The Dharma of the Springs
August 6th, 2021
A collection of images that showcase the many ways Buddhism has found its home here in Yellow Springs at the Dharma Center.
Bulls on Parade
Cattle behavior on an organic farm June 30, 2016
Jon Paul and Megan Rion own an organic farm just out of town called Orion Organics. They produce an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides. They also have a herd of beef cattle that are raised on pasture. I asked Jon and Megan about their cows and how they interact with each other and the environment around them. Cattle behavior can seem fairly dull to casual observers, though if you immerse yourself in their world, the dynamics of the cows’ social structure and grazing habits are anything but.
Jon Paul and Megan Rion’s foray into the world of cattle farming began around a dozen years ago when someone from Jon’s church gifted him a couple Dexter cows, which is a breed suited for grass feeding. Grass-fed beef is supposedly much higher in important nutrients such as omega-3s and 6s. The herd has grown over the years, and now about forty-three cows, calves, and a few bulls meander up and down the fields and pastures. Jon and Megan grass-feed the cows from birth. They also sell the manure, which can be quite valuable, at the Dorothy Lane Market.
After asking Jon and Megan some questions, they allowed me access to the back field on their property to come and go as I pleased to observe the cattle. Megan was particularly interested in how a herd that included some bulls (most do not) would behave differently from standard herds. Jon suggested observing the cows either during the morning or the evening, when it wasn’t so hot, otherwise they would just be sitting in the shade. He encouraged me to really spend time with them, and I did. When asked how they thought the cows perceived them, the farmers, Jon stated “we’re part of the herd.”
Over the next couple of weeks, I periodically made my way down to where the cows grazed.It took a substantial amount of bravery (coming from who knows where) to initially approach these large horned beasts. Would they charge me? They had a number of young calves and Jon and Megan said that when they perceive a threat, they circle around the young to protect them. No such circle formed as I inched closer to them and I took it as a sign that they did not see me as a predator. Also, if other humans had been tending to them over the years, they could probably tell I wasn’t a wolf that would gobble their infants. Occasionally, if I got too close, a stomp or a snort would signal for me to take a step back.
I could not tell who was the “leader” or “alpha” cow/bull of the heard. Indeed, it never really became clear over the weeks whether or not such a leader existed. They moved together, like a small community, keeping to the shade when they could and constantly grazing. They would shove each other as motivation to keep walking, but never a single leader to move them all. Sometimes they split into “sub-groups” with the mothers tending to the calves. They noticeably became more spread out later in the day.When not scanning the ground for patches of green, they mostly kept to the shade. One evening I discovered the whole herd grouped under a canopy of honeysuckle, scratching their noses against the bark and urinating frequently. I seemed to have discovered their “bathroom”and made a note to not spend much more time in that area.
After the initial and tense “introduction”, the cows seemed to accept me and let me walk with them. There were times where it felt like the cows were actually following my lead, as if I had discovered the best patch of clover to munch on. It could have possibly just been my ego getting the better of me though.
Initially, the cows vocalized quite a bit, mooing and bellowing constantly to who knows what out in the distance. Calling to another herd? Warning predators to stay away? It was unclear to me what their calls meant, as they were not directed to each other but out into the distance. The moos eventually dissipated the more I visited so who knows, maybe the cows were letting another herd know that I was “theirs” and to stay away from me, that they had claimed me. That’s kind of a stretch though. Jon Paul told me sometimes young bulls will vocalize to compete with other bulls for females. There are usually no full-blown physical fights but I noticed a few broken horns among the herd.
The bulls that are in the herd, according to Jon, are castrated, and it does change their behavior substantially and even their appearance. It was very difficult to tell who was a bull and who was a cow based on behavior alone. Some of the biggest sets of horns belonged to the cows. A lack of testosterone due to castration made the bulls less aggressive and dominant and more like the cows. Megan’s question seemed to be answered – due to castration, the addition of bulls did not seem to change much of the herd’s behavior. Jon noted that when a bull (castrated or not) is courting a female, there is a certain gentleness and tenderness that overtakes him.
As for the caring for the calves, responsibility is divvied up between the mothers and “grandmothers” in the herd. Jon and Megan bottle-fed a calf from birth and they note that now it is distinctly lower on the “totem pole” than calves raised by their own. The cattle seem to ostracize those that they see as strangers to the herd, which is what made my interactions with them all the more special, as they eventually accepted me into their numbers. When I walked with them, a powerful feeling of belonging and being “one” with the herd overcame me. I felt like I was flowing with them. Every time I took off, I felt a sadness, like I was abandoning them, and could distinctly feel different from when I was with them to when I left.
