Nigh Ox Newsletter

October 2001

Sweet Sorghum Volunteer Fest and Open House

The days were brisk but bright, and full of autumn color, for Tillers' Open House and Sweet Sorghum Volunteer Fest weekend, Oct. 5-7. Ten volunteers came to work with us through the weekend: Jan and Nicole McMahan, Fred and Cindy Brooks, Betty Hoffman, Arnie Hoye with daughters Tessa and Chelsey, Kara Tiemann, and Howard Cain.

Rain on Friday kept us busy inside most of the day. But on Saturday, the sun showed up. In no time our crew had the sorghum harvested, pressed, and ready for the cooker. Rob Hewlett lent us IH, his working steer to run the sorghum press. In addition to all the sorghum activity, a fair bit of the field corn was harvested, the last of the vegetables were scrounged from the market garden, and the kitchen was filled with the aroma of autumn stew and sweet smells of Jan McMahan's baking. Out in the woodshop, wheelwright students were building and repairing wagon wheels, under the direction of Dave Kramer, Richard Cole, and Chuck Andrews.

Sunday afternoon, the Open House brought out a crowd of volunteers and visitors. Some came to lend a hand. Others came just to see what Tillers is all about. Among those who assisted with the event were Bob Rapp and Tom Hurst making rope, Tony Lorentz driving calves, Foster Woodward watching over the Abbey Collection, Susan Johnson, Rachel Bemis and Pat Crowley minding the sales table, Jim Greenman and his horses plowing for wheat, Sewell Mason and Steve Stier demonstrating timber framing, and all
of our Sorghum Fest volunteers were filling in where ever they were needed.

It was a beautiful day, enjoyed by all and made possible by an indispensable team of volunteers and interns. We would like to thank each person who was a part of making this a productive and fun weekend and Open House event.