Shore - October 2017

BLACKWATER DISTILLING

Our tour of Maryland’s most awarded craft distillery

THE UNITY OF MUSIC

MODERN DAY MEDICINE WOMAN

Deborah Mizeur talks working the body, mind, and spirit

$4.99

Unwind How to quiet your mind and ease your spirit

Kentavius Jones discusses how music transcends everything + Shopping guides, local recipes, great amateur photography, and MORE

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DEPARTMENTS

PROFILE

Deborah Mizeur, medicine woman

ABOUT THE MODEL

Freya Farley talks life on the Shore

STAGE LEFT

Local songwriter Kentavius Jones

ARTS & CULTURE

Ceramic artist Paul Aspell HEARTHBEAT

WAYFARING

Trails of Calvert County

SHOP TALK

Items to brighten your fall

TASTE BUDS

Filet mignon and a beverage (or three)

LOCAL FLAVORS

Apple and fig crostata

BE WELL

Finding your inner sanctuary

THROUGH THE LENS

The best of local photography

b Peter M. Flo d

October16-20,2017

CandleLight CoveAssisted Living& MemoryCarepresents ourfirstannualundertaking called “ABSENCE:An Engaging Experience of Dementia Awareness,”tobenefitthe Alzheimer’sAssociation. Theplayandweek’sevents strivetocontinuouslyraise awareness andprovide much needededucationonallthings dementia-related.

EVENTDETAILS

Monday,Oct.16:

AbsenceKick-off Event&CocktailReception

EastonElksLodge:5-7pm

Tuesday,Oct.17:

NationalSpeaker

TalbotCommunityCenter,1-3pm FirstResponder/CEUsession*, Publicsessions:9:30-11:30am and5-7pm

VirtualDementia Tour* -Continuous throughout theday

Wednesday,Oct.18:

Absence Performance -ChesapeakeCollege, Todd Performing ArtsCenter, Cocktailreception:5-6:30pm. Performance:6:30pm

Thursday,Oct.19:

AgingSimulatorSensitivity Training

TalbotCommunityCenter,1-3pm FirstResponder/CEUsession*, Publicsessions:9:30-11:30am and5-7pm

Absence Performance -St.Michael’sHighSchool Auditorium: 6:30-8:30pm

Friday,Oct.20:

Allproceedsdonatedtothe

AbsenceFinaleCocktailReceptionandSilentAuction

TheMilestone:5:30-9:00pm

Forticketinfoandeventdetails,call CandlelightCove orvisittheirwebsite. 410-770-9707

WATERFOWL FESTIVAL ® inHistoric Easton,Maryland

NOVEMBER 10, 11,12, 2017

3-DAY TICKETS ARE$15 BEFORE NOVEMBER1!

$20fromNovember1–12

For tickets and more information, WaterfowlFestival.org or410-822-4567.

• Nature and sporting art: paintings, sculpture, carvingand photography

• Allthingssporting—artifacts, decoys,gadgets andgear

• Retriever andBirdsofPrey Demonstrations,DockDogs®

• Regional music, food, wineandbeer tasting

PREMIERE NIGHT PARTY!

Thursday, November 9

Art•Cocktails•Cuisine•Conservation VIP Packages Available

All Festivalproceedsbenefit Waterfowl Chesapeake’s restorationandconservation effortsinthe region.

TheLongStretch, Julia Rogers, 2017 FeaturedArtist

Welcome to the launch issue of Shore Monthly!

We sailed into this venture with the goal of producing a quality lifestyle magazine for the Eastern Shore that really embodies our tag line “Easy–Living, Casual Elegance.” Every member of our team that has worked on this project lives on the Shore, and many have done so their entire life. This experience, combined with our deeply rooted passion for the area, comes alive in the pages — with sights, sounds, smells, and a taste of the people from the region.

Few areas have been the catalyst for writers, artists, chefs, musicians, and everyday people as the Chesapeake Bay — and the Eastern Shore in particular. There always is something to inspire and excite on the Shore.

Everyone has a different reason they’ve made the Shore their home or their favorite place to vacation. No matter your reason for loving the area, Shore Monthly wants to evoke those passions by offering you stunning photography, intriguing content, and a sense of being “home.”

We hope you enjoy the launch issue you have in your hands today. As you’re reading these pages, take the time to relax and enjoy catching up on all things Shore.

Welcome to Shore Monthly!

