The Piedmont Virginian Magazine Autumn 2021 by Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine

MUSIC: CASTLETON SINGS AGAIN | ART: A PAINTER’S MUSINGS

REFUGE

INMOVING THEFROMPIEDMONT TOWN TO COUNTRY

HISTORY THE ROAD TO SECOND MANASSAS FOOD OUTDOOR DINING AT ITS PEAK

A FARM LESS ORDINARY // LIVING WITH WILDLIFE AUTUMN 2021

“The Hunt in Belvoir Vale” by John Ferneley Sr. Photo courtesy of National Sporting Library & Museum

Historic

Middleburg Virginia

Visit Middleburg and create your own wonderful memories VA Fall Races

Horses | Art History | Shopping Wineries | Breweries | Dining Open Countryside A slower pace of life

Jumping Rocks Photography

Create your own

Middleburg Moment

Red Fox Inn

What’s open for business now? visitmiddleburgva.com/open-in-middleburg Jodi Miller Photography

MBPA

The Middleburg Business & Professional Association in support of the local business & retail community.

540 . 687 . 8888

VA Fall Races

www.visitmiddleburgva.com Red Fox Inn

Bluegrass Field, Etlan

Bluegrass Field is a picturesque 33 acre parcel of forested hillside, rolling fields, a stretch of Popham Run, and rich bottomland. The modern log home, at once rugged and sophisticated, is perfectly sited to enjoy expansive views in all directions. The great room has a soaring cathedral ceiling and a wall of windows with a stunning view of Old Rag Mountain. The home has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, home theater, and an apartment above the 2-car garage. $1,295,000

The Cabin on Mill Run, Castleton

The original cabin circa 1790 was renovated, remade and enlarged in 1988. The home maintains its historic ambience and period-appropriate details with original pine floors and fieldstone fireplace. The log home on 25.6 AC features 2 BR/2BA, handmade cabinets, a living/dining area, expansive decks and porches, and an attached garage/workshop. The property boosts a pond, trees and Mill Run. $1,100,000

Cedar Hill,Castleton

The 15 AC property with mature trees and gardens both in Rappahannock and Culpeper County has plenty of room and features a small pond, fenced areas, and a large detached carport for with several other outbuildings can be used for storage. The one-level 3 BR/1.5 BA rambler with wood floors throughout. The primary bedroom features its own covered porch. The kitchen area leads to a screened porch with rear and side sundecks. Includes a whole house generator. $399,000

Pine Grove, Stanley

With breathtaking panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, Massanutten Mountains, and Page Valley, Pine Grove is a special spot indeed. The property’s approximately 200 acres provide a rare opportunity with a multitude of options. The diverse landscape encompasses a 30-acre open meadow, forests, ridges, a tumbling headwater stream, and a charming woodland pond. $899,000

Oldway Art Center, Sperryville

Oldway Art Center has a prime retail location with long frontage on busy Lee Highway just west of the village of Sperryville and about two miles from the SNPark. In addition to the excellent location, the complex includes several outbuildings and specialized studios, 7.4 AC of commercial and industrial zoning, plus 18.6 AC of RR zoning. $750,000

cheriwoodard.com

37 Main Street, Sperryville, VA 22740

(540) 987-8500

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ON THE COVER The Trillium Trail in bloom at the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, one of the largest stands of Large Flower Trillium in the Mid-Atlantic Photograph by Doug Graham

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A “ ffinities, not simply geography, create the Piedmont’s unique regional identity. We strive to give voice to this special — even magical — place in the hopes that it remains so.”

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FEATURES AUTUMN 2021 • VOLUME XV • ISSUE 3 FOOD

Autumn’s Bounty

Easy Fall Recipes with butternut squash, kale, and pear BY KAITLIN HILL

12 Outdoor Dining at its Peak

The Piedmont’s patios and terraces beckon during one of the year’s most beautiful seasons BY KAITLIN HILL & CAMDEN LITTLETON

ON THE FARM

18 The Cannabis Industry in the Piedmont Pondering the future BY JENNIFER WALDERA

HISTORY

On the Edge of Town, Oil, 18 x 24 in., by Ruthie Windsor-Mann WILDLIFE

ON THE FARM

Living with Wildlife

A Farm Less Ordinary

The Joys and Challenges BY GLENDA C. BOOTH REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

31 Refuge in the Piedmont

Relocating to the foothills of the Blue Ridge BY JENNIFER WALDERA

ART

The Road to Second Manassas

36 A Painter’s Musings

Rappahannock’s Hinson’s Mill Ford

Excerpts and images

BY KIT JOHNSTON

BY RUTHIE WINDSOR MANN

Loudoun ‘Growers’ overcome challenges through farming BY ED FELKER MUSIC

A Mecca for Musicians Castleton Sings Again BY JENNIFER WALDERA

ON THE COVER Halle Butvin in her Rappahannock cabin Photograph by Camden Littleton

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FOUNDING EDITOR: Walter Nicklin

CO-FOUNDERS: Arthur W. (Nick) Arundel, Sandy Lerner

PUBLISHER Dennis Brack EDITOR Pam Kamphuis SENIOR EDITOR Gus Edwards

November 6 th & 7 th For updates & information

FOOD EDITOR Kaitlin Hill SALES DIRECTOR Jim Kelly ACCOUNTING Carina Richard-Wheat, Michelle Freeman CIRCULATION MANAGER Jan Clatterbuck 540.675.3338 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Glenda Booth, Ed Felker, Katilin Hill, Jennifer Waldera, Kit Johnston The Piedmont Virginian is published quarterly by Rappahannock Media, L.L.C. 309 Jett St., Washington, VA 22747 540.349.2951, pam@piedmontpub.com Subscription inquiries: 540.675.3338 All editorial, advertising, reprint, and/or circulation correspondence should use the above address, or visit the website: piedmontvirginian.com The editors welcome but accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and art. Reprints or bulk copies available upon request. Subscription rates: $29.95/one year, $49.95/two years. © 2021 by Rappahannock Media, LLC. ISSN # 1937-5409 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The Piedmont Virginian, P.O. Box 59, Washington, VA 22747.

Dr. Shannon Moore | Dr. Lisa Butterfield Lifestyle

THE 16TH ANNUAL

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CONTRIBUTORS

Glenda Booth, a freelance writer and editor who lives in Northern Virginia, writes about natural resources, historic sites, interesting people, public policy, travel, and other topics for magazines, newspapers, and online publications. She grew up in Southwest Virginia and received degrees from Longwood University and the University of Virginia. Ed Felker is a graphic designer, photographer, writer, outdoorsman, and Virginia native. His award-winning writing and photography have been featured in many fine Virginia publications. Ed can most often be found outdoors near his studio overlooking the Potomac River, usually with a camera, often with a fly rod, always with a dog. Kaitlin Hill is a Culinary Institute of America trained chef with a B.A. in history from the University of Richmond. After completing her culinary degree, she worked in New York as a professional pastry chef, recipe tester for Saveur magazine, and editorial assistant to renowned food critic Gael Greene. In 2015, she returned home to Washington, D.C., where she currently runs a catering business and works as a freelance writer and photographer. Camden Littleton is a professional photographer and digital marketing consultant who lives in Charlottesville. When not photographing and creating content, she hangs out with her poodle, Grace (@gracelittleton on Instagram) and explores menus, music, and mountains with friends and family throughout the Piedmont. She grew up in Middleburg and graduated with B.S. in communications from Appalachian State University. Jennifer Waldera shares her hunger for, and curiosity about, food, drinks, and exploration as a freelance writer for numerous Mid-Atlantic and online publications. Read more of her work at jenniferwaldera.com and follow her travels at @ jlwriter on Instagram.

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Classic Design • Traditional Techniques • Artisan Made Crafted right here in the Piedmont

Painting: “Rising Moon”, 20 x 24, by Pete Bergeron Frame: “Cycles of the Moon”, carved, watergilded in Silver Leaf, and patinated to force a tarnish of the silver by PH Miller

Gilding, Carving and Restoration Services Offered 1 East Main St. | Berryville, Virginia 22611 info@phmiller.com | www.phmillerstudio.com | 540-955-3939

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HAPPENINGS

The 16th Annual Fall Art Tour in Rappahannock Comes Roaring Back November 6-7

here have been few certainties in our lives over the past year and a half, but this year’s Fall Art Tour is certain to please. Rappahannock County’s fine artists are busy creating art works in a wide range of media that are sure to surprise and delight. Their artistry will be on spectacular display at the Headquarters Gallery in Washington, Va., where guests can see samples of the artists’ work and choose which ones to visit. Self-guided tours will take visitors through scenic Piedmont countryside and charming villages en route to their favorite studios and galleries. This singular event thrives on the combined energies of the artists, the sharing of their creative processes with visitors, a welcoming community, and enthusiastic visitors from near and far. Be a part of this extraordinary 16-year Rappahannock tradition. Many visitors return year after year and new guests quickly become devoted fans. The combination of beautiful art and mountain landscapes is 6 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

not to be missed! Last year, because of the pandemic, Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) created popular monthly virtual exhibitions and now we celebrate the return of this unique in-person event. Here’s what you have to look forward to this year: More than 40 studios and galleries and 80 local artists with many renown returning artists and 5 new artist studios. The wide range of art works includes paintings in all media, furniture, drawings and engravings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, wood works, jewelry, book binding, glass works, and pottery. What makes the Fall Art Tour such a rare and special experience is the opportunity to visit with the artists in their studios and learn about their work and creative process. You may choose to take home a

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beloved piece of art, enriched by a greater understanding of its origin and the techniques and inspiration of its making. This only happens once a year in Rappahannock County, the home of so many talented artists. RAAC’s 16th Annual Fall Art Tour will take place on November 6 & 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.. Tours begin at

the Headquarters Gallery in The Washington School, 567 Mount Salem Ave, Washington, Va. For the $10 admission, you will see examples of the participating artists’ work in an impressive display and receive a guide with map to launch your own journey. Go to www.FallArtTour.org to see participating artists, samples of their work, and updates regarding COVID-19 precautions as the tour gets closer

HAPPENINGS

INTO THE LIGHT Firnew Farm Artists’ Circle exhibition runs through Oct. 30 INTO THE LIGHT is the 9th Annual Group Art Exhibition at Woodberry Forest School’s Baker Gallery and it is a privilege and an honor to continue this special collaboration with artist and curator Kelly Lonergan. It is the Circle's third group art exhibition of 2021, free and open to the public. From Firnew founder and director, Trish Crowe, "Our 40+ artists now extend beyond Virginia and work in varied media and have used this time to re-examine what it means to be a creative artist. We are returning to Woodberry Forest for our second exhibit of 2021 and were challenged to consider the new normal and embraced Into the Light in that spirit. The work is beautiful. It is provocative. It is thoughtful. It is also a testament of a group of artists coming into maturity in full blossom: textured, compelling, and pushing their edge. We encourage you to visit us in person, and on the web in the comfort of your home or office. You can explore our individual artists' websites and hear their unique stories.

