Saddle Up!

As a lifelong horse lover and businessowner, Annette Gavin has found the perfect fit.

Written by Paulette Lee

Deep into rural Washington County, outside the small town of Clear Spring, is the horse boarding farm Stoneleigh Equine, and on that property is a two-story building painted brick red and constructed specifically to house two businesses, both owned by the same woman. Annette Gavin, a 67-year-old transplant from England, has an unusual occupation: She is one of only 46 Master Saddle Fitters in the world, and one of only 16 Qualified Bridle Fitters.

A lifelong horse lover (the correct term for which, by the way, is “hippophile”), whose family inherited her father’s riding school on the south coast of England, Gavin was in her late 30s when an opportunity to transport eight horses to their buyers in Pennsylvania took her away from, as she puts it, “mucking out horses for the rest of my life.” The delivery of those horses led to a connection to Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., where, armed with her college degree plus an equine studies degree from the British Horse Society, she taught in the Equine Studies program for some two decades. “We had a lot of services in the UK to support this field of study, but there weren’t so many here,” Gavin says, “so I got my saddler to come from the UK to make saddles for my students. You can’t teach someone to sit in balance in a saddle that’s not balanced.”

Actually, it’s the horse who is fit for the saddle first. A saddle is built for the horse from the frame downward, and then adjusted for the rider from the seat upward. “It’s more to do with physics than horses,” Gavin explains. “When not in balance with the horse, the horse is working 10 times harder. When not in balance with the rider, it’s harder on the horse, and both risk being damaged.”

As demands for custom-fitted saddles grew through word of mouth during her Wilson College tenure, Gavin’s UK team found it too difficult to work on both sides of the Atlantic, and told her, “It’s up to you, now.” Gavin went back to the UK to do a three-year saddlery apprenticeship to learn and practice the fitting and repair side of the business – not the manufacturing – studying anatomy, physiology, kinesthetics and biomechanics, the different kinds of “trees” (the saddle framework), and about the trade, in general.

When she returned to Pennsylvania, she launched HCS, USA Saddlery Fittings & Sales (HCS stands for the names of her UK saddle fitters), initially from her home basement. The business is now housed on the ground floor of that brick red building on Stoneleigh Equine in Clear Spring and has grown into what Gavin describes as “the biggest, most qualified” saddle fitting operation in the country. Her all-women team (by happenstance, not design), manage the orders for the English riding saddles, girths, bridles and bits. Only English “tack” (riding equipment) is sold, as that is what is used in international competitive riding, which is predominant on the U.S. east coast as opposed to U.S. Westernstyle riding. Orders are based on fittings they conduct themselves if the horses are local, or from detailed questionnaires, photos and videos from outof-town customers; the orders are then filled from their warehouse, which is stocked with supplies manufactured off-site. HCS, USA purchases 10 to 12 brands of saddles (most of which are manufactured in Walsall, England) and from two or three bridle-making companies. Retail prices for saddles range from $800 to $6,000, and bridles cost approximately $500.

“Once you’ve committed to a horse, just like a child or another animal,” Gavin points out, “you have to look after it for the rest of its life, and saddlery is part of that. You have to accept that, and the cost, or not do the sport.”

While HCS, USA doesn’t manufacture saddles, the basics of English traditional saddle-making can be learned upstairs in the brick red building, home to the North American Saddlery School, which also offers hands-on courses for up to eight students per one-week course in bridle-making, and saddle and bridle repair, all taught by expert instructors who are recruited internationally. Saddle fitting is also taught, according to the fitting system of the Society of Master Saddlers (headquartered in London). Typically, students return for additional weeks to complete their studies.

HCS, USA Saddlery Fitting & Sales in Clear Spring has grown into what is described as “the biggest, most qualified” saddle fitting operation in the country.

In addition to hands-on classes, the school offers continuing education on a variety of equine topics, such as horse pain, shoemaking, leather stitching and horse painting – and every lecture/demonstration includes the presence of a veterinarian.

For more information about HCS, USA Saddlery, visit hcsusasaddlery.com. For the North American Saddlery School, visit saddleryschool.com.

Written by Paulette Lee

Have you seen the online meme: “Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes?”

According to folks who keep track of these things, American adults spend $48 billion a year on lawn and gardening equipment; more than half of all American households engage in gardening activities; 35 percent of U.S. households grow vegetables, fruits and other food; and the average garden yields $600 of produce a year. That’s quite a “hobby” industry! COVID was also a boon to the industry: the pandemic reportedly created more than 18 million new gardeners, most of whom are millennials. And here we are again at the cusp of a new planting season.

