Land’s Sake, Floyd’s first annual Earth Day event, featured student poster and essay contest winners, over 30 booth displays, local food vendors, keynote speakers and a panel of farmers discussing the challenges and opportunities of small farming in Floyd.

Attendees of the all day Saturday conference, sponsored by the Partnership for Floyd at the Floyd County High School, could sign up for a walking club, participate in a seed exchange, have a BBQ meal and learn about the latest local initiatives in agriculture, alternative energy and more.

In spite of the rainy weather, crowds arrived to browse through the cafeteria exhibitions and fill seats in the auditorium to hear a line-up of speakers.   Barbara Pleasant, author and gardening editor for Mother Earth News, shared a wealth of information on home gardening.  Author and photographer Fred First presented a slide show of his nature photography and shared his writings on “A Sense of Place.”

Ricky Cox, who teaches Appalachian folklore and American literature at Radford University, spoke on Floyd’s farming heritage.  He reported that in 1940 144 tons of butter was churned in Floyd. There were over 3,000 hogs and 80,000 chickens and turkeys. Turkey and eggs weren’t eaten but were commodities to be sold.   “In it’s hey day, 55,000 bushels of potatoes were grown in Floyd for home consumption and sale,” he said, adding with humor that Floyd was the “green bean capital.”

Cox recommended that people speak to members of the community who were living here 70 years ago to learn more about Floyd’s farming history.  He talked about the social aspects of a farming community and joked that a slide-projected image of a sign from the late 1800’s that read “corn and rye whiskey” was a “value added farm product.”

Lydeana Martin presented the Floyd County Comprehensive Plan, which she said was a plan for future land use that focused on the common good and the effective use of public funds.  Of the 30-plus items of interest cited by those who participated in planning meetings and write-in surveys, the top two common priorities listed were preserving agriculture and forests areas and protecting agricultural land and water resources through zoning.  “Farming is what gives Floyd its character,” Martin said.

SustainFloyd director Mike Burton gave an update on the group’s progress with the Farm to School Program, educational programs and film series, and the Floyd Farmer’s Market.  He reviewed upcoming projects related to local agriculture, creative economy, energy, land use, waste and education and reported that SustainFloyd recently received grant funding to study the feasibility of a food processing plant in Floyd.

Burton spoke enthusiastically about the group’s plan to launch a farmer incubator program, in which SustainFloyd would give an acre of land to a prospective farmer and educate and mentor him/her in the process of creating a working farm.  “We have the skills and we have the land.   If we don’t use the land we’re going to lose it,” he said, referring to the fact that more and more farm land is being divided for residential development.

Perseverance and community involvement was mentioned by several speakers as being important to preserving local agriculture. When an audience member asked Burton how we can get more local food in the nursing home and in the schools, he replied with humor, “I have a committee for you.”

A panel discussion, facilitated by Burton, included Mark Sowers of Huckleberry Dairy and Beef Farm, Jon Paul Houston of Sweet Providence Farm, County agriculture extension agent Jon Vest, Polly Hieser of Seven Springs CSA (community supported agriculture) and Tenley Weaver of Good Food Good People, an aggregator of local foods that links over 30 small farmers with consumers and markets.

The panel agreed that there is a great demand for local food and that more farmers are needed to meet those demands.  “People want healthier and safer foods.  The trends are there. We need to get up to speed with the structure,” Houston said.   Vest, who acts as a liaison between universities and farmers, commented that Floyd is gaining a state-wide reputation as a local food producer.

Panel members discussed how government food producing standards are expensive and difficult for small farmers to meet.  They agreed that Floyd farmers need to work together to persevere local agriculture and Floyd’s natural resources.

At the close of the discussion Burton posed a question to the panelists, ‘what do you see that is hopeful for the future?’  Weaver’s response drew audience applause. “We’re doing it. We are feeding 100’s and 100’s of people out of Floyd County. We are a can-do group. We still have the land. We have the clean water and an incredible farming tradition,” she said.  ~ Colleen Redman blogs daily at looseleafnotes.com.

