82-Uncaster Farming, Saturday, December 15,1984
Home economist opts for handmade gifts
BY ROBIN PHILLIPS
Staff Correspondent
FLEETWOOD - “Dear Friend,
“With the Christmas season-fast
approaching, I am sure you have
begun to think of the gifts you want
to give your family and friends. I
challenge you to use your
imaginative mind and creative
hands to make your gifts from
fabric, ribbons and lace.
“On Christmas Day, give your
handmade gifts with pride. You
FI
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The highlights of her Christmas craft programs in Berks
and Lehigh Counties this year were these quilted wall
hangings. The screen patches were purchased and then
pieced together in this patchwbrk design to form the country
wall hanging.
Phoebe Bitler instructs a doll-making class at the Berks County Ag center. “Yours isn’t
a ’Cabbage Patch,’ it’s an original,” she tells her audience.
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took extra time to make it special.
It took more time, love, and energy
then the present bought hastily
during the Christmas rush.”
This is the introduction on one of
Phoebe Biller’s craft program
booklets. She just recently
resigned as a Berks County home
economist but thoroughly enjoys
freelancing as she goes from
county to county holding Christ
mas craft programs. She
demonstrates. She instructs. And,
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The tin punch ornaments adorn her windows.
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she encourages. Numbers alone
show that her talents are admired;
for the Berks County program this
year, over 1,100 homemakers
showed up for three separate
sessions to hear Phoebe.
Her short letter to homemakers
on her craft booklets gives much
insight into Phoebe Bitler. She
loves sewing. She loves making
crafts, and she loves giving
distinctive gifts. Her home was
filled with many of her beautiful
projects but she confessed to
giving most of them away.
“I like to give homemade gifts.
You feel like you really gave
something when you made it,” she
states. “I love sewing clothes too.
My favorite thing to sew is kid’s
clothes,” she adds.
Now she has the chance to sew
her own child’s clothing. Little six
month-old Jesse was the main
reason Phoebe decided to give up
extension work. “I enjoyed the
extension work to the hilt, but I
enjoy my child,” Phoebe says.
A previous home economics
teacher in Lancaster County,
Phoebe worked in the Berks
County Extension Service for three
years before “retiring” to the
farm. Now she is a full-time farm
wife and mother, doing craft
programs as time permits.
Dairy farming is nothing new to
this talented lady. The daughter of
Alpheus Ruth, president of Lehigh
Valley Farmers, Phoebe and her
husband, Dave, and her brother,
Joseph, and his wife, have formed
a partnership on the home farm.
The Vista Grande Holstein Farm,
R 4 Fleetwood, is home to 80
registered Holsteins pumping out
over 17,900 pounds of milk and 700
pounds fat. Helping with the
showing over the summer and
doing the book work, Phoebe also
assists in feeding the calves. Her
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Phoebe is also very proud of her homemade luggage
Other highlights from the 1984 Berks Christmas program
included a duplicate stitched sweater, woven heart or
nament, basket with cathedral window top and a heart box
with bread dough ornamental rose.
heritage also makes her adamant
about milk promotion.
“I think promotion is very im
portant. If we don’t promote our
product, who else will?” She
continues, “Farm wives can do a
good job of promotion. When you
have company, use dairy
products,” she says. Gift packages
of cheese and butter are excellent
choices for Christmas, she says.
homestead
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“Take milk and ice cream for
treats at various functions you
attend,” Pheobe urges. School
class tours are also good
promotion ideas according to
Phoebe. “I think it’s important for
farms to be willing to host some of
these things,” she continues.
Her crafts also reflect her
heritage. She loves the country
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