Volunteers sought to prepare apple butter
9/21/2011If you want to create a big stir, that's good news for organizers of the annual Applebutter Fest in Grand Rapids. Volunteers are being sought to help prepare apple butter for the festival scheduled for Oct. 9.
Before the first wave of crowds arrive that day, much preparation work must be done, including peeling bushels and bushels of apples as well as cooking, stirring, and canning four kettles of apple butter.
As in past years, the Historical Society of Grand Rapids, which sponsors the village's annual Applebutter Festival, has put out a call for volunteers for what is known in these parts as the Big Stir, an annual slice of Americana at the Kryder Farm, 4-862 County Road P, north of McClure.
This year, the Big Stir is to be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. Volunteers will cook, stir, and can kettles of apple butter.
Volunteers are asked to bring a dish to share during a potluck lunch which is to begin about noon.
People interested in taking part can come for a few hours or for the entire day.
In addition, volunteers are needed to peel apples Thursday and on Oct. 6 in the Grand Rapids Fire Hall. Peeling -- volunteers take note here: using mechanical peelers -- is to begin at 8 a.m. each day and finish by late afternoon. Lunch will be provided.
Volunteers, who are asked to bring a dishpan and also a paring knife for doing some trim work on the apples, are encouraged to work as many hours as they can.
For details on the Big Stir, contact Steve Kryder 419-748-8238, and for peeling details, call Neil Box 419-832-6214.
Information on the Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest is available at applebutterfest.org.