In the words of featured artist Mary Allen Fascinated by the way watercolors bloom and blend in a way that other mediums can never do, the results surprise and delight me as I develop my paintings of the ordinary in still life, landscape, lace and florals. I love the bright sparkling colors and light one can only capture with that medium and sometimes add a little whimsy with metallics, fiber and collage for fun! With great attention to detail and layering, I strive to capture the moment and bring into the light yet one more piece of love this beautiful world has to offer!

In the words of featured artist Carole Pivarnik My work explores the layers and intersections that occur within and between natural and human-made environments. I am inspired by satellite and microscopic imagery, digital and organic networks, and the forces that change environments. As a non-representational painter, I express myself through layers of rich color augmented by lines and patterns derived from mark-making tools or by dripping water through wet paint. I work primarily in acrylics or gouache.

Exhibition is open Saturdays and Sundays through October 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reception will be held on Sunday, October 3 from 3 – 6 p.m. All who attend the exhibit and reception are required to be vaccinated and wear a mask. For online viewing: online.flippingbook.com/view/846534462/ Woodberry Forest School, Walker Fine Arts Center, The Baker Gallery 898 Woodberry Forest Road, Woodberry Forest, VA 22989 firnewfarmartistscircle@gmail.com | Trish Crowe (540.718.0370) | Deb Erickson (434.996.9048) PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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FOOD

Autumn’s Bounty Easy Autumn Recipes

STORY, RECIPES, AND PHOTOS BY KAITLIN HILL

elebrate the arrival of autumn with these easy recipes packed with fall flavors. For dinner, try my slightly spicy kale and butternut squash pasta. This vegetarian-friendly dish is undeniably hearty with tender butternut squash, melted mozzarella, and a hint of chili flake for warmth. This dish

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is as easy to make as it is to devour, coming together in just under an hour. I’ve got dessert covered, too, with my spiced pear tart in a flakey all-butter crust. The pears are cooked in a mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves, resulting in a gooey, subtly sweet, nicely spiced, and irresistible filling.

Expand your daughter’s horizons

ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL Tappahannock, Virginia

Situated on the banks of the Rappahannock River, St. Margaret’s School is an allgirls boarding and day school for grades 8-12 and postgraduate. For 100 years, St. Margaret’s has been challenging girls with a college preparatory curriculum rooted in Episcopal tenets. St. Margaret’s girls enjoy a holistic experience that utilizes the river across academic and recreational programs. Learn more at www.sms.org. ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL

444 WATER LANE, TAPPAHANNOCK, VA

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FOOD

Kale and Butternut Squash Pasta INGREDIENTS: 3 tablespoons of olive oil 2 pounds of cubed butternut squash, fresh or frozen 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic ½ - 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes 3 cups of chopped kale 1 pound of penne pasta ¾ cup of grated Parmesan 1 (8-ounce) ball of fresh mozzarella, cubed ½ cup of basil leaves Salt and pepper, to taste DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and, once boiling, add a pinch of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10–11 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water, and set the pasta aside. 3. In an ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 10–15 minutes until the butternut squash is tender. 4. Add the kale, ¼ cup of pasta water, pasta, and ½ cup of Parmesan. Toss to combine and cook for 2–3 minutes until the kale has wilted. 5. Dot the pasta with the cubed mozzarella and top with the remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes until bubbling and browned. 6. Top with the basil leaves and serve immediately. 10 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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FOOD

Spiced Pear Tart INGREDIENTS: 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 teaspoon of salt 2 sticks of unsalted butter, cubed 5–6 tablespoons of ice water 4 pears, cubed (I used a mix of D’Anjou and Bartlett) 4 tablespoons of butter ¼ cup of brown sugar ½ teaspoon of salt 1 teaspoon of cinnamon ½ teaspoon of ginger 1/8 teaspoon of cloves 1/8 teaspoon of allspice 1 tablespoon of cornstarch 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water mixed 9-inch tart pan DIRECTIONS: 1. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cubed butter and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, drizzle in the water slowly until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the processor. Remove the dough from the food processor, divide it into two portions, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge to chill for an hour. 2. While the dough chills, make the filling. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Add the cubed pears, brown sugar, salt and spices. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pears are just tender, about 10 minutes. 3. Let the pear mixture chill to room temperature. 4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 5. When the dough has chilled, working with one portion at a time, roll the dough out on a generously floured surface until it is an inch larger than your tart pan. 6. Lay the dough in the tart pan and carefully work it into the bottom and the sides using your fingers. Remove any excess dough from around the edge of the tart pan. 7. Spread the pear filling in the bottom crust. 8. Now, working with the top crust, roll it out until it is 10-inches in diameter. Cover the tart with top crust however you like. I did a lattice and used extra dough to make decorative leaves. 9. Brush the crust with the egg wash and place the tart in the preheated oven for 1 hour until bubbling and golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving. PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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FOOD AND WINE

Outdoor Dining at its Peak The Piedmont’s patios and terraces beckon during one of the year’s most beautiful seasons.

BY KAITLIN HILL AND CAMDEN LITTLETON

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BY CAMDEN LITTLETON

s cooler temperatures and fall foliage arrive in the Piedmont, outdoor dining isn’t slowing down. In fact, with heated patios, semicovered tents, and downright cozy conservatories, there is no shortage of options for eating outside. From Lovettsville to Charlottesville, and a few spots inbetween, here are some open-air culinary experiences that you don’t want to miss this autumn.

Loved for their take on Cajun, Creole, and Caribbean cuisine, as well as kicking cocktails, Southern Crescent is a must visit in Charlottesville for outdoor dining. The family-run restaurant, which opened in 2016, is named for The Southern Crescent Streamliner that runs from Charlottesville to New Orleans. Following in the train’s tracks, the restaurant offers a culinary tour of the South with popular items like Virginia Ham Biscuits, Carolina-style BBQ Buckshot Sliders, and Louisiana Gator Bites. But their most popular item is “the Po’boys, because the bread comes from New Orleans,” shares owner Lucinda Ewell. The bread is a Pistolet French Leidenheimer that the crew at Southern Crescent tops with everything from the classic USA wildcaught shrimp that is fried and slathered in remoulade, to a vegetarianfriendly option with organic tofu and garden veggies. The cocktails are worth the hype, too, with house-made ingredients and

Southern Crescent Galley and Bar

FOOD AND WINE

creative combinations. The Wicked Felina is a crushable mix of tequila, mescal, lime, pineapple, Campari, guava, and habanero shrub. Ewell says, “Our bar is exceptional and everything there is made from scratch, too.” Fans of the eatery agree, the Southern Crescent experience is best enjoyed en plein air. Ewell explains, “We have five different outdoor spaces…We have two private tin-roofed pavilions that have sofas and club chairs for casual seating. We have a veranda on the side of the house and a brick courtyard.” She continues, “And then we have the bar, which is connected to the two pavilions, so it is underneath a roof but open air.” The outdoor spaces are heated by cozy fire pits for chillier nights and adorned with twinkling lights for added ambiance. Even better? Southern Crescent’s outdoor spaces are dog friendly. Ewell says, “People come with their dogs all the time, it’s great.”

With the tagline of “Great Views, Delicious Food,” it’s no wonder Restoration in Crozet is a favorite outdoor dining spot of locals and visitors alike. The patio boasts sweeping views of the Old Trail Golf Club’s 18-hole Championship Course and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. “We have spectacular views and the sunsets are just breathtaking,” shares Restoration supervisor, Kenneth “KD” Nicholson. He adds, “We have people come out just to take pictures, their prom pictures, and stuff like that.” More than just picturesque, Restoration is popular for its tasty cuisine. Open Wednesday through Sunday, Restoration’s all-day menu is perfect for lunch or dinner with classics like a Grilled Chicken Club, Pork BBQ, their Flat Iron Steak and Fries. And there are vegetarianfriendly options, like the Veggie Quesadilla packed with sautéed mushrooms, cheddar, and pico de gallo, or the Grain Bowl with toasted bulgur wheat and roasted Brussels Sprouts. If a back nine brunch is more your speed, don’t miss the Chicken and Waffles with Hot Honey or the Pork Belly and Potato Hash, both are guest favorites. Come for the views, stay for the food, and enjoy the service. Nicholson says, “We just have a really wholesome atmosphere. The greatest things about this place are definitely the views, the food, and the people who serve it. Service is our number one priority here and we try to make everybody’s experience a special one.”