Katie Willis and David Fike Editor and President/Publisher

Katie Willis CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Greg Mueller

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Cecile Davis

Kathy Bosin

Caroline Phillips

Diona Townsley

Henley Moore

Greg Sharp

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kathy Bosin

Amy Steward

Anne Edwards

Denae Spiering

Sarah Ensor

Sarah Fallin

Josh Bollinger

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER

David Fike

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Betsy Griffin

NEW MEDIA MANAGER

Paul Hagood

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gail Ruppe

Jon Ekroos

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Jessica Stenzel

ADVERTISING CONTACT 443.239.0307

SUBSCRIPTIONS 410.770.4005

SUBMISSIONS submissions@ shoremonthly.com

EDITORIAL CONTACT 410.463.9883 29088 Airpark Drive Easton, Md. 21601 www.shoremonthly.com

Shore Monthly’s Features

Each issue, Shore Monthly will offer exciting features for your enjoyment. You’ll find articles about everything from mouthwatering culinary delights, to road-trip adventures, music, and the arts — and more!

THE HEARTHBEAT

An inside look at some of the area’s most unique homes, gardens, and remodels.

LOCAL FLAVORS

Delicious recipes from around the region.

TASTE BUDS

Foods and drinks, that when served together, form perfect complementary pairs.

THROUGH THE LENS

Local photographers share their best photos from around the region.

WAYFAIRING

We explore unique destinations that are just a car ride away.

HIGH SPIRITS

Local libations and the places that serve them.

PROFILE

Delving into the lives and stories of local characters from around the Shore.

STAGE LEFT

A spotlight of local musicians and arts in the area.

BE WELL

Healthy living and serenity on the Shore.

ABOUT THE COVER MODEL

Freya Farley is a native of Talbot County and grew up in St. Michaels. She has been the executive director of Evergreen Easton Point for the past two years. She also is an acupuncturist at the wellness center, specializing in women’s health and fertility issues. Her goal is to maximize the use of the center’s campus by offering more nature-based programming, which includes full-moon kayaks and programs for local schools. After graduating from St. Michaels High School, she attended college in Massachusetts, where she received a bachelor’s degree in marine veterinary science. She also has lived in Florida and California. She returned to Maryland to receive training in acupuncture from the Maryland University of Integrated Health in Laurel, and began practicing acupuncture in Talbot County in 2007.

Photo by Cecile Davis

•

Easton,MD $7,450,000 “PresquileFarm”Historicplantationon177acresonthescenic WyeRiver.Threeseparateparcels,deepwaterdockwithboat house,pool,tenniscourt,multipleguest/tenanthousesand outbuildings,generator,and apicturesquetree-lineddrive.First timeavailableinover50years.

Trappe,MD $4,900,000 “SouthPointFarm”StunningGeorgianColonial on almost100 acresonLaTrappeCreek.Exquisitecraftsmanshipisnoticedinthe elaboratemoldingsandhighqualityfinishesincludingheartpineand marblefloors,goldplatedfixtures,andgranitecounters.2MBRs, game room abovegarage,deepwaterdock,pool, tenniscourt,and a barnare justa fewoftheamenitiesthispropertyhastooffer

Easton,MD $3,500,000 9+acscomprisedof 3waterfrontparcelsonthe Tred Avon River.7BR,7.5BAMainhouse,panoramicviews,dockwithboat house,pool,tenniscourt,garagewithguestapartmentandguest quarters, roomforcars,boat/RV.

Oxford,MD $4,750,000 3lotstotaling85acres.63acreinlandfarm. Twowaterfrontlots. Twolargeponds.Protectedshorelinewithbroadviewsof Trippe Creek.Beautifultree-linedentrance.Greathunting!Perfectfor familycompound.

Easton,MD $1,995,000

“NourseFarm”LargewaterfrontestateonOakCreekcomprised of 3parcelstotaling113+acres.Mainparcelconsistsofspacious 7BR/6BAhomewithmultiplesitting &dining roomsgreatfor entertaining, alargeindoorpoolwithbath,kitchenette, &laundry room, adock,dockhouse &guesthouse.Theother 2parcelsare percapprovedwaterfrontlotsthatare5and20acres.

Easton,MD $9,945,000 “Bruff’sIsland”Fiveseparateparcelstotaling42+acres.3 bedroom,4+bathroombrickmainhouse, 2guesthouses,pool, poolhouse,tenniscourt, 2docks,boathousewith16feetwater depth,sandybeaches,magnificentspecimentrees,broadviews ineverydirectionwithsunsetsandsunrises,2-acrepond,multiple barnsandoutbuildings,veryhighelevation.

