Fall 2014

Our House...is a very, very, very nice house!

This spring the “little pink house” across from Amberations’ upper field entrance became available. Known for her limitless pipe dreams, Amberations’ founder Gloria Wiley got it in her head that this would be a great opportunity to enlist a part time caretaker.

In what quickly became a learning experience, similar to opening a can of worms, Amberations has put almost every penny we have into the purchase and renovation of 2340 Amber Road. It is a bright and cheery little two bedroom house with a cute yard and convenient access to our fifty acres.

Our goal is to find someone to live there for what should be very low rent. In exchange for this great rate our “tenant” will help us with some of our feedings and/or upkeep. So far, the plan that was meant to provide relief, has amounted to a summer of intense cleaning and renovation work.

Soon we will see the fruits of our labor. Meanwhile, we could benefit more than ever from donations. For anyone with a few hours to spare, the range of opportunities to help us has just grown tenfold.

Give us a call if you'd like to help: 315-636-7166.

Fall Festival

We are fortunate to have some of the best local musicians delighting our audiences at Amberations’ Fall Festivals. Prepare for an afternoon of talent you won’t want to miss...from start to finish Sunday, October 5th from 1 - 6 PM at the Otisco Lake Community Center.

The Salt Potatoes is a quartet led by our musical coordinator and emcee Harvey Nusbaum. They cover jazz, traditional fiddling (Irish and American), rock, contemporary folk, you name it. Somehow it all comes out with the unique Salt Potatoes sound, irreverent and serious at the same time.

Bob Lyna uses the hard edge side of folk-rock to attract a loyal following in his hometown of Auburn and Central New York. His wit puts any audience at ease plus he jams with a wide variety of musicians. For our festival he’ ll be with his trio alternatively called Nuclear Ukulele or The West Niles Marching Jug Band.

Casual Plaid is a band well known to classmates and parents at Marcellus High School and is quickly becoming popular throughout Central NY. Their energy is genuine and they expertly apply it to bluegrass and the folkier side of pop. Not to be missed.

The SAMMY Award winning Easy Ramblers will bring their unique blend of “Easygrass” - a mixture of folk, bluegrass and roots oriented originals. This is their first time to Amberations’ Festival and we are excited to have them supporting our cause. You can hear them by going to the ReverbNation website and searching for “theeasyramblers.”

Since 2004 The Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble has played traditional dance music from Zimbabwe on seven marimbas (soprano through bass) and one hosho (aka maracas). Don’t miss them. They have a mellow steel drum sound with different grooves drifting in and out while the melody ties the musical lines together.

In addition to this great musical line up our event offers a great selection of unique foods, games, raffles, animals, our Treasure Hunt, Duck Race, animals and more. Bring your family and friends to enjoy this fun day and support a great cause, this event is fun rain or shine.

Schedule:
1:00-1:45 Salt Potatoes
2:00-2:45 The Bob Lyna Trio
3:00-3:45 The Easy Ramblers
4:00-4:45 Casual Plaid
5:00-5:45 Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble
5:45-6:00 DUCK RACE

A Pond and Frogs?

One of our visions is to build a pond. That would not only mean frogs, tadpoles, and dragonflies, but it would also reduce the mud and water that sometimes seeps into our barn. Can you be the person who helps this vision become reality?

Become a Volunteer

We are looking to expand our small family of volunteers. Thank you to our new crew of teens, preteens and adults who have stepped in to help us with feedings at the barn.

If you enjoy the outdoors, working with animals, carpentry and general grounds maintenance, please consider helping us out.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy nature and spend time interacting with animals.

We have hosted youth groups, church groups, group homes and senior citizens and are always looking to expand our organization.

This is our busy time of year with our Fall Fest quickly approaching on October 5th. There’s lots to do including helping us prepare the food, setting up games, cleaning up the site, as well as volunteering the day of the event. Consider coming to enjoy this fun day with us.

We can tailor tasks to match your skills. Groups or individuals are welcome and we will work within your schedule barn animals, to building a pond.

