DeSoto Magazine March 2016

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march CONTENTS 2016 • VOLUME 13 • NO. 3

features 48 Did you say Marijuana?

A glimpse at Mississippi’s debate

64 Magnolia Grove Monastery Explore the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh

56 Mississippi’s Gentle Giants Champion trees dot the state

departments 14 Living Well Being the American Red Cross

42 A Day Away Vicksburg, Mississippi

18 Notables Mississippi’s own Cindy Hyde-Smith

46 Greaters Goods 70 Homegrown Making jeans in Oxford, Mississippi

22 Exploring Art From clay to blooms with Pia

72 Southern Harmony North Mississippi Allstars

26 Exploring Books Meet Tupelo’s garden lady

74 Table Talk Buon Cibo celebrates fifth anniversary

30 Into the Wild Hunting spring turkeys 34 Exploring Cuisine The big world of Emma’s micro-greens 38 Exploring Destinations Showing out at the New Albany Garden Show

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76 In Good Spirits Big city style with the Manhattan 78 Exploring Events 80 Reflections Counting Lucky Stars

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editor’s note } march

Greener Days Ahead

This month, you may notice a change in our Masthead. If not, let me indulge for a moment.

Like the season, we’re all growing and changing around here.

Work never ceases but takes on new and different responsibilities, for me and others. It’s the nature of creatives as we never stop moving or growing--which is what this issue is all about.

In that spirit, one of our contributing writers Andrea Brown Ross now joins our editorial team as Assistant Editor. I look forward to working with her as DeSoto grows along with her own talents.

And speaking of growing, I spent a morning at Magnolia Grove Monastery and was moved beyond belief.

Truly, one of Mississippi’s quiet treasures where all walks of faith can intersect and learn. “Words are like jewels…” I overheard. What we say, and in our case print, has long-reaching influence.

One word that may raise a few eyebrows around here...marijuana. It’s not one uttered without some objection or curiosity. On page 48, Andrea does her best to give us the cold, hard facts about this plant and all the politics surrounding it. Mississippi stands on the edge of her own debate surrounding legalization, research and morality.

If you’re yearning for some green, we can deliver. Robin introduces us to Emma Self, the micro-green girl on page 34. Jill had a great conversation

March 2016 • Vol. 13 No.3

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Karen Ott Mayer with Tupelo’s first garden lady, Mrs. Margaret Gratz whose illustrations and books result from her lifelong love of nature. And soon, the New Albany Garden Show!

And while maybe more gray than green in their early state, Pia’s Petals will beguile you. Charlene shares more about Pia’s intricate and rare talent.

It’s nearly Spring! While we’ve been spoiled thus far by a mild winter, it’s never too soon to see Mississippi’s hills and fields slowly turn from brown to green. With St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and spring breaks just around the corner, a stirring is on the horizon.

Enjoy greener days ahead,

Karen

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross CONTRIBUTORS Charlene Oldham Jill Gleeson Devin Greaney James Richardson Robin Gallaher Branch Mary Ann DeSantis Corey Latta Chere Coen AdamMitchell

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on the cover Micro-greens are the shoots of salad vegetables such as arugula, Swiss chard, mustard, beetroot, etc., picked just after the first leaves have developed. Microgreens pack even more nutrients than their adult versions, and they’re easy to grow.

Read more on page 34.

Photo courtesy of oliveoilandlemons.com

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living well }

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red cross

Being the

Red Cross Story and Photography by Devin Greaney

Doug and Rebecca Ginn experienced a memorable night as a couple. The Midtown couple, a licensed clinical social worker and registered nurse, were looking to use their skill set to help out the Red Cross. They had orientation sessions but January 25 was their first night training in the field for the Red Cross disaster action team. They had no idea what to expect.

“It’s hard to anticipate how people would respond when you come up to them in a crisis. I was touched by the sincere gratitude the Red Cross people are greeted with,” Doug said. “James Hissong, the gentleman who took us out, had such a gentle nature about him people responded well and it was a remarkable thing to see,” he said.

In fact, the pair earned nicknames. “We have been dubbed the rookies of the year with the most eventful first night of training,” Rebecca says.

Five house fires in one night in Memphis and in Southaven constituted their training. Though many may think of floods, earthquakes and hurricanes only as disasters, house fires on the local news require the efforts of volunteers. The fire commander will call dispatch who will call the Red Cross to help.

“We were exhausted but kind of exhilarated,” Rebecca said. “We went from thinking about the Red Cross from ‘those guys’ to ‘us guys’.”

Since 1917, Memphians have had the chance to help the Mid-South Chapter. The chapter covers ten counties in the Tri-state area. “The mission responds to needs by mobilizing volunteers and the generosity of donors,” said Public Affairs Spokesperson, Robert Wallace.

“We first begin to assess what the needs are, how do we support, and to immediately begin to support people with food or shelter,” said Disaster Program Manager Jeana Bailey.

“In our ten county area since January, 236 people have lost homes to fire. In the fiscal year which began July, 1221 people have been displaced due to fires. We have on average responded to two or three fires a day,” she said.

Shelter is the most immediate need and the organization may need a motel for a few nights if it’s one or two people. They have standing agreements with many churches, community centers and government buildings for large sheltering needs. “We always need more partners,” Bailey said. They work with MIFA for resources like food.

“The training is consistent across the country so the volunteers respond locally and some go out of town. We train them in a specific area. You might be an emergency response vehicle driver, logistics volunteer, a casework or disaster assessment. We don’t just throw you out there.” said Bailey. “We make sure you have what you need to deal with the immediate needs, and that you have access to food, shelter, clothing and medical needs. The first time there was a gentleman who lost his insulin so we got it replaced” Wallace said.

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most fires tend to be in poorer communities, compounding the problem. Even those who have insurance may not be able to get access to their money so Red Cross helps until they can get what they need. When Hurricane Gustav caused a mandatory evacuation of the New Orleans area in 2008 and many headed north, the Mid-South chapter had 23 shelters open in Memphis. About 40 plus shelters were available after Hurricane Katrina.

Health and safety education is another area where Red Cross helps. Classes are held at their office at 1399 Madison.

They also distribute blood and help out members of the military with deployment counseling and getting emergency messages to them.

“When we are not responding we are doing preparedness work. Over and over there is a fire and there is no working smoke alarm. Nationwide there is a goal to reduce the fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent,� Wallace said. There is also a pillowcase project, which helps participants to understand what is most important to grab, i.e. what can fit in a pillowcase.

Though it takes all kinds to help, some of the harder positions to fill are those of licensed health care professionals, be they for physical or mental health. There are those who do government liaison work at the emergency center. Others are disaster assessment workers who collect the information on what is affected, those who work with feeding, some who work in logistics who order the supplies and learn the ordering processes. There are tech and communications people who set up satellite, computers or operate ham radio.

Direct client services are caseworkers who meet with the family and set up a recovery plan. Wallace is a volunteer who works to disseminate public information in the advanced public affairs group.

After talking with the Ginns that evening it is obvious those people who were displaced by the fires the night before had no idea they would need a shelter.

No person plans to be in need of the Red Cross. Fortunately, the Red Cross is already planning for them.

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notables } cindy hyde-smith

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Mississippi’s First Lady of Farms

By Karen Ott Mayer. Photography courtesy of Cindy Hyde-Smith

Cindy Hyde-Smith is not only a woman, but a woman of firsts, in a big way.

“I am the first woman in the country elected to this position and the first in any southern state,” she said.

As the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Hyde-Smith definitely moves in what’s traditionally a man’s role. But having reclaimed the seat for a second term during the 2015 elections, it appears she’s the best “man” for the job at the moment.

No stranger to elections or rural living, Hyde-Smith has been around both for a long time. Raised in rural Lawrence County, Mississippi where her family grew vegetables part time, her love of rural living began early. “I learned how to drive on a Farmall Cub tractor,” she said with a laugh. She is the youngest of three sisters.

Her interest in politics and public policy has been strong for a long time. She was first in the senate in 1999 and was appointed as chairman of the state agricultural committee.

“That wasn’t on my radar,” she said. In that position, she was responsible for handling all the agriculture bills. What she found isn’t surprising to her supporters.

“The position was a natural fit for me.”

During her time in office, Hyde-Smith authored legislation and supported efforts to promote and protect all facets of the agriculture industry, defending private property rights, endorsing Right to Farm legislation, and working to increase Country-of-Origin labeling requirements. Also, as a state senator, Hyde-Smith earned the highest grade for a strong pro-business and fiscally conservative voting record from the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.

She is a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi and maintains close affiliations with the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Lincoln County Forestry Association, Lincoln County Livestock Association, and the Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association.

Agriculture is still Mississippi’s number one industry, generating over eight billion dollars across the state. And HydeSmith’s work reaches far beyond the farm and field. “We are busy promoting and defending all parts of our ag assets from the fairgrounds where Dixie Nationals happen every year to the Ag Museum,” she said. What’s perhaps not known by many is that her office acts as the regulatory arm in the state for scales.

While livestock scales and timber may be expected, her other responsibilities may surprise a few. “We make sure the scales in post offices, airports, and even jewelry stores are as accurate as they should be.”

Hyde-Smith takes the commissioner seat at an interesting time for Mississippi agriculture. With the advent and proliferation of farmer’s markets across the state in the last decade to the growth of smaller producers and niche products, agriculturists come in all sizes.

“I love and encourage value-added products from blueberries to beekeepers. With more niche markets and organics, I would definitely do what I can to help those markets grow,” said Hyde-Smith.

