The Seed and the Story for June 29th, 2011: Garden Conversations.

Hollyhock in my garden.

This piece was originally published in the Post Dispatch.  If you like this piece and want to see more like it, please be sure and support the local paper. And be sure and let them know you enjoy the Seed and the Story!

If you’re like me, you can’t keep your hands out of the garden when it is going strong. Plump tomatoes, bright peppers and the heaviest watermelons call your name from the yard. I’ve already helped myself to the basil, dill, and rosemary, and just about every morning I take a few moments to go tend to the beautiful hollyhocks, zinnias, snapdragons, daisies, and yarrow all glowing so brightly in the morning sun. The combined smells, tastes and sites in my garden make it an irresistible place to spend solitary time.   I love my garden for its beauty, its practicality, and its window into a world of mystery. It feeds our family, it offers a glimpse into the never-ending cycles of birth and death, and it lends an element of wonder to my days. It also provides a few moments of silence and space for contemplation, a tiny sliver of solitude in an otherwise busy, loud, and hectic life.

But there’s another reason I love my garden. I feel a special connection to those plants that’s largely hard to describe, but mostly comes down to this: almost all the plants in my garden either came from, or were inspired by, someone else.

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“A Knit Culture,” article in Courier.

Knitters at the Knit Night in Russellville, Arkansas

I’m a bit late in posting this, but here is a link to the story on Knit Night at Knit 2 Together Yarn Shop in Russellville, Arkansas. A radio piece featuring interviews from the evening is in the works and should be done by (crossing fingers) next week. It will be my first foray into radio production in several years, so I am excited about its completion.

For a little behind the scenes information on the store see my previous post, which also includes a few photos.

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Knit Night at Knit 2 Together

Knitting and Visiting

Last week I had the opportunity to visit with the knitters at the weekly Knit Night, a Tuesday evening knitting circle that meets at Knit 2 Together Yarn Shop in downtown Russellville, Arkansas. I heard wonderful stories about how they all learned to knit, discussions of their love for both the tactile and calming elements of the craft, and the importance of their evenings spent together. Continue reading »

What’s In the Works ~ The McElroy House: Center for Regional Oral History and Folklife Research

After much thought and time spent wondering where to go from here, I have decided to begin the process of creating a small oral history and folklife research center in my hometown. I have included my plans and ideas for the Center listed at the bottom of this post. I welcome any feedback! Continue reading »

The Zinn Education Project and downloadable copy of The People’s History for the Classroom.

Social Justice educational publishers and organizations Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change have published a middle and high school history curriculum based on Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. A copy is available for free download here. To download a free copy you must agree to respond to a survey and provide feedback after completing the book. You need not be a middle or high school teacher to download a copy.
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