Amherst 250th celebrations continue

By Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on October 02, 2009

Agriculture is October's theme for Amherst's 250th anniversary celebration and the month fittingly begins with a farm festival on the Town Common Saturday.

The free festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., features music, a tractor ring, farm equipment of all shapes and sizes and children's activities such as a hay maze, melon roll and pumpkin painting. An exhibit will also trace the town's agricultural history.

Ruth Hazzard, chairwoman of the town's Agricultural Commission, said the town's anniversary year was a good opportunity to bring back an event that recognizes the importance of farms in the community.

"We're kind of reviving it in honor of the town's 250th," Hazzard said.

Atkins Farms Country Market and Mapleline Farm will cater lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Atkins will put on a barbecue dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for the dinner.

The festival also includes off-site farm tours that will run from 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. During each tour, people will have the opportunity to visit three farms that depict the range of agriculture taking place in Amherst, Hazzard said.

The morning tour features Rocky Acres Tree Farm on Flat Hills Road, Brookfield Farm on Hulst Road and the Hampshire College Farm Center on West Street. The early afternoon tour will take place at Small Ones Farm on Bay Road, Muddy Brook Farm on Bay Road and Heartland Farm on Station Road. The final tour will hit Swartz Family Farm on Meadow Street, Sunset Farm on Sunset Avenue and Simple Gifts Farm on North Pleasant Street.

David Tepfer, owner of Simple Gifts Farm, said visitors will be able to see the organic vegetable and free-range egg production at the 300-family Community Supported Agriculture enterprise, a working team of young oxen and meat calves.

He is looking forward to the event. "I think it's fantastic," Tepfer said. "We're a CSA right in town, and we're all about having people visit."

Leslie Cox, farm manager at Hampshire College, said visitors will have many things to see, including the maple syrup, cider pressing and compost operations, livestock that includes cattle, sheep, chickens, turkeys and honey bees, the educational component for college students and summer camps for children, and the CSA run by Nancy Hanson.

The Amherst Farmers Market in the Spring Street parking lot will coincide with the farm festival from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The events will be held rain or shine.

Ongoing events

The yearlong celebration of Amherst's 250th anniversary will continue in October with a series of activities, many exploring the month's theme of "Farmers and Agriculture." Following is a list of events:

" Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Community Day at the Mead Art Museum on the Amherst College campus. Visitors can celebrate the museum's 60th anniversary with games, refreshments and special programs led by museum docents.

" Oct. 4, 3 p.m. - Amherst History Museum Afternoon Tea and presentation of "The Secret Language of Fans" at the Strong House, 67 Amity St. This lecture and gathering will include a chance to see rarely viewed fans from the museum's collection and an opportunity to decorate a fan prior to the tea. Admission is $12 for members, $15 for non-members and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Call 256-0678 for information.

" Oct. 4, 1 to 3 p.m. - Opening reception for "Celebrate North Amherst," an exhibit of photos and memorabilia related to North Amherst at the North Amherst Congregational Church, 1195 North Pleasant St. The exhibit will be open every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Oct. 14 and Oct. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 549-0500 for information.

" Oct. 11, 2 p.m. - "Farmers and Agriculture" is a lecture by Peter Westover at the South Congregational Church, 1066 South East St. Call 253-2977 for information.

" Oct. 11, 3 p.m. - Amherst History Museum Architectural Bicycle Tour at the Strong House. The route will take riders to West Cemetery, the railroad station, the Dickinson houses, Spring Street Victorians and the town common. In addition to getting exercise, participants will learn to identify styles of architecture and become more familiar with the buildings and famous former residents of the Emily Dickinson historic district. Free for museum members, children under 16 and seniors; $5 donation for all others.

" Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. - "A Look Back at North Amherst," a lecture by Patricia Holland at the North Amherst Congregational Church sanctuary.

" Oct. 21, 7 p.m. - A lecture on the poet Robert Frost by William Pritchard at Jones Library, 43 Amity St.

" Oct. 24, 1 p.m. - Dedication of the Jones Library as a Frost Literary Landmark. In recognition of the poet's connection to and support of the library, the Jones will be designated a Frost Literary Landmark by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library, Amherst 250th Celebration Committee, Greenfield Savings Bank and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.

" Oct. 24, 2:30 p.m. - Frost Readers' Theater at the Jones Library Atrium.

" Oct. 31, noon to 3 p.m. - Halloween Open House at the Strong House. Visitors can stop by for Halloween treats and browse the museum.

To see a list of the remaining events for the year, go to www.amherst250.org.