After two long days of labour and two sleep-deprived nights, I dragged out of bed stooped over with an aching back and thanked the Creator for answering my prayer. Before Apple Festival, I wanted to be Grannie, and now I am honoured to have the traditional symptoms of one.
For seven years, Halfmoon Bayers and friends have done a fall work party to produce apple butter. I think of our ancestors who worked hard for days to get the winter’s food put away. Whether it was smoking fish, baling hay, or making jam, the work was immediate and didn’t stop till it was done. It was survival. Everyone who was able helped so they could all eat later. Saturday, after the fire was lit and the stirring started, when helpers were not there to help, I asked “Why am I doing this?” Then folks came to buy Halfmoon heritage apples, and families came to ride the pony. Disappointed that Sunday was the day, their focus had to switch to the work. The answer to “why?” was seeing the looks on the faces of children stirring a cauldron full of bubbling sweet stuff for the first time, and the adults standing by the fire talking.
After festivities were over next day, I watched four-year-old Doris playing while her mom cleaned the children’s play tables. Doris asked me for a kid job to do. I was astounded that she volunteered. At the time we were collapsing a canopy, not suitable. So Doris ran off to admire the kettle waiting to be scoured with a corncob. She was too short. I saw the job for her and called her back. “Look, someone dropped puzzle pieces down there. Could you help pick them up?” She picked up two or three, saw many more, and ran off. Mom and I redirected her and she finished the task. I said, “Good job, and didn’t I see you playing a violin in the hall?” Doris earlier played Open String Blues with 40 other young violinists. She watched with big eyes as the big kids played advanced pieces. Doris made her debut with no fear surrounded by the amazing sound of others, in a hall packed with an appreciative and proud audience.
Young people don’t know what they don’t know. If those of us who do know don’t teach them, these good things will be lost. The Apple Festival started with the vision of all generations having fun while accomplishing something worthwhile. We have a good beginning to this end, but some things have yet to happen. What I see now is a few older people doing the hard stuff, and getting very tired, and some very young enjoying a happy day at beautiful Coopers Green. Many young adults and teenagers have yet to learn about this kind of fun. I say, “Come on, let’s have fun together and then eat something yummy!” Doris has learned this, so can others. Thanks to all who helped. Apple butter is done, my back is feeling better, and it is worth it.