Photos:  1. Featured speaker, Floyd Community & Economic Development Director Lydeana Martin, pictured with her husband and daughter Shaley.  Shaley was one of the student contest winners who read her poem to an audience at the event. 2. Teresa Sweeney, Education and Training Coordinator of the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority Education and Training Coordinator, represented the Floyd County Recycling Center.  3. Authors and university teachers Ricky Cox and Fred First both gave slide slow presentations. 4. Floyd County Woman’s Club member, Deedee McGarth presented a display of her hand crocheted totes and bags made with recycled plastic.   5. Ed Cohn of Miracle Farm, a local B& B and sustainable living center and animal sanctuary, presented a demonstration on worm composting. 6. SustainFloyd director Mike Burton facilitated the farmer’s panel that consisted of (from left to right) Mark Sowers, John Houston, Jon Vest, Polly Hieser and Tenley Weaver. 7. Five Penny farmer Brett Nichols’ sold his locally made organic berry, ginger and root-beer sodas. 8. Hundreds of people came throughout the day and visited the booth presentations.  Videos of the event can be found by searching “Land’s Sake Floyd.” This article also appeared in The Floyd Press.

Jagadisha’s name was given to him by his teacher and means Lord of the Universe.  “Every time someone calls my name, it’s a wake-up reminder to think of God,” said the classically trained musician who teaches chanting and nada yoga, the ancient science of sound vibration.

Born in New Jersey as Joseph Rotella, Jagadisha met Swami Nadabrahmananda at a San Francisco ashram in 1976 when the Indian mystic was being sponsored in the U.S. to teach nada yoga, a spiritual practice that uses the voice, simple instrumentation and the counting of rhythm cycles.  “It’s meditation in action. It’s meant for driving you inward,” Jagadisha said.

Swami Nadabrahmananda, who was 72 when Jagadisha first met him, played the tabla drums in such a meditative state that he was able to suspend his breath and no brain wave activity could be measured by those who studied him, Jagadisha recalled.    “He said to me, ‘take a lesson; if you like it you can stay.”  It was an exchange that appeared simple enough, but was one that changed Jagadisha’s life.

Already becoming disillusioned with what he saw as the burn-out lifestyle of a concert musician, Jagadisha, left school, where he was majoring in flute.  He gave up playing in local orchestras and teaching flute to study with Nadabrahmananda in the U.S. and India.  Working as a mason, a house painter, and a security guard to pay for travel expenses and classes, he learned to accept “divine providence.”

“I got my degree from him and it took many years,” said the son of a concert pianist and a jazz musician/barber.  When asked ‘how many years,’ Jagadisha paused and answered modestly, “I’m still studying.”  He added that nada yoga also involves self-development and psychology.

Complimenting his lifestyle as a householder with a dedicated practice, Jagadisha began creating bonsai, a Japanese art form of growing miniature trees and plants in containers for the purpose of contemplation.   An accomplished cook, he learned to prepare macrobiotic-style food and engaged in a self-study of tea, including the Japanese tea ceremony.

Jagadisha, who has a grown daughter from an early marriage, moved to Floyd from Tennessee a decade ago with his wife Sarah McCarthy, who he met at a health food store when she purchased one of his bonsai plants. McCarthy, who came to Floyd to work as an intern at a local Community Supported Agriculture farm, is a potter and the Contemplative Education teacher at Blue Mountain School, where the couple’s 7 year-old daughter goes.

Today, Jagadisha teaches environmental education at Apple Ridge Farm. He has an ongoing nada yoga class that began two years ago and currently consists of five students.  Recently, Living Light Studio and Sanctuary hosted him to lead a workshop on chanting, titled Nectar of Chanting.  With a focus on call-and-response chanting, slow mantra repetition and reciting Sanskrit verses to simple rhythmic accompaniment, the workshop was designed to be an introduction to an upcoming 8 week class.

“The nature of the mind is to wander.  Chanting is a way to settle it on something beautiful,” Jagadisha told the group of 10 participants.  “The chant has a current. You can get your boat on that current and take a ride.”