Southern Crescent Galley and Bar 814 Hinton Avenue, Charlottesville (434) 284 – 6988 thesoutherncrescent.com

Restoration at Old Trail 5494 Golf Drive, Crozet (434) 823 – 1841 oldtrailclub.com/Restoration

Restoration

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FOOD AND WINE

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in Virginia.” On the menu you’ll find local favorites like Charlottesville-based Gearharts Fine Chocolate candies, Virginia Chutney Co. products, Belmont peanuts, and Caromont Farm cheese from Esmont. The beverage list is equally provincial, with brews from Devil’s Backbone, Three Notch’d, and Albemarle Ciderworks. On the wine list you’ll find Early Mountain Vineyards, King’s Family Vineyards, Barboursville Vineyards, and Narmada Winery in a selection of whites and reds. Gregg notes, “We are all about living local and eating local.” If you prefer to wine and dine on the go, The Market at Grelen offers an order ahead option that can be picked up and taken on one of the many trails that cover the grounds. Gregg explains, “There are picnic tables set up at a few different locations along the trails that are just beautiful and scenic. There is one down by the pond, underneath a weeping willow. There is one up by the fruit orchard, which overlooks the nursery and the market with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. And then there is another set up by the entrance to the Montpelier trails.” Time at the Market at Grelen is time well spent and as Gregg says, “There is really something for everyone in the family to enjoy…It’s just limitless what you can do here.” The Market at Grelen 15091 Yager Road, Somerset (540) 672 – 7268 themarketatgrelen.com

BY CAMDEN LITTLETON

Founded by Dan Gregg in 1990 as a tree nursery, The Market at Grelen now spans a sprawling 1,000 acres in Somerset, and offers visitors the opportunity to visit the European-style garden shop, pick their own fruit, enjoy locally-sourced fare, and even get married. As the property expanded, Gregg’s wife, Leslie, and their partner, Zeke Galvin, joined the team. The trio opened The Casual Café in 2013, giving Grelen visitors a dining option after a day of exploring the grounds. The cafe is loved for its patio setting with gorgeous views and farm-to-table menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, ice cream, local snacks, and local sweets. General Manager, Hank Gregg says, “It’s all outdoor seating. We do have some covered seating in the shade garden at the back of the shop. It’s all open air and has a nice breeze during the warmer months. And then we convert our greenhouse into a seating option during the winter months, where we have full heating and you’re surrounded by house plants so it’s a really nice setting to enjoy a meal on a chilly day.” The list of offerings reads like a love letter to Virginia, highlighting homegrown produce and local companies. Gregg shares, “We source as much of the food as possible from our own property. We have a vegetable garden which we use to grow different kinds of produce that we use in our farm-to-table café.” And for what they don’t grow, Gregg says, “We love supporting local businesses. All the snacks that we carry, the ones we don’t produce, are made

The Market at Grelen

FOOD AND WINE

At Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville, the connection between place and plate is undeniable. The farm was founded in 1986 by Beverly Morton Billand and is considered one of the first organic farms in Virginia. Ten years later, in 1996, Billand added the restaurant, serving dinner in her barn, before building the gazebo, tent, and conservatory in 2004. When dining in any of the outdoor spaces, guests will enjoy unparalleled views, an absolute feeling of serenity found only in nature, and of course, world-class cuisine. Billand says, “It’s magical. You have a view of the Potomac River…It’s just really beautiful. It’s just very relaxing.” Billand and Chef Vincent Badiee offer a seasonal, hyper-local, and sustainable menu that changes monthly, and sometimes daily, to showcase the bounty of the land. Of the menu, Billand says, “Earth inspires it, nature inspires it, only Mother Nature can create what we do…It’s all dependent on what’s in the fields.” And Badiee adds, “It’s extremely local. I try to source most [ingredients] within 15 miles.” Not only local, Billand and Badiee offer a dining experience that is as personalized as possible to each guest. Badiee explains, “I want everybody to feel catered to. We can change the menu per guest.” And Billand adds, “Even though we have a set progressive menu, we’re going to accommodate vegetarians, we’re going to accommodate gluten-free, we are going to accommodate dietary restrictions that

COURTESY OF THE RESTAURANT AT PATOWMACK FARM

The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm

people have. So we design a menu that is especially made for them.” Badiee says, “It’s an experience more than just coming to dinner,” and an opportunity to “Nourish your soul and excite your palate,” concludes Billand. Needless to say, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is a must visit. The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm 42461 Lovettsville Road, Lovettsville (540) 822-9017 patowmackfarm.com

As always: widely spaced, fresh air, tranquility Multiple Gold Winner

*New* Friday nights: music and food truck 5:30-8:30 Music (and food) Saturdays 2:30-5:30 | Other special events throughout the year Reservations recommended – via website

DuCardVineyards.com | 540-923-4206 | Madison, VA PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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FOOD AND WINE

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originals worth trying too, like the Ayrshire Farm Pork Keto Bowl that is packed with vegetables and drizzled with peanut dressing or the Moroccan Spice-Rubbed Sirloin Steak with Harissa Yogurt. The cocktails take their cues from local and seasonal ingredients, as well. They have a rotating list of libations with a little something for everyone. Of note, Upperville’s Finest Botanical Mule is a tempting mix of lime juice, ginger beer, grapefruit, and rosé. And the restaurant’s signature drink, The Smoking Hunter, is a unique blend of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, cinnamon smoke, sweet vermouth, and house-made cherry syrup. For the best seat in the house, venture outside. “We also offer outdoor dining on our [recently renovated], beautiful, petfriendly patio,” says Kocurek. Shaded by towering trees and surrounded by an all-

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season garden, the patio is perfectly secluded for a romantic dinner or quiet lunch. As the leaves start to change, the patio will likely be surrounded by bursts of color to the delight of those who are fans of Virginia’s fall foliage. For the winter, they have a canopy tent and tent heaters to keep patrons nice and toasty. Hunter’s Head Tavern 9048 John S Mosby Hwy, Upperville (540) 592 – 9020 huntersheadtavern.com

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Pro Re Nata loosely translates to “as needed” in Latin, making it a fitting name for the brewpub and music hall in Crozet. With six onsite venues, including the Main Stage and Mountain View Patio, and a long list of beers, wines, and ciders, Pro Re Nata has something for everyone and is a picturesque place to relax under the open sky. More than panoramic views and tasty libations, the brewpub takes its commitment to nature to the next level with sustainable practices. In 2016, the team at Pro Re Nata installed two electric carcharging stations, and in 2020 they added 250 solar panels, which cover 60 percent of their energy usage. As they say, “With great beer comes great responsibility.”

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ON THE FARM

A Threshhold Business Strives for the Mainstream As the cannabis industry spreads in Virginia, Piedmont producers ponder the future. BY JENNIFER WALDERA

n 2019, Joe Kuhn transitioned out of his role as a long-time land steward and environmental scientist, taking time to reflect and pinpoint his new direction. With a diverse background including various aspects of environmental science work, antique Volkswagen and vehicle restoration, live music and event work, outdoor adventuring, farming, and radio DJ-ing, there were a number of options available for Kuhn’s next move. At the suggestion of, and in collaboration with, a close friend and neighbor, Kuhn made the move to found Albemarle Cannabis Company with his wife, Leigh Ann. While ACC was begun with an initial vision of growing, consulting, and assisting farmers with hemp cultivation, ACC soon went through an organic growth period

18 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

that Kuhn says gave birth to a retail brand of locally grown, sourced, and partnered hemp-based products. “As this growth continued, we quickly realized that the nature of the business was rapidly developing in the retail hemp and CBD industry. We then revisited how we wanted to continue to serve both needs— those of retail with ACC, as well as the agriculturally rooted origins of Virginia Cannabis Services. That essentially led to the formation of VCS,” the couple says. Formed in July 2020, Virginia Cannabis Services was started originally because the Kuhns saw a shortage in support for farmers, including themselves. “Farmers of all skill levels had a desire to get involved in the hemp industry. There was, and still is, a need to have the space

| AUTUMN 2021

and know-how for navigating crops from seed to shelf,” Joe says. Initially, VCS wanted to help in harvesting hemp with individuals who did not possess the infrastructure to house and dry their plant material, starting small and trying to handle only up to about 5,000 plants at a time. “After we handled our first harvests, we discovered people really craved additional assistance that had to do more with planning, finding plant materials, and assistance in growing a crop that hasn't been present in the agricultural world in decades,” according to the Kuhns. “Essentially, we expanded our services so we could provide additional support.” Since then, VCS has begun providing viable feminized hemp seeds and seedlings to clients and creating comprehensive planning for planting. They also provide consultation during the growing period, as well as assistance with harvesting and drying all across the Commonwealth. “Our mission is to provide knowledge from our staff, along with comprehensive services, with the skill sets of talented farmers in the Commonwealth, to produce the highest quality hemp cannabis possible. We strive to integrate the knowledge of current hemp and cannabis ‘plant science’ in our business approach, in order to help people understand the amazing capabilities of cannabis in our society,” the Kuhns explain. As both businesses have grown and flourished, they have added a number of products and services. ACC sells locally made, locally sourced, and locally partnered hemp and CBD products via e-commerce, in-person market and pop-up events, festival events, and through local wholesale partnerships. ACC also aims to provide

COURTESY PHOTOS

ON THE FARM

PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| AUTUMN 2021 19

comprehensive cannabis information to all in need. Meanwhile, VCS conducts site assessments and planting plans for people of all skill levels including soil testing, soil amendments, tilling, mounding, and laying of plasticulture (if warranted), to provide a good basis for the hemp to grow. They also design and install simple irrigation systems and provide seeds and seedlings for farmers across Virginia. VCS currently can produce about 10,000-to-15,000 seeds and seedlings for various clients. Providing farmers with hemp seeds, seedlings, and or clones to be planted in their fields across Virginia, VCS also provides labor as needed for plant installation and harvest. While VCS works primarily with farmers around the Commonwealth, ACC’s commitment is to serve all in need of legal hemp-based cannabis products. “Our largest client base tends to be folks in the 40-70 age demographic, followed by the 21-40 age group, and dove-tailed by

a group we support as ‘cannabis curious,’ newcomers who are seeking natural alternatives for a variety of needs,” say the Kuhns. As to recent state legislative changes regarding cannabis, the Kuhns are hopeful that many more individuals will become more comfortable engaging in conversation about it, in growing it, and in beginning to break down negative stigmas associated with it. “We also feel that personal growth and possession will continue to bring to light the need for integrous, professional, supportive resources in the cannabis industry. We have concerns that the many hardworking smaller locally owned businesses in Virginia could get overshadowed and overpowered by big pharma and big business,” the Kuhns say. “We continue to stay up-to-date on currently developing policy, formation of regulatory agencies, and laws on all levels, as those continue to occur.” The couple also expresses hope that more clarity will be provided regarding applications and retail/cultivation permits as well

as how to navigate that process. “Additionally, more concrete timeline information would be beneficial for those of us on the retail and/or cultivation side of this developing industry. Finally, the formation of professional development supports are essential, to help guide the industry soundly and safely,” they say. While some of the impacts of the legislative changes may not be entirely clear yet, what is clear are the goals that Joe and Leigh Ann have for growing both ACC and VCS. “We would love to expand our product reach to all of Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic, and beyond. We are also very dedicated to being a trusted comprehensive legal cannabis resource for all. Also, we deeply value how we can contribute positively to our locality and to the greater Commonwealth in any way possible,” they say of ACC. Joe says of VCS, “We would love to become the Central Virginia Home for Biomass Storage, product manufacturing and development, and be an indoor mariujuana

