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12 issues

Subscribetoday!Receive a copy in your mailbox monthly!

Welcome to the good life. Welcome to Life in our Foothills!

The Healthy Approach to a Pain-Free LifeNo Drugs—No Surgery

Pro-AdjusterThe Pro-Adjuster can make chiropractic adjustments in a gentle way, safe for all ages. It examines each vertebra for motion, function and position to deter-mine which need adjustment for relief. Computerized technology allows the chiropractor to correctly and effectively perform the adjustment. Safe for children, elderly and expectant mothers.

Two locations to serve you. Forest City, NC Columbus, NC 152 West Main Street 799 West Mills Street

828-245-0202 828-894-9910

K-LaserThe K-Laser enhances the body’s natural ability to

heal itself of the painful symptoms of injuries, competitive sports training, aging and stress.

Laser phototherapy targets the cells to enhance blood flow that converts oxygen into cellular

energy to generate local circulation that helps heal the effected area more quickly.

ReBuilderThe ReBuilder can help stop the pain of neuropathy and reduce numbness and tingling. It stimulates all your nerves with a specific gentle waveform that your peripheral nerves naturally use to communicate with the rest of your body. The healing blood to the nerves nourishes them with nutrients and oxygen for less pain, full feeling in feet and hands and greater mobility.

$25 New Patient Special ($250 Value) Consult, Exam and Digital X-Rays

If you decide to purchase additional treatment you havethe legal right to change your mind within 3 days and receive a refund. Federal recipients are excluded form this offer.

Spinal Decompression is also available for lower back and leg pain.

Stan Yoder owns and oper-ates Open Road Coffee Shop in Tryon. Yoder is one of six entrepreneurs featured in this issue of Life in our Foothills. Yoder said he wants the cof-fee shop to be a place that breathes community.

Cover design by Gwen Ring.Photograph by Erik Olsen.

Betty Ramsey, [email protected]

Betty Ramsey

Samantha HurstLeah Justice Gwen Ring

Barbara ChildsGillian DrummondCarol Lynn JacksonErik OlsenPat Thorne

Samantha HurstGwen Ring

Nicholas HolmbergLenette Sprouse

Jessy Taylor

Jeff AllisonJonathan BurrellTony ElderTimothy Friend

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTORS

PRODUCTION

MARKETING

ADMINISTRATION

DISTRIBUTION

Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher.

Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing [email protected] or by calling 828-859-9151, ext. 101.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing [email protected] or by calling 828-859-9151.

publisher’s note

on the cover


As festivities usher in the New Year our thoughts turn to goals and ambitions.

Some of us set new goals this time of year in the form of New Year’s resolu-tions; we aim to lose weight, save money, get more involved in the community.

For a handful of area entrepreneurs those goals involve growing their businesses to be-come further steeped in the community.

This issue overflows with an entrepreneurial spirit as we sit down with community members who have latched onto burgeoning concepts and time-honored traditions, all creating successful businesses.

Virginia MacLure’s food truck, Dark Corner Diner, is a perfect ex-ample. From a tiny space, MacLure serves up whopping bursts of flavor and corners her own piece of the food truck craze.

Meanwhile, meet other business owners like Matt Troyer who pro-motes value through the old way of doing things – furniture crafted by hand, out of solid products.

At Restoration Farm, Dawn Jordan and her family promote heritage and sustainability. Pecking around the landscape of this farm, Jordan will introduce you to her free-range chickens and turkeys. She’ll also tell you about her family's efforts to teach others about sustainability and living off the land.

Inside this edition of Life in our Foothills, we’ll also introduce you to characters that make this area rich and interesting.

Josh Owens, for one, grabs attention. Owens currently stars on “Moonshiners,” a reality show on the Discovery channel dedicated to the secretive world of moonshining. Owens too has his own business and stories that will make you shake your head.

Sit down, flip through these pages and be intrigued by the unique-ness of the people that surround us here. After all, they are what makes Life In Our Foothills so refreshing.

featuresFive Entrepreneurs Focused on CommunityArea business owners talk about the way they got started, their successes and how community made it all happen.

Back to the LandRestoration Farm strives to focus on living life from the land and what it

provides.

Dark Corner DinerVirginia MacLure serves up mouth-watering morsels – including her sea salt brownies - from a truck.

Moonshine over Polk CountyMeet Josh Owens – a character in real life and on the Discovery channel's

“Moonshiners.”

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2013 5


CONTENTS

COLUMNS43 Pet Training Tough love can solve big problems.

49 Food for Foodies Workshop teaches sustainability.

52 Country Living Discover how to simplify your home life.

IN EVERY ISSUE APPOINTMENTS08 Out & About Plan your calendar for the new year.

10 Short Stories Bowling for Kids' Sake and more.

14 Foothills Featured Catch a glimpse of recent holiday events.

74 Why I Love the Foothills Dr. Joseph Fox recalls growing up in East Side.

62 Julia Gates Teenager committed to pony club.

64 Margaret Freeman Refuge found in our foothills.

68 Pepper Oliver Green Creek's Shady Patch Farm.

72 Dudley Dudley the Donkey keeps you in the know.

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JANUARY

Jan. 11, 6 - 8 p.m.Transparency Glass Show ReceptionTryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon. 828-859-8323.Opens Jan. 11 and runs through Feb. 22.

Jan. 12, 10 a.m.Traveling to Protected PlacesWalnut Creek PreserveMara and Ford Smith will hold a photo show for Pacolet Area Conservancy on “Traveling to Protected Places.”

Jan. 11, 8 p.m.Faye Lane's Beauty Parlor StoriesAward-winning one-woman show full of songs, stories and imper-sonations sharing “glittered-up” memories of growing up in her Mama's Texas beauty shop has audiences coast to coast howling, crying, falling in love with her. Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. 828-859-8322.

Jan. 12, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.Indoor Farmers Market and Seed SwapMill Spring Agricultural Center, 156 School Rd., Mill Spring. 828-894-2281.Shop for Polk County goods and bring seeds to swap with others. Seeds for sale from the Mill Spring Ag Center Gardens. Free seed catalogs from several companies.

Jan. 13, 2 p.m.Paul Reid, author of the “The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm 1940-1965” speaks.Lanier Library, 72 Chestnut St., Tryon. 828-859-9535.

Jan. 17 and 24, noon - 1 p.m.Brown Bag Learning Lunch: Tips for Selling TimberMill Spring Agricultural Center, 156 School Rd., Mill Spring. 828-894-2281.Bring your own lunch and listen to a free presentation on tips for selling timber. AmeriCorps member Stephen Bishop will be presenting. Stephen earned a Masters in Forestry from N.C. State University and has work experience in the timber business. Email [email protected] or call 828-894-2281.

Jan. 18, 6 p.m.Friendship Council MLK Celebration Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. 828-859-8322.The Friendship Council’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebra-tion will include a tribute to the Freedom Riders, musical selections from the Unity Choir, and keynote speaker, Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe.

Jan. 19 - 20Mardi Gras Eye Masks in leather with Karl BoyerTryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon. 828-859-8323.

Jan. 19 - 20Exploration of Silk Painting with Christine MariottiTryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon. 828-859-8323.

Jan. 19 and 26, time TBDWitch Ann Movie ScreeningMill Spring Agricultural Center, 156 School Rd., Mill Spring. 828-894-2281.Come see a movie made in Polk County, about a Polk County legend, “Witch Ann,“ featuring Polk County actors.

CALENDARCommunity

JANUARY 2013 9

OUT & ABOUT

Jan. 19, noon to 1 p.m.Advent RecitalHoly Cross Episcopal Church, 150 Melrose Ave., Tryon.

Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.Free Bluegrass JamMill Spring Agricultural Center, 156 School Rd., Mill Spring. 828-894-2281.All are welcome to bring an instrument and play along or just relax and enjoy the music.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2Silver Box Clasp with Dan HagaTryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon. 828-859-8323.

Feb. 2, 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.Chase Away the BluesTryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC), 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. 828-859-8322. Second annual Chase Away the Blues benefitting TFAC's Arts in Education program. Featuring local and non-local jazz/blues performers. Food and beverages will be available. Tickets for this event go on sale Jan. 2. For more information, visit tryonarts.org.

Feb. 7, 8 p.m.Narek Hakhnazaryan, cellist, performs at Tryon Fine Arts CenterTryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. Tryon Concert Association presents cellist, Narek Hakhnazaryan, at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. For more information, call 828-859-8322.

Feb. 9 - 10, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Fold Forming and Brazing with Kim St. JeanTryon Arts and Crafts School, 373 Harmon Field Rd., Tryon. 828-859-8323.

Feb. 19, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.Memoir Writing with Deno TrakasTryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. 828-859-8322.

Feb. 22 - 24, 8 p.m.9 to 5 the Musical, presented by Tryon Little TheaterTryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon.Call 828-859-2466 for ticket information.

RECURRING

Weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Tryon Arts and Crafts gift shop is open

Thursdays, 7 p.m.Mill Spring VFW Post 10349 BingoCall 828-894-5098 for more information.

Fridays, 7 p.m.American Legion Post 250 Bingo43 Depot St., TryonDoors open 5:30 p.m. Smoke-free.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.Grassroosts Art ProjectEvery Saturday, 9:30 – 11 a.m. art classes held to benefit Lennie’s Fund and the Foothills Humane Society. There is no fee for the class and all materials will be provided.Classes are held at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Melrose Ave. in Tryon. Call 828-899-0673 for more information.


SHORT STORIES

ST. groundbreaking

St. Luke’s Hospital officials celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony with hundreds from the community Thursday, Nov. 29. The new wing is the first phase of hospital additions and will include new space for orthopedic and rehabilitation services as well as six patient rooms. Shown with shovels are, left to right: Ken Shull, St. Luke's CEO; Judy Lair, Chair, St. Luke's Hospital Foun-dation Board of Trustees; Susan McHugh, past chair, St. Luke's Hospital Board of Trustees; Beth Laughridge, chair, Building on Excellence Campaign; Fred Foy, Chair, St. Luke's Hospital Board of Trustees; Meshelle Colvin, executive director, St. Luke's Hospital Foundation; Jim Holleman, MD, Chief of Staff and Johnnie Mae Booker, St. Luke's Hospital employee of 48 years. (photo by Leah Justice)

specialcarolinaClimbing the 5.3 percent grade up Saluda Mountain, The

Carolina Special completed its last trip in December 1968. Running for more than half a century, The Carolina Spe-

cial ran from Charleston, S.C. to Cincinnati, Ohio. Behind its green and gold-trimmed locomotive were coaches, a diner and Pullmans.

