Meet the Amee Farmers - Russell and Elizabeth

We are in full bloom! All due to Russell and Elizabeth - our super farm team:) A guest at The Amee Farm Lodge will see these guys hard at work everyday, working their chores early morning til night, all over the farm. Today they are preparing for the upcoming Harvest Festival in nearby Rochester, Vermont.

They love teaching people (especially kids) about the values of farming and importance of sustainable agriculture.

Elizabeth Roma

Her love of Farming grew from watching her mother in their family garden. "She had her hands in the soil every summer and I loved watching her work"
Born: Louisville, KY
Education: Green Mountain College (Vermont)
Hobbies: Knitting and Spinning

Russel Lewczuk-Jensen

Born: Brooklyn, NY
Spent his summers living on an organic farm called Spannocchia in Tuscany, Italy. His parents are artists and they would go each summer to paint and be inspired by the natural beauty at this farm. Russell was inspired by the farm life, the gardens, the animals and the Italian style cooking. His loves carrots, beets, prosciutto, making focaccia bread... and is as the gardens blooms and animals are butchered... he has been known to host spontaneous Tuscan inspired bbq's and parties for friends and family. Yum.


Earlier this summer Russell and Elizabeth entertained young farmers-in-training: Jack (4), Charlie (2 1/2) and Kingston (3)..the boys were delighted with the chickens....

When you come to the Amee Farm be sure to introduce yourself....

Rustic Barn Wedding

Amee Barn Wedding

This past weekend was one of our favorite weddings of all time. John and Celia chose to host their wedding day reception in the Amee Farm barn (an organic farm just a half a mile down the road).  They love Vermont, farms and great produce:) and chose the barn as a rustic backdrop for their farm fresh meal. My favorite element of their design was the farm table. They chose locally-made 8 foot,  rectangular  "farmhouse tables"  to set the scene in this intimate space. They chose a sweet, white hemstitch runner and flowers in season (great bright oranges, deep green, reds and cranberry colors) sitting in an tomato tin can. It was just so adorable...I hope my photos do it justice. This dining experience was definitely not your typical (boring) wedding feel....The dinner was buzzing with comfortable conversation and beautiful toasts of friends and family, the setting sun, soft glow of candle light and the simple and classic textures (raw wood tables and white cotton linens) created the perfect mood. It was relaxed and classic and elegant and fun.... just like John and Celia.

Shannon and Ben - a beautiful summer wedding

June 2010

We had the honor of hosting Shannon and Ben's family here at the Amee Farm for their lovely wedding weekend in June. The weather was perfect- sunny but not too warm. The morning of the wedding all the guests enjoyed hiking, relaxing on the front porch and just chatting with one another. With everyone staying right here in Pittsfield, it made for a very relaxing "family reunion" style event. These families were so laid back and just enjoyed spending the weekend catching up and celebrating with the happy couple. After a long day of lounging at the Amee Lodge, they gathered for a quiet ceremony by the waterfall and then walked over the beautiful candle lit barn and dined together over a fabulous summer farm fare which of course included fresh produce plucked right out of The Amee Farm garden. Lovely weekend. Enjoy the photos courtesy of Courtney Desena:)

Ben and Shannon

Walking together from the pond up the hill to their ceremony...

With live mandolin music being played, the walked hand in hand- their first steps as a married couple

Shannon is so happy... she grinned through the entire ceremony. Love it!

Shannon and Ben are getting married

OK Here is your country wedding in Vermont and this photo is the inspiration you've been needing to break out your paper and pen (or laptop) and write those vows. Grab some tissues and a glass of wine and get to work:) 

This is the view from the ceremony... what your bridesmaids, groomsman and officiant will see throughout your private service... pretty awesome. 

Mountain view and garden bridge 

View from the ceremony site... the mountains, the barns, the pond... Pure Vermont!

flowers....

Ceremony site - waterfall  and garden.... remember that it's YOUR choice of chair for your guests... anything from wooden benches, hay bales with mexican blankets, church pews or white wooden folding chairs... anything you want:) We encourage creativity...

There are so many great places to get the "country" shot- with the tall grasses here, behind the stone path...it makes for a fantastic setting for your farm wedding... without the manure smell of course:)

Shannon in the garden 

The country garden is in full bloom (June)

Ben and Shannon sitting in the garden

Walking through the garden

View from the ceremony site by the waterfall

Quiet time before the wedding ceremony

A quiet moment  in the bridal suite before the ceremony... 

Grandmother's golden heirloom pendant

Popular shoe choice among Vermont brides... practical, adorable and comfy!

Beautiful, simple bridesmaid flowers tied with a white ribbon....Thanks to Trish from The Pittsfield Garden Center (her shop is right next door)

Shannon's bouquet... lovely