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cultivation and production house that is integral in supporting the rich agricultural base in the Southeast. We also want to continue to support and empower farmers—they provide the backbone we all rely on and deserve our dedication.” Working together to build ACC and VCS, as well as to reach their future visions, the Kuhns point to each other for their success. Leigh Ann praises Joe’s wealth of diverse skill sets that help to make the business flourish. Meanwhile, Joe credits Leigh Anne’s strong background in education, language, and communication as well as her expertise involving gardening, helping people connect to nature and outdoor based practices, beekeeping, and supporting others in the community through volunteer work. Both appreciate the teams that they have at both ACC and VCS. “ACC is a diverse mix of family, longtime friends, and newly formed collegial professionals who are all passionate about the benefits and potential for cannabis in today's world. VCS started with just a few friends; as we got further into the 2020 growing season, we hired folks from different backgrounds and experience levels to create a well-rounded team who each have their own ideas, and skill sets to bring to the table,” they say. Overall, Joe and Leigh Ann Kuhn are committed to helping those that they serve and passionate about doing so. “We want all people to feel comfortable to ask questions. We want people to know that, even if they choose not to use legal cannabis, they can still support beneficial outcomes that cannabis can bring to others. We want people to know that we are here to contribute positively and humbly. It is something we live, not just something we do,” they agree.

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HISTORY

THE ROAD TO SECOND MANASSAS Hinson’s Ford BY KIT JOHNSTON

“I Heard Them Coming” By Kit Johnson

hen Union troops led by George McClellan failed to capture Richmond in the Peninsula Campaign, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee began moving his troops north as the Union Armies struggled to regroup. In late August 1862, Lee executed a strategic but risky plan that would pave the road to victory at the Battle of Second Manassas.

before daybreak. Rousted from their bivouac near Jeffersonton at 3 a.m., Jackson's wing of the Confederate Army prepares to march to the Rappahannock Turnpike. At the Turnpike (now Rt. 211), they will turn west, march just past the sleepy post office village of Amissville, then turn north onto Hinson’s Ford Road to cross the Rappahannock River at its upper reaches.

The Plan

The Ford

On Aug. 24, Robert E. Lee calls for a “war” council at Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters near the Rappahannock River. Jackson, James Longstreet, and Jeb Stuart attend. For days, they have tried but failed to dislodge Army of Virginia Commander John Pope from the other side of the river as he waits for Army of the Potomac Commander George McClellan to join him after the Peninsula debacle. Lee expects McClellan to show up any day, so he develops a plan for outflanking Pope’s current position so as to surprise attack his supply lines at Manassas. Lee wants to compel Pope to release his grip on the Rappahannock and thus much of the central part of Virginia. Lee orders Jackson to execute the plan. Jackson tells his commanders to be ready quite early the next day to put their 24,000 troops to the march. He asks his chief engineer, Capt. James Keith Boswell, to map the quickest and safest route for the men to take to accomplish Lee’s goals. The young man from Fauquier County maps out such a route, Jackson approves it, then tells Boswell to prepare to lead the large column

Back then, Hinson’s Ford Road went all the way to Hinson’s Mill and the ford beside the mill, known as Hinson’s Mill Ford. In August of 1862, the ford was not being guarded by anyone, much less Yankees, despite being only five miles upstream from the leading edge of the Rappahannock River standoff between Pope’s and Lee’s forces. The ford had come to be because, over time, a small tributary had carved a gentle slope into the river bank, the river bottom was fairly solid, and the slope for getting out on the other side was usually not that steep. When the column arrived at the ford, Capt. Boswell plunged in first, then pulled up on the other side to summon the cavalry to receive orders. Hand-picked by Jackson for their knowledge of the countryside between the ford and Salem, these men were to serve as advance pickets, rear pickets, and messengers among Jackson, Lee, and Longstreet. In addition, they were to find shortcuts in Boswell’s route, if possible, for Jackson expected the entire column to make Salem (now Marshall) that night.

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I was sitting on my front porch just before dawn when I heard them but couldn’t quite see them. Suddenly, wave after wave of men began marching by, led by a handsome young captain I recognized. It was James Keith Boswell! We’d met at Hinson’s Mill Ford not long ago, both of us crossing from the Rappahannock side of the river to the Fauquier side, me to sell the last of my corn at the Orleans market, he to visit family. We knew well this crossing at old man Hinson’s mill because it was much closer to Orleans than the Waterloo Bridge. Plus, there were Yankees at that bridge. The men kept coming for hours. As the sun rose, most seemed thirsty, likely hungry, too. I had no food to spare, but I had water and passed the bucket to the boys until an officer came and told them to ‘close it up.’ When he moved on, I asked a soldier where he was going. He shook his head. ‘I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll follow Stonewall wherever he leads, no matter what.’ The men had had no fires that morning, which meant no coffee and barely a piece of hardtack. They were told to pack what food they had then send their haversacks to the wagons to carry. When the column turned west, the men felt hopeful. Perhaps they were headed back to the Shenandoah Valley, but then the column turned north to take my road, the road to the ford.”

HISTORY

Next, the infantry entered the water wearing their clothes and boots, as instructed, for speed. Suddenly, all came to a standstill when the artillery wagons carrying some 80 guns began to bog down on the north bank. Even officers dismounted to free them. Not long beyond the ford, the column entered the quaint old village of Orleans. Residents flocked from their homes and storefronts to cheer as the men strode by. Young women waved and handed out food and water. And the soldiers appreciated it, particularly the food, but it did slow them down. They worried, and knew Jackson did too, that the longer they tarried the better the chance the Yankees had of detecting them. Fears of detection were not ill-founded. In fact, just that morning from a hill high above the Waterloo Bridge, Union Col. John Clark of Gen. Nathaniel Banks’ staff had seen Confederate infantry and artillery moving from Jeffersonton toward Amissville then, later, evidence of troops moving north or northwest “with colors flying.” Clark reported back to Banks. Banks reported to Pope that the enemy might be moving to the Valley, possibly with “designs [on] the Potomac.” Pope told Washington that if he could verify this, he would send Gen. Irvin McDowell’s Corps to deal with it, but then he did nothing, giving Jackson “precious hours of unobstructed march,” according to John Hennessey, author of Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas. Near Salem and bivouac for the night, Jackson dismounted to climb a rock to watch his men. They began to cheer, but he quieted them, so they tipped their hats instead. Not a man to gush, Jackson nonetheless said, “Who could not conquer with troops such as these?” It is likely he included his division commanders in his unusual praise. First in the lineup at that time was Richard Stoddert Ewell, a reliable commander who had performed well in the Valley Campaign and had yet to suffer a serious reprimand from Jackson. Next was A. P. Hill of Culpeper, commander of the largest division in Jackson’s wing, and in Jackson’s estimation, the best. A handsome, ag-

gressive West Pointer (like so many officers on both sides), Hill had feuded with Longstreet and so was reassigned to Jackson. Last were Brigadier Gen. William Taliaferro and his division, which he had inherited from Jackson. Born to a prominent Virginia family, Taliaferro was the first civilian soldier to serve in such a high position under Lee. His relationship with Jackson was a bit up and down, but they shared an appreciation for hand-to-hand fighting. That evening, Taliaferro’s division rolled into Salem around midnight, his men falling asleep on whatever patch of bare ground they could find.

Clear Sailing to Gainesville and Beyond Early on Aug. 26, Jackson’s column left Salem to march again, still not knowing where, until Ewell’s Division turned the column east toward Thoroughfare Gap. The men were still moving briskly at three miles an hour, but their condition was not good. “Many were barefoot,” one of Hill’s men reported later, “Many more without a decent garment to their backs, more still ill with diarrhea and dysentery and all halffamished.” Fortunately, the men got a big break when they reached the Gap, for there was not a Yankee in sight for them to fight. A narrow and steep defile between the Pond and Bull Run Mountains, the Gap was a natural place for the Union to try to stop Jackson. But by the time the column arrived, any Union presence that might have been there was gone, withdrawn or fled. Jackson and his men sailed on, reaching Gainesville by 4 p.m. after covering 47 miles in a mere 36 hours. Yet Pope still believed Jackson was actually in the opposite direction headed west out there somewhere despite intelligence to the contrary. The time had come to attack Pope’s lines of supply and communications on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad (OARR).

Robert E. Lee by Levin C. Handy

Stonewall Jackson

Lt. General James Longstreet

Jackson Attacks The first target of Jackson’s attack on the OARR is Bristoe, a small station down the line. Jackson’s men encounter little resistance there as they proceed to derail one train and cause two others to crash

General John Pope

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HISTORY

Haymarket

Thoroughfare Gap

Salem (Marshall)

New Baltimore

Warrenton

Orlean

Waterloo Bridge

Hinson’s Mill Ford

Amissville

Map of parts of Fauquier, Prince William, and Rappahannock Counties Va. 1860. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

24 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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Jeffersonton

Hinson’s Mill Ford

HISTORY

into each other. Then they tear up a considerable portion of track. The next stop is Pope’s main supply base at Manassas Junction. Despite its value, the base is guarded by only 115 infantrymen, a rookie regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry, and eight cannon. Jackson orders a night attack. His men take the base in five minutes at the cost of two men wounded and two men killed. They capture 300 soldiers, pilfer valuable guns and much needed food supplies, cut Pope’s communication wires to Washington, then torch the place.