Please contact Becky Hudson our Volunteer Coordinator if you would like to help our organization.

Spreading the Message

Nothing is more exciting than to see kids enjoying nature and animals. Many kids today do not have that opportunity.

Amberations exists as a place for them to feel free-spirited and creative, to connect with the animals and to explore paths, trees, ravines and expanses of sky.

You can help us spread this message by supporting us with regular Pledges or Donations.

Taking Care of Our Animals

The increasing numbers of people who visit us are always excited about our Animals. It costs about $200/month to feed Joe (our donkey), Katie (our sheep), Boo & Billie (our goats), our assorted chickens and Guinea Fowl, our 6 ducks and our two cats, Happy and Shadow.

We are grateful to Wegman’s which provides funding for our cat food. The animals also need good vet care. This has cost more than $600.00 annually. One way you can help Amberations is to Adopt an Animal. By agreeing to contribute monthly to an animal of your choice you will be sustaining the continued health and welfare of our small farm family.

Realizing Our Vision

Amberations has come a long way! When you visit our Festival this year you’ll see many new things: a composting toilet by the barn, new ducks and goats, new volunteers and visitors and a New House.

The House is located across the street & up a little ways at 2340 Amber Road.

The vision of the House is that it will be rented at a very reasonable rate by people who will be caretakers for our animals. We are thus planning for a more secure future.

The House, of course, means an investment of time, labor and money. We have many needs at this crucial time. The costs to run Amberations are at an all time high.

How can you support us? Our new house needs:

• Contributions to help pay for the renovation
• Duct work
• Electrician to convert the house from fuses to circuit breakers
• A small deck outside the back door entrance
• Waterproofing of the basement walls

Volunteer Spotlight

Schuyler has been helping with animal care and feedings at Amberations this summer. She is an enthusiastic and welcome addition to our small family of volunteers. An interview with Schuyler by Becky, Amberations’ volunteer coordinator.

Becky: “Tell me about yourself.”

Schuyler: “I’m an 11th grader at Marcellus High School active in varsity basketball, outdoor track and cross country. I also work at “Tim’s Pumpkin Patch” in the Fall picking pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn for display and sales. I’ve always been around animals, growing up with a farm down the road.”

Becky: “How did you become interested in Amberations?”

Schuyler: “Through Patti Stremple, a friend of Gloria Wiley’s (Amberations’ founder). Per Gloria, the kids would play together while the moms socialized.

Becky: “What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Amberations?”

Schuyler: “I like being around the animals. It’s calming and gives me time to be by myself.”

Becky: “Who is your favorite?”

Schuyler: “Boo” (the white female goat) “She’s adorable!”

Becky: “What would you say to your peers about what they could gain by volunteering at Amberations?”

Schuyler: “It’s really rewarding knowing you’re helping someone out.”

Thanks Schuyler!!! Come meet Schuyler-she will be running the childrens’ games at Amberations’ Fall Fest on 10/5.

Potty Talk

Visitors to Amberations’ barn have often wished there were bathroom facilities available, especially those who have arrived after a long drive.

For over two years a contingency of students from SUNY—ESF’s Engineering for a Sustainable Society club have been working on creating a composting toilet for Amberations. This group researched, designed, planned, raised funds and built our toilet. It is now complete, about to undergo a few finishing aesthetic touches, and ready for use.

Composting toilets work to turn human waste into compost, completing a full cycle: food from the earth returns back into the earth.

In our toilet design the urine is separated and diluted to be used as fertilizer while the feces is mixed with carbon additives such as leaves, mulch or hay. This mixture is then left to sit for a year in our newly constructed two chamber composting bins.

Many students worked hard to make this dream a reality but we have to especially thank Kristine Ellsworth, the local projects committee head, for working steadfastly to see this project to fruition.

Additionally, one year ago Tony Russo stepped in to supervise construction and we are all so very thankful that he did.

A huge thank you to Kristine, Tony and all the others who made yet another of Amberations’ dreams a reality.