Demonstrations of old-time skills on display
Rain fails to dampen Amherst Harvest Festival
If a little rain makes flowers grow, it also doesn’t deter Western New Yorkers from coming out to buy them at events like Sunday’s 14th annual Amherst Harvest Festival and Craft Show.
“Buffalo people are hardy souls,” explained Ben Vilonen, as he eyed the showers that merely caused prepared festival-goers to open their umbrellas while eyeing the flowers from his parents’ farm.
Karen Vilonen and her family hitched their field wagon to a tractor on their Ben Brook Farm & Nursery in Amherst — named for Ben and daughter Brook — and loaded up with plants and cut flowers for the festival at the Amherst Museum.
And despite the weather, those who turned out enjoyed rug-making, Victorian dancing, spinning and weaving, blacksmithing and other demonstrations of old-time skills.
“I’m getting these sunflowers for my mother, who’s in the hospital,” said Peggy Slowinkski of Amherst, who just pulled her parka hood up when rain fell on the sunflowers she selected. “We come to this festival every year, it’s a tradition.”
Natalie Paul, of Lancaster, also parka-protected, said the flowers she picked out are “gorgeous.”
Ben Vilonen, influenced by his family’s 50-acre farm, is a landscape architect, as is his sister.
“We’re fortunate they’ve found employment in the area in their chosen field,” admits Karen Vilonen, who retired as a Buffalo elementary school teacher after 30 years. “They are, and always have been, very much a part of our farm.”
She also demonstrated another old art for festival-goers Sunday, preparing meals on a wood stove, which she’s done on her farm.
“When we bought our old farmhouse, we installed a wood-burning stove in the front room to help with the heat, and because we thought it would be a great focal point,” said Vilonen, who’s worked as manager of the Elmwood Bidwell Farmers’ Market in Buffalo for about four of its nine years.
“Over the years it’s done a fine job of keeping the heating bills down and warming our toes on winter nights. I’ve also developed a few recipes that I cook on the wood stove. During a February ice storm, when we were without power over a week, and again during the October Surprise storm, I was glad I had tried recipes. I’d have a hearty meal ready at the end of the day with little effort.”
And when festival fans ran indoors as the rain started, a museum special exhibit gave them another glimpse into the past so they could see how much work it was to wash clothes. “Blue Monday: Wash Day & Women” examines the changing technology of laundry day, from the 1800s through today, exploring the social, cultural and economic impact that washing machines and laundry products have had on everyday life.
Parking areas remained full as the fest became an indoor-outdoor event.
“It’s surprising how many people did turn out for the festival despite the weather,” said Joe Weickart, museum executive director.