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A little unknown fact about the Commissioner is her love of dirt bikes.

“My husband bought me a brand-new dirt bike for Christmas.” Although it’s been awhile since she’s ridden, she’s determined to get back in the seat.

While tending to her work duties, her family also runs the Lincoln County Livestock, the local stockyard auction market in Brookhaven, which has held a live cattle auction every Tuesday since 1942. She and her family currently reside in Brookhaven and are active members of Macedonia Baptist Church.

And ironically, a stockyard, ranch or farm is where she prefers to be--even during vacation.

“When we travel, I love to go to farm shows, equipment sales, auctions and tour farms and ranches all over the country.” With one 17-year old daughter, the couple also spends time at sports events--or lately at the doctor’s office.

“She just broke her finger playing basketball,” she said.

Commissioner Cindy HydeSmith was the recipient of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s 2013 Distinguished Service Award.

The award is the highest honor Farm Bureau bestows on an individual, and it is reserved for someone who has truly made a difference in the lives of Mississippi farmers. HydeSmith previously received numerous awards and honors for her work as a legislator and champion of agriculture, including the Agriculture Legislator of the Year Award from the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, the Ambassador Award from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, the Achievement Award from Delta Council, and the Outstanding Service to Small Farmers Award from Alcorn State University.

After spending an entire life advocating for Mississippi’s agricultural industries, Hyde-Smith is still as passionate as ever.

“Every time you sit down to eat, thank a great farmer.”

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exploring art } pia’s petals

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Shaping Blooms

By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of Pia’s Petals

Artificial flowers can be made from silk, glass, polyester or paper among other materials. Less common, at least in this country, are flowers carefully crafted from clay.

Clay flowers are easier to find across Asia, particularly in Thailand, where a variety of companies produce the air-drying polymer clay used to form the delicate petals and leaves. Even so, Pia Stelma had a hard time finding someone in her native country willing and able to teach her the craft.

“It took me months to find my teacher and I was lucky because he’s a good teacher. He taught me everything. He said if you want to make a flower, just copy from the real flowers.”

The craftsman ran a coffee shop near Stelma’s parents’ home in Ubon Ratchathani, a city on the banks of the Mun River in Eastern Thailand, but was able to take time to teach her the

steps to shape the petals, form flowers, attach them to floral wire to create stems and arrange them into lifelike bouquets.

Now that she calls Vicksburg, Miss. home, she orders the special clay and has it shipped from Thailand. The clay she uses is colorless, so adding carefully mixed oil paint is one of the first steps to form any flower.

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“I add the oil paint in the clay before I start and finish with hand-painted details,” she explained.

Stelma says she thinks hand-painting the delicate details and trim is the most difficult part of the process, which can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Her Facebook page, Pia’s Petals, features a colorful clay garden filled with everything from roses to daffodils and daisies.

“It depends on what kind of flowers I make,” she said, referring to the complex process. “The easiest one, like a carnation, takes two days. But the orchids will take at least a week or more.”

Like the clay she uses to craft her creations, Stelma is an import from Thailand, where she worked as a medical technologist at a university hospital in Bangkok, and first came across the clay flowers that fascinated and inspired her.

“One day there was a fair at the hospital and there was a lady selling the clay flowers.

It’s so amazing to me,” she said. “I spent a lot for those flowers and gave them to my husband’s -- he was my boyfriend at that time -- relatives when I came to visit.”

That visit to the United States was part of a friendship that began online a decade ago. “We met by accident online ten years ago. I was in a random chat room wanting to practice my English,” she said. “We quickly stated that this was not a relationship adventure.” But six years later, the virtual relationship blossomed into real-life romance with time, a little help from friends and cross-ocean trip between Mississippi and Thailand. “He visited Thailand with his friend and his [friend’s] Thai wife. We met then,” she said of her husband Thomas, who works for the Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Jackson, Miss. “Four years later, we married.”

Before that 2014 ceremony and her move to Mississippi, Stelma spent a month with her parents, saying farewell to family and friends and mastering the craft of clay flower creation. She thought the detailed design work would keep her occupied at home while she waited for the credentials necessary to legally work in this country. Today, making clay flowers has become more than just a hobby for Stelma, who sells flowers through word of mouth, friends, family and the Pia’s Petals Facebook site. Stelma also exhibited work at the 39th annual Chimneyville Fine Crafts Festival, which featured work from members of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.

“We tried to sell it at a small shop, but no one was interested,” she said of her initial efforts to market her work. “We then tried to sell at the farmers’ market, but we had to go through a jury to sell there. One of the jurists was the director of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild. We were invited to join in August. In October, we went to orientation as new members and decided to go to Chimneyville.”

The large festival, which provides an estimated $1.1 million boost to the local economy, was Stelma’s first. Although it was a totally new experience for her, she felt her work was well received and felt comfortable at the craft festival that draws an estimated 10,000 attendees and more than 150 exhibitors.

“We had many people stop by and ask questions. It’s more of a family like atmosphere,” she said of the craft festival, which took place in early December.

“We’re told that many people were talking about my flowers during the Chimneyville event.”

Some of her work is currently on display at the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland. Pia’s Petals sell for anywhere from $10 to upward of $100 depending on size and complexity, and she’s learning more about marketing her clay creations every day. She also hopes to offer make-and-take classes to other curious crafters who would like to learn more about the imported art form. Meanwhile, she stays busy making flowers, crocheting cute backpacks and custom afghans and caring for no fewer than seven rescue dogs.

“We don’t know how or why it happened but we found them one at a time,” she said. “I and my husband both love dogs. They are happy with us.”

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exploring books} “butterflies” by margaret gratz

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It’s a Wonderful World

By Jill Gleeson. Photography courtesy of Margaret Gratz

Lee County, Mississippi native Margaret Gratz is many things: Master Gardener, writer, photographer, artist. And like any true Renaissance woman she excels at it all, mixing her passions together into a magical concoction that has resulted in four selfpublished books and the illustration of a fifth.

Similar to its predecessors, “Butterflies: At Home in the Earth Lady’s Garden,” which debuted about 18 months ago, is concerned with the natural world. In this case it is specifically order Lepidoptera, which she documents in stunning photographs shot mostly on her property. Less a field guide than a beautifully crafted enticement to appreciate and explore nature, the book also provides tips on how create a garden home for the ethereal pollinators. For what Gratz just may be, above all else, is a conservationist.

“Mississippi is a beautiful state,” Gratz noted, in her soft, lilting voice. “And so many people still have land and natural habitat…all they have to do is walk outside their door. So all of the butterflies in this book are indigenous to the Southeast. Tropicals are not included, butterflies from South Florida are not included. I live in a Tupelo suburb on several acres and I’ve counted more than 75 different species of birds there. I believe there are 30 different species of butterflies in the book. If you provide the habitat and do not overuse pesticides and herbicides, these wonderful creatures will come and you will help preserve them for future generations.”

Gratz’s 88-page hardcover tome is broken down into

sections detailing butterflies such as swallowtails, sulphurs and skippers, with plenty of full-page color photographs and winsome illustrations showcasing the insect’s life cycle. For readers who would like to tempt the critters into their yard, the segment on butterfly gardens suggests planting both nectar and larval vegetation. The latter, usually native plants like those in the milkweed and parsley families, act as hosts for the eggs and provide nutrition for the caterpillars once they hatch.

As for butterfly vittles, Gratz counts among her favorite nectar sources buddleias, pentas, lantanas and, especially zinnias, which she termed “butterfly magnets. When I do presentations for gardening clubs and things like that I tell people to buy a pack of zinnia seeds,” she added. “They’re inexpensive annuals and they’ll grow in Mississippi’s hot summer sun. Butterflies love them, they’re beautiful and you can put them anywhere in a sunny spot. And you can cut them and they come again. It’s a great way to start!”

Gratz got her start as a nature lover in childhood.

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also finding fascination with the wildflowers that sprouted around her family’s lakeside cabin come spring. Like her lifelong fondness for drawing and painting (she refers to herself as “self-taught,” having taken only one formal art class as a student at Ole Miss), Gratz’s fascination with flora and fauna stuck with her. By high school she was getting grief from her fellow cheerleaders for paying more attention to the moths dive bombing the field lights than she was to the game.

Fast forward a few decades. Gratz and destiny collide when she begins writing the nature-centric “Earth Lady” column for the Northeast Mississippi Journal, eventually penning a weekly wildflower feature as well for several years. The wildly popular writings lead to the 2006 book “Wildflower Watch,” with photographs and musings about more than 200 Mississippi wildflowers, and “At Home in the Earth Lady’s Garden,” released a year later.

Distinguished by Gratz’s warm prose, “At Home” is filled with cheerful watercolor illustrations of the beasties who’ve found shelter in her garden. In 2010, Gratz followed up with “Charlie on Safari,” written for her grandkids, about the marvels waiting to be discovered in your own backyard.

Gratz also provided illustrations for “Rainbow,” her friend Dr. Bobby Dale’s children’s book about a box turtle, which like “Charlie”, helped further Gratz’s mission to get kids outdoors.

“If a child becomes interested in the natural world around them, I don’t think they ever lose that,” she explained. “I tell children to go outside with a journal, and binoculars perhaps, and a pencil or pen. They should record what they see, illustrate it and date it. It’s sort of oldfashioned, but it’s really a great way to hone your skills of observation. You can’t do that if you’re consumed with technology. That’s true for adults, too. Leave your cell phone in the house. Just go out and commune with nature. Be present in the moment.”