The train, which ran for more than a half century, was one of the nation’s longest-lived passenger trains.

This print of the train is now for sale to raise funds for Saluda’s Historic City Hall Restoration and Oral History Project. To purchase the print or find other historic Saluda memorabilia, visit www.saludalifestyles.com/shop.html.

JANUARY 2013 11

SHORT STORIES

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a fund raiser for the youth mentoring programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

After more than a month of raising awareness and funds, Big Brothers Big Sisters thanked the local volunteers who invested their time, energy and dollars, with a Bowl for Kids’ Sake party at Autumn Lanes in Forest City.

Teams of bowlers, wearing festive Bowl for Kids’ Sake T-shirts, celebrated their fund-raising success during two hours of bowling fun. Sponsors were recognized, and door prizes donated by local artists and businesses were announced.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake was presented by Lichty Guitars, with CooperRiis and David and Patty Slater serving as presenting Strike Sponsors. Pin sponsors included Terry Ackerman – Financial Ad-visor, Morning Glory Farm, Roger and Jennifer Smith, and Song Hill Reserve. Team sponsors were Digit and Beth Laughridge, A. Bailey Nager – Attorney at Law, No Problem Builders, Raymond James & Associates, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Tryon Daily Bulletin and The Timken Company. Serving as lane sponsors were Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital, R. Anderson Haynes – Attorney, Hen-sons’ Inc, Kiwanis Club of Tryon, Macon Bank, Sandra McCor-mack MD, Millard & Company, Nature’s Storehouse, Musselwhite Electric Inc, North State Gas, Polk Wellness Center, ServiceMas-ter, Stearns Education Center, Thermal Belt Unitarian Fellowship and Tryon Federal Bank.

Bowler Becky Kennedy really applies herself to this challenge. Team captain for the Polk County Democratic Women’s “The Bowled & the Beautiful” team, Kennedy asks many for donations. Some of her donors pledged $5 and others gave up to $100 or more to help Kennedy reach her individual record-setting tally of $2,500.

Pat Strother, of the No Problem Builder’s team, “The Strikers,” took a creative approach. She hosted dinner parties and invited guests to donate to BBBS, leading her to finish second place in pledges. In the youth category, repeat winner Jack Tinkler utilized the online option to maximize his efforts.

One hundred percent of the money raised by bowlers goes directly towards the BBBS mentoring programs for youth.

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to provide children facing adversity with strong, professionally supported one-to-one meaningful relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

For more information about BBBS, call 828-859-9230. •

strikingBBBS Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2012

success

Top: The Strikers, Chris and Jack Tinkler, Pat Strother and Jim Peterman. Middle: Sponsored by Song Hill Reserve at Lake Lanier, team members John Dunn, Coble Cameron and Larsen Dunn. Bottom: The Bold and the Beautiful, Judy Arledge, left, and Becky Kennedy, right.


SHORT STORIES

Wiredfor Hope

Written by SAMANTHA HURSTPhotographs submitted

A non-profit hospice serving the Carolina Foothills for over 30 years

HOSPICE

CARE

HOSPICE HOUSE

PALLIATIVE CARE

GRIEF SUPPORT

CAREGIVER EDUCATION

INFORmATION DESk

864.457.9122 sc828.894.7000 ncHOSPICE HOUSE

864.457.9100 landrum, scwww.hocf.orgIt’s about living!

Choose the preferred healthcare services of Hospice of the Carolina FoothillsWound and twisted copper binds a turquoise-hewed but-

ton perched atop Tara Taylor’s hand. She has many more “jewels” just like this one. Taylor

repurposes buttons into wearable art and is using any money raised from the sale of her rings to benefit the daughter of a coworker at CooperRiis.

The coworker’s daughter Lily lives with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Prader-Willi Syndrome can cause a low IQ, reduced muscle tone, a chronic feeling of hunger and a metabolism that uses a drastically reduced amount of calories. These last two issues combined often cause individuals with PWS to face life-threatening obesity if their compulsion to eat is not dealt with regularly.

To help Lily control her urges to eat, the family has worked to get her a therapy dog named Eli.

Sherry Burns from Foothills Dog Training is able to train service dogs to assist with issues Lily faces. Eli will be trained to “touch” when Lily is engaged in self-injurious behavior. He will also learn to alert an adult if Lily gets up in the night to find food.

“Eli will be by Lily’s side to help her with the difficulties she might face because of the Prader-Willi and to comfort and distract her,” Taylor said.

Taylor herself knows the comfort a dog can bring to one’s life. She owns seven rescue dogs herself. She was also looking for a means of making her newfound art – wire-wrapped rings – into something that could benefit someone else.

“So, [the fund-raiser idea] just fit in a lot of areas for me and satisfied my creative self,” Taylor said.

Taylor wants to raise $3,500 to help defray the costs of Eli. So far, wire-wrapped jewelry courses she has taught and her rings, which are sold at Tryon House, Honeysuckle Hollow in Hendersonville and Pura Vida in Asheville, have garnered $1,500 for Lily and Eli. She also sells the rings by order and through family and friends. Taylor’s rings have even traveled the world going to friends who have placed orders from Illinois, Michigan, Atlanta and even Italy.

“Buttons are just so cool,” Taylor said. “If you think about it they’ve been used for so long as a tool to connect things. Using them to connect people and dogs seemed to fit.”

Taylor hopes her Wired for Hope project not only satisfies the fund-raising needs of Lily, but continues to provide funds to others in need.

“This started out as just one project but for me I don’t think this is going to end,” Taylor said. “I want to keep on this same path of connecting dogs and people through buttons.” •

To contact Taylor about placing an order for her rings, you can call her at 828-674-2643 or email her at [email protected].


FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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TPS' Art, Wine & Cheese Event

Tryon Painters and Sculptors hosted plein air artist Dwight Rose of Spartanburg at its Nov. 27 Art, Wine & Cheese event. TPS holds the regular seminars as a way for members and the community to

meet artists up close and ask them questions of their work.

1. Jim Johnston, Aviva Kahn, Susan Albee, Christine Mariotti

and Clark Loro. 2. Susan Hopps won a drawing for

this painting.3. Dwight Rose.

4. Grace Lertora and Jim Johnston.

5. Linda and Barney Eiserloh.

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

TubaChristmas

The 15th annual TubaChristmas took place Saturday, Dec. 1 at the auditorium of Polk County High School. founders Stan and Jean Howell stepped down as directors this year. (photos by Chris Bartol)

1. Tuba and euphonium players fill the stage. 2. Soloist Blake Cooper takes center stage. 3. County commissioner Ray Gasperson presents Jean Howell, left, and Stan Howell, right, with a certificate of appreciation for the creation of and their service to the TubaChristmas event. 4. Stan Howell, right, hands over the reins and coordina-tion of TubaChristmas to Manfred Walter.

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ColumbusChristmas Parade

Downtown Columbus celebrated the beginning of theChristmas season with its parade Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012.

1. Claudia Ogle, Buddy, Tank and Bud Butler.2. Katie and Diane Cothran.

3. Madison Yellen and Renee McFalls.4. Marissa Twitty and Skye Spinner.

OPPOSITE PAGE:5. Keighley and Kaylee Howard.

6. Ezekiel Smith, Daisy and Glenda Campbell. 7. Jill and Matt Brown.8. Cate and Jim Brown.

9. Brandi Cordell and Kayla Bowman.10. Hannah and Triniti Pettigrew.

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JANUARY 2013 17

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

Tryon Fine Arts CenterHoliday Fundraiser

TFAC’s holiday fundraiser took place Nov. 30 with the “Holidays Around the World”

theme focusing on Old England.

1. Bud, Joann and Trip Hoffman.2. Monica Jones.

3. Tom Foster.4. Jean Winslett, Roger and Mimi Traxler.

5. Brenda Cox-Sinclair, SueZ Truittand Rebecca Barnes.

OPPOSITE PAGE:6. Mary Thompson and Lisa Stokes.

7. Lee Lomax and Rita Landrum. 8. June-Ellen Bradley and Dianne Joyce.

9. Lynn Chalmers and Matthew Pohsweg.10. John and Cindy Boyle.

11. Larry Wassong and Elaine Jenkins.

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LandrumChristmas parade

Landrum held its annual Christmas parade Thurs-day, Nov. 29 through downtown. Taking part in the

parade were the high school marching band, local churches, various Landrum businesses and fire de-partments among others. (photos by Anne Regan).

1. Ryan Revan, April Lowe,Stephanie, Josh and Jada Fancher.

2. Brady Allen.3. Breanna and Brayden Allen.

4. Joe Williamson.5. Diane and Paul Zimmerman.

OPPOSITE PAGE:6. Isabella Marie Jennings.7. Lisa Silva with her sons.

8. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright.9. Aden Jennings with his dad.

10. Paul Schulman and daughter Haley.11. Hillbilly Ron Nichols.

12. Rolfe Wardner with Chloe and Lucy.

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NEW ADDRESS: 155 West Mills St., Unit 109, Columbus, N.C. 28722facebook.com/purrrfectbark - 828-894-2444 - [email protected]

PU

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RRFECT BAR

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PET SUPPLIES

Now sellingwild bird products!

We’ve moved.

Pet Supplies - Premium Treats - Frozen Raw Diet - Dog Beds - Flea & TickWild Bird Products - Dog Crates - Shampoo & Grooming Supplies

ENTREPRENEURS

Written by SAMANTHA HURSTPhotographs by ERIK OLSEN AND SAMANTHA HURST

FEATURE

JANUARY 2013 23

FOCUSED ONCOMMUNITY

ENTREPRENEURS


Owner Stan Yoder, with staff members Amy Stewart, Victor and Jill

JANUARY 2013 25

FEATURE

OPEN ROADCoffeehouse

Chatter and the smell of richly brewed coffee envelopes you as you step inside Open Road Coffee in Tryon.

High school kids chat about what they are doing that week-end. Business owners meet clients to discuss proposals. Moms stop in after escaping the carpool line so they can vent with fellow moms.

Here people come together over life. “Our real goal is to be a part of the community,” said

owner Stan Yoder. “We really want to connect with people.”Yoder opened the coffee shop, a longtime dream, in 2011

after attempting to find his way into the coffee shop world once or twice.

“I just loved the coffee house experience. I’d go in and enjoy my favorite drink – Café Mocha – and just enjoy conver-sation with people,” Yoder said of his early fascination with coffee houses.

He opened his first coffee shop in a fairly informal way in Landrum back in 2000. At the time he rented a small space and just invited people in to drink coffee he brewed at home.