Manassas Junction Bristoe Station

Longstreet and Lee on the Way

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HISTORY

their guns to their sides and slowed to “route step,” for the sun is setting, the air is still, and as one man later wrote, “No one dreamt of the danger and death in those quiet woods.” Taliaferro and Ewell attack swiftly. They have the high ground and tactical advantage. Their artillery is well placed on the ridge, its aim deadly accurate. It is an exceptionally fierce firefight, some at close range, and Union Brigadier Gen. John Gibbon’s command bears the brunt of it. Darkness falls, and the fighting at Brawner Farm ends after 90 minutes. Ewell lies severely wounded. Each side has suffered some 1,000 casualties. Meanwhile, Lee and Longstreet have a problem. McDowell (without telling Pope) has sent Brigadier Gen. James B. Ricketts and 5,000 men to try to stop them from getting through the Thoroughfare Gap. However, Ricketts arrives too late because Lee and Longstreet are already there, and after some successful outflanking moves by the Confederates, Ricketts retreats. Now on the other side of the Gap, Longstreet can hear the sound of heavy firing from Jackson’s position. He resolves to reach Jackson by the next morning.

Pope Attacks On Aug. 29, Pope opens the second day of the Battle of Second Manassas with a series of piecemeal attacks against Jackson’s troops, well placed behind the fills and deep cuts of an unfinished railroad. National Park Service (NPS) historian Jim Burgess noted in an interview a few years ago that the unfinished railroad provided the Confederates with a strong defensive position that spanned several miles from below the ridge near Brawner Farm to Sudley Church and nearby Matthew’s Hill; there were ways to escape to the west, if needed; and Longstreet is on his way. Burgess credits Longstreet’s arrival in the morning of Aug. 29 for setting “the stage for Pope’s [ultimate] defeat.” In four separate piecemeal attacks on Aug. 29, the Union achieves some breakthroughs in the Confederate line. Pope could have pursued those breakthroughs. But he doesn’t, NPS volunteer Steve Herholtz notes in his talks about the battle, be26 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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Jackson’s March to Second Manassas, August 1862.

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR TRAILS

Marshall, previously Salem, during horse and buggy days.

COURTESY OF THE FAUQUIER HERITAGE AND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

HISTORY

cause Pope is counting on a major attack by Maj. Fitz John Porter’s 5th Corps. But the attack never comes. Porter’s troops fail to show. Longstreet had met them near Gainesville with a deterrent force some say was 30,000 strong. McDowell knew by early afternoon that Longstreet had arrived and could present a problem. But Pope doesn’t know that, not until almost midnight.

The Final Blow On Aug. 30 close to 3 p.m., Pope orders Porter to strike Jackson’s line with up to 10,000 men near a deep cut of the unfinished railroad. The assault is the largest Union attack of the Battle of Second Manassas, and it quickly fails, causing disarray in the Union Army. Gen. John Reynolds’ Division of Pennsylvania Reserves is called away from protecting the Army’s left flank to provide cover for troops retreating from the failed attack. About 4 p.m., Longstreet launches a counterattack on the Army’s vulnerable left flank, which is now protected by only two brigades: Col. Gouverneur Warren’s New Yorkers and Col. Nathaniel McLean’s Ohioans. A fight ensues on a place called Chinn Ridge. The fight lasts only 90 minutes, but that is long enough for the Union Army to develop a makeshift defensive position on nearby Henry Hill. The Confederate Army will ultimately prevail this day, but the ridge fight has weakened its organization and timing. By the time the Confederates are ready to mount an assault on Henry Hill, the Union has greatly strengthened its position there. As darkness falls, the third day’s fighting ends. That night, Pope withdraws to fortifications in Centreville. His decision is controversial, but some say it is needed to save his Army. The casualties count for the Battle of Second Manassas are some 14,500 Union troops and some 9,200 Confederate troops dead, wounded, missing, or taken prisoner. Postscript: The Confederate victory at Second Manassas emboldened Lee and provided the springboard for the South’s first invasion of the North, the Antietam Campaign. Meanwhile, Pope was relieved of his command and sent to the West to quell Indian uprisings.

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WILDLIFE

The Joys (and Challenges) of Living with Wildlife are Many Our first goal is to keep wildlife wild. BY GLENDA C. BOOTH

ucas Hauschner woke up twice this spring in his Nelson County home to strewn trash from a plundered garage can and a heavy bag of seed dragged from the garage into the woods. Ursus americanus, the American black bear, had paid an overnight visit. Down the road at Connie Brennan’s, a bear bent an iron shepherd’s hook and twisted the squirrel-proof bird feeder tops open to chomp down on bird seed. “The visitor also took down the suet feeder, opened it and ate the suet. Didn’t care for thistle seed,” chuckled Brennan. In Linden, a bear destroyed a pickup truck bed “exploring” its load of trash. To wildlife biologists, none of this is surprising bear behavior. Black bears are adaptable, intelligent animals with an uncanny sense of smell. They learn to associate buildings, grills, garbage, and livestock feeds with food. They have been documented all over the state, and many consider their comeback a conservation success story. Shenandoah National Park had ten bears in 1940. Today, rangers estimate the park has between 600 and 900. “In reality, most problems caused by bears are really ‘people problems,’” says the Department of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) website, which means people are at the root of many conflicts with wildlife. Learning to live with wildlife is critical for both people and wildlife, state wildlife biologists say.

Calls for Help on the Rise The number of calls to Virginia’s wildlife conflict helpline increases every year. More than 97,000 came in from 2013 to March 2021. In 2020, the top five species reported statewide were bear, deer, raccoons, red fox, and groundhogs, with coyotes a close sixth. In the Piedmont, calls about red foxes topped the list. People reported foxes close to their homes, denning under decks and sheds, and some looking sickly. In Fauquier and Loudoun counties bear, deer, and raccoons generate the most helpline calls. “These numbers typically jump dur28 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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A black bear raids a birdfeeder in Fauquier County DRAGON RIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY

ing the spring as bears come out of denning and deer start giving birth,” according to DWR’s Jordan Green. From October 2019 to September 2020, the helpline got 68 calls from Madison County, 111 from Rappahannock County and 219 from Culpeper County. People report raccoons getting into attics and barns, eating pet food, and damaging crops. “When sweet corn is in the milk stage, starting to get sweet in home gardens, raccoons can do a number on it,” offers Michael Fies, DWR wildlife biologist. Virginia vineyards face challenges, too. Bear, raccoons, and deer

WILDLIFE Top: A deer running in front of a car crossing F.T. Valley Road in Rappahannock County. Below: Fox and kits play in backyards.

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY MILLARD.

PHOTO BY GLENDA BOOTH

eat grapes and grape leaves. Rodents, birds, squirrels, and foxes like to forage in vineyards, as well.

Human-Wildlife Interactions, Causes Virginia has a rich diversity of wildlife species, from minks to mussels, from salamanders to shrews. All wildlife species need habitat with the essential elements of food, water, and shelter. As development expands and people alter habitats, some human-wildlife interaction is likely. Removing trees and plants, fragmenting forests, building hiking trails and roads, and making other habitat changes can cause wildlife to move, displacing them from their traditional home territories. “The face of our landscape is constantly changing, and with increasing urbanization and development comes fragmentation and loss of critical habitats. Habitat loss is the greatest single factor adversely affecting wildlife populations today,” reports the DWR website. In fact, more than 900 wildlife species in the state are in decline, mostly because of impacts to their natural areas. Many species of wildlife thrive in human-altered environments, like white-tail deer, which are found in all five of Virginia’s physio-

DO NOT: • Feed wildlife. • Leave pet food outside. • Approach an animal acting aggressively or strangely. (Contact your local animal control officers.) • Separate a mother from her young. DO: • Keep trash inside until close to pickup time. Use animal proof containers. • Remove bird feeders if species such as bear are seen around them. • Clear fallen fruit from around trees. • Clean barbecue grills. • Keep cats indoors. Coyotes and other wildlife may prey on cats. • Screen openings in your home’s foundation and under porches. • Close garages and sheds at night. • Plant native plants and strive for biodiversity. RESOURCES Help with Wildlife: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife, 855-571-9003 Wildlife Rescue League, wildliferescueleague.org

graphic provinces. “Deer are doing a little too well,” state wildlife biologist Jordan Green contends. Skunks have adapted to varied habitats, from wilderness areas to industrial parks to housing developments. Groundhogs are spotted in places like downtown Culpeper. Raccoons, intelligent animals with good manual dexterity, are common in towns, suburbs, and cities, says the Humane Society. Active at night, they have a highly developed sense of touch and can unlock doors and raid garbage cans, bird feeders, and fish ponds. Buildings and structures can lure wildlife near people because some species seek enclosed spaces like decks for denning and raising their young. Bats may hibernate in old buildings or use barns, sheds, and attics of homes in the summer. DWR experts suggest that the rise in coyote populations in the state has probably pushed more foxes into urban and suburban areas because coyotes do not tolerate foxes. Some species adapt to being near people by adjusting their food habits. Coyotes, for example, normally eat small mammals, but they can thrive in the middle of cities and towns, like Charlottesville. They can lose their fear of humans and, for example, have PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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WILDLIFE

been observed following people walking their dogs. A coyote that is close to people was probably fed and associates houses with food. Coyotes can eat small pets.

Allies “Wildlife contributes to the biological diversity of our ecosystems, spurs recreational pursuits that benefit our economy, and enhances our overall quality of life,” explains DWR Executive Director Ryan Brown. Wildlife provides free ecological services. Examples: Big brown bats can eat up to one-third of their body weight in insects every night, insects that some farmers consider to be pests. Bats disperse seeds and pollinate. Snakes eat mice. Frogs eat mosquitoes, flies, and slugs. When beaver dams flood land, the soggy land can become more fire resistant. Around 140 species of birds breed in the mid-Atlantic Piedmont, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council. Birds eat pests and can keep some pests in control, insects that might otherwise defoliate timber and crops. Birds can disperse seeds that provide food, plants, timber, and recreation. Raptors, like hawks and owls, control rodents. Vultures clean up roadkill. Insects are the “little things that run the world,” renowned biologist Edmund O. Wilson has said. Insects provide free pollination services critical to the reproduction of more than 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species, says the Xerces Society for Invertebrate

Conservation. Insects also dispense seeds, aerate the soil, recycle nutrients and eat waste.