Gratz’s books are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and independent booksellers throughout the state. She’ll be speaking about butterflies and selling copies of her book March 18 at 3:00 p.m. at the Farmers Market Big Red Barn at the Agricenter at Shelby Farms in Memphis.

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into the wild } spring turkey hunting

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Springtime is for Lovers…

of

Turkeys

By James Richardson. Photography courtesy of National Wildlife Turkey Association

It might seem a long wait from the end of the regular deer hunting season until the next opportunity to bag some game, but soon the spring turkey hunting season will open and anxious hunters will flock to the area’s woods in search of one of their favorite game species.

According to game officials, the forecast is looking good for hunters. Adam B. Butler, the wildlife biologist for the Wild Turkey Program of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, forecasted, “We are expecting a somewhat better turkey season this year than last year. The number of juvenile gobblers observed last year increased over the previous year, suggesting that there should be more adult gobblers in the woods in 2016. Northern Mississippi had a

very good turkey hatch this past summer, and this should have boosted turkey populations throughout the region, so there should be more birds sighted overall this year.”

The news is good for West Tennessee also, as explained

by Daniel Stanfield, wildlife biologist for region one of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “Most of our turkey forecasting goes off harvest records, so we’re not talking about a standing population that’s on the ground right now. But the DeSoto 33

harvest data for the last few years has been pretty close to the same every year.”

The turkey populations can fluctuate each year. It has to do with nesting success and environmental conditions. Stanfield explained. “In West Tennessee, for instance, river bottoms is where most of our turkeys are found. In this flatland the numbers are impacted a lot by spring flooding. If one year had a lot of flooding during the nesting season, the numbers aren’t going to be that high. Some counties have a decline, while some have an increase in the harvest number.”

Tradition and a good bit of know-how play important roles in turkey hunting. One Tennessee hunter, Brian S. Aaron, has had a lot of success in deer and turkey hunting. “I enjoy both deer hunting and turkey hunting. If you are hunting with a deer rifle, you can shoot a deer at maybe 250 yards. On a turkey hunt using a shotgun you are limited to perhaps 50 yards. And to get that close to a turkey without them seeing you, that’s a feat in itself. It’s been said, ‘If a turkey could smell the way a deer smells, then you would never shoot a turkey.’ Combine that with their eyesight, then your chances would be pretty slim.”

Aaron has been hunting turkey for many seasons. “I spent many years hunting with the one fellow that I learned the most from, and he was originally from Mississippi. He learned back in the 70s from other turkey hunters. He learned the hard way and I benefited from it.”

He further explained their technique.

“Many situations on a hunt, we would wait until we could both shoot together. In other words, we would let single birds pass us, so we could both get a shot at one at the same time. We would do a little count down...one, two, three, boom. We did that on a number of occasions.”

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Aaron also hunts with his father, Brian L. Aaron. “There was an occasion when Dad and I were in a blind together and we had two birds come in. I was wanting to do a slow count (1, 2, 3, boom), and I would suspect I didn’t speak loud enough. I didn’t want to speak too loud as to spook the birds.

And his hearing may be a little suspect. So, about the time I got ‘one’ out of my mouth, he pulled the trigger instead of waiting for the 1, 2, 3, boom. He killed his bird and I shot at mine as it was getting away...and missed. We really didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to double down and have our pictures made together with our birds.”

Dad chimed in, “I got mine taken with my bird.” And he did.

The younger Aaron related another story.

”One time when my friend and I went hunting, we figured we had the turkeys’ pattern down and we knew where they were roosting. We pulled our truck into a spot and parked it and then walked to where we thought the turkeys were roosting. We set up our decoys and our tent blind within sight of the truck. And when it got light and the birds started pitching down, we realized that they were roosting immediately above the truck. And they didn’t come anywhere near the blind. It was kinda comical that we didn’t flush the birds off their roost when we parked. It works that way sometime. They are certainly an unpredictable bird.”

Mississippi Spring Turkey Season Youth – March 8-14 Regular season – March 15 – May 1 Bag limit: 3 bearded gobblers of 6” or greater

Tennessee Spring Turkey Season April 2 - May 15 Bag limit: 1 bearded turkey per day, not to exceed four per season

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exploring cuisine } micro-greens

BEETnik’s Rad Mix (beet, chard, radish micro blend)

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Packaged for Miss Cordelia’s Grocery store (Harbor Town, Memphis)

Straight Up Green

By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of Emma Self and hpfmicrogreens.com

Emma Self, 33, is an artist, builder, designer, entrepreneur, gardener, and one who uses her imagination. Secondary skills include engineering and irrigation.

“I like working outdoors and working with my hands,” she said. Well, she does the latter daily but the former has changed. She’s pioneered an unusual startup: An indoor, vertical farm called Green Girl Produce that grows microgreens in 24 soilless beds. “As far as I know, it’s the first indoor, vertical, hydroponic farm in Tennessee,” Self said.

Microgreens are those tender, tasty, delicate members of the vegetable and herb families that grace many restaurant plates. “They’re the middle child between sprouts and greens,” Self explained. “These little greens are five times more nutritious at the microgreens stage than they are when they are fully mature.”

Green Girl rents 500 square feet on the fourth floor of Emerge Memphis, a nonprofit business incubator in a renovated downtown warehouse that fosters 31 startups. After two-plus years, Green Girl is making a profit. Self has hired a part-time helper and takes weekends off.

Carlton Crothers, Emerge Memphis’ CEO, said, “Green Girl looks at farming in a new way; it’s growing nicely.”

Crothers praised Self for minimizing waste and pollutants; using natural fertilizers and nutrients; and seeking to find ways to feed the world. “We use 100 gallons of water a week; that’s 90 percent less than conventional farming,” Self said. “The energy we consume is no more than that of a regular office.”

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Sanguine Sango Trio (Radish Mix)

She harvests 40 to 50 pounds of microgreens per week and sells them locally. Microgreens grow in vertical beds of four that rise about seven feet. Each bed measures 12 feet by nine inches by three inches. A recirculating irrigation system serves each bed.

What strikes one immediately is the operation’s cleanliness. LED lights emit a purple glow that make the walls look pink. One sees white PCV irrigation pipes and white polypropylene beds. Through trial and error, Self designed and constructed the irrigation system and improves it routinely.

Self describes her odyssey to sustainable food entrepreneur as gradual. She worked at a landfill in Ashville, North Carolina, where her job was to make the road to it colorful. “I learned about waste, how much we waste as a nation and how much I waste,” she said.

She spent four years in Smithville, Tennessee, earning a BFA from Appalachian Center for Craft and living in student housing on an island formed by a lake built by the TVA. “I learned to be resourceful. Without that degree, I would not have the confidence to do this Green Girl project and to build the system,” she said. “I taught myself how to do hydraulics.”

She taught art at a Memphis Montessori school and started a garden in the back yard. “We didn’t have any money, but we made it work. It was more than quaint. The garden was more than functioning. Elementary children learned a lot.”

She waited tables at Sweet Grass in Cooper Young and asked the chef for permission to build a parking lot garden.

He agreed. She constructed beds from scrap lumber found in Midtown.

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Speckled Parsley Mix

Since the lot received only six hours of sun daily, tomatoes were out of the question. Nevertheless, she learned to design and maintain a perennial herb garden—“a healthy, abundant herb garden,” she added. A Sweet Grass guest encouraged her to attend a business seminar at Launch Memphis (now known as Start Co.). “Basically you pitched a paper-napkin idea to a big crowd,” Self remembered.

Well, her idea—an indoor, commercial farm—was a hit, one of three chosen. An intense weekend of advice from experts followed. Someone named her company, and Archer Malmo did her logo. Green Girl’s financing of $5,000 came from Indiegogo, a global fundraising site, and $25,000 from family members “who are interested in local food for local eating,” she said.

The funds enabled her to pay for equipment and state-of-the-art Philips lights. Self harvests the microgreens in cycles of between 10 and 21 days. She supplies microgreens to Bring It Food Hub, a Midtown food distribution service; Miss Cordelia’s Grocery; the Agave Maria, Folk’s Folly, Grove Grill, and Bari restaurants; and the Madison, Peabody, and Westin hotels.

Ana Gonzalez, executive chef at Bleu Restaurant in the Westin, described microgreens as crisp and having a distinctive flavor, “maybe because they’re local.” Gonzalez uses them as garnishes for chicken and lamb chops “and as an accompaniment and not just a garnish” in a specialty salad.

Green Girl offers many varieties. Red cabbage and kohlrabi microgreens are mild and sweet; arugula, peppery;

and sorrel, tart. Together arugula and sorrel form an earthy blend that complement fish and lamb. “I’ve learned to appreciate the distinct flavor of each” Self said.

Gently touching some arugula, Self said, “My idea was to create a plant paradise for these little guys to thrive.”

Emma’s Microgreens Smoothie Place in blender: ½ to 1 cup microgreens 1 pear, sliced 15 grapes, sliced ¾ cup Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons avocado 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice Blend thoroughly.

“I have this once a day,” Self said.

Green Girl Produce 516 Tennessee St. Suite 421 Memphis, Tennessee 38103

www.greengirlproduce.com

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exploring destinations } new albany garden show

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New Albany Rolls into Spring

By Mary Ann DeSantis. Photography courtesy of Judy Harrison

New Albany is a quiet and charming town that knows how to throw a party… a garden party, that is. The 8th Annual New Albany Home and Garden Show is expected to attract thousands of people for its “Roll into Spring,” all-day affair on Saturday, April 9.