It was here, Yoder met his wife, Julia, and here he formed his belief that coffee shops could serve as catalysts for com-munity.

Unfortunately, what he hadn’t refined yet was his under-standing of business. Yoder closed the shop in 2001. Along the way he and a friend tried opening a coffee kiosk in Colorado. That didn’t work out the way he planned and eventually Yoder found himself making a living in construction.

Turn the pages a few years and Yoder, now married and a father, saw less and less stonework as the economy dwindled. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d have to find a new path.

The dream of owning a coffee shop hadn’t faded from Yoder’s mind. Though he didn’t know for sure he could make it work, he said he didn’t have much of a choice. He needed a job and so, he got to work.

This time, however, Yoder was going to be prepared. He researched coffee shop history and business concepts. He pon-dered exactly what kind of feel he wanted the space to emit.


ENTREPRENEURS

STAN YODEROpen Road Coffeehouse687 N. Trade St., Tryon.

Open 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.864-216-3430

AGE: 35

HOMETOWN: Born in Virginia, grew up in AndersonMoved to Landrum in 1994

OCCUPATION: Owner Open Road Coffee

WHEN DID YOU OPEN YOUR BUSINESS: 2011

FAMILY: Wife, Julia; daughter, Ariella, 5; son, Isaac, 2 ½

SUCCESSES: Adding employees after about a year of business. Four people currently work at the coffee shop.

GOALS: Our goal is to hopefully have a happy face behind the counter when you come into the shop. The coffee shop is a great platform for relationships, so we hope we have the chance to inspire and build relationships with people.

OTHER CONNECTIONS WITH COMMUNITY:Yoder and his family attend Grace Foothills Church in the Tryon Theater

He also tossed around name ideas with a friend. “I realized to enjoy what I really loved about a coffee shop,

I’d have to start it with a really solid business plan to make it last,” he said.

The name Open Road stuck with Yoder because of the idea of a journey.

Yoder had been on a journey in trying to make this dream a reality. In 2011, the opportunity arose to fit his shop into a small space at the entrance of the recently opened New for You consignment store and Yoder didn’t waste any time saying yes.

He quickly found the means to purchase equipment and be-gan brainstorming a concept. Before long the shop had a logo, a menu filled with tempting names like Beige Bliss and its own bags of whole bean coffee for purchase. Along the way, Yoder has added delectable cinnamon rolls, sweet and savory scones, cookies and new drink options.

Now, with more employees and an expansion almost com-plete, there are mornings – and afternoons – when every table inside is full and there is barely room left in the parking lot.

“It’s still a dream; It’s still in that stage,” Yoder said. “It’s amazing sometimes if I walk out here into the shop, it will hit me, ‘Wow, there are people here,’” Yoder said. “I feel really grateful to have people want to come and spend part of their day here.” •

JANUARY 2013 27

FEATURE

“I realized to enjoy what I really loved about a coffee shop, I’d have to start it with a really solid business plan to make it last.”


ENTREPRENEURS

RICH AND KIM NELSONSkyuka Fine Art

133 North Trade St., Tryon828-817-3783

RICH& KIMNELSON

SkyukaFine Art

FEATURE

Rich Nelson believes it’s important to have a curios-ity about people to capture them accurately in portrait.

“I really love people – I love meeting people and trying to capture some aspect of them – their essence I guess,” Nelson said.

Nelson, who owns Skyuka Fine Art with his wife, Kim, began painting portraits after working as an il-lustrator in Detroit. His first study of art in fact was of anatomy and figure drawing. Kim said he won’t tell you this but in the illustrator world of Detroit he became known as the “figure guy,” because he had such an eye for depicting the human form in illustration.

He said in the end he feels his best work is when he actually gets to meet the person he is painting. He said by doing so he learns what is interesting about a person and feels it allows him to understand how the painting should represent them.

“The greatest thing is the ability to capture the hu-man form in three-dimension such as sculpture, but painting is a close second,” Rich said. “I love the idea that paintings I’ve done will last.”

While Rich has worked as a freelance artists since 1991 and Kim has spent years working in retail and other galleries, the two have always wanted to work for themselves. The hope was that this would allow them to promote not only Rich’s work but other talented art-ists as well.

“That was always the dream – to have the gallery and have our friends featured there as well,” Rich said.

Rich and Kim said their gallery relies on pulling people in so they can hopefully find something that speaks to them. Skyuka Fine Art attempts to offer a variety of artists at a variety of sizes and price points, Kim said.

“We want to make sure we offer art that people want to put on their walls. I think staying true to our focus, which is great representational art in a traditional style has drawn people to us,” Kim said. “If there is an interest, we will try and find what is right for you, what is right for your home and what is within your price point.”

The gallery also sells instructional DVDs and greeting cards, as well as pottery from artists like Doug Dacey. The gallery also regularly hosts concerts, lectures and opening receptions for various artists and collections.

Rich said what he wants people to understand most about the gallery is that visitors are always welcome.

“We like when people come in – we want people to come in regularly because things do often change and we’ve always got exciting new work to share,” he said. •

AGE: Rich 51, Kim 42

HOMETOWN: Detroit, Mich. area

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THIS AREA? Since 2004

OCCUPATION/BUSINESS: Skyuka Fine Art in Tryon

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE: Rich worked in illustration, Kim in retail. Kim also has a bachelor of fine arts degree.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS? 2 years (opened Dec. 2010)

INTERESTING FACTS: Rich once cre-ated a drawing of Ted Koppel. On a whim he sent it to Koppel’s office and Koppel’s wife loved it so much his staff bought the print from Nelson.

Bryant Womack portrait by Richard Christian Nelson.


MARTHA GRABERCool Mama Bakery

Items found at:Dark Corner Diner,featured on page 42. PolkFresh Trade Post within the Mill Spring Ag Center,(156 School Road,Mill Spring, 28756)

Dutch Country Foods(104 E. Rutherford St., Landrum, 29356)

MARTHA GRABER

Cool Mama Bakery

ENTREPRENEURS

On Tuesday afternoons Martha Graber brings the warm scent of comfort food into the Polk Fresh Farm Store in Mill Spring.

She carts in loaves of sourdough and honey wheat, along with cinnamon rolls to fill shelves. Baked bread, you understand, is Graber’s specialty.

She even crafted a business – Cool Mama Bakery – out of her baking prowess.

“It just keeps on growing – I really do stay busy with it,” Graber said.

Graber sells her breads and baked goods at Polk Fresh Market and Dutch Foods. She even supplies Dark Corner Diner with pretzel rolls and Tuscan bread.

Cool Mama’s biggest seller is the sourdough bread, which sells for $5.25 a loaf. The one item rising in popu-larity though is something for a sweeter tooth.

“The cinnamon rolls have become a big hit, once people taste those they just want more. I baked so many of them I got tired of them myself for a while,” Graber said.

Graber learned early how to bake. “I grew up in a large family and I had 11 children my-

self so all my life I’ve done a lot of baking,” Graber said. “I enjoy it – there’s something about it – you put some-thing of yourself in your baking.” •

AGE: 54

HOMETOWN: Elkton, Kentucky

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THIS AREA? 8 years

OCCUPATION/BUSINESS: Cool Mama Bakery

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS? 2 years

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION?“I love people and I love serving them. To make some-thing that people like and to meet them I felt would be something I would really enjoy,” Graber said.

PERSONAL HOBBIES:Graber also makes purses in her spare time. She makes the purses out of old jeans that she cuts up and repur-poses. The purses are also sold at the Polk Fresh Farm Store and by order.

UNIQUE FACTS:It was her 8-year-old son Mervin who encouraged her to start her own business when he began selling candy and goodies from a road-side stand.


ENTREPRENEURS

MATT TROYERFoothills Amish Furniture106 E. Rutherford St.,Landrum, 29356864-457-2400

MATTTROYER

Foothills AmishFurniture

FEATURE

Matt Troyer believes his family is at the root of his success. And at the core of his family’s business is quality.

“It’s all American made furniture and I love to get involved with American made products. I believe if we keep the money here in America it will only help our country grow,” Troyer said.

Troyer’s father started a furniture business in Sugarcreek, Ohio in 1984. Their aim then, as it is now, is to offer customers craftsmanship they can’t

find anywhere else, Troyer said. “It is solid wood – there is not a piece of veneer on our furniture,” Troyer

said of the quality. “Plus, it’s all hand-produced on the Amish person’s land where they take a lot of pride in what they do.”

Foothills Amish Furniture in downtown Landrum includes 6,000 square feet of handcrafted furniture made by members of the Amish community. Inside the store shoppers discover solid hardwood pieces such as beds, dining room tables and hutches, as well as accessories such as quilts, aprons, lamps, wall hangings and candles.

What often catches the attention of passersby though are the vibrantly-col-ored Adirondack chairs that grace the patio and on occasion serve as a moment of respite to Landrum shoppers. •

AGE: 41

HOMETOWN: Sugarcreek, Ohio

BUSINESS: Foothills Amish Furniture, Landrum

HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED THE BUSINESS? 8 years

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? My father was in the Amish furniture business. His store in Ohio remains very successful.

SUCCESSES: I have a beautiful family and am blessed with a great fur-niture store that continues to grow. Troyer was able to expand Foothills Amish Furniture into a second storefront earlier this year.

PERSONAL HOBBIES: I love spending time with my family. We have three boys and love camping, fishing, hunting and four-wheeler riding.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: We’re also involved in Foothills Community Church.

Made from brown maple, 24” Madison Child’s Chair, available at Foothills Amish Furniture.


ENTREPRENEURS

“The company was born here and it has

grown here.”

Tawana Weicker

FEATURE

What is steadily growing to become an innovative com-pany in the world of biodiesel-based cleaning solutions all started with a senior project.

Tawana Weicker served as an advisor for former Polk County High School student Elizabeth Russell as she worked to complete a senior project on biodiesel. The project grabbed Weicker’s curiosity and set her on her cur-rent course – creating cleaning solutions from biodiesel's off-product, glycerin.

Now Warhorse cleaning solutions and Be Kind soaps and pet shampoos have propelled Weicker into the world of business. As regional and national corporations take inter-est, Weicker is working to give back to those who have made contributions locally.

“The company was born here and it has grown here – Elizabeth Russell is why it even started and I want the company’s growth to respect that,” Weicker said. “I’ve been trying to stay true to how this all got started and not jump at opportunities, even if they seem good, if they don’t lead this down a road that benefits Polk County and the people that have helped make this happen.”