Jon Paul and Megan’s farm is progressive and unique in it’s techniques, organic approach, and architecture. Jon is also interested in what he considers to be “biodynamic farming”, an alternative approach to agriculture that incorporates spiritual dynamics to the process of farming. In biodynamics, the cow is seen as the ultimate receptacle. It absorbs everything around it, even the universe, and reflects it back at the world and the entities in it. Maybe a far-fetched concept, but if you were to immerse yourself in the cow’s world and see their uniqueness for what it is, you might believe in such things.
Jon Paul and Megan Rion’s foray into the world of cattle farming began around a dozen years ago when someone from Jon’s church gifted him a couple Dexter cows, which is a breed suited for grass feeding. Grass-fed beef is supposedly much higher in important nutrients such as omega-3s and 6s. The herd has grown over the years, and now about forty-three cows, calves, and a few bulls meander up and down the fields and pastures. Jon and Megan grass-feed the cows from birth. They also sell the manure, which can be quite valuable, at the Dorothy Lane Market.
After asking Jon and Megan some questions, they allowed me access to the back field on their property to come and go as I pleased to observe the cattle. Megan was particularly interested in how a herd that included some bulls (most do not) would behave differently from standard herds. Jon suggested observing the cows either during the morning or the evening, when it wasn’t so hot, otherwise they would just be sitting in the shade. He encouraged me to really spend time with them, and I did. When asked how they thought the cows perceived them, the farmers, Jon stated “we’re part of the herd.”
Over the next couple of weeks, I periodically made my way down to where the cows grazed.It took a substantial amount of bravery (coming from who knows where) to initially approach these large horned beasts. Would they charge me? They had a number of young calves and Jon and Megan said that when they perceive a threat, they circle around the young to protect them. No such circle formed as I inched closer to them and I took it as a sign that they did not see me as a predator. Also, if other humans had been tending to them over the years, they could probably tell I wasn’t a wolf that would gobble their infants. Occasionally, if I got too close, a stomp or a snort would signal for me to take a step back.
I could not tell who was the “leader” or “alpha” cow/bull of the heard. Indeed, it never really became clear over the weeks whether or not such a leader existed. They moved together, like a small community, keeping to the shade when they could and constantly grazing. They would shove each other as motivation to keep walking, but never a single leader to move them all. Sometimes they split into “sub-groups” with the mothers tending to the calves. They noticeably became more spread out later in the day.When not scanning the ground for patches of green, they mostly kept to the shade. One evening I discovered the whole herd grouped under a canopy of honeysuckle, scratching their noses against the bark and urinating frequently. I seemed to have discovered their “bathroom”and made a note to not spend much more time in that area.
After the initial and tense “introduction”, the cows seemed to accept me and let me walk with them. There were times where it felt like the cows were actually following my lead, as if I had discovered the best patch of clover to munch on. It could have possibly just been my ego getting the better of me though.
Initially, the cows vocalized quite a bit, mooing and bellowing constantly to who knows what out in the distance. Calling to another herd? Warning predators to stay away? It was unclear to me what their calls meant, as they were not directed to each other but out into the distance. The moos eventually dissipated the more I visited so who knows, maybe the cows were letting another herd know that I was “theirs” and to stay away from me, that they had claimed me. That’s kind of a stretch though. Jon Paul told me sometimes young bulls will vocalize to compete with other bulls for females. There are usually no full-blown physical fights but I noticed a few broken horns among the herd.
The bulls that are in the herd, according to Jon, are castrated, and it does change their behavior substantially and even their appearance. It was very difficult to tell who was a bull and who was a cow based on behavior alone. Some of the biggest sets of horns belonged to the cows. A lack of testosterone due to castration made the bulls less aggressive and dominant and more like the cows. Megan’s question seemed to be answered – due to castration, the addition of bulls did not seem to change much of the herd’s behavior. Jon noted that when a bull (castrated or not) is courting a female, there is a certain gentleness and tenderness that overtakes him.
As for the caring for the calves, responsibility is divvied up between the mothers and “grandmothers” in the herd. Jon and Megan bottle-fed a calf from birth and they note that now it is distinctly lower on the “totem pole” than calves raised by their own. The cattle seem to ostracize those that they see as strangers to the herd, which is what made my interactions with them all the more special, as they eventually accepted me into their numbers. When I walked with them, a powerful feeling of belonging and being “one” with the herd overcame me. I felt like I was flowing with them. Every time I took off, I felt a sadness, like I was abandoning them, and could distinctly feel different from when I was with them to when I left.