“We started with 200 people in 2008, and last year more than 3,000 people attended,” said Pat James, past president of the Union County Master Gardeners. “Sixty percent of the people who came were from outside Union County. We had folks from Natchez, the Delta, even Canada.”

Considered the largest home and garden show in Northeast Mississippi, the event will be an added boon for downtown merchants this year. Previously held at the Union County fairgrounds, the show has been moved into downtown New Albany. Vendors and exhibits will be set up from one end of the historic downtown to the other with speakers’ presentations held in the Magnolia Civic Center. The show hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We think it will be a much better venue and will bring

in people to downtown,” said Judy Harrison, who is handling advertising and publicity.

Hosted by the Union County Master Gardeners, the non-profit show is supported by sponsors and admission is free for the public.

Speakers for the 2016 Home and Garden Show will include “Garden Mama” Nellie Neal, host of the popular gardening show on Mississippi Talk Radio; horticulturist Gail Barton of Meridian; Laurie Parker, author of The Garden Alphabet children’s book; floral designers Bill and Sissy French; veterinarian Shannon McGee, who will speak about wildlife management. Cooking Divas Shelaine Pennington and Romona Edge of the Union County Extension Service will give cooking demonstrations at Sugaree’s, a downtown bakery on DeSoto 41

Shannon McGee DVM

Bankhead Street. Several professors from the Mississippi State University Extension Service will be on hand to talk about herbs, trees and shrubs, and soil. A complete list of speakers and the show schedule will be available in mid-March on the Union County Master Gardeners website and on the show’s Facebook page.

“We will have something for everyone and for all ages,” said Judy Henry, coordinator of the 2016 home and garden show. “In addition to the presentations and plant vendors, we will have musical entertainment, an antique tractor show, food vendors, and children’s activities including a small train that runs downtown for children.

A train is especially symbolic for New Albany, which was a transportation hub in the late 19th century when two railroads connected the community to points north, south, east and west. The depot clerk for one of the railroads was the father of legendary writer William Faulkner, who was born in New Albany in 1897. Today, the Faulkner Literary Garden at the Union County Historical Society and Heritage Museum attracts visitors who enjoy the flora that Faulkner mentioned in his books.

“The Heritage Museum is one of the top in Mississippi with Smithsonian-type exhibitions,” explained Vickie Duke, director for New Albany Main Street Association. “Other can’tmiss sites include the 44-mile Tanglefoot Bicycle Trail that runs from New Albany to Houston in Chickasaw County.

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Laurie Parker

Both Duke and show organizer Henry recommend that visitors take time to explore New Albany, which was founded in 1840 at the site of a grist mill on the Tallahatchie River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the thriving downtown area includes parks, specialty shops, antique stores and eateries.

“When I was in Russia, I met someone on my tour who had heard about Sugaree’s Bakery,” said Henry. “It’s that good and well known.”

Both women recommended a stop – even if it’s just to look -- at the exquisite Van Atkins Jewelry Store, which is considered one of the best places to find antique jewelry in Mississippi. Celebrity chef Paula Deen is among the store’s clientele.

For those staying overnight, Miss Sarah’s Inn on Main Street is a charming bed and breakfast with a large wrap-around porch where visitors can relax and imagine what New Albany was like a century ago. Built in 1903, the inn offers breakfast, a pool, and spa.

A few minutes out of town on Highway 15 North is the Concord Inn, a 150-acre estate that offers two miles of walking paths, a fishing lake, numerous private settings, and easy access to the Tanglefoot Trail.

Learn about New Albany at visitnewalbanymainstreet.com and www.visitnewalbany.com.

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a day away } vicksburg, mississippi

Vicksburg, Mississippi 9:00 Breakfast at Caffe Paradiso. Jump start the day with a delicious coffee, Espresso or frappuccino served with a beignet or crepe. The beignets are served all day.

Try them plain or stuffed with nutella or cream cheese.

10:00 Tour the Vicksburg National Military Park. The park commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg in 1863 and includes over 1,340 monuments, markers and plaques, a 16-mile tour road, a restored Union gunboat, and a national cemetery.

12:00 Nothing says Vickbsurg like a traditional southern lunch at the famous Walnut Hills restaurant. The menu is large featuring salads, sandwiches and entrees, but the award-winning fried chicken is a must. Served with sides like okra and tomatoes, mac and cheese, cole slaw and green beans. Save room for a slice of caramel cake!

1:00 After lunch enjoy a guided walking tour. Learn about the history of 30 to 40 historic homes, churches and businesses. Call 601-831-5869 to set up an appointment.

3:00 Visit the Biedenham C oca-C ola Museum where C oca-C ola was first bottled in 1894. Take a trip back in time touring the museum full of memorabilia, restored soda fountain and candy store.

4:00 Shop the Downtown Historic District. Browse the many specialty and gift shops, art galleries, and antique stores. Vicksburg is also home to the Outlets of Mississippi, offering designer fashions at discount prices.

6:00 Dinner at 10 South Rooftop Bar & Grill. Take in the breathtaking view of the city while snacking on the complimentar y seasoned pretzels and honey mustard. Local favorites include the juicy burgers, chicken and waff les and catfish tacos.

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For more information:

visitvicksburg.com downtownvicksburg.org walnuthillsms.com outletsatvicksburg.com biedenharncoca-colamuseum.com 10southrooftop.com 2016 Events:

RiverFest Music and Arts Festival, April 15-16 The 29th annual RiverFest features live music, 5k, arts and crafts, food vendors and much more. For more info visit www.riverfest.ms.com Tara Wildlife Mississippi River Nature Weekend, August 26-28 Weekend activities include meals and lodging, receptions, nature seminars, open air bus tours, and Mississippi River Excursions.

For more information visit www.tarawildlife.com.

Downtown Vicksburg Fall Festival, October 1 Fall Fest features live music, the kickoff of the fall Vicksburg Farmers Market, antique tractor displays, and animal presentations by Percy King, sidewalk sales, kid’s activities and a bike race through downtown across the Mississippi River. For more info visit www.downtownvicksburg.org.

Attic Gallery

Walnut Hills Chicken

10 South View

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greater goods } green with envy

green with envy

2 1. Men’s Southern Tide Kiwi shorts $85, SoCo 2521 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS. 2.Preppy Polly Backpack Mint $98. The Pink Zinnia 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS. 3.Green Tassel Necklace, $20 Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS. 4.Earth Grace Heirloom Collection Bracelet and Ring $138/$78, The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106 Hernando, MS. 5.Three E Pottery $70, Paisley Pineapple 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS. 6.Men’s Southern Tide green boxers $25, SoCo 2521 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS

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greater goods } spring break

spring break

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1.Nicole Dixy Black Sandals $72, Cynthia’s Boutique 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS. 2.Wine Cooler and Opener $10, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS. 3.143 Girl Rain Boots $10, Center Stage, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS. 4.Vera Bradley Cooler and Corksickle Tumbler $34/$30, The Pink Zinnia 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS. 5.Sunglasses $25, Center Stage, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS. 6.Swell Bottles $25-44, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR. 7.Take Me to the Beach Travel Canvas $20, The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106 Hernando, MS. 8.Mud Pie Initial Weekender $62, Paisley Pineapple 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS.

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Sorting through the

Smoke

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of University of Mississippi

While the country at large debates the legalization of marijuana and states move into new territory with regards to use, taxation, and consumption, very few people realize that the University of Mississippi has been quietly working with this plant for nearly 50 years.

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At the Coy Waller Laboratory Complex which is part of the University’s School of Pharmacy and the National Center for Natural Products Research, researchers study the medicinal properties of plants. The M-Project, or Marijuana Research Project serves as a national cornerstone and pipeline for other researchers.

“Our project has been in existence since 1968.

It is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and is the only federally-funded growing facility in the nation. We have an indoor grow facility, as well as 12 acres of land that can be utilized for outdoor growing. We also test confiscated marijuana for THC potency”, explained Erin Garrett Parsons, Communication Specialist with the School of Pharmacy.

The Ole Miss School of Pharmacy supplies highquality marijuana and its constituents to the NIDA Drug Supply Program, which provides them to researchers studying their harmful and beneficial effects. Recent state legislations have prompted questions related to the use of marijuana as medicine.

The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy does not advocate smoking Cannabis for medicinal purposes or for any other purposes, according to statements on its 52 DeSoto

website. However, research has demonstrated that active chemicals derived from the plant may be effectively used in the development of prescription drugs, which could be advanced to clinical practice according to current pharmaceutical laws and regulations.

“The School of Pharmacy has a long history with studying natural products, with marijuana being a highlight of the work conducted at the school’s National Center for Natural Products Research. Though many different studies have been conducted that relate to marijuana, some of the most recent involve cannabidiol, or CBD,” Parsons said. One compound has initially shown to affect and improve epileptic symptoms in children.

“Our researchers are also looking into various delivery methods for compounds in marijuana, including delivery through the eye,” she added.

The M-Project has put Mississippi on the map because Oxford and the NCNPR is the only site in the entire U.S. growing marijuana.

“Over the years, our scientists have gained global expertise in understanding the chemistry and physiology of cannabinoid molecules. Since the project with NIDA

began, the NCNPR has been the sole grower of marijuana for research in the U.S., which has come with a unique understanding of how to create quality product under Good A g ric ultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices compliance,”continued Parsons.

As such, today’s more visible debates center on the ever-present question of recreational use versus medicinal and just how much legalization will further impact communities.