This includes people like Lyndsey Newsome who conducted research and development (R&D) in the horse industry, Anna Fegan who created her website and the Be Kind Solutions logo, Jeff Thomas who designed the Warhorse logo and the staff at Bonnie Brae Veterinary clinic who tested her cleaning products and provided feedback on the formula and the labeling.

“I used local resources for a lot of my research and development because the opinions of local people matter to me,” Weicker said. “I want to grow it here as much as possible.”

By the end of January Weicker anticipates having her manufacturing process fully up and running in her new building in Landrum.

She said out of her basement at home she had the potential to make 200 gallons a week but couldn’t because she was still holding down a full-time job as a teacher at Polk County High School. This year Weicker took a leave of absence to focus solely on the business. Out of her new manufacturing business she expects to be able to produce 5,000 gallons a week.

Weicker knows though that the bottom line of any business is sales. Be Kind Solutions has more at stake than typical companies though. Weicker has to keep pushing her product and getting people excited about it because selling the products allows her to continue to fund educational op-portunities related to biodiesel for students at Polk County High School and those who are now studying related fields in college.

“But I think I can have it all – I think I can do all of it,” Weicker said of her effort to make the company successful and keep it local. •

See following page for more about Weicker.

WarhorseandBe KindSolutions

TAWANA WEICKER

TAWANA WEICKERWarhorse and Be Kind Solutions

Items found at:Nature’s Storehouse in Tryon, Mountain View Barbecue in Columbus, Bonnie Brae Veterinary Clinic in Columbus and Hendersonville Co-op.

JANUARY 2013 35

TAWANA WEICKER: WARHORSE AND BE KIND SOLUTIONS

AGE: 48

HOMETOWN: Mill Spring

STARTED BUSINESS: 2004 (giving away product), 2010 (actually selling)

OCCUPATION: former Polk County High School Teacher / currently full-time entrepreneur

COMMUNITY TIES: 20 restaurants in surround-ing area currently use the product to clean as well as CooperRiis

OTHER BI-PRODUCTS OF EFFORTS: Polk County High School now has a first-of-its-kind bio-diesel curriculum in which students will begin partici-pating in this month. Weicker said if her business does nothing else she wants it to encourage youth.

Logos for Warhorse and BeKind Solutions.

BACKtothe land

Written by LENETTE SPROUSEPhotographs by LENETTE SPROUSE

FEATURE

JANUARY 2013 37Jason, the caretaker, and his son, Henry, working side by side.


RESTORATION FARM

Perched quietly roadside, a rugged well-worn sign boasts “Restoration Farms” to passers by. A meager gravel road veers right, leading to the blue tin roofed home, now known as the caretakers’ home.

To the left a Lego-styled glass window enclosure, soon to be a greenhouse, stands next to a field of broccoli. Dawn Jordan, a slight woman, greets visitors, wearing a brown derby and smiling eyes as goats, chickens and turkeys roam freely.

Back in the early 1960s, when farming in this area was slowing, her parents bought this 200-acre portion of an old southern plantation. As she turns toward the house and points she says “I grew up in that house, I played in this dirt and I watched my father drive in and out of this driveway.”

After marrying she moved to Shelby, but could feel the tug of the homestead pulling at her. In 2008 she packed up her family and moved back home, “but not alone,” she said. Several generations live there now with her and can be spotted working the land.

“Our family officially formed Restoration Farm in 2009 after beginning operation in early 2008. Our mission is to educate the public about heritage and self-sustainability. It all started with a Christmas gift,” she said.

Dawn had wanted chickens for Christmas the year she moved back to the plantation land. Her poultry mentor told her to request Cochin chicks for their laying volume.

That Christmas her husband gave her four hens and one rooster and now her land supports more than 200 chickens and so much more.

Dawn’s message is community sustainable teachings and it begins with her chickens. She holds classes on incubator-to-table, teaching a model of sustainability.

“Do hens need roosters to lay eggs?” “Are these eggs dyed to be different colors?” These are two of Dawn’s favorite questions that she fields

often during her classes. She usually has a wire basket filled with brown, blue and white eggs for review, all from her own hen house. The fact that so few folks know hens lay indepen-dently and need no help from a rooster, reminds her how much people need to learn about where their food comes from.

“Turkeys came next,” Dawn said, as she pointed to her Bourbon Red Tom in the yard. “He’s part of my breeding stock and is changed out yearly to keep our stock pure,” she added. Dawn continues, “There were a lot more two weeks ago, but we processed them by the river and sold them at the farmers market.”

From egg to dinner by design, she says. Often times more expensive than grocery store birds, her

turkeys are free range with no additives such as antibiotics or growth hormones. When you get a turkey from Restoration Farms, you’re getting what nature intended—just the turkey.

“Back in 1950, folks spent 40 percent of their income on Top: Dawn Jordan sharing her passion for working the land.Bottom: Moveable chicken coup. Opposite page: Broccoli bed.

“Our mission is to educate the public about heritage and self-sustainability.”

JANUARY 2013 39


food. Now, in today's world, we spend less than 12 percent of our income on food and usually don’t end up with farm-quality taste,” she said.

Dawn feels it’s important to know not just where your food came from, but what has been added to what you’re eating.

The farm’s caretaker, Jason Craig and his wife, Katie, now live in the house Dawn grew up in.

Jason said he was out in the bustle of Colorado, “feeling like the tree outside their apartment. Lush and green at the bot-tom, and dead at the top. Growing yet surrounded by cement,” then he stumbled on word the farm needed a caretaker.

The Craigs discussed their needs, the simple life the job would require and then moved.

“Here my family works together. Katie makes our soap, detergent, deodorant and our breads. Here my son doesn’t see his father leave for work, but he follows along side me with his wheel barrel or hoe in hand and helps work the land. Here I am home,” Jason says as his little boy Henry picks up more hay and throws it in on his wheel barrel and his little girl picks up a turkey chick.

“Here we are all home,” Katie agrees.Restoration Farm’s harvest of fall broccoli was a reminder

of the vibrant differences food has when eaten days after harvest. Flavors burst with each tender bite and it feels much different than the rubbery grocery store version that has spent weeks getting into the stores.

Besides the free-range chicken, turkey and eggs the farm boasts healthy, pesticide-free, fresh seasonable veggies and an all-natural washing detergent made on the farm.

The laundry detergent was born from Dawn’s mother's love to do laundry. With sky-rocketing costs of store-bought deter-gent and a budding entrepreneur partnership, Dawn’s 16-year-old daughter, Kira, and her 15-year-old niece, Bianca Dragul, set out to find a recipe for more affordable natural soap. Borax, washing soap and few other common ingredients supply the cleaning punch they pour into the 60-ounce containers all pur-chased for only $3 at the Mill Springs Agricultural Farm Store. The two enjoy good sales at the farm store and on the farm’s website restorationfarms.net.

Dawn says she wouldn’t trade her “labor-intensive lifestyle for anything. I love nothing more than to lay down in the dirt and be happy, smelling the leaves, the fresh air and look at the colors of green the grasses offer. Bones of what is really there,” she says.

RESTORATION FARM

Train car donated to the farm that Dawn hopes one day will be restored for someone to live in and work the land. Opposite page: A goat, the most recent gift to the farm, comes home.

JANUARY 2013 41

FEATURE

She delights in walking the dogs in winter and feeling the differences in breath, touch and air. She says she “was meant to be a part of this land.”

After a quick walk Dawn drives around the full 200 acres. Along the way she stops to stoke the fire of another thriving business venture the farm maintains. Her husband sells dried, bundled firewood to stores. She tosses in a few pieces of wood to continue the homemade kiln’s 50 hours of drying efforts.

“We work the land in all ways,” she says.Dawn’s father Bill Claton was a visionary; his efforts

become visible as you cross the road to the other side of the property. Both he and his wife, Beth, wanted to provide a place for ministry groups to study and gather at afford-able prices. Perched on a rise overlooking the Green River stands a large lodge built of logs. The River Ministries offers an affordable and available place for ministries to gather and train.

“Now that the family has grown so large, our gatherings for Christmas and Thanksgiving usually take place here and around the large rock fireplace my father built,” Dawn says.

Waiting in the field, next to the best fishing spot on the land, rests a large grey boxcar with the words “operation life saver” painted on its side. Dawn explains, “I see this being someone’s next project. Someone will come to work the land and need a place to stay, renovate this car and call it home.”

When asked what direction the farm will take the next 10 years, Dawns pauses then smiles, “A plantation village with a community of folks working the land. Lots of gar-dens filled with vegetables and herbs and folks providing the goods to barter with others for their needs.”

As a farmer, Dawn knows the importance of shopping local and shopping farmers. Whenever she shops, her first thought is, “Do I know someone that makes that or grows that.” She goes first to try to barter for goods. Her most unusual barter for eggs and chicks so far is a well-needed massage for her husband. Milk, grapes and knowledge of cattle are some of her most recent trades.

The farm will host an open house on January 19 and will be open to the public. They will offer classes on mak-ing bed gardens and establishing borders and also starting chicks now so they will be laying eggs by summer. Dawn says most folks want to work the land but lack the knowl-edge of where to begin. Her best advice to those eager to start is, “work with what you have and start small. Start with one thing, then add another if you like and another.” •

Restoration Farm will offer other classes going forward such as canning meats like chicken and deer, creating soup stock and processing birds. Check their website, www.restorationfarms.net for details of classes and hours.

Training

JANUARY 2013 43

COLUMN

Training

Q

PET Answered by PAT THORNE

My puppy is approaching 4 months of age and his behavior with my toddler is getting worse by the day. How can I keep him from doing things such as pulling at his clothing, taking my son’s toys away from him, grabbing food from his hands and constantly jumping up at him towards his face. My son is very gentle with the dog, however, the puppy is becoming increasingly pushy and I have got to put a stop to this behavior ASAP

A Normally I would never recommend long intensive training sessions, however, this begs for immediate attention.

Here is the most effective way to put an end to this behavior for good. Pick a day when you can devote about four hours to this training practice with your dog and toddler. You and

your dog will be mentally exhausted at the end but you will also have put an end to this unwanted behavior. First, establish a place where you give your puppy a brief “time out” of about 30 seconds to a minute. This

can be a crate, which is out of sight from anyone, a small room such as a bathroom or even outside if he cannot see you.

Next, every single time your puppy displays any of these unwanted behaviors immediately remove him to the designated spot and give about a 30 second time out. Be sure that while you are removing him to his place that you are not angry and you say nothing other than maybe a sound such as “Ahhh!”

Then out he goes without another word. When you release him from his time out say nothing, just open the door and start again. You will be repeating this many times for sure! At the end of this four-hour training ses-sion he will finally have gotten the message that anytime he does anything to your toddler that is off limits he will end up loosing his “pack” by being placed in time out. This is the last thing any dog wants and he will change his behavior in order to remain with his pack or family.

