Martha’s Vineyard is practically overflowing with wildlife and vegetation. To highlight this, a group of local farmers, fishermen and food-lovers have created an experience that doesn’t just talk about the wonders of local food, it showcases how it is produced, cooked and eaten.

Justin Melnick doesn’t care much for blenders. He likes to mix pasta dough with a fork, crushes tomatoes by hand, bursting them like little stress balls, and spends three days creating tagliatelle Bolognese.

“It’s a real labor of love,” he said the other night inside the Terrace at the Charlotte Inn, where he has run the kitchen as executive chef since November 2012.

Josh Aronie started his career at the Home Port restaurant in Menemsha, where he parlayed his job as a window washer into a gig as a prep cook. Three decades of restaurant experience later, he is returning to the restaurant this year as the chef.

Lola's Southern Seafood re-opened turned on Friday - for the third time in 20 years. Old favorites like Mussels ala Lola will still be offered, and so will a late night dancing scene, but this time mainly with DJs spinning the tunes.

On Thursday morning, Martha’s Vineyard Regional high school juniors Nichole Wilson and Matt Davies cleaned heaps of local garlic shoots in the culinary arts classroom in preparation for A Spring Garden Feast on Saturday night at the Sweet Life Cafe.

A wine festival taking place from May 8 to 11 will include dinners and tastings taking place around the Island at restaurants and private homes. Visit winefestmv.com for tickets and information.