Easton,MD $800,000each Twowaterfrontlots(47.81and58.67acres respectively)onthe WyeRiverin abeautifulestatearea.Convenientlylocatedjust minutesfromdowntownEastonand ajetairport.

Easton,MD $6,900,000 “Ship’sPoint”Spectacularestateon13+acreson averyprivate pointoverlookingthe Tred AvonRiverand TrippeCreekoffers 2300’+/-ofwaterfrontage,bulkheadedshorelineand 4deepwater boatslips. 6BR,6.5BABrickhomeoffersformallivinganddining rooms,largekitchenwithprep/pantryarea,andmaidsquarters. 6000sq.ftguest housewithpatioanddeck.

RoyalOak $4,500,000 “BonnieBreeze”12+acresonChoptankRiverwithbroadsunset views. 4BR/3.5BAMainhouse,guesthouse,2-cardetached garagewithapartment,pool,tenniscourt,dockwithlifts,walking trailsandriprappedshoreline.

St. Michaels,MD $850,000 2+ acreson the Miles River withapprox. 200ft ofwaterfrontage, riprapped shoreline and4’MLW. House plansavailablewith purchase.

Easton,MD $4,900,000 “Ashby”MagnificentHistoricwaterfrontestateontheMilesRiver offers a5BRMainHouse,2BRGuestCottageand a1BRGuest Apartmentover a3-cargarage.Gorgeouspool,tenniscourt, deepwaterdockwithboatliftsandsunsets!

RoyalOak,MD $9,770,000 Twoparcelstotaling18.51acresonthe Tred AvonRiver,across fromOxford.Mainhousehasbeencompletely renovatedusing exquisitecraftsmanshipandfinishes. A3-baycarriagehouse,2 guesthouses,poolhouse,pottingshed, 2deepwaterdocks,2 pools,andheatedduckblindcompletetheproperty.(Mainhouse, carriagehouse,guesthouse,poolhouse,poolanddockon16+ acresavailablefor$7,875,000.)

Easton,MD $2,375,000 Approximately7,000squarefoothomewith 5bedrooms,9 baths,swimmingpool,tenniscourt,anddeepwaterdockwith lifts.Privatepropertywithlandscapingandgardenslocatedon the Tred AvonRiver,just minutesbyboattoOxfordand 6miles bylandtoEaston.

Easton,MD $1,595,000 Solidbrickhomeonprime 3acrewaterfrontlotinOxfordcorridor haswonderfulbones.Enjoythedeepwaterdockwithlift, watersidepool/patio,andsunroom,plus atotalof7BRs/4BAs, includingmastersuitewithelevator,2BRguestapartmentw/ privateentrance,and 4moreBRs.Makeovertheserviceable kitchenandbathsatyourleisure.

Centreville,MD $15,100,000 “Readbourne”Rareopportunity!One of thelast large tractsofland availableinQueenAnne’sCounty.Waterfrontestateon973acres, 14,000+sqftHistorichomeontheChesterRiver,over4,000ftof waterfrontage, 3guesthouses,pool,tennis, multiplebarns&ponds, andfullskeetrange.GreatHuntingProperty!

Easton,MD$1,750,000

PROFILE

Medicine

Woman

Local herbalist Deborah Mizeur fills us in on the healing powers of nature, and the medicinal strength of the environment

Story and photos by Kathy Bosin

Just north of Chestertown, adjacent to Urieville Lake, lies a 34-acre historic Maryland farm founded in the 1700s by Kent County’s Colonel Perkins. It was a working farm with a brewery and mill that prepared grains and flour for colonial troops. Today, it is home to Apotheosis Organic Herb Farm and Deborah Mizeur, clinical herbalist and licensed nutritionist.

Mizeur’s clinical practice is individualized, centered around a “whole-person” approach based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the body, mind, and spirit. Using principles of traditional medicine in combination with Western medicine, Mizeur helps her patients to optimize their health

“Heal your body. Nourish your mind.

your spirit!”

-Deborah Mizeur

through self-care and attention to subtle clues from the body, as well as connecting with nature.

Her path to herbal medicine has been a circuitous one — starting in politics and health care policy, then leading to science, nature, and the Amazon, where she studied ancient healing practices firsthand with healers whose ancestors practiced the same techniques for thousands of years.

Born and raised in Alaska, Mizeur developed political ambitions at a young age. In junior high, she carefully plotted every one of the steps she’d need to get to Washington, D.C. She started out in state political campaigns, earned an undergraduate degree in government from the University of Alaska, and worked in the state legislature. A master’s degree in health administration and her political experience helped her win a prestigious national fellowship, and land a position

at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means to staff the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare.