Jon Paul and Megan’s farm is progressive and unique in it’s techniques, organic approach, and architecture. Jon is also interested in what he considers to be “biodynamic farming”, an alternative approach to agriculture that incorporates spiritual dynamics to the process of farming. In biodynamics, the cow is seen as the ultimate receptacle. It absorbs everything around it, even the universe, and reflects it back at the world and the entities in it. Maybe a far-fetched concept, but if you were to immerse yourself in the cow’s world and see their uniqueness for what it is, you might believe in such things.
Cascading Leaves – A sea of green June 2, 2016
There is precious little time left in spring, enough for a final look at its traces. The rolling sea of green above sways like fabric, carrying thoughts and whispers up into the canopy.
The transition to summer’s shimmering heat brings forth new sights, sounds, and feelings all around. Rejoice in the verdant splendor set before you like an artist’s easel painted to death. Take pause and breathe in the invigorating air.
The trees smother time; make it damp and cool. What will you see in them?
The transition to summer’s shimmering heat brings forth new sights, sounds, and feelings all around. Rejoice in the verdant splendor set before you like an artist’s easel painted to death. Take pause and breathe in the invigorating air.
The trees smother time; make it damp and cool. What will you see in them?
Gifts of the Glen – A Spring Essay March 19, 2016
Winter is gloomy. Yet, statistics show, people in the throes of hopelessness (clinical depression,etc…) are least likely to do something drastic during that cold, bitter time of the year. The riskiest point on the calendar for someone on the brink is the beginning of spring, when the weather warms up and the flowers poke out. Why is that? Maybe it’s because the burdens of life are suddenly rekindled? Isn’t spring the time for new love and new beginnings? Perhaps there is a comfort in clinging to old habits, memories, and relationships that gets ripped away at the beginning of the season. It can be traumatic.
Moving on to lighter things though — the Glen, when the paths are not boggy swamps, offers many gifts and hints at things to come in the season: flowers, greenery, and blooming mushrooms among other delights. There is still a glut of bare tree limbs and ice scarred rocks, but the views are nice and the water flows with an invigorating power. Take a stroll by your lonesome and you won’t feel so alone with the birds and the wind. Take as many people as you want for company otherwise but be respectful of the area.
If there is something spring offers that other seasons do not, it is a sense of innocence. Winter is bleak, summer is over-saturated, and autumn is busy but confined. Spring is crisp; it’s light. Babies are born everywhere. We hammer in the notion that it’s all about “new beginnings” this time of the year and there is truth to that. The child-like innocence of this new season touches us and the sights and sounds clear our minds unlike any other time of the year.
The images I take during my forays into the wilds (if our tiny nature preserve can be called that) provide a visual complement to what I am saying here. I hope that by viewing these images and the ones to come, I can tie in a visual metaphor to what I extrapolate within this written essay. If I venture out again in the coming weeks, there will be brighter and greener images on their way.
Moving on to lighter things though — the Glen, when the paths are not boggy swamps, offers many gifts and hints at things to come in the season: flowers, greenery, and blooming mushrooms among other delights. There is still a glut of bare tree limbs and ice scarred rocks, but the views are nice and the water flows with an invigorating power. Take a stroll by your lonesome and you won’t feel so alone with the birds and the wind. Take as many people as you want for company otherwise but be respectful of the area.
If there is something spring offers that other seasons do not, it is a sense of innocence. Winter is bleak, summer is over-saturated, and autumn is busy but confined. Spring is crisp; it’s light. Babies are born everywhere. We hammer in the notion that it’s all about “new beginnings” this time of the year and there is truth to that. The child-like innocence of this new season touches us and the sights and sounds clear our minds unlike any other time of the year.
The images I take during my forays into the wilds (if our tiny nature preserve can be called that) provide a visual complement to what I am saying here. I hope that by viewing these images and the ones to come, I can tie in a visual metaphor to what I extrapolate within this written essay. If I venture out again in the coming weeks, there will be brighter and greener images on their way.
Flying Mouse Farms’ Sweet Serenade February 24, 2016
John Dewine of Flying Mouse Farms stands before the smoking evaporator more as a guardian than a farmer; periodically testing the hydrometer on the side to make sure the density of the syrupy river rushing through the many chambers falls within the correct measurements. If it strays above a marked density, it will crystallize. If it falls below, John will be selling sugary water rather than syrup. It’s all a balancing act.