Some chants continued for 20 minutes to the circular drone of the harmonia, a pump organ played by Jagadisha.   Also played at the workshop by other nada yogis were the tabla drums and the tempura, an ancient long-necked 4-stringed instrument made from a gourd.  Some workshop participants kept the rhythm by clapping hands or hand cymbals.

One participant asked Jagadisha what to do if her chanting went on automatic pilot and he answered, “Sing more.  Sing louder.  Listen.”  He advised to let thoughts arise without struggle but not to give them attention.  “It’s just a choice to give attention to the singing.   Inside there is a witness of the mind.  As we sing we want to get immersed in the witness.  I’m here playing the harmonia but I’m also watching Jagadisha play.”

Jagadisha explained that Sanskrit is an ancient sacred language that is thought by some to be the mother of all languages.  The chants and verses are non-religious, more like prayerful blessings that appeal to the “consciousness of infinite goodness.”

One verse sung in Sanskrit translates to English as: “May the Lord protect us. May the Lord grant us enjoyment of all our actions.  May we be granted strength to work together on all actions.  May our studies be thoughtful and faithful. May all disagreements cease.

Meditation has been found to be beneficial to the body mind and spirit.  Like other meditation practices, chanting and nada yoga focuses the mind and has a calming effect.  “Once you taste the clear mind in the music, you have a choice to bring that in your everyday life,” Jagadisha said.   ~ Colleen Redman blogs daily at looseleafnotes.com .

Note: Floydians can contact Living Light Studio and Sanctuary at 745-LIVE for information on chanting classes. ~The above first appeared in The Floyd Press on April 7, 2011.

About 50 people gathered at Natasha’s Market Café last Saturday for an Evening of Cabaret to benefit the upcoming inaugural season of The National Music Festival (NMF) to be held in Floyd.   The cabaret featured performances of classic and comical songs from the Golden Age of Cinema, Broadway and Television, performed by musicians from Floyd and Blacksburg.

“We live in Floyd now. We just bought our first chickens but are still trying to figure out Floyd etiquette,” said NMF co-founder and director Richard Rosenberg before donning a straw hat and grabbing pitch fork for a number titled Fall River Hoedown about Massachusetts axe murder Lizzy Borden.  He was joined by his NMF co-founder Caitlin Patton for the tongue-in-cheek number.

Keeping with the cabaret humor, opera singer and teacher Mr. Ed Cohn sang the theme song from the old TV show about a talking horse named Mr. Ed.  Rosenberg performed a Danny Kaye tongue twister, written by Kaye and his wife Sylvia Fine, and other songs.

There was plenty of spoof and satire, but there were also love songs.   Cohn sang Some Enchanted Evening from the musical South Pacific.  Carolyn Romano bewitched the audience with her version of the song Bewitched from Pal Joey.  Patton, who wore a sequined gown, sang a contemporary song by Sarah McLachlan. Blacksburg musicians performing were Theodore Sipes, Erica Sipes and Paige Russell.

Along with the musical entertainment, cabaret attendees enjoyed dinner and dessert hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Natasha Shishkevish.   These included Thai sea bass with rice, eggplant patties with trout, crab cakes, new potatoes with ginger caviar, key lime cheesecake, orange cake, ginger pastry and more.

At the close of the evening a “mandatory encore” featured a group rendition of the 1965 satirical song by Tom Lehrer, “Who’s Next?”  First we got the bomb, and that was good, ‘Cause we love peace and motherhood. Then Russia got the bomb, but that’s okay, ‘Cause the balance of power’s maintained that way. Who’s next?

Organizers thanked the audience for coming and the café for hosting the event.  Patton said the money raised from the cabaret will be used to help pay for 25 apprentice scholarships and 25 teachers for the upcoming festival.  But more will need to be raised.  Seed grants are being looked into and volunteers are being requested.

Apprentices and teacher mentors will come together for the festival from May 29 the June 11^th.  They will rehearse and perform in orchestral, chamber, solo recital, vocal, choral and chamber opera repertoire in more than 20 concerts and over 250 free open rehearsals throughout Floyd. ~ Colleen Redman The above  first appeared in The Floyd Press on March 31, 2011.