Dogs learn by the consequences of their actions so the last thing we want to do in a situation like this is to continually yell at the dog or punish the dog while he is with the child. This would only cause the dog to resent the child’s presence and he or she will associate the child with punishment.

I truly believe when it comes to children and dogs we need to act quickly with correcting unwanted behavior.

I invite readers to write in with any questions you may haveregarding your dog's behavior to: [email protected].


DARK CORNER DINER

Written by SAMANTHA HURSTPhotographs by ERIK OLSEN

Onions pop and sizzle on the grill behind Virginia MacLure as she chats with customers standing outside Dark Corner Diner.

Nearby, two women sit on a fold-out picnic table. On plates in front of them are savory roast beef sandwiches piled on ciabatta bread with caramelized onions, radish slaw, greens and black pepper mayo.

MacLure crafted the culinary plea-sures before them from inside her 7x10 ft. food truck parked that day in down-town Landrum.

“Food – it’s an addiction – once you’ve worked in the restaurant busi-ness it's hard to stay away,” MacLure said. “For me this is a means of getting where I want to be and owning my own place again eventually.”

For now she’ll keep impressing people with the bursts of flavor served on wheels.

“There is absolutely no comparison,” said weekly customer Stacy Tapp, who was grabbing her lunch one Wednes-day while MacLure was parked outside Tryon Equine Hospital. “This is de-signer food from a cart – we’re in vogue in Columbus.”

Flavor combinations handed out the window of Dark Corner Diner include ingredients such as whitebeans and feta or sweet potato and rosemary merg-ing to create delightfully flavorful salad options. To warm the stomach and the soul, MacLure offers options such as mushroom and sherry soup or Tunisian soup.

MacLure achieves these gourmet flavors by not looking to the expected ingredients when creating her menus. Yet, she said, there’s no rule as to select-ing what pairs together.

Instead she said, “In the end you just have to go with your gut,” and someone

Gourmet food on wheels

JANUARY 2013 45

FEATURE


willing to be honest with you. “I did a lot of taste-testing at home

with neighbors to come up with my core menu,” she said. “It’s just what you like. If a combination doesn’t work, then I keep trying and find the most honest person I can to give me their opinion.”

Working from a tight space does have its limitations on menu options though. Inside the truck, MacLure fit a commercial refrigerator, a three-compartment sink, a hand sink, sandwich bar, Panini press and soup warmer.

The tight space and limited storage means MacLure has to make decisions for the menu based on what fits and what will keep. To accommodate, she offers two sandwiches each day and at least one soup and one salad.

Some days this means her menu in-cludes items like a chicken sandwich with Asian Pear and Korean mayo or a Curried asparagus soup. Another day she might sat-isfy the vegetarians who crave her creations with a marinated chickpea sandwich and parsley potato soup.

Customers don’t seem to mind the limited daily menu because it changes every day.

Plus, many say it's part of the experi-ence to see what she’s serving up as she moves from location to location through-out the week.

“The food is wonderful,” said Linda Parish. “It’s so unique and fun, plus they are wonderful people – so personable.”

MacLure sweetens the deal with a plethora of treats to round the meal out as well.

“Baking is one of my favorite things so I always try to have as many desserts as I can keep on hand,” MacLure said.

Nibbles of gooey and crunchy pecan bars beckon to sweet-toothed customers to taste just a bite. Further hooking their taste buds once they do so, most can’t help but order a full bar for later or a delectable brownie to round out their meal.

“The sea salt brownies – those are the best things ever,” commented one custom-er on her preferred meal-ending pleasure.

DARK CORNER DINER

FEATURE

JANUARY 2013 47

MacLure adds to these temptations, items like ga-nache stuffed chocolate chip cookies or gingerbread with hot caramel sauce.

To catch Dark Corner Diner when it is near you, or to track them down because you simply can’t go another day without those brownies, her schedule runs similar to this one below:

Wednesdays, Tryon Equine 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Thursdays, Stott’s Garage 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fridays, downtown Lan-drum 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturdays, roving but often at the old Celtic Tavern 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. •

For more information about Dark Corner Diner call 864-414-2594 or visit darkcornerdiner.com. You can also find them on face-book.

Box o� ce hours: Tue-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat, 10am-1pmTRYON FINE ARTS CENTER • 34 Melrose Avenue, Tryon, NC • Visit tryonarts.org or call 828-859-8322

Leave your troubles behind and head to Club TFAC for another night of blues!Saturday, February 2, 2013

Nonstop music 5:30 – 10:30 pmTryon Fine Arts Center

Food & Beverages available

Tickets on sale January 2 $25 GENERAL ADMISSION - $75 VIP LOUNGE

GET READY FOR ONE HOT NIGHT!

2ND ANNUAL

DARK CORNER DINER

growingin 2013food

Written by CAROL LYNN JACKSONPhotographs by SAMANTHA HURST and submitted

COLUMN

JANUARY 2013 49


FOOD FOR FOODIES

I want to entice you to participate in an open plot. This open plot is full of creativity and truth, yet

still has the potential to radically alter the balance of powers that be. And, this plot can only work if it is shared with as many people as possible and they promise to share it as well.

It’s a simple plot and it begins with a space of grass - or a field, a front lawn, a backyard, a deck, a rooftop, an abandoned parking lot, a dump yard, an undevelop-able flood field. This plot is dedicated to the growing of food. That's right; what I am suggesting is that gardening is just an open plot, one that can put power back into the hands of families and local communities.

Think about it! Food is a form or energy. It’s what our bodies run on, but it’s also a form of power. When we encourage people to grow some of their own food, we’re encouraging them to take power back into their own hands; power over their children, their health, their pocketbooks and their communities.

Gardening and small-scale farming is a stepping-stone to food freedom. Life in our foothills provides us a long growing season where open plot succession planting and harvesting can thrive for nine months out of the 12. It’s not long after you plant a garden that you start to say, “Hey, I need to learn to cook! Or “I need to sell this food and make some extra cash for my family. I might want to look up food preservation and my local farmers markets and CSA programs and participate in those.”

Another undeniable truth is that we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, not just within our country, but around the world. In a parallel universe, hunger is on the rise. More than 900,000 million people are af-fected by it. That is three times the population of the United States. At the same time world food prices are rising and world population is rising. It’s said to reach 10 billion by the end of the century.

It’s a simple plot and itbegins with a space of grass

JANUARY 2013 51

COLUMN

In the meantime, we’ve gone from being a primarily rural planet to primar-ily urban.

In order to keep up with growing population, we are going to need to grow more food. What is challenging is that we are going to have to grow all this food with less; less oil, less water, less farmland, less climate stability, less genetic diversity, less time.

American political culture tries to convince us that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping! Some-how they want us to believe we can shop our way out of just about any problem. The reality is we aren’t going to solve our food and health problems by doing any further global economy shopping.

There are around 30,000 foods in a large grocery store chain, but consumers have less and less confidence in it. We are redefining what good food is and we are redefining our time spent in the home and our living spaces. This year, I encourage more people to turn their yards into groceries for their families. Gardens grow good food; safe and healthy, gorgeous and delicious food. Gardens grow healthy kids and families. Gardens also grow important economic savings for families and communities.

So how do we grow more gardens? Get out and learn how to locate or

reclaim, amend, compost, dig and plant YOUR own plot! When the going gets tough, the tough get growing! •


COUNTRY LIVING

On a trip to England, I noted in the private homes I visited as part of a study of interior design and architecture, there was not one that had stark white walls.

My journey was motivated by the desire to study the work of Nancy Lancaster, an American who became a very well-known English decorator, and the work of John Fowler, also a famous English decorator and her partner. I came away with an even greater appreciation of what people can do when they choose to make their homes reflect a style of relaxed living by using their beloved objects in a well-thought out plan of com-fort and elegance.

While in England, I visited numerous private houses. The hallmark of these houses was the color, style and comfort they ex-pressed. It was about people living in houses, not about furnishings being in a museum. It was very interesting how personal, yet elegant, the overall effect was. Clearly, many items were antiques, inherited and collected, but not everything had to be pristine. As the English can do so very well, the look of the finest rug suffered not a bit from having a small old rug on top of it for the dog to lie on in front of the fire!

What made these houses so beautiful, yet also made you feel you could comfortably live in any one of them? It’s the entire picture that’s been created: the collection of the things they’ve inherited and collected in their travels, and the wood furniture that always has a patina, a polish, a richness that you don’t get from new furniture. The window treatments were beautiful, but not necessarily elaborate.

What made them special were the kinds of fabric they used and the painted and gilded curtain rods. There were lots of items in the rooms, but you never felt stuffy; what they had was beautifully arranged. One of the most important features were the colors. They were typically soft and beautiful. I suppose when you have long grey days for weeks on end you need the tones for the inside of house to be soft and pretty and to cheer you up.

My insights from this trip helped confirm what I believe about what works for people who are shifting to a different phase of life.

Transformingyour home and life

Written by GILLIAN DRUMMONDPhotographs submitted

Some people like to call it downsizing. That’s not my favorite word. While the physical space may be getting smaller, the mental and emotional spaces may be getting larger as people focus on what they truly love and want to explore further. How do you make the home reflect that?

It is a combination of things you already own that fit for the revised living needs, but it’s also buying new things. Just because you own a lot, don’t neglect adding beautiful new items that complement your favorite possessions. This often includes looking for antiques as well as brand new items. And then choose the background that turns walls and windows into a place where those items fit beautifully and which you person-ally enjoy. All of this looks effortless in the end, but must be well thought out, planned and executed.

As any good designer knows, this takes honesty and humor. I recall a story when I worked for the renowned American designer Mario Buatta.

He had a client who owned a small table that she inherited. In truth, it was not very pleasant to look at, but she wanted to keep it. And she kept it prominently displayed beside a chair. Every time Mario went into the house, he would remove the table from its spot and hide it under a skirted table. He would say to his client, “keep it, enjoy it, but don’t have it out when people are around!” There was no hard feelings between designer and client – just a joke they enjoyed together and a workable way to keep a beloved object and keep the integrity of the room. You don’t have to throw out what you love, but you also don’t have to have it out front when you want your home in top shape for entertaining.

Reflecting back on one of my trips to England, I am pleasantly surprised to note that although I saw large, gorgeous Georgian houses, at end of day what impressed me the most were two of the smaller houses. One of those houses belonged to the English designer David Hicks. Before he died, he and Lady Pamela, his wife, moved out of their large house into a farmhouse on their property. They added a large living room and made the interior space in the farmhouse work for them so that it was totally charming. It had elegance in rooms where they wanted elegance and coziness in other rooms. It was enchanting.