The acquisition of the sap is a precarious business too. There is a narrow window of time to tap the big Maple trees at Flying Mouse and gather enough sap to boil in the “Sugar Shack” out on John’s property. The temperatures must fluctuate a certain way throughout the night and day; cold when the sun goes down so the sap stops flowing, and warmer during the day to get the sap going. If there is the right combination of temperature fluctuations, the process can happen. Otherwise, not so much luck. As John explains, some seasons are more profitable than others, and he is at the mercy of the changing temperatures.
The Maple tree is one of the only trees able to produce syrup. Some species, like the Birch, can make a syrupy concoction but the Maple tree rules. Why? Scientists are not quite sure. John explains that as far as we know the cells of a Maple tree are structured in a special way which makes the tapping process work. He himself has a PhD in Ecology. When asked if having something like that aids him in his farming practices, he smiles and says “It helps…” The practice of tapping maples for syrup is sustainable as long as John doesn’t drain a massive amount. The trees regenerate sap quickly.
It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Workers spend long hours hauling buckets back and forth from the six hundred and fifty metal taps over to the giant plastic barrel suspended above the shack that feeds the evaporator. The contraption has long, chambered gradients that run the sap through and filters out unwanted flotsam while evaporating enough water to make the syrup thick and edible. John is able to produce a few gallons of syrup per hour of boiling. An old fashioned wood furnace underneath powers the whole process. Sap boils at a slightly higher temperature than water (seven degrees higher), so more heat and wood is required for the process. John is constantly adding more wood to the furnace during the procedure.
There is a final filtering process before John bottles everything up. He pours the sap that has gone through the evaporator through layers of thick cloth to get rid of any last unwanted particles. Then, he bottles the sap and sells it to us! Delicious syrup is the final reward for all the hard work, and the syrup at Flying Mouse is something special. Many people in town have become enthusiastic and regular customers. Early Native American tribes began tapping trees for syrup many centuries ago. They used hollow logs to hold the sap and boiled it with heated rocks. Methods are more sophisticated now, but our love of syrup has not diminished. It is a special part of our diet, and a special product that Flying Mouse Farms has given us.
The acquisition of the sap is a precarious business too. There is a narrow window of time to tap the big Maple trees at Flying Mouse and gather enough sap to boil in the “Sugar Shack” out on John’s property. The temperatures must fluctuate a certain way throughout the night and day; cold when the sun goes down so the sap stops flowing, and warmer during the day to get the sap going. If there is the right combination of temperature fluctuations, the process can happen. Otherwise, not so much luck. As John explains, some seasons are more profitable than others, and he is at the mercy of the changing temperatures.
The Maple tree is one of the only trees able to produce syrup. Some species, like the Birch, can make a syrupy concoction but the Maple tree rules. Why? Scientists are not quite sure. John explains that as far as we know the cells of a Maple tree are structured in a special way which makes the tapping process work. He himself has a PhD in Ecology. When asked if having something like that aids him in his farming practices, he smiles and says “It helps…” The practice of tapping maples for syrup is sustainable as long as John doesn’t drain a massive amount. The trees regenerate sap quickly.
It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Workers spend long hours hauling buckets back and forth from the six hundred and fifty metal taps over to the giant plastic barrel suspended above the shack that feeds the evaporator. The contraption has long, chambered gradients that run the sap through and filters out unwanted flotsam while evaporating enough water to make the syrup thick and edible. John is able to produce a few gallons of syrup per hour of boiling. An old fashioned wood furnace underneath powers the whole process. Sap boils at a slightly higher temperature than water (seven degrees higher), so more heat and wood is required for the process. John is constantly adding more wood to the furnace during the procedure.
There is a final filtering process before John bottles everything up. He pours the sap that has gone through the evaporator through layers of thick cloth to get rid of any last unwanted particles. Then, he bottles the sap and sells it to us! Delicious syrup is the final reward for all the hard work, and the syrup at Flying Mouse is something special. Many people in town have become enthusiastic and regular customers. Early Native American tribes began tapping trees for syrup many centuries ago. They used hollow logs to hold the sap and boiled it with heated rocks. Methods are more sophisticated now, but our love of syrup has not diminished. It is a special part of our diet, and a special product that Flying Mouse Farms has given us.
Local artists show abstracts at Winds January 14, 2016
Collaboration was inevitable. Two talented painters who verged on similar styles in a town that bubbles with creative juices would no doubt cross swords either in peace or conflict one of these days, and that is what Martin Borchers and Zane Reichert have done.
