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 the sweet smells of Jan McMahan's baking. Out in the woodshop, wheelwrighting 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, Jim Greenman and his horses plowing for wheat, Sewell Mason and Steve Stier demonstrating timber framing, Susan Johnson, Rachel Bemis and Pat Crowley minding the sales table, and all of our Sorghum Fest volunteers filling in wherever 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 contributed to making this a productive and fun weekend and Open House event.