Practice Tolerance The mere presence of wildlife is not necessarily a reason to be alarmed. Most do not naturally prey on people or pets. Wildlife experts encourage people to try to better understand wildlife behavior. If wildlife become accustomed to people, they can lose their fear and become less wary. And people need to understand too when a problem is in fact a problem and when a problem is serious, experts advise. Brown counsels, “Most human-wildlife interactions, of course, result in memorable experiences and are nothing but positive in nature. However, in any interactions in any setting, it’s important that our first goal be to keep our wildlife wild. In all but the select cases where intervention is necessary, the best course of action is to simply enjoy the experience of observation with as little disturbance to them as possible.” For most people, the mention of a skunk instantly conjures up the unpleasant odor that the animal sprays, an olfactory defense. “It reminds us that skunks are out there, even when we don’t see them, and that we all share the same world,” Stanley Ghert, a Ohio State University professor, told the National Wildlife Federation magazine readers. Each species has a niche. Wildlife is part of the web of life. Let them be wild.

Exceptional Design for Luxury Living

Design-Build • Remodeling • Additions • Custom Homes • Showroom GoldenRuleBuilders.com | 3409 Catlett Road, Catlett, VA | 540.788.3539 30 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

Refuge in the Piedmont Creating new lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge BY JENNIFER WALDERA PHOTOS BY CAMDEN LITTLETON

here’s no doubt that COVID-19 turned the world upside down for nearly everyone in the last 18 months. Part of this change has been the increase in teleworking. Employers and employees alike discovered that many jobs could be done—and could be done well and efficiently—from home offices. But there is much more to it than that. The pandemic-induced isolation changed many people’s outlook on life, made them reassess their aspirations, and think about what other lifestyle possibilities might be out there. People in cities and crowded suburbs were affected differently, perhaps. Once the

necessity for a long commute to a city office had been removed, the possibility of living somewhere different, more remote, arose suddenly in people’s minds. On top of that, less crowded areas became more desirable because of the decreased risk of transmission of the virus. The call of the rural areas became stronger. It is not surprising that some have chosen the Piedmont as their new home. And why not? While still within reasonable proximity to the Washington, D.C., area, the area’s historic rural areas and small towns beckon. Communities are smaller, and perhaps stronger. Views are gorgeous. The pace

of life is slower. Without a commute, suddenly there are more hours in the day. The arts, culture, and fine wines and dining rival anything the cities and suburbs have to offer, while also affording fresh air and outdoor recreational opportunities galore. Not only that, those relocating to the Piedmont often find their dream homes here. In this article, we meet Halle Butvin, who moved to a cabin in Rappahannock from Silver Spring, and the Pirtles, who now live in an historic home in Batesville, a world away from urban Fredericksburg. They have invited us into their new homes for a glimpse into their Piedmont oases.

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REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

Halle Butvin Rustic Rappahannock Cabin In the early months of the pandemic’s start in 2020, Halle Butvin found herself at a crossroads. While appreciative of her home, large yard, and veggie garden in Silver Spring, Md., she found herself reflecting on her future. “I found myself during the pandemic longing for something different and thinking of where I wanted to spend my time and where I wanted to be,” Butvin says. Having lived primarily in cities (a resident of D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood prior to Silver Spring), Butvin was accustomed to city life and was seeking a sense of community. At the same time, she acknowledges that she enjoys a rural environment, citing her weekend visits to a tiny house that she would often retreat to on a farm in Maryland. “I would get away there—hang out with the dog, read, do arts and crafts,” Butvin recalls. In her role as director of special projects at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, where she works with communities trying to sustain their cultures, Butvin had the ability to take advantage of teleworking, like so many since last March. As Butvin began to consider relocation, she looked to Virginia as an option, having made frequent trips to hike at Shenandoah National Park, as well as to visit the numerous wineries, breweries, and restaurants in the area. After a fairly brief search, Butvin found her dream home in Woodville, ten minutes from Sperryville and not far from the entrance to Shenandoah National Park. “When I saw this house I couldn’t believe it. I said, `Yes, this is for me!’” Situated on a ridge facing toward both the mountain and the park Butvin’s log cabin sits on 12 acres. Almost entirely forested, with a grassy open area around the entrance and a pond shared with neighbors, the home offers sprawling views of both Thornton Gap and Old Rag. Built in 1995, the uniquely structured cabin features a 20-foot ceiling in the living room, a large stone fireplace, a balcony overlooking the mountain, and a deck next to the 32 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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house that the previous owner had built. “It’s a perfect setup, and the deck is my outdoor space for sunset,” Butvin shares. Since moving in July 2020, Butvin has upgraded the property with a cedar hot tub and sauna, and continues to work on landscaping. In addition to working on the property itself, Butvin also sought to work on finding that sense of community that she had been seeking. Fortunately, it did not take long for opportunities to present themselves. “Neighbors reached out and we’ve become very close friends,” Butvin said, adding that some have offered to let her swim in their pond and that she milks the neighbor’s cow, as well. Butvin has also connected with locals and visitors alike in the community at various spots in the area like Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen and Pen Druid Brewery. Additionally, Butvin is enthusiastic about her work at Rappahannock Food Pantry. “I’ve met so many incredible people there,” she said. Butvin is also appreciative of her ability to access quality food from local sources, citing the CSA at Waterpenny Farm, meat from Ben Hollow, and fruit from Jenkins Orchard. “For many years I bought from the Farmers Market in Adams Morgan but a lot of those products came from around here and now I can buy directly from them. I love having access to agriculture and really good food.” Butvin says her relocation brought few challenges but for the mundane, such as finding a new doctor or dentist and adjusting to precautions related to the prevalence of ticks and lyme disease. Instead, Butvin says her move has helped her to pay more attention to surroundings in a natural environment. Equally in awe of the blooming in the spring as she is the brilliance of fall foliage in Virginia, she remarks that she’s more attentive to the changing of seasons. Moreover, she appreciates the opportunities for exploration in the area while also being able to enjoy how peaceful it is. “It makes me feel more alive to be here. I feel really, really full.”

REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

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REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

Craig and Gena Pirtle Historic Batesville Home

As the pandemic disrupted schooling around the country throughout 2020 and 2021, Craig and Gena Pirtle sought to find a schooling option that would offer their son the opportunity to finish high school, attending classes in person and participating in an athletic program. Residents of Northern Virginia, and for the last 20 years Fredericksburg, the couple looked to relocate to a more rural area to find educational opportunities for their son. They acted immediately when they found that in Charlottesville. “We found The Covenant School. The admissions director said to come out in January, so we got an apartment in downtown Charlottesville and went back and forth to Fredericksburg. That’s how we came out here,” Craig explained. Gena has worked for a major tech company for the past 23 years while Craig is an executive at an investment management firm. The two were able to move to teleworking to accommodate their move. “A lot of people realized that we are able to master technology and be remote outside of the metropolitan areas. Wake up call. Working efficiently and productively without a problem with communication and technology gave us an opportunity to move from more congested areas,” Craig said of the overall increase of teleworking

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since the start of the pandemic. While the Pirtles spent much of the first half of 2021 commuting between Fredericksburg and Charlottesville, the couple eventually settled into an historic home in the Charlottesville/Batesville Historic District in July. Built in 1869, and walking distance to Batesville Market, the property is referred to as the Barksdale-Underhill home and is on the original location of the country store. The front of the home is original while the back addition is modern and open creating a visually interesting aesthetic. Having grown up in an historic home in New England, and possessing a passion for history and architecture, Craig particularly appreciates that the home blends well with the historical preservation. Additionally, the couple is enthusiastic about the community they now call home. “It’s historic, vibrant, and eclectic. There’s a great music scene, friendly atmosphere, beautiful nature landscape, and abundant outdoor activities. Vineyards are also close by and we’re under 20 minutes from downtown Charlottesville,” the couple said. Gena and Craig continued to laud their new community and its contrast to the areas in which they had previously resided for so long.

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“The most significant factor in Fredericksburg—it was transient— and here, where we are now, generations of people have lived here. People don’t leave here when they get here,” he says. In addition to the strong sense of community, the couple also appreciates the proximity to Charlottesville and the opportunity to explore there, citing the Belmont area, Public Fish and Oyster, and Orzo as destination points. Closer to home, the couple enjoys the ability to walk to Batesville Market for its food, drinks, and entertainment. The Pirtles point out, “We’re next door to the Batesville Market. Wine tastings, gourmet food, local beers, beers from around the world, an old historic market. The market has had some of the top singers, and every weekend there are concerts.” Overall, for the Pirtles, relocating to a more rural region after residing in more populated areas has been a welcome transition. “It’s a lifestyle change. We really like the mountains—we’re pretty outdoor type people. There’s not any shortage of things to do outdoors and they’re relatively easy to get to. I like the culture here. It’s eclectic— there’s a lot of energy and culture in this area,” they explain.

REFUGE IN THE PIEDMONT

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ART

Book Excerpt

A ‘ Painter’s Musings’ BY RUTHIE WINDSOR-MANN

ABUNDANCE, OIL, 36 X 36 IN.

Introduction This book is for the painter, for all who are curious about the mind of a painter, for those interested in the arts, and for those merely wondering what all of this art stuff is about. The overlapping reflections are bundled under four broad themes. Erratically appearing musings don’t lend themselves to logical sequencing, thus this book isn’t designed to be read from cover to cover. Randomly choose a reflection and then analyze, scrutinize, and question everything. 36 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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These are my opinions based on my experience as a practicing painter for over fifty years. I learned through my painter mother who was the catalyst for introducing me to a world bursting with creativity. I gradually came to the conclusion not to argue with her critiques. She was tough, but correct. Teachers and a lifetime of painting and theorizing have cemented my thoughts, however there is always a reason for a pivot or two. Enjoy the process!

