Boothbay resident Siubhan Saal, 17,  recently received the prestigious Judges Award at the Common Ground Fair in Unity.

The Judges Award a special ribbon given to an entry "deemed to be exemplary and far superior to any others of its type."

The fair is run by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and organic farmers throughout the state of Maine enter their vegetables to be judged. The vegetables must be grown organically, without pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers, using all natural methods.

Saal also entered pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers and squash which took blue ribbons.

Her Judges Award was received for her heirloom tomatoes called "Pineapple" which are bi-color and reach a huge 2 pounds each. She grew all her entries from seeds started way back in April in her barn.

She used compost, manure, green sand, rock powders, and fish emulsion to achieve soil fertility. The seeds came from Baker Creek Company in Missouri, and her gardening practices came from organic farmer Eliot Coleman of Harborside. 

She is a member of MOFGA but his is her first time competing in the fair. She and her family live on a historic saltwater farm in Boothbay.