Turnip Troubles
Right now, I'm fairly sure that the citizens of Wardsboro, Vermont (pop. <900) are wicked pissed at me. I accidentally slighted their favorite vegetable in one of my features last week.
Wardsboro, near the state's Southern border, is the home of the Gilfeather turnip, named after farmer John Gilfeather (1865-1944). Gilfeather developed and grew the crunchy white orbs during the early part of the 20th century. It's one of only a few widely-recognized and officially certified heirloom veggies indigenous to Vermont. In my Q&A with Gary Nabhan, I mistakenly transcribed it as a "gilliflower turnip." The black gilliflower is an heirloom variety of apple, not at all the same thing.
The folks in Wardsboro are so serious about their special root vegetable that they have an annual celebration in its honor. Vermont's Gilfeather Turnip Festival takes place at the end of each October. Admission is free, and so are the tasting portions of turnip dishes that are served between 2 and 4 p.m.
But their adulation goes even further. A turnip song? Yep. A turnip poem? You betcha. You can hear them both in this 23-minute video...
Gonna try cooking with GTs on your own? Here are links to a few recipes:
Gilfeather Turnip Soup with Spinach from the Four Columns Inn and Restaurant in Newfane
Gilfeather Turnip Soup with Sea-Legs, whatever that means
And a couple others.
I love it! I've never heard of this turnip or it's festival. I am definitely going to try to get down there in October. Viva la Gilfeather!
Posted by: Molly | August 11, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Wow. Yet another reason to love Vermont. Go Gilfeather!
Posted by: Mistress Maeve | August 11, 2007 at 11:52 PM
What happened to the video. It was really fun. Some friends want to see it.
Posted by: Elise | January 23, 2008 at 01:25 AM
Hi Elise. The video seems to have disappeared from YouTube altogether. I tried to search for it on Google, too, but haven't been able to find it. Next week, I'll try calling the folks in charge of the turnip festival to see if I can find it.
Posted by: suzanne | January 26, 2008 at 01:28 PM
On October 24, 2009, at 10 a.m., you can come on down to the Gilfeather Turnip Festival! It's only gotten better with the passing years.
Posted by: Kerstin | September 28, 2009 at 11:52 PM