MOGREENA: Celebrating the 7th annual Energy Independence Day

On Sunday afternoon we headed up to Modena for the seventh annual Energy Independence Day, hosted by Waste Oil Recyclers and Organic Mechanics Soil Company. There's a great vibe to the place (fondly dubbed "Mogreena"), a repurposed industrial park that sits along the Brandywine Creek.
I think there were more visitors this year than ever before. Musicians played throughout the day; we heard Brad Hinton and Beaucoup Blue. State Rep. Harry Lewis gave a brief speech commending the businesses for sparking a renaissance in Modena.
This year there was a demonstration of glassblowing by Glass Routes (www.glassrts.com). Robin Mastrippolito of Embreeville brought along her decadent homemade cupcakes. We tried two new varieties, one that involved white chocolate and a brandy-soaked blackberry, and the other that included oatmeal and walnuts. Both were delicious and disappeared immediately.
There were lots of kids, many with elaborately painted faces, and a wide variety of well-behaved, leashed dogs. We enjoyed meeting a pit bull mix named Harper, who brought his master to Modena all the way from their home in Center City Philadelphia.
There are beautifully tended vegetable, herb and flower gardens throughout the complex (thanks to Organic Mechanics' potting soil and volunteer "garden nights" held throughout the growing season).