity FarmHand crafted cedar meditation benches and furniture by Ricky Baruc, Orange, MA.

Turn, Turn, Turn – Sam Scherer :  Wood turning on a lathe.  Turned wood bowls, rolling pins, boxes, and plates from black walnut, maple, birch, black oak, and cherry.

Previous Festival Woodworkers: 

Jason Ballard Designs – custom functional art in furniture, cabinetry, sculpture, and more by Jason Ballard, Wendell, MA.

Sandy Renna Revelation Woodturnings – A visual and sensual symphony that takes form and asks to be touched and held. Sandy’s mission is to interfere as little as possible with the natural hidden gem and to allow each unique grain pattern and array of colors a voice in the finished piece.

Stillwater Flutes, Standing Bear Drums, Windsong Herbal – Larry ‘Windsong Healer’ Anderson and Michael Longrider craft Native American style flutes and drums from 10″ up to 50″ in diameter. Michael is a Native American Music award winner.