ART

A Few Gobs of Paint All painters should strive for technical proficiency, but what enables one painter to captivate with a few simple gobs of paint? What enables one painter to merely execute well and another painter to truly inspire? How is it possible for a painter to take a huge mess on a palette and turn it into an image that transforms others into unknown realms? HYDRANGEASAND ANDSHADOWS, SHADOWS,OIL, OIL,88XX88IN. IN. HYDRANGEAS

ABOUT THE ARTIST & AUTHOR

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Ruthie Windsor-Mann lived and painted in Linville, North Carolina, for a number of years before moving to Washington, Virginia in 2010. Ruthie has traveled and painted in many countries throughout the world, and before moving to Rappahannock County, her favorite subjects to paint were European buildings. More recently, she has become enamored of the nature surrounding her studio in the middle of a hayfield. She is inspired to paint anything if the light is intriguing. She works primarily in oils, watercolors, and pen & ink. Having received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Tennessee, Ruthie has been a professional artist/painter since 1970 with work in many public and private collections throughout the world. She was a guest artist at the 1982 World’s Fair, among numerous honors and awards. “A Painter’s Musings,” her book which breaks down four aspects of life as a painter: the Process, the Psychological, the Practical, and the Philosophical, is excerpted here. More details on Page 38. • ruthiewindsormann.com

A creative painter is in constant motion to bring about the transformation from the unseen to the seen while sensing the unknown. They create something out of nothing. A painter studies, and practices, and experiments for years, but there are plenty of painters who intensely train and who still cannot manage to mesmerize a viewer. Being fearless and being creative are necessary partners as it takes a lot of nerve to exhibit one’s soul. Easing into that inexplicable zone by mentally removing themselves from the process gives painters a better chance of being able to move toward creating something inspirational, but in the end all of this might be a bit of a mystery even to trained painters.

NEST OF LICHEN, OIL, 24 X 36 IN.

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ART

Mistakes Mistakes can contribute to how discoveries are made. Be encouraged, not fearful of them. Mistakes are more difficult to remedy with watercolor, but by using only transparent watercolor and learning the trick of lifting, mistakes are easier to handle. This isn’t brain surgery. It’s a piece of paper. Mistakes in oil painting are much easier to manage. Scraping off paint, repainting over dried paint, and repainting over an entire canvas are options. Mistakes with oils are not altogether problematic. Learn to relish mistakes as one more learning opportunity. Remembering mistakes and criticism is far easier than remembering successes and praise. Negatives seem to be filled with emotional permanent glue. The main problem with mistakes is what they do to your mental fragility. Get over it.

RENAISSANCE, WATERCOLOR, 30 X 40 IN.

A Painter’s Musings by Ruthie Windor-Mann is available through www.ruthiewindsormann.com/books 38 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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ART

The Fear of Failure Everyone can suffer from the fear of failure, but it seems to be extremely detrimental to those who rely on their wits and creativity as a profession. Sometimes a painter takes too long to recharge and returning is torturous. Perhaps there might be some concern that an early success cannot be duplicated or surpassed. Painters can suffer from paralysis by analysis. Figuring out ways to achieve non-serious attitudes is a good panacea. Even then, painters need to fight overthinking. Perfectionism is pernicious. Perfectionism is fine if one does all one can with the realization that it will not be perfect. Learn when you need to cut your losses. Since critiquing is purely subjective, painters need to get out of the mindset that they produce substandard work compared to others. The road to a fear of failure sets in when a painter becomes overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy. As is often the case, this is blown out of proportion. All painters have painted ghastly paintings. The prolific and professional ones accept that fact. Feeling justified in one’s own work is not an easy task as self-doubt is a frequent companion. Approaching painting from an entirely new angle is helpful and that’s when it helps to make painting as fun as it was when first beginning. Gaining and maintaining confidence is critical to the creative mind. Painters, who rely on their inner thoughts without ongoing affirmation for their work, understand that they are opening themselves up to the world and one requirement is confidence.

DR. CHIP’S BRIDLES, WATERCOLOR, 30 X 20 IN.

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ART

Dare to Be Lazy Do not force creativity but make sure you recognize it when it appears. Take advantage of that instantaneous spark. Shunning it because it’s not an opportune time for it to occur is not conducive to accepting this gift. Drop everything in order to explore what you have been given freely. When an idea strikes, stop. Concentrate solely on that thought or allow it to percolate for a while.

a person’s worth is in how many meetings one can attend in a day? No one who is creative would utter such a statement. Those who are not pulled by a creative gnawing are ideal for such a life. Some of those meetings are worthwhile in bettering the lives of others. Some aren’t.

Percolating creative thoughts occur when one’s thoughts aren’t cluttered with To Do lists and endless meetings. Feel free enough not to feel guilty if nothing is happening.

Dare to be lazy.

Preoccupation with life’s daily chores threatens a creative spirit.

Back-to-back board meetings and general busyness are the antithesis to living creatively. Who said that

STILL IN USE, OIL, 16 X 16 IN.

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ART

ONE CAN DREAM, OIL, 48 X 48 IN.

The Process An assembly line is for manufacturing, not for painting. Spitting out a lot of work in a short amount of time is akin to being a McDonald’s cook rather than a chef at The Inn at Little Washington, a Michelin 3-star restaurant. For a painting to be successful, painters need to involve their entire beings in the painting process. All of the senses play a part. Some senses, such as seeing, are obvious. Other senses are present but not evident. Whatever affects the painter affects the painting, even if it is invisible and rather vague.

Painters learn to love every aspect of working at the easel from the opening of the paint tubes to choosing the brushes, mixing paints, grasping the palette knife, spreading paint over the canvas, and listening for the reaction of the paint as it comes into contact with the canvas. Cleaning up? Not so much. If viewers will allow themselves to become engulfed in a painting, their experience will be fresh and unrelated to the painter’s experience while in the throes of the process. There is no need for a shared experience. Paintings are even more engaging for evoking conflicting and inconsistent reactions. The painter creates. The viewer recreates. PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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ON THE FARM

“Eventually, the bus stops coming. And then what?” Loudoun ‘Growers’ overcome challenges through farming BY ED FELKER

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MAYA WECHSLER

aya Wechsler and Greg Masucci’s son, Max, is autistic and non-speaking, with serious sensory and attention challenges that require him to be with a caregiver at all times. The school system provides some programming and services for children with developmental disabilities, but parents of kids like Max spend years preparing for the day when those kids age out of those programs. Questions mount: Who will care for them while we’re at work? What will they do all day? Can they work? How would they be treated? Can they be happy? Maya and Greg fought the school system for years in Washington, D.C., where they lived. Frustrated, angry, and burned out, they struggled to find balance in their lives. In 2014, when Max was seven, they made the monstrous leap to try to provide a simpler, safer, and happier home for their children. “We wanted to move somewhere completely different, where we could do something positive in the way of advocacy—something that wouldn't eat us alive and leave us bitter,” Maya says. And for self-proclaimed “city people,” the move from what Maya describes as a “postage stamp” yard where she grew precisely two plants, to a 24-acre Piedmont property in rural Bluemont was unquestionably completely different. “We went from hearing ambulance sirens and conversations beneath our window each night to total and utter silence,” Maya says. “The darkness was probably the most shocking thing about it—the utter lack of anything but stars.” They now had the land, but lacked a real plan for how to use it. Shortly after closing on that property, the couple sat in a Thai restaurant on their way to a weekend away in Shepherdstown, W.Va. It was there, as Greg likes to put it, that they “hatched a plan on the back of a napkin.” “We decided that plenty of parents were doing battle with schools,” Maya says. “Perhaps we could do something more positive by training people for employment.” The idea was to use the land they were already paying for rather than investing in a separate business. But plants, vines, and grass grow aggressively in rural Virginia, and they quickly learned that land wasn’t easily tamed. They would need the proper tools to fight that battle. They talked with other farmers and people experienced in agriculture. “We eventually figured out what ‘bush-hogging’ was, and that we would need a better chainsaw and waders to battle the weeds in our ponds,” Maya said. She took classes through the Virginia Extension Department

and read books on how to farm. She joined twilight farm tours. “If you have enough land to play around on, and throw some seeds into it, eventually something will grow,” Maya says. “So I spent a year learning how to grow stuff. As for Greg, he's been handy ever since I've known him, and what he can't figure out on his own, he talks to other people for advice, or turns to YouTube,” Maya says. So Greg was well positioned to be the "Engineer" in their venture. Together they learned, and built, and farmed, and by 2015, Maya managed to grow more vegetables than she could possibly give away. Somewhere along the way, they decided they were building something long-lasting, that went beyond their family—a place where Max and other adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) could find paid work, acceptance, and meaning. They launched A Farm Less Ordinary (AFLO) in the spring of 2016. During that first growing season, as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, they hired five ID/DD adults from around the area. While these employees, or “Growers” learn how to farm, they also are taught valuable life and employment skills. AFLO teaches their Growers self-advocacy skills like asking for

ON THE FARM

Clockwise from top left: Grower Clark always ready to meet & greet visitors Grower Jonathan in the field making sure tomato plants get some TLC From Left to Right: Grower Matt alongside three young adults volunteering from a local church to help AFLO staff weed & harvest, Grower Jonathan with Farm Manager Kate displaying some of the day’s harvest, Crew Leader Sabrina sharing a tomato with Grower Kylie, Grower Clark displaying tomatillos & eggplants, Job Coach Meredith with Grower Miguel

ED FELKER

Crew Leader Sabrina contemplating the next task for Growers Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer Greg Masucci, sharing with staff & visitors during a ribbon cutting ceremony in June 2021 the importance of adults with developmental disabilities to have employment opportunities where they can be contributing members of society & earn their own paycheck. PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