If you look around your home and wonder where do I begin, or feel you have many things that look shabby, don’t despair as you move on in your life. As David Hicks and Lady Pamela clearly demonstrated, you can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. You can totally transform how you live and what you’re living with, without losing what you love from the past. To pull it all off, however, it does take the magic of interior design.

Gillian Drummond has her design firm in Tryon. You can see her website at www.drummondhouseco.com. You can reach her at [email protected] or 828-859-9895.

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MOONSHINE


Josh Owens with a rusted old moonshining barrel.

JANUARY 2013 55

FEATURE

Written by LEAH JUSTICEPhotographs by LEAH JUSTICE AND SUBMITTED

Growing up in small town Columbus, Josh Owens could have never dreamed by age 35 that he, his overalls and his dog would be famous.

Owens has recently found himself riding his motorcycle in local parades, invited to a Winston-Salem saloon to meet customers and getting his picture taken with every Polk County resident that spots him around town. His friends on Facebook have quickly grown to approximately 2,500.

His dog, Cutie Pie also has her own flock of followers.Owens is one of the stars of “Moonshiners” that airs on

the Discovery Channel on Wednesdays at 10 p.m.Josh grew up in Columbus and spent a lot of his youth rac-

ing motorcycles. Now Josh’s Harley is a well-known symbol of the show, especially because it is rare to see Josh without Cutie Pie, who sports black goggles while riding along with Josh.

If you ask Josh what kind of dog Cutie Pie is, he’ll tell you she’s a “Heinz 57.”

Josh rescued Cutie Pie from the shelter about four years ago and refers to her as his best friend.

On the show, Josh and friend Bill Canny are building an underground moonshine still as a tribute to their late friend and local moonshine legend Barney Barnwell.

Josh and Bill don’t always get along through the process as they have different plans for how the underground structure should be built.

There’s also added pressure because they are trying to get the still built and hidden before the annual Moonshine Reunion festival that is held on Barnwell’s property every year.

over Polk County

SHINEFilming for the show began last spring and is now complete.

Owens and Canny have been featured on the show every week, on “Moonshiners'” third season.

The previews for the show have Josh saying, “I tend to be the guy that’s always at the wrong place at the wrong time…or the right place at the wrong time.”

The show depicts Josh as a “madman,” but Polk County residents know better.

Josh owns a local tree and landscaping business, Tree and Yard Busters. He spends the rest of his time with his 3-year-old daughter, Reese, or out in the woods hunting and fishing.

“I’m a good ole boy,” he says. “A country boy with class.”The show features four different moonshine teams from

N.C., Tennessee and Virginia. Josh and Bill are two of the few who don't require subtitles.

Josh never intended to be on television. He said the “Moon-shiners” show just happened because he was trying to do the right thing for Barnwell’s memory.

“I had no idea all of this was going to happen,” Josh said. “I just built this up and did it for Barney.”

Josh had always promised Barnwell that he’d build an under-ground still and just as he got started Barnwell had two strokes and died at age 58. Josh and Bill decided to press on and get the project done in Barnwell’s memory and about a year later Discovery channel producers called Barnwell’s wife, Debbie, asking if the underground still got built. The History and Dis-covery channel had been planning to do a show about Barnwell and his moonshining before his death.

M N


Barnwell is featured on the current Moonshiners show through old footage.

Discovery producers came to South Carolina to check out the underground still.

“They liked it so much they came out from New York and California and said they wish they could have seen me doing this,” said Josh.

Producers told Josh they needed some wrap up of shows they did with Barnwell, so Owens said his wheels started spin-ning.

“I asked them, what if I build an addition with a tunnel and another utility room and an outhouse as an escape route,” Josh said. “They liked that so much they asked me if I wanted a TV show and I said ‘hell yeah.’”

Josh says this show means everything to him as he’s put all his time, money and energy into this project. He actually spent more on the project than he got paid from Discovery, but he said that wasn’t the point.

“One of the main things I want out of this show is to carry on Barney’s name. Barney’s legacy,” Josh said. “All the fame and all the glory that may come out of this is just icing on the cake.”

The underground still and Josh’s life have certainly not been cake.

Josh said the project had many ups and downs; in fact, every time Josh and Bill did anything on the project they hit a wall.

“We’ve done everything but kill each other,” Josh said.Josh said being on this show and completing the project for

Barney means everything to him. He said after losing Barney and his mother, Cindy Owens of cancer last year, the excite-ment of the show has been a welcomed change.

“I’ve been shot, stabbed, hit by a car, hung in a three-phased power line, got my nose bit in half, fell off a cliff, had my knee blown out, broke my collar bone, tailbone, broke one wrist once and the other twice and had my hand crushed,” he said. “I’ve been through hell, but if you truly believe in something you can make it happen.”

Josh said it’s hard to describe how he felt when he first saw himself on television. He said he was at home the first time he saw a preview for the show and heard his voice.

“I kid you not, when I first saw it I got cold chills. I was like ‘oh my god,’” he said.

He says it’s still a whirlwind to think about. Especially to think that his self-proclaimed “country bumpkin” self is being pictured in advertisements on New York City subways, cabs and buses.

He said he just thinks to himself sometimes, “I’m the lucki-est, unluckiest SOB you’ve ever met in your life.” •

MOONSHINE

An example of a moonshining setup like what is featured on “Moonshiners.”

“I’m the luckiest, unluckiest SOB you’ve ever met

in your life.”

FEATURE

JANUARY 2013 57

Josh Owens rides around the county on his motorcycle with dog, “Cutie Pie.”

Right: Michelle Sumner’s Fresian stallion Fable prances into the air. Sumner said Fable would be seen at the annual Keurig, which she plans to host next September. The event will be held Sept. 28-29, 2013 at FENCE. Sumner owns another horse called Wolter who scored a 71 at his first dressage show. They also attended the Polk County Mounted Patrol show and brought home five trophies. Meanwhile, at the Feathered Horse Classic in Perry, Ga., her horse Hoera Boszorg II won Supreme Mare. (photo submit-ted/ taken by Linda Stenzel)

AP

PO

INT

ME

NT

S

JANUARY 2013 59

APPOINTMENTS


NOTES

Foothills Youth Rodeo Association recently held their year-end rodeo finals on Oct. 12-14 at Double J Arena in Pendleton, S.C. Natalie Holliday and her horse, Sho' Nuff Doc, are the year end barrel racing champions for FYRA. Holliday also finished as reserve champion in the “All Around” cat-egory. Other qualifying finalists competing from this area included: Kiowa Waters, Lane Bradley, Sarah Mashburn, Abigale Heath and Caitlyn Poole.

RODEOfinals

Kay excellsin 4-H Equine Program

Bradley Kay, a member of the Polk County 4-H club, The Bridle Bunch, found success competing at state and national levels on the 2012 NC State Hippology Team. Hippology, Latin for “the study of the horse,” is a competition covering anatomy, physi-ology, health and disease, nutrition, breeds and overall history of the horse. The contest includes four phases: judging, exam, stations, and team problems. In horse judging, 4 classes are evaluated. The written exam is comprised of at least 100 multiple choice questions. Stations is a phase where contestants match objects/pictures to terms. In team problems the four team mates must present a solution to a given problem within a time limit.

At the NC State contest in Raleigh this spring, Bradley was the top scoring indi-vidual and was named 4-H Horseperson of the Year. This made her eligible for NC team tryouts where she earned a spot on the regional and national teams. Competing against thirteen other states this sum-mer at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championship in Perry, Ga, Bradley was also named champion indi-vidual. In the fall, her team continued to successfully win the All American Quarter Horse Congress Hippology contest in Columbus, Ohio and the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky. Bradley was named reserve champion (2nd place high individual) in both events. Bradley plans to continue competing in 4-H competitions in the coming years by focusing on both horse judging and public speaking competitions.

JANUARY 2013 61

THEN & NOW

Written by GERALD PACKI recently watched a terrific docu-

mentary about the greater Tryon horse country and it brought home to me many warm memories of growing up here amidst so many fine people of that era.

Jane Gagnier was one of them. She was a great person as well as an important influence in my life. We first met when I was about 12-years-old. At the time, she was joint master of the Tryon Hounds, along with Ernest Mahler. Later, working alongside JoJo Elago Delgarcio, the three became joint masters together.

Whenever we went out with hounds, it was Mrs. Gagnier who always took the field. She was just one of those great masters. You felt very comfortable with her in control. When you arrived, you were always warmly welcomed, but you’d best not be late to the meet. She saw to it that the hunt left promptly on schedule.

The first day hunting, she took me aside and said “Gerald, my juniors hunt in the back. However, when the older members drop out, you can come up and stay behind me.”

I did, and never looked back from that day on.

Mrs. Gagnier ranked up there with other great masters like Mrs. Randolph, Buddy Word and Mrs. Randolph Hearst. She knew how to keep her field tightly in check, how to keep riders close enough to

DoDare

see the action and hear the hounds work-ing while ensuring that everyone was kept a safe distance away. She accomplished this with no more than three people on her staff — one professional, one paid whip-per in and one volunteer, all of whom were well educated in these positions.

Mrs. Gagnier always had top of the line horses at her Fox Covert Farm. All were bay in color. They were beautiful hunter types who could go to the front of any-one’s hunt field and hold their own.

Her favorite hunt horse was ‘Do I Dare.’ I remember one day, we had a fabu-lous hunt; the hounds ran hard and put to ground a big red fox who went in under an old slag pile below the waterfall of the Ru-bene Farm. Her horse had been so terrific the entire run. He just knew his job, didn’t get excited. My horse on the other hand, was too hot and crazy.

Afterward, I rode up to her and said “Mrs. Gagnier, someday, I want a horse just like yours.”

I will never forget her response. She said, in her quiet way, “Gerald, you’re a talented, young rider and you’re going to be a great professional one day. Your job will be to make horses like ‘Do I Dare’ for amateurs like myself to ride and hunt. This is a rough sport. I know my limitations and I always try to stay within them.”

Mrs. Gagnier also owned a horse by the name of Pikes Peak who was another big, beautiful bay. He was one of the top Co-rinthian horses of his time. We don’t have Corinthian classes anymore. We don’t have the hunter riders to show them in proper, formal hunting attire, with proper appoint-ments, capable of cracking a hunt whip on the side of each horse.