“Artifacts of Vacuity” goes up at The Winds Cafe from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15 and includes selected works from both artists. After working together a few times on a smaller scale, the two decided to make the plunge and present a serious show. The audience can expect an array of abstract paintings that the artists have spilt their blood and ink on for a long time.
Both painters went out to study rust patterns on materials in town to incorporate into their work. Each artist’s work is unique, but they both utilize the same style of high-energy painting with the displayed rust patterns. Martin describes his work as “non-representational abstract paintings.” With an emphasis on fluidity, his work is a meditation on how the medium is static but still captures energy. He used numerous painting techniques to produce the effects he wants — dripping, pouring, puddling and sediment-based painting with acryclic, oil, ink and latex paints. He also used rust water suspended in vinegar to achieve some of the textures in his paintings.
Martin strives for the theme of the visual concept of rust over time. He wants to express an idea that over time, as structures and materials collapse, the result can be quite beautiful.
Zane describes his work as abstract impressionism. While achieving similar visual results as Martin, he went for slightly different themes in his work. More than trying to create an emphasis on formal elements, he is attempting to stretch his artistic limbs and manipulate the medium. His work is an exploration of texture and color and the end result is one of intrigue. You can almost feel the brush strokes pulling your attention in to the frame to swim around in the colors and textures.
“Artifacts of Vacuity” goes up at The Winds Cafe from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15 and includes selected works from both artists. After working together a few times on a smaller scale, the two decided to make the plunge and present a serious show. The audience can expect an array of abstract paintings that the artists have spilt their blood and ink on for a long time.
Both painters went out to study rust patterns on materials in town to incorporate into their work. Each artist’s work is unique, but they both utilize the same style of high-energy painting with the displayed rust patterns. Martin describes his work as “non-representational abstract paintings.” With an emphasis on fluidity, his work is a meditation on how the medium is static but still captures energy. He used numerous painting techniques to produce the effects he wants — dripping, pouring, puddling and sediment-based painting with acryclic, oil, ink and latex paints. He also used rust water suspended in vinegar to achieve some of the textures in his paintings.
Martin strives for the theme of the visual concept of rust over time. He wants to express an idea that over time, as structures and materials collapse, the result can be quite beautiful.
Zane describes his work as abstract impressionism. While achieving similar visual results as Martin, he went for slightly different themes in his work. More than trying to create an emphasis on formal elements, he is attempting to stretch his artistic limbs and manipulate the medium. His work is an exploration of texture and color and the end result is one of intrigue. You can almost feel the brush strokes pulling your attention in to the frame to swim around in the colors and textures.
Autumn’s Fair October 11, 2015
The 2015 Street Fair brought a sizable horde of patrons to Yellow Springs this past Saturday. All day, there were arts and crafts vendors lining the streets, music and beer, and plenty of food for everyone. It was unclear from an eye’s perspective alone whether or not there were more people than the summer’s event.
The weather was crisp, brisk, and very clear throughout the day; which gave festival attendees quite a lovely experience. Musical acts such as Ohio Brass & Electric, Elementree Livity Project , and Glostik Willy provided the day’s soundtrack at the Music & Beer Fest Lineup. Belly dancing troupe Egyptian Breeze and other acts entertained guests at the other end of town.
The food trucks provided succulent and delectable dishes to everyone who attended. The smells of cooked meats, sizzling onions, and fresh greens wafted along the autumn winds, making everyone’s mouth’s water. The general spirit of the event was happy and lighthearted.
The Street Fair is sponsored by Greene Memorial Hospital, Soin Medical Center, Antioch College, Wagner Subaru, USBank, WYSO, and the Dayton City Paper. It has been going on for quite some time and is an important tradition in our town. Most people from out of town are probably introduced to our village through the fair, and the flow of information and merchandise to outside consumers is too important to the economic health of the town. Here’s to many more years of festivities in the Springs.
The weather was crisp, brisk, and very clear throughout the day; which gave festival attendees quite a lovely experience. Musical acts such as Ohio Brass & Electric, Elementree Livity Project , and Glostik Willy provided the day’s soundtrack at the Music & Beer Fest Lineup. Belly dancing troupe Egyptian Breeze and other acts entertained guests at the other end of town.
The food trucks provided succulent and delectable dishes to everyone who attended. The smells of cooked meats, sizzling onions, and fresh greens wafted along the autumn winds, making everyone’s mouth’s water. The general spirit of the event was happy and lighthearted.
