Schedule of Events
Friday, October 4, 2013
7:00pm Ann Armbrecht – Numen: The Nature of Plants
Old Dairy – Trimble Hall
Numen, defined as the animating force in nature, is a 95-minute documentary film focusing on the healing power of plants and the natural world.
Featuring stunning footage of medicinal plants and thought-provoking interviews with Drs. Tiearona Lowdog and Larry Dossey, the late Bill Mitchell, ND, author Kenny Ausubel, herbalists Rosemary Gladstar, Phyllis Light and many others, the film calls for a re-awakening of traditional knowledge about plants and their uses.
Numen is for herbalists, gardeners, medical practitioners, plant lovers—and everyone concerned about human and environmental health. It offers an introduction to the following topics:
- Whole plant medicine
- Ecological medicine
- Environmental toxins
- The limits of allopathic medicine
- Spirit and healing and more
A primary objective of Numen is to bring the same awareness to medicine and the medical industry that the organic food movement has brought to food and the food industry. The film presents a sobering view of conventional healthcare and the dangers of environmental insults, as well as a vision of safe, effective and sustainable medicine. It offers stories about how individuals have improved their own health and well-being and provides concrete steps for viewers to do so as well.
A preview of the film is available here.
Most broadly, the film encourages viewers to think deeply about the sources of their medicine and how their healthcare choices affect themselves and the larger web of life. It inspires us all to deepen our relationship with the natural world and reminds us of the healing made possible by re-embracing our place in the wider web of life.
Ann is a writer, anthropologist (PhD, Harvard 1995) and herbalist specializing in the relationship between culture and the environment. She has conducted research in Nepal and the western United States and has taught at Dartmouth, Middlebury and Goddard Colleges.
Ann is the author of Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home (Columbia University Press, 2009), a spiritual memoir based on her experiences in Nepal that received a Gold Nautilus Award for books that will change the world.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
10:00am Douglas W. Tallamy – Bringing Nature Home
Old Dairy – Trimble Hall
As a child, Douglas W. Tallamy spent his summer days exploring the wild places that surrounded him, discovering a small pond fill with pollywogs, and taking great delight in watching their growth. One day, a bulldozer buried the young toads and all the other living treasures within the pond, an act that forever influenced Doug’s way of thinking about nature.
Tallamy is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, where he has written more than 65 research articles and has taught Insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, and other subjects. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.
Doug won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writer’s Association for his book, Bringing Nature Home.
In his free time, Doug enjoys photography, hiking in remote places with his wife, swimming, canoeing, and teaching young people about the importance of the life forms around them. You may also be interested in the author’s own website, www.PlanANative.com.
1:00pm Kathleen Curtis Wilson – Appalachian Weaving and its Global Resonances – Natural Fibers Shape Life, Cultural Traditions and Create History
Old Dairy – Trimble Hall
Born and raised in Michigan, Kathleen Curtis Wilson studied weaving at the Cranbrook Schools and learned the art of sharing a good story from her grandmother, Ethel Alcorn Motherwell. She established Old Abingdon Weavers, a small textile mill in southwest Virginia where she gained insight and a great appreciation for the handcrafts of the region’ s early settlers. In 1993, she changed her career from entrepreneur to author, researcher, and exhibitions curator.
Kathleen has become a nationally known writer, lecturer, and exhibitions curator in the field of cultural heritage, especially women’ s culture and craft traditions. For nearly 20 years her articles have been published in academic journals and popular magazines such as Country Living and Early American Life.
3:00pm Allegheny Mountain String Orchestra – Concert of the area’s most talented students
Old Dairy – Trimble Hall
The Allegheny Mountain String Project [AMSP] in partnership with the Garth Newel Music Center introduced a comprehensive string education program to the Alleghany Highlands. Through veteran instructors Jaime Letourneau & Gretta Sandberg students can take lessons in violin, viola, cello and bass, participate in chamber groups and join the first area youth orchestra (Allegheny Mountain String Orchestra). AMSP makes learning strings available to every student by offering scholarships and programs partially funded by the Alleghany Foundation, the Bath County Arts Association, the Bolar Ruritan Club, and the Highland County Arts Council.
See the Allegheny Mountain String Orchestra perform fun works in a concert of the area’s most talented students!
6:30pm Picnic Supper Garth Newel Music Center
Garth Newel Music Center
BBQ Chicken Dinner prepared by the Millboro Ruritans: includes chicken, two sides, dessert and beverage. Cash Bar Available
Reservations are required for the dinner and concert. Contact Tama, Garth Newel Music Center at 540-839-5018 or tama@garthnewel.org
7:30pm Cleek Schrey and friends perform at Garth Newel
Garth Newel Music Center
Cleek, an enthusiastic and experienced performer and teacher of Irish Fiddling, has led classes for the Blue Ridge Irish Music School and has been on staff at the Augusta and Catskills Irish weeks.
As a teen in Virginia, he learned from Brendan Mulvihill, and also sought instruction from several musicians, notably Brian Conway, Marty Fahey, and Billy McComiskey.
Regular visits to the home of Paddy Reynolds, the great Longford fiddler who settled in New York, helped to intensify Cleek’s interest in the fiddle playing of the 78 rpm era. In 2005, he co-produced of the release of archival recordings of the late Reynolds’ surviving work. Cleek performs regularly with his longtime friend, accordion player Sean McComiskey, and pianist Mat Mulqueen and Donna Long. Cleek was featured musician on The Raw Bar, a documentary on Irish music that aired on RTE 1 in Ireland, and most recently on Féilte, a program on Irish music in America, on the Irish language station TG4. For sound clips and more information, please visit Cleek Schrey’s Web Site.
FREE ADMISSION!
Reservations are required for the dinner and concert. Contact Tama, Garth Newel Music Center at 540-839-5018 or tama@garthnewel.org
Sunday, October 6,2013
1:00pm Cooking Demo with Homestead Chef Sean O’Connell
Followed by The Homestead Hotel History Tour: Complimentary tea in The Great Hall
The Homestead
An international star chef before arriving in the Allegheny Mountains, Executive Chef Sean O’Connell is now responsible for all dining operations at The Homestead, including 10 restaurants and bars as well as in-room dining, catering and banqueting for meetings and special events.
The Homestead Hotel History Tour: Take a step back in time as you explore the rich history of this famous Southern resort. Their hospitality is sure to please when you partake in their complimentary afternoon tea in the Great Hall following your tour.
Reservations required.
Space is limited for all events. Please reserve early.
Contact Mary Hodges at 540-839-2407 or MHodges@homesteadpreserve.com
Reservations are required for the dinner and concert. Contact Tama, Garth Newel Music Center at 540-839-5018 or tama@garthnewel.org
Call The Homestead Reservations Office at 540-839-1766 for special festival room rate by September 16, 2013