Conventional wisdom says gardeners should start planting after Mother’s Day (this year, it’s May 14), after the last frost; but in our region the frost typically ends earlier than mid-May and local growers say you can start planting earlier than that – of course, depending on what you plant and how much work you want to put into growing. If you’re just starting a garden, you might want to think ahead a bit.

Retired landscape designer and contractor Ann (Sulkie)

Reimann, a longtime member of the Hagerstown Garden Club and designer of the Club’s “Park Circle” project across from the City Park lake and Museum of Fine Arts, says there are three main considerations when planning a garden.

“First, what kind of garden do you want? What are you using it for? Do you want to put in vegetables, herbs, flowers, ornamentals, or a combination? What kinds of birds and insects do you want to attract?”

The second consideration, Reimann says, is maintenance.

“What size will the garden be? What kind of soil do you need? You have to know a lot about water, temperature, sunlight versus shade, and topography. And, of course, the third consideration is cost – to build it, to maintain it.”

Reimann acknowledges most people starting a garden have a concept of what they want, but not necessarily the knowledge to go about making it successful.

“It’s always useful to call in a designer,” she says. “Ask for pictures, references, and listen to what they say to determine if they know what they’re talking about. All designers are not created equal. A deck and patio designer isn’t necessarily the right choice for a vegetable garden. You have to know what the passion is of the designer you meet. Building a garden isn’t a casual decision and if you get it wrong, it can be very costly.”

While most area plant nurseries don’t open until March or later, Sunny Meadows on the Sharpsburg Pike in Boonsboro, is open year-round. What started out as a small, roadside produce stand has evolved into a large, Mennoniteowned business offering seasonal flowers, produce and ornamental plants both locally grown and brought in from more southern locales.

According to nursery manager Denton Weber, the business’ “core focus” is to have exceptional landscapes, gardens and produce with reliable service, and he offers some examples of the nursery’s variety.

“About March first, we have pansies, lenten roses and helleborus. We also have trees and shrubs in early spring, as well as mulch, for which we offer a delivery service. In March and April we have the ‘cole’ crops, like cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and brussel sprouts, because they can take the frost. After Mother’s Day, it’s peppers, tomatoes, green beans, squashes, melons… then in May and June we have a huge increase in plant selections, including shrubs and perennials.”

“One of the best times to plant is while the plant is still dormant, when there are no leaves and it’s not actively growing,” Weber points out, “because then it doesn’t need as much care and it’s absorbing the nutrients in the soil.”

Sunny Meadows is known for its large selection of seeds sold in bulk and it sells a lot of raised beds, which need to be well-drained, compost and “amendments” to ensure that the soil is appropriate for what is being grown. In June the nursery has a Monarch Alliance sale of native perennials and shrubs (see native plants sidebar) that attract butterflies and other pollinators.

The nursery doesn’t have a website because of its faith-based limitation on online usage, but Weber says that’s actually an advantage.

“We love to help customers. Come on out and experience with all your five senses!”

Cool Hollow Flower Farm in Hagerstown, on the other hand, is not open to the public and does generate its primarily wholesale business in specialty cut flowers for designers and florists through its website, social media and word of mouth. Owner Laura Zimmerman says she’s part of a new movement to bring American flowers to the market, instead of imports.

“The hub is Seattle but it’s a growing industry locally,” Zimmerman says. “We’re invisible, but we’re all over the place. Just in Washington County I work with five others and there are at least 20 of us!”

In business just four years, Zimmerman now grows more varieties of flowers than she can count on her historic farmhouse property, tended to by herself and four parttime employees.

“It’s not like home gardening. We plant almost every week, on a schedule; for example, sunflower seeds that we plant every Monday from late April through September, take 50-55 days to grow.” In winter she grows 20,000 tulips, 5,000 of which are growing in crates in her basement, while the rest are in outdoor raised beds protected by “high tunnel” agricultural plastic coverings.

“In early spring we plant ranunculus and peonies. Ranunculus look like roses, though they’re not in the same family, but are a good substitute because they bloom earlier and last longer. They’re the beautiful sister of roses.” In later spring she plants zinnias, celosia, globe amaranth, regular amaranth and grasses. “We have so many zinnias! We start in May then stagger throughout the summer.”

Zimmerman reminds home flower growers they can plant throughout the season.

“If you really want a beautiful garden in the fall, you can stagger your planting May through August. For example, you can plant marigold seeds at the first of August. And pansies can grow throughout the year; when it gets cold, cover them with a sheet or towel, and if it gets too cold outdoors, you can bring them inside.”

