Chomp Down

What is a Chompdown? The Chompdown was created at the Wakarusa Music Festival this year. How it came about was many of the Wakarusa Forum members wanted to gather together and enjoy a good breakfast. It was a chance to meet each other and just get a good healthy meal in. It was then suggested that “why not make this a way to meet each other and then feed others.” One of the founding members, Rabbit, suggested that everyone should bring enough to feed themselves and others. It did not take long for this idea to spread like festival wildfire. Soon people were committing to bringing food, stoves, coffee makers, deep fried oreos, bloody marys, posters, and BACON. It was set for June 8th and 9am. A myspace page was created to gather names of people that were going to attend. It was through the myspace page that a band Dirtfoot contacted Rabbit and together they worked it out so the band would play during the feeding. Soon, another band Grazgrove joined the cause and so the idea of bands and free food was born. What really happened that day in June??? Well, it was 8:30am and slowly people began to converge on the small shelter house. Pauly's Cheese, BillyMFH, Strider, April, Bogmonkey and his brother, Harper, Lula, algernon, Vernixx, Andrea, libs, and a slew of others began to set up. Each had brought enough food for themselves and a few others. There were plates, reusable silverware, cups, cleaning materials, and food….lots of food. Then around 9:15 Grazgrove appeared and began to play. The feeding had begun. Sometime after about three hours, Grazgrove and Dirtfoot had played, about 250 people had come with everything from eggs to a side of beef and eaten, children and women danced, and a general good time was had by all. After the dust had cleared (those Dirtfoot guys really had some people moving), the core group of people relaxed and thought about what had just happened. They had pulled off a giant feat. They did something that none of them, the day before, knew would happen. They created a movement. They knew they had to do it again. What does this have to do with Mulberry Mountain??? Well, that movement is coming your way. On Saturday, September 22nd at 9am, it is going to happen again. That small core of festival goers is gathering on your grounds and plans to make a meal for you. You will also get to enjoy the grumble boogie sounds of Dirtfoot that will accompany the meal. Of course they need your help with some basics and want to extend their family to include YOU!!! What can I do to participate? The first thing you need to do is head over to www.myspace.com/wakarusa_chompdown and ask to be a friend. This is the hub of communication with bulletins, what is needed, and who will be there. So get on that bus. However, the basics are and have always been….1 dozen eggs, a gallon of juice, some cheese, stick of butter, and a loaf of bread. It never hurts to bring a little BACON as well. The wonderful folks at Mulberry Mountain have asked to ask all of you to try and bring only organic foods and the Chomp Crew themselves are in agreement and will be providing only the freshest of organic goods. But they need your help too. They are looking for people to help cook, and bring food, clean dishes and silverware, and enjoy being a part of a new movement. The amount of people fed is directly related to how many people participate in the donations of food and time cooking. So get on over to www.myspace.com/wakarusa_chompdown and sign up!!! Then get ready to meet some great people, hear some good music, and eat some good, free “CHOMP”. Who knows who you will meet there??? Also, the Chompdown crew wants to send a big shout out and thank you to the folks at Mulberry Mountain being able to present you with "CHOMPDOWN ON THE MOUNTAIN"! That was a great time...and we hope to be back again next year.