The Street Fair is sponsored by Greene Memorial Hospital, Soin Medical Center, Antioch College, Wagner Subaru, USBank, WYSO, and the Dayton City Paper. It has been going on for quite some time and is an important tradition in our town. Most people from out of town are probably introduced to our village through the fair, and the flow of information and merchandise to outside consumers is too important to the economic health of the town. Here’s to many more years of festivities in the Springs.
The Falling Rain Blues September 28, 2015
The crowd began to thin and the rain drove more away, but still the Blues Fest pressed onward with heart and vigor. The groups that were able to perform gave their all, and fans that stuck it out to the end were treated to terrific music and great food, courtesy of the AACW.
AACW, or, The African American Cross-Cultural Works, is an organization that honors and celebrates cultural diversity and heritage in the village of Yellow Springs. In addition to the annual Blues Fest, the organization also hosts an annual Kwanzaa celebration. This year, the AACW organized the annual Blues Fest event, which involved a number of events around town and at the Antioch Amphitheater.
AACW is headed by longtime resident Faith Patterson, and her family is a big influence on the festival, with her son and grandson usually procuring a slot in the musical lineup. This year, unfortunately, due to a sudden rainy spell and a dwindling crowd, The Nerak Roth Patterson Band made the decision not to perform.
Residents and out of town fans were treated to some special events and workshops before the main festival Saturday night. The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers sang Gospel at the First Presbyterian Church and there was a screening of the Nigerian film “Amazing Grace” at the Antioch Amphitheater with the director, Jeta Amata. The day of, on Saturday, numerous blues “workshops” scattered around town gave fans a “teaser trailer” of what was to come that night.
At the time of the festival’s main event, an ominous sky and sparse crowd seemed to seal the event’s fate from the beginning. The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood did their set, and suddenly the sky opened up and everything began to get very very wet. Nerak Roth Patterson decided his group could not perform and they packed up. An uncertain hour passed, and decisions about what to do floated around. Finally, a clear break in the weather gave the Lionel Young Band the opportunity to close the event. The end result was a somewhat scattered and shrunken, but still functional Blues Fest, with the quality of music not diminished by the few setbacks.
The AACW Blues Fest has always been a staple of Yellow Spring’s cultural palette. The event has drawn some huge names in the past such as Erykah Badu, and local legend Dave Chappelle decided to flex his celebrity muscles and MCed in 2006. This year seemed to be a lull in the usual enthusiastic and healthy turnout the event gets each year. Hopefully it will not be a permanent cessation of the festival.
The Blues runs deep in the blood of America. Anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of music history can trace the influences of almost any major rock star to a handful of poor, day-laboring African-American blues musicians from the deep south. These men had nothing, yet their musical legacy has carried on and left a definite mark in the musical culture of today. It is for this reason that the AACW Blues Fest is important and should continue its legacy in the village of Yellow Springs.
AACW, or, The African American Cross-Cultural Works, is an organization that honors and celebrates cultural diversity and heritage in the village of Yellow Springs. In addition to the annual Blues Fest, the organization also hosts an annual Kwanzaa celebration. This year, the AACW organized the annual Blues Fest event, which involved a number of events around town and at the Antioch Amphitheater.
AACW is headed by longtime resident Faith Patterson, and her family is a big influence on the festival, with her son and grandson usually procuring a slot in the musical lineup. This year, unfortunately, due to a sudden rainy spell and a dwindling crowd, The Nerak Roth Patterson Band made the decision not to perform.
Residents and out of town fans were treated to some special events and workshops before the main festival Saturday night. The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers sang Gospel at the First Presbyterian Church and there was a screening of the Nigerian film “Amazing Grace” at the Antioch Amphitheater with the director, Jeta Amata. The day of, on Saturday, numerous blues “workshops” scattered around town gave fans a “teaser trailer” of what was to come that night.
At the time of the festival’s main event, an ominous sky and sparse crowd seemed to seal the event’s fate from the beginning. The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood did their set, and suddenly the sky opened up and everything began to get very very wet. Nerak Roth Patterson decided his group could not perform and they packed up. An uncertain hour passed, and decisions about what to do floated around. Finally, a clear break in the weather gave the Lionel Young Band the opportunity to close the event. The end result was a somewhat scattered and shrunken, but still functional Blues Fest, with the quality of music not diminished by the few setbacks.
