By Brad Bremner
Each spring for the past 30 years, hundreds of individuals and thousands of wild leeks come together in Singhampton. They do so at the village’s Ramp Romp, a celebration of wild leeks for a very worthy cause.
The Ramp Romp started as a response to a fire emergency in Singhampton in 1983. A group of concerned local residents created the Fire Prevention Committee. The Committee established the Ramp Romp to raise funds and awareness for timely fire and emergency response for the community.
Ramp Romp funds initially provided for emergency relief and emergency response for the community. Since those first steps, the energy and perseverance of countless community minded individuals have helped to make the dream of better fire protection a reality.
The earthly ritual
How does the annual ritual of the Ramp Romp happen? Spring arrives in the Singhampton area, usually twice. A date is set for the Ramp Romp, usually twice. The brave and tireless leek pickers enter the moist maple forest, more than twice. And the leeks they dig. And the leeks they pick. And the leek digging and picking is a task, for sure. But it is a task with purpose. And they return to the village with nature’s springtime treasure.
The green treasure’s aroma begins to permeate the village. The ritual of harvesting the ramps is complete.
In the evening, for many evenings, the brave treasure cleaners carefully clean and wash thousands of leeks. And the leeks they do wash. And the cleaning and washing are tasks, no doubt. But they are tasks with purpose. The pungent aroma of the clean, green treasure, the wild leeks, gets carried farther around the village.
The aromatic event
A typical Ramp Romp dinner feeds more than 300 folk. To do this, statistically speaking, requires 154 lbs of roast pork, 59 kgs of scallopized potatoes, 1,300 oz of beans, 8.5 L of applesauce, 5.25 cubic feet of dinner rolls, hundreds of pickles, and variable volumes of mustard, apple juice and so forth.
Central to the meal are an estimated 24,626 steamed leeks and 2,802 marinated ramps. For dessert – more than 60 homemade pies.
To feed 330 at the Singhampton Community Centre also requires many servers, cleaners and the like, and a healthy amount of cooperation. This culinary collaboration always takes place in an atmosphere of distinction – the aroma of the ramps has reached a peak.
Folk young and old, from the local community and far away, join in this springtime feast. Then feast gives way to frolic as the dance, the Romp, begins. Many take this Romp opportunity to socialize further. Many just like to dance. Some seem to dance with purpose. Others imagine that it is a way to wear off some pie. Romp purpose aside, one thing is certain: the sweet aroma is now deeply rooted in the Community Centre and neighbourhood. The proceeds, too, shall go to the Centre and neighbourhood, in the form of better fire protection.
The superb effect
Singhampton’s volunteer firefighters of Fire Station #5, have been on call since 1992. Since that time, many additions have been made to firefighting and emergency equipment that these community members use including the “Jaws of Life,” an electrical generator and a portable water pump, as well as training for each firefighter.
The greater Singhampton community has realized the dream of better fire protection. This accomplishment has taken the tireless effort of countless individuals, working as a team. As you raise that forkful of leeks or pie to your lips, think. Think of the dreamers. Think of the many who have made this event successful, and who have helped make the dream a reality. Think of the volunteer firefighters. Enjoy that forkful and give thanks.
30th Singhampton Ramp Romp Dinner and Silent Auction
Saturday, May 10, 4:30 to 7:30 pm at Singhampton Community Centre
Adults $15, students $13, children ages 6 to 12 $7, children under 6, free.