In September 2015, Nora D. Volkow, director the National Institute of Drug Abuse, addressed the issue of marijuana use and legalization. According to the NIDA website, “changes in marijuana policies across states legalizing marijuana for medical and/or recreational use suggest that marijuana is gaining greater acceptance in our society. Thus, it is particularly important for people to understand what is DeSoto 53

known about both the adverse health effects and the potential therapeutic benefits linked to it.”

Still, sorting out the benefits from the potential hazards continues to fuel more than one kitchen table debate.

NIDA maintains, “Because marijuana impairs short-term memory and judgment and distorts perception, it can impair performance in school or at work and make it dangerous to drive an automobile. It also affects brain systems that are still maturing through young adulthood, so regular use by teens may have a negative and long-lasting effect on their cognitive development, putting them at a competitive disadvantage and possibly interfering with their well-being in other ways,”continued Volkow.

But a world of difference exists between youth in pursuit of mischief and someone facing an advanced disease state or chronic pain.

“Pain is the main reason people ask for a prescription,” said Barth Wilsey, MD, a pain medicine specialist at the University of California Davis Medical Center.

“It could be from headaches, a disease like cancer, or a long-term condition, like glaucoma or nerve pain,” he continued. Other uses for medicinal marijuana by large populations affected by serious chronic conditions include muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, nausea from cancer chemotherapy, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease, and poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness.

NIDA also weighs in on the existence of any medicinal 54 DeSoto

properties. “Although many states now permit dispensing marijuana for medicinal purposes and there is mounting anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of marijuana-derived compounds, there are currently no FDA-approved indications for “medical marijuana”.

However, safe medicines based on cannabinoid chemicals derived from the marijuana plant have been available for decades and more are being developed. Whether smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana has therapeutic benefits that outweigh its health risks is still an open question that science has not resolved.

According the 2012 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health, Mississippi ranks third in the nation in marijuana arrests per 100,000 citizens.

Desoto County Sheriff, Bill Rasco, expressed concern regarding the potential legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the future.“While possession of small amounts of marijuana may be decriminalized at some point in the future as we have seen in some states, I’m concerned that while officers may spend less time on possession charges, will we see an increase in other crimes related to marijuana use or in DUIs?” questioned Rasco.

Angela Robertson, Ph.D and associate director and research professor for the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University shares Rasco’s concern.

“There is empirical evidence to suggest that the consumption of cannabis does impair driving by influencing

vehicle tracking abilities, reaction time, attention, variability in speed and headway, and lateral control,” she said.

Down in Starkville, more research has been happening for more than 40 years at the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University where researchers have been collecting data on DUIs. Their program, Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program, or MASEP, is a 12-hour education program designed for first time DUI offenders to complete as part of their sentence.

In Mississippi, regardless of which side of the fence opinions grow, legalization in the state would require amending the constitution.

“An initiative with a minimum number of signatures would be required to amend the state constitution. Or, the Legislature could propose an amendment.

The latter would require approval from a minimum of two thirds of each house to be passed,” explained State Representative and attorney, Trey Lamar, of Senatobia, Miss.

For Washington, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska, amending constitutions to allow legalization did happen and has changed perceptions of this controversial plant, particularly in light of the tax revenue. In Washington and Colorado, the financial boon from legalization has reached staggering heights. With just over a year and a half since opening dispensaries, Washington topped out at $70 million in tax revenue. In Colorado? Last fall, sales broke records with $100 million collected in one month.

With statutory requirements on tax limits, Colorado was faced with the problem of how to return money to taxpayers.

Attempts in recent years to have marijuana legalized for medical and/or recreational use have been unsuccessful in Mississippi. As the last state in the country to abandon prohibition, it will be interesting to see where Mississippi’s research project, legalization and the minds of its citizens will be in another 50 years.

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Standing Tall: Mississippi’s Champion Trees

By Jill Gleeson. Photography courtesy of University of Mississippi and fpdcc.com

The bald cypress stands, as it has for ages uncountable, on private property in Holmes County, Mississippi. Measuring 82 feet tall, with a crown spread of 65 feet, it is distinguished especially by its massive, primordial circumference – a jaw-dropping 55 feet. This giant and its brethren, easily recognizable for their knobby, knee-like roots that protrude above the swampy land on which they thrive, are the state tree of Louisiana.

But thanks to the Mississippi Champion Tree Program and its parent initiative, the National Big Tree Program, this particular bald cypress has been recognized as not just Mississippi’s largest tree, but the biggest bald cypress in the country.

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Champion Dogwood on University’s campus

And it’s not alone. There are currently seven other Mississippi trees listed in the National Register of Big Trees as the greatest of their species. They range from a Chinese parasol in Hinds County, with a height of 26.6 feet, a circumference of 3 feet and a crown spread of 32.8 feet, to a Covington County Arkansas oak that is 100 feet tall, 12.6 feet around and 103.6 feet across its crown. In Mississippi, 175 trees are registered as champions; they span the state and include all types of elm, crape myrtle, hickory, mulberry and many more species.

Champion Trees are judged by a point system, with one point awarded for each inch of circumference and foot of total height. A quarter point is given for each foot in average crown spread. While some trees appear relatively small but are immense for their species, such as the national champ Chinese parasol, others are simply colossal. “We’ve got some interesting champions,” noted Todd Matthews, the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s Champion Tree coordinator. “Our largest 60 DeSoto

live oak is in somebody’s yard in Pearl River County, around Picayune. It’s 90 feet tall. And it’s unreal how big that cypress is. When you start talking about these larger, long-lived trees, there’s a lot of history there. They’ve been though hurricanes and ice storms and land development…they’ve endured a lot. I really stand in awe of them.”

Mississippi’s Champion Tree Program, which dates back to 1972, maintains a list of the largest reported trees in the state. It’s much like the national register founded by the American Forestry Association (now known as American Forests) shortly after the organization’s launch of the National Big Tree Program in 1940. In September of that year forester Joseph Sterns published the article “Let’s Find and Save the Biggest Trees” in American Forests magazine and sparked a movement to commemorate and protect America’s old-growth giants.

Since then the national register has grown from 77

champions to nearly 800. According to Joe Duckworth, National Big Tree Program coordinator, these trees are “the mascots of the forests they inhabit and are emblematic of how conserving those forests makes it possible for individual trees to reach their full biological potential. As we continue to search for and verify national champions, we hope to further public awareness about the importance of forests and the benefits they provide us, including the impressive spectacle that is our champion trees.�

While State Champion trees in Mississippi are denoted with a small sign, there are no special protections afforded to them. But many grace private land and Matthews believes most property owners so DeSoto 61

Wade Wineman, Tympel Turner with a Champion Magnolia

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value owning a tree that has been named largest of its species in the state that they are far less likely to cut it down. Certainly this is true of Wade Wineman. Semi-retired from the farm and timberland real estate business, he now concentrates on managing his own acreage in Tunica County – and keeping his eyes peeled for State Champion trees. In less than a decade he’s discovered nine, including three on his own timberland: an American sycamore, a pawpaw and a Kentucky coffeetree. When asked if he’d ever fell them, Wineman declared simply, “You wouldn’t want to cut down a Champion Tree!”

Wineman, the grandson of a sawmill owner, has spent most of his life in the woods. He called his hobby spotting state champs an extension of his “great appreciation for trees and timber.” His latest discoveries, however, came not from the forest but from Greenville, in LeFlore County, where he lives. Since November Wineman has nominated three State Champions there, a European larch and a Southern magnolia, both located in the Greenville Cemetery, and a ginkgo he found at the Greenville First Baptist Church.

While the larch is extremely rare for Mississippi, the magnolia, which boasts a height of 80 feet, a circumference of 14.8 feet, and a crown spread of 77.6 feet, is historic. “It’s an old, beautiful magnolia,” noted Wineman. “It dates back to the Civil War and was planted beside the gravesite of the woman who is considered the mother of Greenville – Harriet Blanton Theobald.

She donated the first property on which Greenville is located.”

Wineman intends to keep a lookout for more state champs, but he might have more competition soon. Matthews is working on getting a Champion Tree contest off the ground come spring, which he believes could drive nominations up from the roughly 12 annually the program now receives. “We’ve got a lot of trees that were damaged during storms or died, and they haven’t been replaced on the register,” Matthews detailed. “And there are a lot of native trees that have never been on the register. We’d like to get people outside in the state parks and on their property, looking for these big trees. Ultimately, we want people to make better decisions regarding their trees. It’s not all about protecting the tree for the tree’s sake, it’s about protecting the tree for our sake. Because we’re all better off if we have healthier trees.”

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Champion Catawba tree on University’s campus

Spotted a tree that you think has what it takes to be a champ? You’ll need to fill out a nominating form and ask your county service forester to take official measurements. But first take a preliminary measurement of the tree by following these easy steps:

Height: Hold a straight stick perpendicular to the ground at arm’s length in front of you. The length of the stick above your hand should be at the same distance from your hand to your eye. While holding the stick upright at arm’s length, walk backwards away from the tree until the stick above your hand appears to be the same length as the tree. The distance from the base of the tree to where you’re standing will be about the same as the height of the tree.

Circumference: Using a measuring tape or a non-stretch string measure the distance around the tree trunk from 4.5 feet above the ground. If using a string, measure the length of the string that encircles the tree.

Crown Spread: Look at the tree’s crown. The longest branches going in one direction may be shorter or longer than the longest branches in another direction.

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Eyeball where you think the crown spread ends on the longest set of branches and put a stake in the ground on each side of the tree at that point. Adjust until accurate. Repeat with the shortest set of branches. Measure the distance of the shortest and longest set of branches, then compute the average to get the crown spread.