Note: Watch a video of the cabaret HERE. Visit the NMF on Facebook and at their webpage HERE.

The Kind, celebrated its 25 year milestone anniversary at the Pine Tavern pavilion Saturday night.   This popular jam band has a following of fans from all over the New River Valley, including many from Floyd and some who have been attending gigs since the band first started playing weekly at the onetime South Main Café in Blacksburg.

Over the years, The Kind has had as many as 20 members, with lead singer and rhythm guitarist Wendy Godley and lead guitarist and vocalist Tom Snediker remaining as original members.  Wendy’s husband Rick Godley on drums, Tom’s wife Mandy Snediker (vocalist) and Steve Hunt on bass guitar make up the rest of the band’s current incarnation.

Several Floyd musicians have played with the band in the past, including Floydfest founder Kris Hodges on drums and percussionist Joringle Starchild.  Starchild, along with other guest alumni, joined the band on stage.

Described on their webpage as “Hillbilly Psychedelic Folk Rock,” the band specializes in Grateful Dead cover songs, but they also play the music of other iconic bands and musicians, such as Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, and The Band.

Audience members filled the dance floor Saturday night and sang along enthusiastically to the Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and Janis Joplin’s “Piece of my Heart,” as well as to favorite Grateful Dead songs, such as “Shakedown Street,” and “Truckin.” The band will be back at the Pine Tavern for their annual Halloween gig, Wendy Godley said.  ~ ColleenRedman blogs daily at looseleafnotes.com.

Post notes: See a video of The Kind at the Pine HERE. Visit the band’s webpage HERE.

~ The above first appeared in The Floyd Press on March 16, 2011.

Decked out in glitter, beads and feathers, about 250 people celebrated the second annual Mardi Gras Ball at the Dogtown Roadhouse/Sun Music Hall Saturday night. The Ball was a fundraiser to benefit Blue Mountain School, Floyd’s independent school off Christiansburg Pike, soon to mark the 30^th anniversary of its founding.

Seating tickets for the ball were sold out more than a week before the event, which featured high energy dancing to live music, a series of costume contests, and a live auction of donated items called by auctioneer Tom O’Neill.   Emily Williamson’s original Mardi Gras poster sold for the highest bid and a CSA produce half share from Waterbear Organic Mountain Farm got the most bids of the evening.

Spoon Fight, a band made up of Blue Mountain School alumni, Isaac Wright, Jake Thomas and Luke Thomas, drew a following of young music lovers and dancers. Other featured musical entertainment was provided by Wild Life, and the Floyd Funkstars.   A Cajun menu was prepared by the Dogtown Roadhouse crew.

Last year’s Mardi Gras King and Queen, Tom Ryan and Pat Sharkey, passed on their crowns to Luke Staengl and Ellen Wright.  Staengl is a Blue Mountain School founder, a current board member and a long time supporter of school.  Wright, who manages Floyd Fitness Center, sold the most tickets to the event.

“It was a good turnout for a rainy night,” said event organizer and Blue Mountain School teacher Jamie Reygle.  “Everybody loved it. I’ve got nothing but positive feedback.” Reygle, who is already thinking about next year’s show, estimated that ticket sales and auction items raised between $3,000 and $3,500 for the school.  ~ Colleen Redman

Note: Girl’s costume contest in which each contestant performed a short dance to the Floyd Funkstars is HERE. More photos HERE.

~ Colleen Redman blogs daily at looseleafnotes.com. The above also appeared in The Floyd Press on 3/10/2011.

By Colleen Redman
looseleafnotes.com

About 40 people attended an informational meeting Thursday night at the Floyd Country Store to learn more about an organized campaign to mine uranium in Virginia.

Up until now uranium mining in the U.S. has been limited to dry and lightly populated places out west, but, with the price of uranium on the rise, a Canadian backed company, a landowner and other investors are intent on bringing it to the east, and specifically to Pittsylvania County, Virginia.  Before that can happen a uranium mining moratorium that dates back to 1982 must be lifted.