Creek Heirloom Seeds for varieties that are at least 50 years old, and that can be planted year after year. Of course, don’t forget to water, and here is Zimmerman’s tip on how to remember to do so, when those seeds are still hidden:

“Put a little plant next to where you plant the seeds; when it needs water, you know to water your flower seeds!”

Gardeners – whether new or experienced – who want help can receive it for free from the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center online at extension.umd.edu/ programs/environment-natural-resources/program-areas/ home-and-garden-information-center.

Native Plants

According to the Maryland Native Plant Society, “native plants” –species that occur naturally in the area in which they evolved-- are vital for preserving and enhancing biodiversity and form the backbone of any wildlife habitat. They provide food, cover, and a place to raise young; they’re the preferred food for plant-eating insects, and they’re critical for songbird survival.

Cool Hollow Flower Farm in Hagerstown is a wholesale supplier to many area garden shops.

Questions and photos can be sent through the “Ask Extension” online form that is sent directly to a team of certified professional horticulturalists and state Master Gardeners. Fact sheets, tutorials, and a blog on a variety of topics specific to Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region, as well as a monthly gardening calendar and a newsletter are also available on that site.

An extensive variety of ferns, wildflowers, grasses, hedges, shrubs and trees are native to Western Maryland and can do well in a home garden or landscape, depending on the specific site’s light, moisture and soil. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Native Plant Center is a good starting point: www.nativeplantcenter.net. As is the Maryland Plant Atlas, which indicates which species are native to each county in Maryland – www.marylandplantatlas.org.

She also recommends adding compost and soil amendments to the soil to keep it healthy.

“Get your soil tested every year; it’s not expensive and you can find testers just by researching online. (Note: The University of Maryland no longer has a soil testing lab, but the University Extension’s Home & Garden Center website – see below – has a list of labs). Also, buy good quality, fresh seeds.” Zimmerman recommends purveyors, but on top of her list are Johnny’s Selected Seeds, “hands down, the best resource;” The Gardeners Workshop, “a great mid-Atlantic resource;” and Baker

Residents who want more personalized, direct assistance with their gardens, landscapes or container gardens, have access to their own team. Each county has a horticulture educator (the Master Gardener Coordinator), who oversees trained volunteer Master Gardeners dedicated to helping residents grow healthy gardens. The Washington County Master Gardener Coordinator is Annette Cormany, email: acormany@ umd.edu; phone: 301791-1604. Other county Master Gardener Coordinators can be found online at extension.umd.edu/ locations.

Butterfly Milkweed, aka Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Native plants are the best choice for gardeners interested in conservation landscaping, but care does need to be taken to protect them from invasive insects and deer. For more gardening tips check out mdflora.org/gardening. If you choose to add non-native plants to your garden, be certain they are not “exotic invasive” species, such as burning bush, butterfly bush, English ivy, purple loosestrife, or periwinkle, because these species can outcompete native species, disrupt local food webs, harm the economy and human health, and reduce regional biodiversity. For more information, visit mdflora. org/aboutinvasives.html.

– PAULETTE LEE

Shopkeeper:

River Bottom Roasters and Free Range Join Forces

Written by V. CRAIG CAMPBELL JR.

River Bottom Roasters and Free Range Café have joined forces to deliver an expansive list of craft beverages to the Hagerstown dining scene combined with tasty flavors of organic, unprocessed, natural foods, in a fast-casual environment.

With a synergized small-business-minded culture, giving back to the community through healthy eats and coffee not muddled with processed additives, the new partnership aims to bring a dining establishment to the Hagerstown area that delivers the purest ingredients.

Positively impacting the community both near and far sits at the root of both missions. RBR works closely with Sam Demisse from Keffa Coffee, who works directly with farms in Ethiopia to help improve the quality, sustainability and fair, equitable trade. Lisa Colon at International Coffee Trading and their women’s health initiative, delivers health care to women in coffee farming areas. Free Range works with local farms for sourcing chicken, breads, eggs, and other fresh ingredients. The impact from this partnership’s benefits will be felt both locally and internationally.

Since combining forces, Free Range Café & Coffee Co. has expanded their online offering of specialty coffees, allowing customers to log on and order up a quick cup that’s ready when they arrive. Pair that with any of their seasonal wraps, bowls, overnight oats, smoothie bowls… and the list goes on.

Today Free Range Cafe is now known as Free Range Café & Coffee Co and this Motley Crew of entrepreneurs are making the world and human biome a better place.