For more information on and the Mississippi Champion Tree program, visit www. mfc.ms.gov/champion-tree.php

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Mississippi’s

Mindfulness

By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of Karen Ott Mayer

Not far from downtown Batesville, Miss., visitors can enjoy a freshly landscaped garden that’s home to a larger-than-life statue of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Less familiar, at least for some, is the other figure in the garden, a carved likeness of the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

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For the Buddhist monks and nuns who call Magnolia Grove Monastery and Meditation Practice Center home, Hanh looms larger than life literally as well as figuratively as their spiritual leader. More than 600 other ordained men and women and tens of thousands of lay people worldwide follow the teachings of the nearly 90-year-old monk.

Batesville, a Panola County town with a population of about 7,400, seems an unlikely spot for a Buddhist monastery affiliated with the best-selling author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee who also has centers that practice under his guidance in eight additional locations including New York, California, France, Germany and Thailand among others.

Local Vietnamese immigrants and other lay friends donated land and labor in the 2000s and Thich Nhat Hanh accepted Magnolia Grove as part of his network in 2005. It has blossomed into a fully functioning monastery and meditation center that hosts not only monks and nuns, but visitors who come for weekly open houses, retreats, special events, celebrations and extended stays that sometimes stretch for months at a time, said Daniel Capper,

“My first response was the first response many people have, which was, ‘This exists in Mississippi?’” said Capper, an associate professor of religion at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

He regularly takes student groups to the center.

“We’re so used to a homogeneous… atmosphere, that you wander into Magnolia Grove and it’s a little bit like you’ve 68 DeSoto

wandered into an authentic Vietnamese monastery. You’ve gone to the other side of the planet, and it’s interesting that there is such a unique place to be found in Mississippi.”

The story of how Magnolia Grove found its place in Mississippi is one of exile and acceptance. In the early days of the war in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh founded the Engaged Buddhism movement, leaving the quiet of the contemplative monastic life to make speeches, spearhead schools, teach university classes and produce publications with the goal of promoting peace. During a 1966 trip to the U.S. and Europe to call for the end to hostilities in Vietnam, the monk first met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. Yet, as a result of this mission, both North and South Vietnam denied Thich Nhat Hanh the right to return to Vietnam, beginning 39 years of exile.

The spiritual leader was allowed to return to his native land in 2005, but the still-Communist government was soon threatened by his influence on young, educated people who wanted to follow his teachings, according Sister Dang Nghiem, a resident of Magnolia Grove.

The Vietnamese government soon expelled roughly 400 ordained monks and nuns who then needed a place to go.

Magnolia Grove, which had been donated by the immigrant community in Memphis and North Mississippi a few years earlier, became one of those havens and was eventually home to around 30 monks and nuns. Since then, those same community members and other lay friends have helped expand the facilities

to better accommodate the monastics and visitors.

“So now we have a nunnery. We have a beautiful meditation hall that can accommodate 500 to 900 people depending on how much we want to squish people in,” said Sister Dang Nghiem, known as Sister D.

In addition to some existing buildings already on the 120-acre property, they have the newly completed “Beloved Community Garden”, a distinctive bell tower, a residence for lay people on retreats and extended stays and some huts to house additional visitors. The foundation is also poured for a monk’s residence to give the ordained men, who now live in part of the lay visitors’ residence, a more permanent home. But Sister D doesn’t anticipate many other major building projects any time soon.

“In our tradition, we don’t want to build too much.”

Instead, they prefer to leave the grounds open for walking meditations and other contemplative pursuits for themselves and their guests. The monks and nuns work with people who’ve been through many DeSoto 69

For more information on Mindfulness meditation: Widely published, Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings can be found both on the pages of books--and in his calligraphy art. “Peace is Every Step” offers readers a primer on the practice of mindfulness. Other writers, academics, and faith leaders equally explore the topic. Meditation experts Lynn Rossy, a health psychologist and author of “The Mindfulness-Based Eating Solution” and Elisha Goldstein, a psychologist and author of “Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression With Mindfulness and Self-Compassion,” offer answers to questions about mindfulness meditation.

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types of traumatic experiences including war or physical and emotional abuse.

The center is also open to anyone who wants to learn more about Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness in everyday life.

“We want to learn to do everything in mindfulness,” said Sister D, who trained in the U.S. as a medical doctor. “We have walking meditation. We have eating meditation. We have sitting meditation.

We have deep relaxation, which is the lying down meditation. People learn to be in their body to bring their mind back to their body so they can be present for themselves and for beautiful things that are right here right now in the and around them. We have all kinds of people come in here, young and old. It’s such a refuge that, as soon as they come here, they feel at home.”

One of those visitors is Suzanne Martin, who teaches elementary-level religion, Spanish and mindfulness classes at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, a Catholic school in Memphis, and also leads mindfulness workshops for teachers.

“I think what touches me the most is the actual experience of being there.

The quiet, the sitting practice in a different setting, the model of the monastics whose joy and awareness are striking, how nature reminds us of our connections to God, the universe and one another. It all works together to re-orient your soul, not just for the weekend, but in a permanent way,” said Martin, who attended a teachers’ retreat at Magnolia Grove last year.

“Most retreats can rejuvenate or inspire you or help you relax so that you can get back to the ‘grind’ of everyday life. An experience at Magnolia Grove can give you tools to live each moment of life as a gift.

You can more easily deal with apprehension, physical and emotional pain, or frustration, but also better appreciate the positive things in life.”

Indeed, upon returning to their everyday lives, visitors might find themselves having to resist the socially unacceptable urge to hug their supervisors and tell coworkers how much they love them, said Capper, the religion professor.

“It’s really kind of wonderful how the peace and serenity rubs off on everybody else,” he said. “Often, the hardest thing about going to Magnolia Grove is coming home.”

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homegrown } delta blue jeans

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FIT FOR LIFE

By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of Delta Blue Jeans

David Shepard, 55, says he’s never had a pair of jeans in the last 20 years that fit— until he bought a pair from Blue Delta Jeans of Oxford, Mississippi. “They fit, and they wear so much better,” he said.

Based in Memphis, Shepard, a haberdasher and a salesman for Tom James Company, appreciates the skill needed to craft custom-made jeans. “Making blue jeans is an art.

You try putting a needle through denim! It’s pretty hard!” he exclaimed.

Blue Delta co-owners and founders, Nick Weaver, 32, and Josh West, 33, love what they’re doing and tongue-in-cheek describe themselves as the two hardest working guys they know.

Weaver came to denim with a background as a financial advisor in the software industry. West brought economic development and real estate expertise. Each wore jeans and saw an economic opportunity. Blue Delta’s branding is high end, top quality, and custom made.

The two admit that “we started making jeans with no knowledge of sewing and denim.” Their learning curve has been vertical and fast. “Blue Delta is a bespoke company; and that means the jeans are made from scratch and made to a client’s specifications,” they said. “Bespoke is the opposite of off-the-rack.” The partners bought machines from a Memphis sewing factory and moved them to Tupelo. The area already had a highly-skilled labor force because a garment company had transferred its production overseas. Blue Delta sold its first jeans in 2012.

“The seamstresses taught us how to make jeans,” they said. Blue Delta employs 10 seamstresses, pattern workers, and cutters and other office personnel. Clients participate in the design process by selecting things like fabric, thread color, and leg style. Shepard appreciates the color options. Not only did he rarely find his size, 44, in off-the-rack stores, but also even if he did, he noticed the color selection was limited to one shade of blue.

Weaver and West say that Blue Delta is part of a growing movement in America and overseas that reflects changing financial habits. “People spend their money on quality rather than quantity,” West said. “They look for a fair work environment.” Part of the fun of getting new jeans is breaking them in. “Wear them a lot. Don’t wash them at all,” West and Weaver advise. “Give them time to mold to your shape. After 500 wears, sendthem to the dry cleaners.” During a six month

breaking-in process, the raw denim becomes soft and “begins to fit with the familiarity of a baseball glove,” Weaver said.

Customers choose one of three cuts: boot (slight flare at the leg opening); straight (traditional leg); and skinny (slim through the leg with a slight taper from the knee to the leg opening). They select from bolts of raw denim ranging in weight from eight ounces to 14 ounces a yard. Colorful thread choices include old gold, red, rust orange, brown, navy blue, yellow, baby blue, black, and snow white. Measurements record waist, seat, skin thigh, skin calf, front rise and finish outseam lengths.

Blue Delta customers come prepared to pay for service and quality. Prices start at $350 and go to $1000. West explained the price this way: Since many Americans spend $75 a year on jeans, those who come to Blue Delta “consider it an investment.” Weaver pointed out that a well-known brand advertises that it can make a pair of jeans in three minutes. “It takes us three and half to four hours to make a pair!” Weaver exclaimed.

That time includes 45 minutes for preliminary work like measurements and drafting the pattern. Throughout the process, the client works closely with the sales representative.

Clients range from an NFL star to a major league baseball player to a man with a 72-inch waist to a petite dancer “who doesn’t like the back gap,” Weaver said. He explained that the “back gap” is that space in the small of the back at the waist that occurs in most jeans to accommodate waist fat. Since this dancer is trim, finding jeans that fit proves a problem for her.

In addition to the Oxford shop, London and Little Rock stores carry Blue Delta jeans. Sales reps take measurements in Portland, Chicago, Charleston, Nashville, and Birmingham Those outside these locals can call 888-963-7879 to connect with a team of custom clothiers linked to Blue Delta.