A group of organizers in support of the mining moratorium traveled from Pittsylvania County (about 75 miles east of Floyd) to facilitate the meeting.  Deborah Lovelace, founder of the nonprofit League of Individuals for the Environment (LIFE), gave a power point presentation, outlining the uses and hazards of uranium and the logistics of mining operations.

Uranium is a radioactive metal found in the ground that’s primarily used to make nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.  It’s toxic to humans and the environment, explained Lovelace, whose mother’s family is from Floyd and whose husband’s family has been farming in Pittsylvania County for 10 generations.

“It takes 1,000 pounds of ore to produce one pound of uranium, which leaves 999 pounds of mill tailings. The mill tailings retain 85% of their toxic radioactivity for 300,000 years,” Lovlelace said.  Exposure to uranium adversely affects the kidney, brain, liver and heart.  Neurological, genetic, and reproductive systems are also damaged by exposure.  Long term storage of uranium’s toxic waste is an ongoing issue.

Pittsylvania County resident Hunter Austin reported that uranium toxicity can enter a person’s dna and be passed down to future generations. “It has been studied.  Everywhere they mine uranium they have had health problems within about a 50 mile radius,” he said.  A Floyd resident commented that cancer and birth defects are up by 81% in Fallujah, Iraq, because of U.S. weapons made with depleted uranium.

Those in attendance learned that a uranium mining operation involves an open pit or underground mining, a pulverizing mill, and a chemical plant.   Mining photos were shown and a United States Geological Survey map was displayed, highlighting potential uranium mining sites throughout rural Virginia and North Carolina and up and down the Blue Ridge.

Do we need uranium for energy?  According to Lovelace’s research, the Department of Energy had begun selling excess uranium to friendly countries.  “It’s stockpiled. We buy it from Russia to keep it out of the hands of unfriendly countries.”   Of the 1,100 nuclear reactors in the world only 430 are used to generate electricity.  Uranium provides about 4% of the world’s non-renewable energy, Lovelace stated.

The contamination of natural resources associated with mining was discussed.  One Floyd resident with West Virginia ties referred to the mining companies as terrorists, saying “What do you call poisoning our water if it’s not terrorism? Mining has already ruined half the state of West Virginia and the mining companies have taken no responsibility.”

Other frustrations raised by the group included the lack of home insurance coverage for radiation contamination or damage due to mine blasting, and the cost to taxpayers for radioactive clean up and storage.

Several studies are underway that need to be completed and reviewed before the decision about the mining moratorium will be ruled on by the General Assembly.  One study is being funded by Virginia Beach due to the possibility that the city’s water supply will be adversely impacted by mining.  Another study is being funded by Virginia Uranium Inc., the company seeking to mine.  Organizers reported that Virginia Uranium Inc. is well funded and politically connected, which increases the possibility that the moratorium will be lifted.  An estimated 110 million pounds of uranium worth almost $10 billion dollars (as reported by the Washington Post) is at stake for the mining backers.

Several people expressed concern that if the moratorium is lifted it will open the door to uranium mining all over Virginia.  “If it’s lifted and they go after Pittsyvania County, it’s going to ruin everything around,” Austin said.   Exploratory drilling in Pittsylvania County is already underway.

“There were 62,000 acres of Virginia land leased in 1980’s and 42,000 of those were in Pittsylvania County,” said Danville resident Karen Maute.  Maute reported that uranium leases were sought in Floyd County back in the 70’s. She suggested the county pass a resolution banning uranium mining and mentioned that zoning laws can also be a tool to keep mining out of the county.

Lovelace suggested that concerned citizens educate themselves and write, call or email their local, state and federal representatives.   “I’m not anti anything.  I’m pro keeping the moratorium in place,” she concluded.    ~ Colleen Redman

Notes:  The public is invited to a follow-up meeting to strategize ways of improving public awareness about uranium mining and keeping the Virginal mining moratorium in place.  The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday February 8th from 7 to 9 pm at the Floyd library. This article also appeared in the Floyd Press on January 6, 2011.