The AACW Blues Fest has always been a staple of Yellow Spring’s cultural palette. The event has drawn some huge names in the past such as Erykah Badu, and local legend Dave Chappelle decided to flex his celebrity muscles and MCed in 2006. This year seemed to be a lull in the usual enthusiastic and healthy turnout the event gets each year. Hopefully it will not be a permanent cessation of the festival.
The Blues runs deep in the blood of America. Anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of music history can trace the influences of almost any major rock star to a handful of poor, day-laboring African-American blues musicians from the deep south. These men had nothing, yet their musical legacy has carried on and left a definite mark in the musical culture of today. It is for this reason that the AACW Blues Fest is important and should continue its legacy in the village of Yellow Springs.
The Union School House December 11, 2012
The Union School House is something of an architectural landmark here in Yellow Springs. The building’s exterior is worn and ancient, with an army of vines that have worked their way up the brick walls over the years. It’s easily identifiable from the outside to most village residents. However, despite the buildings unchanged exterior, the building’s interior has been in constant metamorphosis for over a century.
The building’s original function was that of a school house. In 1873, to accommodate the growing population of the village, the school board agreed to build a single schoolhouse that would hold all the students at once. The building also doubled as a space for public meetings, traveling theater performances and even talent shows.
Once Mills Lawn School opened in 1951, the building became the headquarters for a local chapter of the American Legion, one of the largest organizations of war veterans in the country. The Legion spent the next few years tackling local health and education issues.
In 1956, the Village Of Yellow Springs purchased the building; and after a long year of restorations, transformed it into a multi functional office building. Today, you can find an eclectic variety of businesses that operate inside the building; from tattoo parlors to holistic bodywork studios. I personally find the history of this building amazing. For over a hundred and thirty years it has contributed to providing us with education, art, administration; you name it. That is one tough old building.
The building’s original function was that of a school house. In 1873, to accommodate the growing population of the village, the school board agreed to build a single schoolhouse that would hold all the students at once. The building also doubled as a space for public meetings, traveling theater performances and even talent shows.
Once Mills Lawn School opened in 1951, the building became the headquarters for a local chapter of the American Legion, one of the largest organizations of war veterans in the country. The Legion spent the next few years tackling local health and education issues.
In 1956, the Village Of Yellow Springs purchased the building; and after a long year of restorations, transformed it into a multi functional office building. Today, you can find an eclectic variety of businesses that operate inside the building; from tattoo parlors to holistic bodywork studios. I personally find the history of this building amazing. For over a hundred and thirty years it has contributed to providing us with education, art, administration; you name it. That is one tough old building.
The Pine Forest November 27, 2012
This week’s Yellowpedia entry is on the Pine Forest in the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The Pine Forest is a special place within the Glen, and many longtime Glen explorers almost consider it hallowed ground: a quiet place to reflect among the giant, swaying trees.
The Ohio State Forestry Dpt. originally planted the trees in 1926 as a means to reforest unused farmland. The Glen eventually acquired this land in the late 1930s. Today, the YSHS School Forest organization and many Glen Helen youth programs use the Pine Forest for various activities that promote teamwork and an interest in natural history.
The scientific classification for all Pine Trees is the division Pinophyta (commonly referred to as “conifers”). Conifers include some of the largest organisms on the face of the planet, with certain species, such as the Giant Sequoia, reaching heights of almost 300 ft and taking up 50,000 cubic feet of space. The trees in the Glen are obviously not as huge, but it’s still amazing to know that they are related to a plant heavier than a Blue Whale.
The Ohio State Forestry Dpt. originally planted the trees in 1926 as a means to reforest unused farmland. The Glen eventually acquired this land in the late 1930s. Today, the YSHS School Forest organization and many Glen Helen youth programs use the Pine Forest for various activities that promote teamwork and an interest in natural history.
The scientific classification for all Pine Trees is the division Pinophyta (commonly referred to as “conifers”). Conifers include some of the largest organisms on the face of the planet, with certain species, such as the Giant Sequoia, reaching heights of almost 300 ft and taking up 50,000 cubic feet of space. The trees in the Glen are obviously not as huge, but it’s still amazing to know that they are related to a plant heavier than a Blue Whale.
Peifer Orchards lets the Autumn flavors flow November 6, 2010
Don’t let the industrial-esque machinery in the photo fool you; the process of making apple cider is quite simple. In fact, there is essentially only one step: crush the apples. Simple does not always mean easy, though. You need to know what you’re doing, and Peifer Orchards certainly knows their way around the cider business. September through December is cider season, and during a good harvest, Peifers can make up to three hundred gallons of cider per week.