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ON THE FARM

Grower Yegor carefully displaying a ginormous tomato he had a hand in raising

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MAYA WECHSLER

help or telling their coworker or manager when they need a break. The Growers are taught how to get along well with coworkers, which includes speaking about appropriate topics, acknowledging people, and respecting other people's personal boundaries. They learn to remain calm when taking on a new challenge, to work through sub-optimal conditions to complete a task, and to finish up their assigned work even if they’re having an emotional day. As in any other enterprise, employees have different strengths. Farm Manager Kate McDowell, who joined the AFLO team in 2020, loves to figure out what all the Growers are good at and let them lead that task. “Frankie is a social person, so he has been asked to welcome new volunteers. Brad loves machines, so I taught him how to use the zero turn mower. Turns out Shane loves to sort things, so he is really good at sorting out the green or broken potatoes,” she says. “It's really fun and rewarding seeing everyone take ownership of their part on the farm.” AFLO’s operating revenue comes mainly from grants and donations. “We have some loyal donors who donate on a monthly basis,” Maya said. “We also receive donations throughout the year and during participation in 24-hour fundraising events, such as Give Choose or Giving Tuesday.” The farm also sells vegetables and other agricul-

tural products through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, at farmers markets, and to local restaurants. Lynne Wright met Maya and Greg at the Leesburg Flower and Garden show in the spring of 2019. She had formerly run a flower and herb business from her property in Leesburg and was hoping to find a good use for the greenhouse that was no longer being used. Lynne and her husband, Michael, loved AFLO’s mission, and allowed the use of their greenhouse and part of their land. The Wright’s Leesburg farm would be the first time Maya and Greg would be running a farm operation away from their residence, which presented another learning curve to tackle. It would also be the first Loudoun County farm, which presented some new opportunities. “We were excited about the coming year and how much easier it would be for us to access the special needs classrooms in Loudoun County Public Schools and the volunteer base we knew was waiting for us in Loudoun,” Maya says. “And then…Covid.” Farming, though, was considered an essential activity in 2020. Additionally, the work was taking place mainly outdoors. “We actually survived that crazy year with an even bigger employee and volunteer base than we could have hoped for during a pandemic,” Maya says. Schools were closed and many other training and employment opportunities were put on hold that year, but the need for young adults with ID/DD to find ways to connect and learn remained. “People were desperate to get out of their homes and do something useful with their hands,” Maya says. “So we were able to welcome a ton of volunteers to the farm in Leesburg.” But AFLO’s agreement with the Wrights is limited, as they are not sure how long they will live on that land. And the farm at the original Bluemont property needed to move, as Maya, Greg, and their family set their sights on moving their family a bit further east. Six years in the Bluemont area, with more limited access to services and longer commutes for caregivers proved taxing. “I put something on AFLO's website, with the blind hope that someone might notice it,” Maya says. “I wrote something vague like ‘if you know someone with land in Loudoun County, contact us.’” She didn’t think anything would come of it. John and Katey Driessnack of Lovettsville became aware of AFLO when an old friend reached out to Katey to ask her opinion on an employment program she was looking at for her 28-year-old son who lives with Autism. The friend sent Katey the link to AFLO’s website, where she read of the search for a site to relocate the original Bluemont site. The wheels immediately started turning. “John and I have spent the last 38 years working and volunteering in capacities that serve others—our nation, juvenile offenders, foster children, people living with mental illness, church youth groups, and scouting,” Katey says. “So this request was intriguing.” Empty nesters with grown children, they had land and a barn that John built. Katey was retired, and John was working from home. “Here we were with these great resources—time, space, land,” she says. They wanted to do something with those resources that was meaningful for others. “Our parents taught us that every person has value. Our religious faith taught us that every person has gifts to share.”

ON THE FARM

After thoughtful discussion with family members and each other, they reached out to Maya and Greg to explore the idea. Greg, Maya, John, and Katey spent the better part of 2020 figuring out details, and AFLO’s operation began moving to the Driessnack’s Lovettsville property last September. Fencing went up, thanks to the help of numerous volunteers, and the fields were prepped. In November, 60 blueberry and 60 raspberry bushes went into the ground, and in December the greenhouse was moved from Bluemont and re-erected. Things were shaping up nicely at the Driessnack’s, but when they saw what had gone into AFLO’s operations at the original location they knew that storage space, a cooling room, and a place to wash vegetables were all needed. “Katey and I decided if we were going to do this, we should do it right,” John says. He designed a 32’-by-48’ pole barn with ample electricity run to it. The barn would house two cool rooms, a washing station, and room to store equipment. Much of the timber used to frame the barn came from the property. Large ash trees that had died from the Emerald Ash Borer beetle were cut down and milled

with the help of neighbor Steve Maurer. The barn was built with the help of Mormon Elders. Due to Covid, the Elders were not allowed to do their normal visits, so they volunteered to help AFLO construct the barn. “This turned out to be a great synergistic relationship” John says. “Crews of Elders, 20-or-so-year-old young men and at times Sisters (20-yearold-women) showed up in four-hour shifts, one or two groups with two or three in each group.” A Farm Less Ordinary started with a need identified, a desire to help, and a vision of how to do it all. But it took and continues to take countless volunteer hours, hard work, materials, seeds, teachers, donors, patience, passion, and time. After all the work and weather and worry, when Growers finally stand at a vine or lean down to a plant in the earth, and they use what they’ve learned to choose the tool and identify which plants to harvest, it all comes together. And that beautiful tomato, pepper, head of lettuce, or any other vegetable in their hand is fresh. It’s plentiful. It’s delicious. And it’s far from ordinary.

Somewhere along the way, they decided they were building something longlasting, that went beyond their family.

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MUSIC

A Mecca for Musicians Re-emerges Castleton sings again — at last BY JENNIFER WALDERA

n the bucolic hills of Rappahannock County stands Castleton, the historic property that over the last several decades has housed an exceptional educational facility for musicians as well as a world-class performance venue. While its doors were necessarily shuttered in 2020 due to the pandemic, it reopened in 2021, once again offering performances as well as instruction. Dietlinde and her late husband, the conductor and composer Maestro Lorin Maazel, purchased the Castleton estate, which she describes as a “hidden gem,” in the summer of 1988. The property consisted of a pre-civil war manor house surrounded by farmland and, across the road, the remains of a sizable barn—actually a massive chicken coop that once housed 15,000 feathered residents. Established in 1857 by the Browning family, also owners of the Browning Mill, the manor house is said to have served as a hospital during the Civil War. Other previous owners, including in the 1960s Ralph Ingersoll, editor of Time magazine, and his wife, who ran an enormous egg operation in the old barn across the road. While the Maazel family resided on the property, they also decided to reconstruct the enormous barn and repurpose the building to convert it into a European-style pocket theatre. After a four-year reconstruction phase the Theatre House opened its doors to the public in June 1997. The theatre, often referred to as the “mini-Globe,” boasts 140 seats, balconies, and an orchestra pit, all outfitted with cedar and rosewood. “The theatre won enthusiastic praise from artists across every discipline for its rare warmth and intimacy and the finest acoustics,” says Dietlinde. In the same year, Dietlinde and Lorin founded the Châteauville Foundation with the mission of nurturing students and the arts both through performances and primary school education in a school they established on their property. While the school relocated in 2000 and is no longer affiliated with the Châteauville Foundation, in its four years of operation it served more than 40 students from low income families from kindergarten to high school age. Though that school closed, the Maazels continued to host performances and provide master classes and lectures in local schools. In 2006, they launched the Castleton Residency, focusing on supporting and teaching advanced students and those on the cusp of major careers. The residency sparked the inception of the first Castleton Festival in July 2009. “This enormously successful program blossomed in the first edition of the Castleton Festival in July 2009, with performances of four fully staged Benjamin Britten chamber operas, creating expanding opportunities for the participants through the 46 PIEDMONTVIRGINIAN.COM |

| AUTUMN 2021

inclusion of symphonic concerts, master classes (most notably the Maazel-Rolex Conducting Master Classes with Rolex as the founding partner), recitals and a range of formal and informal performance and training activities,” says Dietlinde. The festival continued to expand in subsequent years, making it necessary to increase the capacity of the venue. In 2011, a 22,000-square foot Festival Theatre with 650 seats was added, hosting nearly 10,000 patrons every season. After the unexpected passing of Maestro Maazel in July 2014, the Festival continued to strive under the leadership of Dietlinde and highly sought-after young conductor Maestro Rafael Payare, who became Castleton’s Principal Conductor. At the Festival In the summer of 2015, Castleton produced the world premiere of Derrick Wang’s opera Scalia/Ginsburg. That year, more than a million viewers live-streamed Below: the event both locally and interThe Theatre House Stage nationally. Facing page top: Now reopened in April of this Lorin Maazel year, Castleton has begun again to Facing page left: offer admission to public rehearsDietlinde Maazel

COURTESY CASTLETON FESTIVAL

The Maazel family makes use of their large property. Dietlinde Maazel’s menagerie includes animals such as Rayanne the emu and Zoe the zebra, as well as a zonkey, donkeys, goats, a pig, a miniature horse, and chickens.

GINNY FILER PHOTOGRAPHY (2)

COURTESY CASTLETON FESTIVAL (2)

COURTESY MAAZEL ESTATE

MUSIC

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MUSIC

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COURTESY CASTLETON FESTIVAL

‘menagerie’ such as Emus, a Zebra, a Zonkey, als and live performances as well as its four donkeys, goats, a pig, a miniature horse, and residency programs. chickens. The menagerie is accessible to the “Castleton now strives to grow into a public,” says Dietlinde. year-round integrative Artist Retreat offerJust as she flexibly changed the family’s ing residencies with the aim to encourage farming practices, Dietlinde has responded its participants to focus on much more to other circumstances necessitating change. than just technical mastery. The holis“We got hit in two ways—my husband tic approach to education highlights the passed away tragically in 2014 and then significance of integrity, building on a Covid happened. So we took a break, went continuum of substance and excellence, on hiatus, and now we have redefined ourenhancing empathy and the spirit of comselves on a smaller scale,” she says. munity beyond the arts,” says Dietlinde. Dietlinde said that their vision for Since their arrival in Castleton 1988 Castleton always was for it to be a startthere have been four generations of the ing ground for art. Instead of focusing Maazel family to live there, from DiCastleton Chamber on “becoming faster, better, harder,” they etlinde’s father-in-law, Lincoln Maazel, Players rehearsing wanted students to mature as artists and who passed away in Castleton at the age have a story to tell. of 106 to her four-year-old grandson. “Lorin Maazel always wanted to pass In addition to living, teaching, and hosting performances at Castleton, the Maazel family also made on the baton to encourage young folks. It’s an essential part of our lives and it’s an integral part of our lives. Covid did its number by use of their vast land. “For over two decades we had a herd of over 100 cattle, increased our not allowing us to share our work. We need to make sure that our forest and natural habitat by planting over 3,000 trees, shrubs, and rein- culture and our art is not being lost in all of this,” Dietlinde says. troduced native plants. Becoming increasingly conscious of the negative environmental impact of cattle farming, we are now focusing on a pet castletonfestival.org.

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