There’s a lot of beautiful hand crafters in the mountains of WNC.. maybe not much now due to the flooding.. but one can still visit John C. Campbell Folk School and 7 Sisters Pottery in Black Mountain NC.. and the potters who sell their pottery at the Montreat Book Store. ❤️
and Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville NC .. my hometown.. it’s a 1,000 acre farm where the students learn to work every aspect of the farm ..
and then there’s the Craft Guild where the mountain people sell their crafts..
read the book Christy by Catherine Marshall.. it’s a true story about Catherine’s mother and her father .. “Christy “ is my great-aunt Leonora Whitaker Wood… Christy marries the minister.. ..
and there was a movie and TV series “Christy” about her life and her love of teaching the Scottish children in the Tennessee mountains.
“Christy” she grew up on a farm in Big Ivey NC .. outside of Barnardsville NC .. not Asheville.
And she “Christy” met the Quaker teacher in Montreat NC… her family had moved to a farm on the Montreat Road…
The teacher was looking for teachers to teach at her school in Del Rio Tennessee. You’ll find a picture of my aunt on the internet… it’s a old photograph .. she’s standing outside by the school house
And I use to live in the bush of Alaska in a log cabin that was built by the miners in 1893 in Chisana Alaska in the Wrangell mountains.
I enjoy your writing.. takes me back to a simpler era.. my momma taught us the beautiful word.. Simplify ..
And I prayed really hard for my husband and God heard my prayers and He sent me a farmer… we both grew up in simpler times.. he was born in 1940 and I was born in 1955.
I was born long enough ago to have an idea of what things were like before they became overly complicated, and mourn the fact that younger generations never saw it, but suspect most every generation to come before me felt the same way.
I think this new era that is upon us will be the Golden Age on so many levels...exactly what you are describing. More people are making things by hand and enjoying giving and receiving hand-made (home-made) gifts.
Nothing compares to anyrhing created by hand. Even God in whose image we are made, gloried in His creation, especially His Masterpiece, US, who are fearfully and wonderfully Designed & Made BY His own hands!
I also think that God GREATLY BLESSES the work of our hands. What we make with our hands is ultimately an act of Worship.
Well said, Casey! And life is so much more fulfilling and you learn so much more about the world when you make with your hands, whether bread or the knife to cut it with.
I think it's no coincidence that the first verb recorded in Scripture, the first action word in the great God narrative, is "create." We are creators by design! Very soulful piece Casey.
Great read. As always. A side effect of building with your hands is finding that special mindfulness we need. It allows us to touch the past, present, and future simultaneously. Fix it, restore it, make it. Indeed these are powerful spiritual acts.
Hmm, not a lot left of things when the rural folks here get through with them. It is sad what I see at the local auction. Lots of sports cards and knickknacks. I read something that recommended only buying things that you love, not things because of their value. You will always have the enjoyment of seeing them and using them.
Not going to lie I enjoy putting on laser cutting glasses, and letting my sideburns grow out. No one expects a wilderness hermit cyberpunk. Always keep the the city slickers guessin' I say.
There’s a lot of beautiful hand crafters in the mountains of WNC.. maybe not much now due to the flooding.. but one can still visit John C. Campbell Folk School and 7 Sisters Pottery in Black Mountain NC.. and the potters who sell their pottery at the Montreat Book Store. ❤️
and Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville NC .. my hometown.. it’s a 1,000 acre farm where the students learn to work every aspect of the farm ..
and then there’s the Craft Guild where the mountain people sell their crafts..
read the book Christy by Catherine Marshall.. it’s a true story about Catherine’s mother and her father .. “Christy “ is my great-aunt Leonora Whitaker Wood… Christy marries the minister.. ..
and there was a movie and TV series “Christy” about her life and her love of teaching the Scottish children in the Tennessee mountains.
“Christy” she grew up on a farm in Big Ivey NC .. outside of Barnardsville NC .. not Asheville.
And she “Christy” met the Quaker teacher in Montreat NC… her family had moved to a farm on the Montreat Road…
The teacher was looking for teachers to teach at her school in Del Rio Tennessee. You’ll find a picture of my aunt on the internet… it’s a old photograph .. she’s standing outside by the school house
And I use to live in the bush of Alaska in a log cabin that was built by the miners in 1893 in Chisana Alaska in the Wrangell mountains.
I enjoy your writing.. takes me back to a simpler era.. my momma taught us the beautiful word.. Simplify ..
And I prayed really hard for my husband and God heard my prayers and He sent me a farmer… we both grew up in simpler times.. he was born in 1940 and I was born in 1955.
Thanks for listening.
I was born long enough ago to have an idea of what things were like before they became overly complicated, and mourn the fact that younger generations never saw it, but suspect most every generation to come before me felt the same way.
I think this new era that is upon us will be the Golden Age on so many levels...exactly what you are describing. More people are making things by hand and enjoying giving and receiving hand-made (home-made) gifts.
Nothing compares to anyrhing created by hand. Even God in whose image we are made, gloried in His creation, especially His Masterpiece, US, who are fearfully and wonderfully Designed & Made BY His own hands!
I also think that God GREATLY BLESSES the work of our hands. What we make with our hands is ultimately an act of Worship.
Such a beautiful post! 🙏🏻
I do not know if we are headed for a golden age, but as conscious consumers, and dare I say makers we can move the needle.
I make 4 loaves of bread at a time in a 1921 bread maker that is essentially a pail! No electricity needed except to bake!
I would love to see a picture of it.
Me too.
Well said, Casey! And life is so much more fulfilling and you learn so much more about the world when you make with your hands, whether bread or the knife to cut it with.
I want to buy less and make more. Simple.
I’m starting to (learn to) make my own beer this weekend. Why pay when the results from my hand will e so much better and more satisfying? 👍
I listed Preonneke as my "Subsistence Hunter/Fisherman of the Week" a while back.
He's really interesting. I wonder if a book has every been written about him. His life is admirable, but at the same time, sad as well. He never married, and spent his final years in California. https://killetarian.blogspot.com/2024/02/subsistance-hunterfisherman-of-week.html
Sam Keith's book One Man's Wilderness is based on Proenneke's own letters and journals from his time living in his cabin.
Thanks!
I think it's no coincidence that the first verb recorded in Scripture, the first action word in the great God narrative, is "create." We are creators by design! Very soulful piece Casey.
God worked and so should we.
Great read. As always. A side effect of building with your hands is finding that special mindfulness we need. It allows us to touch the past, present, and future simultaneously. Fix it, restore it, make it. Indeed these are powerful spiritual acts.
We have been mindlessly consuming for too long.
Hmm, not a lot left of things when the rural folks here get through with them. It is sad what I see at the local auction. Lots of sports cards and knickknacks. I read something that recommended only buying things that you love, not things because of their value. You will always have the enjoyment of seeing them and using them.
I never buy a thing for the value, because I never buy a thing planning to sell it.
Take a drive over to Pittsfield, NH (call first) and visit Doug Dimes. His furniture artistry will blow you away.
https://www.drdimes.com
Thank you for the tip.
Great essay.
Thank you it has been rattling around in my head.
I make laser cut paper art work. It’s satisfying beyond words to have a tangible material product after your labor.
Plus you work with lasers.
Not going to lie I enjoy putting on laser cutting glasses, and letting my sideburns grow out. No one expects a wilderness hermit cyberpunk. Always keep the the city slickers guessin' I say.
Yes, the best revenge against a world gone wrong.