Blue Delta claims its jeans look good and fit right and last for years. “Each pair has its own wear lines,” West said and added with a smile, “The cotton pocket will wear out before your jeans do.”

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southern harmony } north mississippi allstars

A Band of Brothers

Luther and Cody Dickinson

By Corey Latta.

Photography courtesy of silverprojects.com and Adam Mitchell

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For the last 20 years, brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson from North Mississippi have been making rock ‘n’ roll with a Mid-south touch of the blues. Their sound is unique, though not entirely new. Already saturated in the rich history of their North Mississippi musical heritage, the brothers formed the North Mississippi Allstars in 1996. Born into the musical tradition of their legendary father, Jim Dickinson, the brothers were as good as fated to carry the torch of the blues-latent rock ‘n’ roll.

Born and raised in Hernando, Mississippi, the Dickinsons founded the Allstars on a passion for the kind of music that only the Mississippi Delta has – and can – produce, that unique blend of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and country. The North Mississippi Allstars’s distinct sound comes from a long Delta tradition, one sired and shared by the legendary likes of R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Otha Turner.

Discovering that just-south-of-Memphis sound was a revelation to the Dickinsons.

“I couldn’t believe there was electrified modern day country blues,” said Luther.

The Allstars honed their sound in the same kinds of juke joints and dives as their blues ancestors. But the Dickinsons aren’t just slaves to a certain old sound. Luther and Cody have pioneered their own brand of blues by infusing slivers of rock ‘n’ roll and country into their craft.

The North Mississippi Allstars released their debut album, “Shake Hands With Shorty,” in the spring of 2000. The album was a hit. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The Allstars picked up another two Grammy nominations in the same category for their albums “51 Phantom” (2001) and “Electric Blue Watermelon” (2005).

After venturing into separate critically-acclaimed solo projects, the North Mississippi Allstars returned with the celebrated album, “World Boogie is Coming.”

Both Luther (guitar, vocals) and Cody (drums, vocals) are individually recognized as the best at what they do, combining to create an inestimable North Mississippi sound that continues to set the bar in blending the blues with rock ‘n’ roll. That unique sound is unequivocally homegrown. Not only are the Dickinsons from Hernando and not only is their sound in the vein of Hernando’s heritage, but they’ve also worked to keep their music local. Luther and Cody record their North Mississippi sounds in, perhaps unsurprisingly, North Mississippi. The band of brothers released two bootleg albums in Potts Camp, Miss. and “World Boogie is Coming” was recorded in Hernando’s Zebra Ranch Studios.

The North Mississippi Allstars are locally loyal and nationally inspired. Beyond their father and other Mid-South greats, Luther and Cody have been inspired by some of the all-time greats. “The legends like Jimmy Hendrix, the Allman

Brothers, and Mississippi John Hurt all influenced our sound,” Luther said. “Anything with guitar, man. I loved it.” Their music celebrates their influences, showcasing a masterful guitar sound and carefully crafted lyrics. The North Mississippi Allstars have successfully brought together America’s great traditions and given them a distinctly Magnolia State style.

The Allstars’s music comes out of a relentless process.

Describing the band’s creative rhythms and methods, Luther explained. “I’ll imagine the song. Then I work to get the lyrics together. I’m crazy about words. I love to hear the sound the words make and explore twists in the plot. I like to explore words in a scenario. I count syllables. Then I let the melody determine what the song will become. We just write as much as possible, record as much as possible, and we like to collaborate with other bands.”

With an identity steeped in a rich musical past, the North Mississippi Allstars are moving into the future with new music and a familiar fortitude. The tours, the writing, the recording, these keep the Allstars true to who they are and centered on what they do, make authentic, original country blues. “We just keep hustling,” said Luther.

But regardless of how many Grammy nominations they garner, how much they tour, and how much music they make, the Allstars won’t forget their North Mississippi roots.

“Our community has been so supportive of us. Not just the musical community, but the people of North Mississippi. We’re proud of our tradition,” said Luther.

It isn’t too much to say that their “tradition” is just as proud of them. Recently honored with a Mississippi Blues Marker in Hernando, the North Mississippi Allstars represent all that’s beautiful about Southern music, not the least of which is how a community can help create the musicians who can, in turn, create music that gives back to that community by giving them a voice.

In the case of the North Mississippi Allstars that voice happens to feature a blues guitar.

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table talk} buon cibo

Living Up to a Name

By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of Buon Cibo

Knowing your roots is both a literal and figurative term for restaurant owners, Josh and Katie Belenchia. Not only is their restaurant Buon Cibo rooted in family, but they take great pride in using local producers for their food. Meaning “Good Food” in Italian, Buon Cibo celebrates their fifth anniversary this month.

“We feel strongly in supporting local growers. Not only do we trust they are doing things right, but we receive consistently high-quality ingredients that are super fresh. Plus, they feed their own kids what they’re growing,” Josh said.

Buon Cibo is only one of two Hernando restaurants that participate in the Memphis-based Project Green Fork which works with local restaurants to reduce their impact on the environment.

“We use local honey, cheese, and vegetables as a few examples. We use beef from Claybrook Farms in Covington, Tenn. and pork from Homeplace Pastures in Como, Miss.”

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Sold by the slice, or as a whole pie, they offer a variety of homemade pies based on the seasonal availability, such as blueberry or peach.

“Most of our menu is made from scratch, such as the sweet potato chips. My wife, Katie, makes the pies. By now, she’s probably made thousands of them, from the homemade crusts to the fillings,” Josh explained.

Buon Cibo also offers seasonal menu specials in addition to their regular menu items which boasts catchy names.

“My sister-in-law and her friend did our logo and

branding. They created the names. On the menu is an explanation under each item. One of our customer favorites is the Nesbit pizza, an all-meat pizza. Other favorites include our cobb salad, burgers, and club sandwich. I think our customers trust the quality of our food and that’s the reason they return,” he said.

Undoubtedly, customers are returning for the good tasting food, as well. Tammy Isome, a Hernando resident, shared why she keeps returning to Buon Cibo.

“My favorite item is the turkey and brie sandwich with pasta salad. I’ve tried most of what’s on the menu and it’s delicious every time. My favorite things besides the food are the laid-back atmosphere, the good music, and the friendly staff.

Also, the burger days are great!” she said.

“In March, we will begin to offer burgers on our daily menu. Friday nights we have a ribeye special. Customers can call to find out more about our specials or check out our facebook page. We also have take-out and can cater small parties. Our catering menu includes egg rolls, sliders, dips, etc,” explained Josh.

While their ingredients are roots of the vegetable variety, it was familial roots that led them to their current location.

After graduating from the Culinary Institute in New York, Josh honed his culinary skills working in a variety of restaurants mainly in Memphis. They moved to Hernando in 2006 while he was working for a restaurant in Memphis.

Attuned to what pleased the Southern palate, he and his wife tossed around the idea of opening their own restaurant.

“We would throw around possible names of our own restaurant. My wife is from Hernando, and one day when we were driving around, we came across this building. Knowing it had previously been a restaurant, we peered through the windows,” described Josh.

Deciding to open their own restaurant, they spruced up the building, added a few pieces, and opened on March 15, 2011.

“Using the equipment that was already here, such as the pizza oven, we created our menu,” described Josh.

Family has played an integral part in opening their restaurant and in maintaining their business today. While various family members have contributed to the restaurant, there is one in particular that Josh appreciates.

“My Dad has been a real asset. From helping with our young children to prepping food and giving advice, we couldn’t have built this restaurant business without him,” exclaimed Josh.

To some extent, Buon Cibo customers may feel like they are part of the larger community family.

“We have a friendly staff with lots of smiles. We also feature the work of local artists in our restaurant. Even our plates were created locally by Joseph Eckles. “

“In honor of our fifth anniversary, we will have special activities for the family on March 15th. It’s been a fun roller coaster ride. We have been blessed in so many ways. Come by and celebrate with us,” offered Josh.

Buon Cibo is closed on Sunday and Monday. Find them on facebook or at www.buonciborestaurant.com. Call about their specials, 662.469.9481.

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in good spirits} manhattan

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I’ll take Manhattan

By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of theswearingmomsguidetolife.com

There’s several legends surrounding the origin of the Manhattan, a drink created in the 1870s in — where else? — Manhattan. Some claim the drink was invented by Dr. Iain Marshall at the city’s Manhattan Club for a party honoring presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden. Lady Randolph Churchill, mother to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was said to be in attendance and saluted the group by saying “To the Manhattan,” although that’s probably the tallest legend of the bunch.

Other claims to the Manhattan throne have been raised, but regardless of its history, the cocktail remains a long-running favorite, incorporating bourbon or whiskey with bitters, vermouth and sometimes Maraschino cherries.

TV personality and author Morgan Murphy uses Wild Turkey 101 as his bourbon of choice and the Italian vermouth Carpona Antica, which adds the flavors of toffee and chocolate in a Manhattan recipe included in his recent, “Southern Living Bourbon & Bacon: The Ultimate Guide to the South’s Favorite Food Groups.” Murphy offers the Manhattan recipe from The Silver Dollar of Louisville, Ky., agreeing with the restaurant’s use of Wild Turkey 101 for its “peppery and sweet flavor,” believing “its slow, peppermint finish and medium-amber color make it a cocktail favorite.” Morgan doesn’t include the colorful cherry — the original cocktail never used them since they didn’t arrive in America until the 20th century — and uses an Old Fashioned glass instead of a martini glass. We’ve included one by Absolut that adds Maraschino cherries, along with Maraschino liqueur. To watch a video on how it’s made, visit www.absolutdrinks.com.