The shows were a great crowd pleasure, especially at Harrisburg, Washington and New York. The classes were always shown in the evenings under lights, with jumps from 4’ to 4’6” in height. Brilliance and pace played a major factor in the judging of the horses.

It was great fun hunting here back then. The Tryon Hunt country was ranked among the best hunting countries any-where. Riders used to come from all parts just to hunt with us as. We didn’t have conservancies to hold the land. The big

landowners held that mantle instead, keeping much of the hunting country open for riders to enjoy.

Fox hunting began to change in the seventies after I-26 carved up our coun-tryside and some of the old guard had begun to pass away.

One day, Mrs. Gagnier called me over to her house and we had a long talk. We’d become great friends over time, having taken an immediate liking to one another. She told me that she had resigned her position as master, and made it clear that from now on, the younger group needed to step up to the plate and be the guard-ians of things.

I took my place carrying the traditions forward. I worked with Mrs. Kuhn in or-ganizing the schooling shows, along with the junior and AHSA shows, all spon-sored by the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club. I also came up with some new ideas about how to continue hunting across an increasingly fragmented countryside. Trails had to be rerouted to make them work, and an effort made to keep what country we had left usable. There were so many factors involved.

As Mrs. Gagnier predicted, I ended up making many a hunt horse for amateurs to ride and had a lot of fun doing it. It’s a shame that in today’s world of hunt-ing with hounds, people don’t have the professionals to make hunt horses like we did back then. It generally takes two to three years, but all amateurs should have horses made for them to participate on.

Mrs. Gagnier informed me that she had to go to Detroit to be with her doc-tor there. No one realized that her cancer had spread. I didn’t realize at the time that we were saying our final good byes. She never came back to her beautiful Fox Covert Farm with its breathtaking, hilltop views.

I understand her ashes were placed alongside ‘Do I Dare’ and buried at the bottom of the field. I pass by occasion-ally and think of those great old days. I followed the pair of them through my teenage years, on so many runs and hunt-ing days of my life. I will never forget her, or her wonderful horse.

Stay tuned. •

I


Julia Gates, 17, has been a member of the Green-ville Foothills Pony Club for five years. Since she grew up around horses, Gates first became inter-ested in riding when she was 5.

Gates is a C+ in USPC, and she will be taking her HB this fall in order to complete her C3 rating level.

“I plan to go for my B rating next summer before I go to college. My horse James is one that I actively compete and ride. James is a 17 hand Irish Warm-blood Cross, and we have been together for a year now. I enjoy him so much. We will be eventing in the spring, and I can't wait to see just how far we can go,” said Gates.

Sassy Cassie was Gates’ first pony club pony. Standing at 14 hands she was perfect to launch Gates’ game career. Gates has a current pony named Patches, and he is a paint gelding. The two travel up as far north as New Jersey and compete on a team called “Crash.” Patches always gives Gates 110 percent and never lets her down when riding and competing, she said.

Gates also has a Connemara Buckskin named Sierra that she acquired as a three-year-old. Sierra is now 14 and has started competitive pony jumping.

“Though my time is always spent on a horse … I love every second and appreciate all the rewarding support I get along the way,” said Gates.

Gates has never looked back after joining Pony Club in 2003. She said she has met many amaz-ing horse lovers like herself at both the local and national levels. Gates was given the opportunity in 2010 to represent the USPC at the International

to pony clubcommitted

Written by BARBARA CHILDSPhotographs submitted

“Though my time is always spent on a horse … I love

every second and appreciate all the rewarding support I

get along the way.”

GATES

Gates riding Patches. (photo by Kelly Dauzat)

Games Exchange hosted in England. “I made some of my lifelong friends through this rid-

ing experience and keep in contact with many of them today. Pony Club has not only helped me improve my riding skills and horsemanship, but it has also increased my knowledge of the horse, gain responsibility that needs to be kept in the sport of horses, as well as help-ing me achieve many recognized goals,” she said. “Pony Club can teach a child at any age, and it gains the respect of friends, family members, and the good instructors provided along the way. Through riding with clinicians across the country I have learned how to take compli-ments and achievements humbly, and to accept criticism and failure with the acceptance to always try harder and do better.”

Gates said she appreciates that pony club offers a special place for those who love horses as they strive to improve their riding skills.

“We get to learn, ride, teach, compete and together with the help from instructors and supporters we achieve much with our good mounts,” said Gates. •

JANUARY 2013 63

“Through riding with clinicians across

the country I have learned how to take

compliments and achievements

humbly, and to accept criticism and failure with the acceptance to always try harder

and do better.”

JuliaGates

APPOINTMENTS

Gates on Sierra jumping at a pony club show jump rally. (photo submitted/ taken by FotoHorse)


FREEMAN

Freemanfinds home in foothills


Above: Freeman and Windy (photo submitted).

JANUARY 2013 65

Margaret Freeman is a designated “Senior” dressage judge, and she is licensed to judge through the Grand Prix level of dressage at United States Equestrian Federation shows.

She has been boarding with Jen Baumert at Cloverlea Dressage based at the Cross Creek Farm in Columbus. Freeman has recently moved to Tryon from New York. Between teaching and giving clin-ics, Freeman rides and schools her 13-year-old Friesian mare cross bred in Canada and named Windsong (aka Windy). Freeman has owned Windy since she was 4. She has been successful at the Prix St. Georges level and Freeman is planning to show her at the Intermedi-are level I in 2013. Freeman has known Jen Baumert from showing in New England and highly respects her background and training.

Freeman has been freelancing as a writer and editor for horse magazines and has moved frequently. She has been the assistant edi-tor of the Horse Journal since 1994, and Freeman is also on the edi-torial advisory committee of “USDF Connection.” In addition she has covered the equestrian events at seven Olympic Games, includ-ing six for the Associated Press. “Horse Journal” is a different sort of equestrian publication since a lot of consumer-related product surveys are covered.

“We do not carry advertising and are totally dependent on sub-scriptions. I get to write about a lot of horse care and product-related subjects well beyond just writing about dressage,” says Freeman.

“I got into judging since it seemed like a natural extension of my riding and journalism. With dressage judging you have to fully con-centrate for long hours and make numerous quick observations. In an average judging day I will dictate more than 1,000 numerical scores and matching comments. My background as a journalist was a great preparation for judging. Dressage judges are categorized by the levels and type of shows they are licensed to judge, and training mimics that of riding and showing since you work your way up the levels,” says Freeman.

Freeman enjoys judging because it has a great deal of intellectual satisfaction for her. As a judge she is continually keeping herself cur-rent and studying. Dressage judges attend a lot of forums and other educational functions several times a year.

“I love being at horse shows and around horse people,” says Free-man.

Since Freeman has been riding for more than 40 years, she has gained a great respect for her dressage teachers and mentors. One especially has made a great difference in her riding, and that is Jessie Rizzi. She is a former top North American Junior/Young Rider med-alist who has worked with Lendon Gray for many years.

“Windy and I worked with her from 2007 ‘til we moved here this summer. This was a great three-way partnership that worked well for

Senior dressage judge, and licensed

to judge through the Grand Prix level of dressage at United States Equestrian Federation shows.

MargaretFreeman

APPOINTMENTS


FREEMAN

all of us. She is young enough to be my daughter, maybe my granddaughter. I miss her and often text her early in the morning just like I did when I lived in New York,” says Freeman.

Freeman’s goals today are pretty much the same by doing what she has always loved both in writing and riding for the last 30 years. Freeman feels that the nice thing about dressage is that there is always a new challenge and a new level to work toward with your horse.

When it comes to showing, Freeman feels the quality of training and riding is paramount, and a better rider will win much more than a better horse. So it doesn't matter so much what the rider spends on the purchase of a horse as it does the quality of instruction and how readily the rider is willing to concentrate on equitation.

“I drive or I'm on a plane half of the week-ends around the year, and I see how wide and diverse this country is to an understanding of dressage. Sure, it's basically the same sandbox wherever you go, but there are pockets where dressage is especially active and many more areas where it isn't. People tend to emulate what they

see around them. If there are good and thoughtful riders, that positive influence spreads and raises everyone's awareness. If you can win a class at a show with a 55 percent, then riders aren't motivated to improve. If you need more than 65 percent to even win a rib-bon, then your sights are raised and you're motivated to improve,” says Freeman.

Freeman's husband, Henry retired from being a newspaper editor with Gannett while living in New York, about an hour from Times Square in New York City. They searched for a nice area combined with a good climate, active horse com-munity, near airports for Freeman's judge travels, and a house with a big basement for husband Henry's model trains. They found all that here.

According to Freeman, people today have a greater knowledge of the biomechanics and dif-

ferent styles of riding that folks did just ten years ago. There is so much with books and Internet information, and people are more thoughtful and open to new ideas.

Freeman was born in Portland, Oregon. She has a BA in Dramatic Literature from Mills College in Oakland, CA and a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri. Freeman got into riding by taking weekly lessons in Portland with the baby-sitting money she earned. She was interested first in hunters and then turned to eventing.

“Eventually I realized I was always winning the dressage at combined training events but not doing so well with the jumping so I concentrated on the dressage and moved up the levels on a Hanoverian-cross that my husband and I bred,” says Freeman. •

Freeman feels the quality of training and riding is paramount, and a better rider will win much

more than a better horse.

Freeman and Windy. (photo submitted)

JANUARY 2013 67

APPOINTMENTS

Written by Samantha HurstArtist Richard Baker said he wanted to give back to

the community and so he set to work painting a portrait of one of the men that lifted Tryon’s reputation from a quiet North Carolina mountain town to a mountain escape.

Carter Brown moved to Tryon from Michigan and founded the Pine Crest Inn in 1917. On Nov. 10, 2012 Baker unveiled his portrait of Brown at the inn, where it remains on loan.

“I just did it because it had never been done as far as I had known at the time and I felt like it needed to be,” Baker said.

Brown led the way for Tryon to become a nationally recognized equestrian community. He did this by spear-heading the creation of such community staples as the Block House Steeplechase, Tryon Hounds and Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. The Olympic trials of 1956 and 1960 would likely never have made their way to Tryon either had it not been for Brown’s influence.

Baker said over the year’s he’s learned more and more about the man who loved Tryon enough to bring people here from all over the country so they could fall in love with the area too.

“I had always been impressed and intrigued with him and his accomplishments for this community,” he said.

Several of Brown’s personal acquaintances provided photos of him from throughout his life. Baker said he decided he wanted to create a portrait of Brown in his older years. To complete the work, Baker used a com-posite of all of those photographs to make multiple drawings before actually painting the portrait. He also used the help of model Ambrose Mills.