It all begins on roughly five acres of orchard trees that produce about fifteen different varieties of apples throughout the season: Goldrush, McIntosh and Jonathan to name a few. The workers pick the apples and store them in numerous coolers. The coolers are purposely without nitrogen-induced preservation. The workers load the apples onto the conveyor, which sends them through a shredder. The resulting apple pulp forms a sort of pancake. The workers wrap the pulp pancakes in cloth, and then repeat the process until they form a high stack. Then a presser squeezes every last delicious drop of liquid through a strainer and into a holding tank.
And that’s it, honestly. The next step is: you drink it. It sounds very odd, in our era of processed food, that there is no middle step. Peifers does not pasteurize its cider. It doesn’t color it. It doesn’t do anything but squeeze the apples. And you drink it. The Industrial Revolution hatched many clever schemes for mechanizing food production, but at Peifers, two workers pressing twice a week can produce about five thousand gallons of apple cider in a season.
Peifers’ business is almost all local, and it sells produce to local restaurants such as the Winds and Current Cuisine. If you’d like to sample some of their autumn flavors, the store is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Get on Route 68/Xenia Ave and drive just north of town.
It all begins on roughly five acres of orchard trees that produce about fifteen different varieties of apples throughout the season: Goldrush, McIntosh and Jonathan to name a few. The workers pick the apples and store them in numerous coolers. The coolers are purposely without nitrogen-induced preservation. The workers load the apples onto the conveyor, which sends them through a shredder. The resulting apple pulp forms a sort of pancake. The workers wrap the pulp pancakes in cloth, and then repeat the process until they form a high stack. Then a presser squeezes every last delicious drop of liquid through a strainer and into a holding tank.
And that’s it, honestly. The next step is: you drink it. It sounds very odd, in our era of processed food, that there is no middle step. Peifers does not pasteurize its cider. It doesn’t color it. It doesn’t do anything but squeeze the apples. And you drink it. The Industrial Revolution hatched many clever schemes for mechanizing food production, but at Peifers, two workers pressing twice a week can produce about five thousand gallons of apple cider in a season.
Peifers’ business is almost all local, and it sells produce to local restaurants such as the Winds and Current Cuisine. If you’d like to sample some of their autumn flavors, the store is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Get on Route 68/Xenia Ave and drive just north of town.
Tell me how your garden grows July 27, 2010
“They’re not community gardens,” Thor Bailey insists. “They’re neighborhood gardens.” One community garden would require people to drive across town, while dispersed neighborhood gardens only require you to walk across the street. Thor Bailey, the originator of these gardens, insists he is not pushing a political agenda. He just wants to give people the opportunity to grow their own food in a community environment.
Mr. Bailey was adamant about giving people in town this opportunity. Week after week he proposed a resolution to Village Council that would allow the gardens to flourish. His persistence paid off, and the Council passed the resolution in the spring of 2009. Some residents were hesitant to transform the park space at first. However, Thor asserts that nearly all the naysayers converted after seeing the gardening process firsthand. Some residents have even told Thor that the gardens have changed their minds about moving away from town.
There are three gardens in town. The one at Friends Care Center garden has fifty-two people currently tending a plot. The garden steering committee, consisting of Eric Johnson, Ed Amrhein, Stephanie Elsass and Thor Bailey have one major goal: maintain the organization of the gardens and ensure they can continue as a functional village institution. This includes assessing the ecological aspects of the gardens and ensuring enough people will participate for next year. Anyone interested in procuring a plot should contact Mr. Bailey at 767-2729 for more information.
Mr. Bailey was adamant about giving people in town this opportunity. Week after week he proposed a resolution to Village Council that would allow the gardens to flourish. His persistence paid off, and the Council passed the resolution in the spring of 2009. Some residents were hesitant to transform the park space at first. However, Thor asserts that nearly all the naysayers converted after seeing the gardening process firsthand. Some residents have even told Thor that the gardens have changed their minds about moving away from town.
There are three gardens in town. The one at Friends Care Center garden has fifty-two people currently tending a plot. The garden steering committee, consisting of Eric Johnson, Ed Amrhein, Stephanie Elsass and Thor Bailey have one major goal: maintain the organization of the gardens and ensure they can continue as a functional village institution. This includes assessing the ecological aspects of the gardens and ensuring enough people will participate for next year. Anyone interested in procuring a plot should contact Mr. Bailey at 767-2729 for more information.