Manhattan 1/4 cup (2 ounces) bourbon 1 tablespoon Carpona Antica Sweet Vermouth 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters Combine all ingredients in a tall mixing glass; fill with ice. Stir gently for about 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled. Holding back ice with a spoon, pour into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.

The Manhattan by Absolut 2 parts rye whiskey 1 part vermouth, sweet 2 dashes bitters

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exploring events } march Blake Shelton March 3 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:30pm Five-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year hits Downtown Memphis. Blake Shelton will celebrate his 15-year career highlighting his 20 #1 hits.

Tickets range from $27.75 - $67.75 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com, the FedExForum Box Office or by phone at (800)745-3000. All tickets are subject to additional fees and service charges.

Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale March 4-5 Hernando United Methodist Church Hernando, MS Lil’s Lambs Consignment Sale is a ministry of the church that has a 2-fold purpose. First, it allows families a great place to give your child’s outgrown clothes a new home. It is a sale where sellers receive 75% of the selling price of each item. The church keeps 25% of the selling price of each item. That is the second purpose of the ministry. The money that is received by the church will then go to fund ministry needs related to children and missions whether in the church or as an outreach.

For more information visit hernandoumc.org.

Midsouth Home Expressions Expo March 4-6 Landers Center Southaven, MS Fri, 12:00pm-7:00pm; Sat, 10:00am-7:00pm; Sun, 10:00am-5:00pm. For more information, visit midsouthhomeexpressions.com. Tickets are $8 adults, Seniors (60+) $7 and youth (6-14)$4.

Community Bank Glow Run 5K March 5 Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS 7:00pm Registration packets can be picked up March 4 between 10:00am - 5:00pm at Community Bank Southaven.

For more information visit communitybank.net/glow5k or email glow5k@communitybank.net. All proceeds go to Healing Heart Child Advocacy Center.

Natchez Spring Pigrimage March 5 - April 5 Natchez, MS Twenty-four antebellum mansions, most of them private residences, open their doors to visitors during this four-week Pilgrimage every spring. Your guides are costumed family friends and descendants of the original owners, whose stories are as real as the bricks and mortar in their hearths. Each house is unique with 18th- and 19th-century furnishings, porcelain, silver, clothing, tools, documents, and diaries. For more information call 601-445-6104 or visit natchezpilgrimage.com.

Grammy Museum Mississippi Grand Opening March 5 Grammy Museum Cleveland, MS 80 DeSoto

Kick off the opening of the brand new GRAMMY Museum Mississippi with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m., followed by a blues bash on the grounds. The event will feature exceptional music, food trucks, museum tours and more! For more information visit www.grammymuseumms.org.

Run Thru History March 5 Vicksburg National Military Park Vicksburg, MS 8:00am The Vicksburg Run Thru History 10-K road race, 5-K walk, and 1 mile fun run will be at the Vicksburg National Military Park, 3201 Clay Street. Featured entertainment will be The Chill. The 10-K run begins at 8:00 am at the Memorial Arch and finishes at the Battlefield Inn, 4137 South Frontage Road.

The 5-K walk begins at the National Military Park Visitor Center at 8:05 am and ends at the Battlefield Inn. The Blue/ Gray 1 Miler begins immediately following conclusion of the run and walk. Registration is from 7:00 am until 8:00 am. For more information contact Philip Doiron 601-638-1071. To print a registration form visit www.runthruhistory.org.

Merle Haggard March 5 Horseshoe Casino Tunica Tunica Resorts, MS For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Southern Women’s Show March 11-13 Agricenter Memphis, TN The show includes three days of non-stop shopping, cooking classes, makeovers, life-enhancing seminars and celebrity appearances. Popular show features are Mother-Daughter Day on Saturday, Fido Fashion Show, Teacher’s Day on Sunday and more. Show hours are Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and $5 for children 6-12 years old. Parking is free at the Agricenter. For group discount tickets, show updates and more information, call (800) 849-0248 or visit www.Southernshows.com.

Book of Mormon March 15-20 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Follow the hilarious journey of a mismatched pair of missionaries on their way to spread the Good Word. Tickets can be purchased by calling (901)525-3000 | Fax (901)525-5499.

Get your tickets at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, 203 S. Main, Memphis, TN or Booksellers at Laurelwood (387 Perkins Rd., Memphis, TN), and all Ticketmaster ticket centers.

Flashdance the Musical March 18 Bologna Performing Arts Center Cleveland, MS 7:30pm The pop culture phenomenon of FLASHDANCE is now live on stage. TICKETS $65-$35. For more information call 662-846-4626 or visit www.bolognapac.com.

Tupelo Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel March 18-20 Fairpark Downtown Tupelo, MS The Don’t Be Cruel BBQ Duel competition of Tupelo, MS will be held March 18, 19 and 20, 2016.

The 6th Annual BBQ Competition, a Kansas City Barbecue Society Sanctioned Competition, will be held at Fairpark in Downtown Tupelo.

For more information visit www.tupelobbqduel.com Pinkalicious The Musical March 19- April 10 The Circuit Playhouse Memphis, TN Tickets are $10 - $35 and can be purchased at the box office.

Call 901-726-4656.

This 140-seat theatre is Memphis’ only professional live theatre offering the best of Broadway and off-Broadway.

Located in the heart of the Midtown theatre district. For tickets, call the Box Office at 901-726-4656 Tuesday - Sunday.

Blake Shelton

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny March 19-26 Cedar Hill Farm Hernando, MS Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Cedar Hill Farm Mar 1926, 2016 9:00am-10:00am & 11:00am-12:00pm. Reservations Required! Children Ages 3-10 $15.95 plus tax (2 & Under Free).

Each Adult, $19.95 plus tax, ages 11 & up. This price includes an all you can eat country breakfast buffet and private time with the Easter Bunny in the barn where you can take your own pictures. It also includes Admission to the Easter Egg Hunts and Farm Activities. For more information or to make reservations, call 662-429-2540 or visit gocedarhillfarm.com.

Billy Joel March 25 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 8:00pm Uptown Girl singer Billy Joel comes again to Downtown Memphis. Billy Joel is one of the highest grossing touring artist in the world and he has chosen Memphis as one of the select cities where he will perform in 2016.

Tickets range from $29.50 - $124.50 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com, the FedExForum Box Office or by phone at (800)745-3000. All tickets are subject to additional fees and service charges.

Viking Half Marathon and 5K March 26 Greenwood, MS Located in the heart of the fabled Mississippi Delta, the Viking Half Marathon and 5K promises Southern charm, fast times, and an unbelievable race experience. The races will begin and end in the historic Cotton Row district of Greenwood and will take you through the flat, tree-lined streets of Greenwood. For more information call the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce at 662-453-4152 or visit vikinghalfmarathon.racesonline.com

Merle Haggard

Billy Joel

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reflections} counting lucky stars

Counting Lucky Stars

By Karen Ott Mayer

My sister called me the other day with a question.

“Why is it when you order a large sweet tea from a drive-thru, you leave with a small diet coke?”

I answered as I do now. “Who knows anymore?” When these things happen, I have settled on the fact it’s simply one of those universal mysteries that’s either tied to incompetence, fate or luck. You can either get your hair in a wad or throw the diet coke into the nearest garbage can.

I do admit her question nagged me. How much of life is luck? This month, it’s easy to think about the “luck of the Irish”, and after a bit of googling, it appears this saying had less to do with lucky folks as much as their attitude. When all was amiss, apparently the Irish either dismissed ill luck or consumed enough pints for it not to matter.

In my family (perhaps yours, too?), we’ve always laughed about the Ott luck. While we’ve never had the misfortune of finding that $60 million dollar lottery ticket in a jean’s pocket---two days after the claim date--we do seem to suffer from head-scratching ironies.

For instance, my parents were recently camping. The propane truck went around the entire campground and refilled everyone’s tank, but missed them. Bad luck?

My brother told me a story recently. While at a new job, he was working on a malfunctioning laptop. He pulled the battery, then pulled a fuse, replaced the battery, then pulled another fuse. Apparently, this wasn’t the best plan.

“Suddenly smoke started coming out of the bottom, 82 DeSoto

so I jerked the battery.” As luck would have it, the laptop continued to spew green smoke. And the kicker? The CEO just happened to be standing there as he walked outside with the green smoker in tow.

As I write, my wallet has decided to get real scarce. I don’t dare say lost; anyone who really knows me knows that I usually misplace things... not lose them. Eventually, the missing item like eyeglasses reappear in the freezer or keys under cushions or moldy coffee cups on closet shelves. I don’t attribute this character trait necessarily to ill luck. Maybe just a missing memory chromosome?

This fall, once again the Ott luck struck. Literally hours before I was set to leave for Nashville and a family Thanksgiving, I got the call. “The water tank broke and the basement is flooded!” wailed my sister. No matter the 30-pound turkey was in the car waiting to leave.

Other folks of lesser fortitude may lose sleep over these unexpected unlucky moments. Us? We were boot camped early in life. So now while mopping up water or running for a fire extinguisher, we’re usually shaking our heads or bent over in laughter.

The darned wallet may not decide to come home. If not, I’ll replace the contents and hope the nearest cyber hacker isn’t reading this essay or someone steals my identity...which if they do, I’ll only say good luck with the memory thing. In the meantime, I think I’ll head out to chase some rainbows. I hear there’s a pot of gold out there this month. Maybe if I’m lucky...

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