“He was extremely gracious to volunteer to let me take photographs of him in order to use as an exam-ple,” Baker said of Mills.

Baker said he felt Mills and Brown looked quite simi-lar. He said Carter Brown’s face was much more square than Ambrose but he wanted to depict the man later in life.

Baker took several weeks to paint the portrait but it had been on his mind, he said, for two to three years.

“This community has been very welcoming and supportive of me so I thought I needed to try and do something to show my appreciation and this was at least a starting point,” he said.

Baker said the Pine Crest Inn in particular has always supported him as an artist.

“It’s a historic site and an honor to have my art there.” •

CarterBrown

portrait of an icon


SHADY PATCH FARM

JANUARY 2013 69


APPOINTMENTS

Oliver’sShady Patch Farm


Pepper Oliver discovered a piece of Green Creek farmland in December 1991 with a beautiful meadow, and a gurgling stream running right to a peaceful clear pond. She was de-termined to make this farm hers as she felt it was the perfect place for her and her horses to live.

The farm was close to town and near a farm where she was working. It was all in the middle of horse country, and all she needed to do was build a barn. Oliver started out small and later built a larger state-of-the-art barn for her boarding and training business.

Shady Patch Farm is located off Landrum Rd. and Highway 14 across from Derbyshire.

Right now Oliver has two Hanoverian geldings and four miniatures. She got Flash Dance, her eight-year-old, from trainer Alex Gerding. Oliver drove to West Palm Beach to see him, and brought him home. Gerding has trained Oliver for nearly 15 years.

“I have had Flash for three years and we are now schooling

Prix St. Georges. He is also a wonderful jumper,” said Oliver. Theodore is her 4-year-old gelding that she started under

saddle last year. They are doing first level dressage, and Oli-ver has been jumping small courses with him to get ready for shows.

“Teddy loves schooling the occasional cross country fence, and enjoys trail rides,” says Oliver.

Last but not least are her minis. Harley was Oliver's first mini that she rescued from a friend

that was loosing her farm. After meeting Connie Brown of the Green Creek Minis, Oliver was stirred with curiosity in the driving discipline of these adorable minis. After teaching Har-ley how to drive, Oliver had so much fun that she purchased another mini - Mystery Man. His barn name is Checkers and he is four-years-old. Checkers is 32 inches high. Oliver started him driving, and got involved in HDTs and ADTs, which she thought was great because it was so closely related to eventing.

The two do dressage tests. The cones courses are timed,

OLIVER

Above: Oliver riding Flash Dance. Right: Oliver driving Miss Elegant in their first pleasure show together. (photo submitted)

JANUARY 2013 71

discovered a piece of Green Creek farmland in December 1991 with

a beautiful meadow and a gurgling stream

running right to a peaceful clear pond.

PepperOLIVER

then comes the driving hazards, and then the marathons.

“I did so well with Mystery Man that I got another mini, Miss El-egant. I have started driving her and am showing in ADTs and Pleasure Driving Shows. I have another mini, Debonaire, who is just a yearling,” said Oliver. Oliver says she got first and second place at her first show.

When Oliver is not riding or driv-ing, she is training horses; doing a lot of dressage work.

“I like to train horses to be all around in their equine work, and I like to include trail riding. [I enjoy] helping horses and riders become the best they can be and solving is-sues that may arise during training or riding. At first glance and meeting a horse, I like to read a horse. Their body language can tell a lot about where they are coming from,” said Oliver.

Oliver grew up riding horses at her grandparents’ farm in Alabama. She got her first pony when she was in the fifth grade. Her parents

bought a farm, and she rode and showed jumpers until she went to college. As soon as she graduated from college, Oliver bought a school-master because she was determined to learn dressage. By the time she was 25 she moved to Tryon, and she started working at a local barn so she could learn more dressage. Later the call of eventing came, and after going to Rolex and the 3-day, she became hooked.

“For many years I trained with the event masters, such as Jimmy Wofford, Jim Graham, Denny Emerson, as well as others. I started tak-ing dressage more seriously because I realized that you had to be good at it to win. Training with Carol Lovell, Jane Savoe, Ann Gribbons, Robert Zandvoort and Alex Gerding all helped me attain my dressage goals. I evented for nearly 20 years through Intermediate levels, and in dressage I have shown through fourth level,” she said.

Oliver is involved with many equine activities at Shady Patch Farm - hunter paces, clinics, dressage, driving, jumping and training. Now she also trains minis to drive, and she also teaches clients to drive.

Her greatest joy is constantly having her horses close by. “I enjoy seeing the horses and minis day and night, right outside my

window,” Oliver said. “They are peaceful and happy. They talk to me in the morning when I go to the barn to feed, and this gives me great pleasure to see that a horse is being well cared for.” •

APPOINTMENTS


DUDLEY

brings new giftsWritten by BARBARA CHILDSPhotograph by BARBARA CHILDS

I was just mentioning to Madeline that the Chinese New Year will begin soon, Feb. 10, 2013, and the year of the snake will be honored for its energy and presence on earth according to the Chinese Zodiac. I really don't care much for snakes, but there is a big black one that slithers near the mailbox.

He seems friendly and loves to curl up in the sunshine for a good snake snooze in the afternoon.

I was also telling Madeline about Milton Burro, the don-key that was starving to death. The rescue people at Foothills Equine Rescue Association (FERA) found him before he almost starved to death.

The animal investigators said he was an equine, although he has long ears, and placed Milton in a good home for his re-covery. He is kind and gentle. He needs a shelter for safety and is requesting that donations be sent to the Foothills Humane Society's FERA fund for him. There is also a Milton fund for carrots. I suggested to Madeline that we share and donate our carrots, apples, sweet potatoes and peppermints to dear Milton. May he thrive with a new shelter, food, carrots a plenty, and

much love.In the early morning I noticed a black piece of human

technology near the barn office. This is what my barn mother places to her ear and speaks into when she is in the barn. Mad-eline was curious about it, so I reached out with my hoof and revealed the cell phone to her. It wasn't any good to eat.

Madeline suggested I press the big button and speak, so I picked up the cell phone with my lips and pressed the button Madeline encouraged me to ask for more carrots, apples, pep-permints and horse cookies – Buckin Balls are very yummy. A rain sheet for rainy days would also be good as getting wet outside is not our cup of tea. Madeline wanted more dates, and I stressed the need for a garden patch of leafy greens in the lower gardens near the barn. Now that would be peachy! I told my barn mother that Milton Burro needs some treats too, and she could bring him here to walk and graze with us any time.

Well, may the New Year and your wish list and ours bring hope and love for all of us. Our barn mother’s mother, Patsy, made a visit with her dog Solo and Madeline was very friendly to both of them.

- Blessings from Dudley and Madeline.

Dudley (top) and Madeline (bottom).

new year

Dudley's Recipe:Radicchio, apple and celery root salad

Here is a real rock star winner for a New Year's salad that will make your table a real celebration. So open the front door and let the good times roll!

1/2 cup buttermilk1/3 cup light mayonnaise4 oz. Roquefort cheese crumbled1/4 tsp. onion powdersalt and pepper2 medium heads of radicchio cored and thinly sliced1/2 lb. celery root thinly sliced2 Granny Smith apples sliced2 tsp. lemon juice

Whisk the buttermilk and season-ings and Roquefort cheese together-refrigerate.

Toss the rest for the salad and then drizzle the dressing on top. Yum! Image copyrighted. The Whisk and The Wardrobe.

APPOINTMENTS


WHY I LOVE THE FOOTHILLS

Are you from this area or did you move here?

I was born in Tryon and graduated from Tryon High School. I grew up liv-ing across from Nina Simon’s family, and worked in her father’s country store long before I could even apply for a worker’s permit. I remember standing on a crate to wait on people.

I left Tryon to attend Pfeiffer Univer-sity (originally Pfeiffer College) in Misen-heimer, N.C. I remained in the Charlotte area for a number of years before going to Western Carolina University to work on an M.B.A.

After I moved back to Tryon to maintain the family home; I became the management program coordina-tor at Spartanburg Technical College. I eventually returned to Western Carolina University to receive an Ed.D. degree. I currently work as the Department Chair of Business Administration at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community Col-lege, where I manage five programs.

Tell us about your family.I lived with my mother and grand-

mother growing up. Both women were strong influences in my life, and they taught me to be self-motivated, a hard worker, and to take pride in my race and family.

My mother was killed in a hit-and-run incident while on a church-sponsored trip shortly after I received my M.B.A. I know she would have been very proud of me since education was so important to her. She was the motivational factor for my two sisters, brother, and me to attend college.

My father lives in Green Creek, N.C. What organizations, activities are you involved with here?

I am very active in my church, St. Luke CME Church, as well as several local organizations. I serve as president of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council, vice-president of Roseland Community Center, and I am a member of the East Side Citizens Advisory Committee in Tryon.

What do you enjoy most about the Foothills?

I enjoy the natural beauty of the foothills, the diversity of individuals and the slower pace of life. I have family that live in various large cities where they are constantly checking to make sure their windows and doors are locked. I recall an aunt living in New York City whose home was broken into several times in her “secure” building. She eventually moved back to Tryon where she, my other grandmother and I would spend hours on the front porch.

What is your fondest memory of the people or area?

My fondest memory of Tryon was the sense of community that once existed.

I recall how the older black residents would ban together if someone was sick, or if there was a death in the commu-nity. It was truly a village and not just a community block. There was also a sense of pride of black ownership. It seemed Tryon was filled with black entrepre-neurs. There were people like the Way-mons (Nina Simon’s parents) that owned a general store, the Paynes (who still own a car service), Mable Camp and Carrie Massey who owned hair salons, James Bryant who owned a general store, and the Hannons who owned a barber shop.

Dr. Joseph FoxFriendship Council president

Do you have a favorite spot – a restau-rant, store, park, etc. – in Polk Coun-ty, Landrum or the surrounding area?

My favorite spot in Tryon is my mother’s house where I grew up. It had originally belonged to her mother. My grandmother did not have a lot of educa-tion, but she had a lot of common sense. She worked hard, saved her money and bought a piece of land to build her own home. That was quite a feat for an Afri-can American female in those days. My mother loved working in the yard there, and that is where I always feel the closest to both women’s spirits.

What is something about the area you wish more people knew?

I got involved with the Friendship Council because many people still do not realize that racism and division still exist today. They may not be as overt as in time past, but you see it in discriminatory practices in which people of color are turned down for home loans, automo-bile loans and rental agreements. On the positive side, you have organizations such as the Friendship Council that seeks to bridge racial gaps and division.

Written by SAMANTHA HURST

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