Mizeur spent 10 years deeply enmeshed in national health care policy, counseling clients on federal legislation, teaching health politics and financing at Georgetown University, and traveling the country speaking about health care issues.

At the pinnacle of her political career, Mizeur was riding on the high of the Democrats’ rise to power in the U.S. House, and working on national children’s health care legislation. Partisan politics intruded, and she was dismayed to see the legislation that her team had worked on for so long, winnowed down to nothing. Frustrated, she began to notice how disconnected the culture of Washington, D.C., was with the personal health and wellness of everyone around her. The glorification of overworking, the

Mizeur’s practice space is a beautiful private building on the farm, with a global vibe. It overlooks a natural deep-water pool surrounded by native plantings and wildlife. The building houses a comfortable seating area and a well-kept apothecary and kitchen where she prepares medicines, oils, tinctures, creams, and balms.

frantic pace, and the unbalanced lifestyle all led her to question her career and future.

In 2008, Mizeur recognized that it was time to make a choice, and chose health and wellness. Stepping out of politics and back toward her rural roots, she began to cook healthy foods again, taking time for a balanced life — with exercise, time in nature, exploring her whole self. Her health care background transformed into a curiosity about ancient health practices. This led to her first trip to Peru in 2010, where she had a chance to work with traditional medicines. She discovered traditional healers that were helping westerners with myriad health concerns — cancer, diabetes, depression — using plants and traditional practices that were thousands of years old.

With a new passion kindled, Mizeur returned to Maryland and registered for a degree in herbal medicine at Tai Sophia, now the Maryland University of Integrated Health. There, she developed an understanding that words and intentions, and the way we interact with our environment are implicit in actual healing. She explored Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, which hold the world, including the human body, is viewed through the lens of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. She studied physiology, pathology, nutritional biochemistry, and phytochemistry, and dove deep into medicinal herbs and plants.

With a master’s degree in herbal medicine, she learned to formulate herbal medicines that are targeted to each person based on their own individual needs and energetics. She views food as our primary medicine, and starts work with new patients by exploring simple dietary modifications. Unlike Western medicine, which treats all patients with any condition with the same treatment, herbal medicine seeks to identify the right herb for each person.

Mizeur treats men, women, children, adults, and families of all ages. Her health care background, combined with herbalist training, gives her a common language to use with her clients’ medical doctors. Mizeur offers reiki, food tours of local supermarkets, and wellness coaching to prevent disease, as well as to regain a healthy balance after illness.

Mizeur’s practice space is a beautiful private building on the farm, with a global vibe. It overlooks a natural deep-water pool surrounded by native plantings and wildlife. The building houses a comfortable seating area and a well-kept apothecary and kitchen where she prepares medicines, oils, tinctures, creams, and balms. An herbal medicine textbook from the 1600s sits beside a large iMac computer, exhibiting the

combination of the past and the present, old, and new, which defines Deborah’s work.

A large herb and vegetable garden provides fresh herbs, flowers, and food, and guinea hens squawk and rush about. The Eastern Shore’s quiet tempo contributes to the healing nature of the farm.

Mizeur believes simply being outside in nature, submerging oneself in a natural environment, is medicinal in itself. The Japanese long have called it “forest bathing,” and consider it an essential health practice.

Mizeur sees slowing down and getting in touch with one’s own senses and

intuition as the first steps in learning to heal oneself and promote wellness, and it’s easy to see how that happens naturally at the farm.

The successes of Mizuer’s clients demonstrate that together, modern science and the wisdom of thousands of years of traditions can merge to support the innate healing capacity that all humans share.

Mizeur will be presenting a talk titled “The Backyard Medicine Cabinet — Simple Remedies for Everyday Ailments” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Washington College in Chestertown.

For more information, visit www. deborahmizerur.com S

Top left: An herbal medicine textbook from the 1600s sits beside a large iMac computer, exhibiting the combination of the past and the present, old, and new, which defines Mizeur’s work. Clockwise from top right: Mizeur believes simply being outside in nature, submerging oneself in a natural environment, is medicinal in itself.

AcademyArtMuseum CRAFTSHOW

Saturday,October 21,10a.m.–5p.m.

Sunday,October 22,10a.m.–4p.m.

$10Museummembers,$12Non-members

BennettBean

HonoraryChairand VisionaryArtist

PresentingOver70distinguishedartists fromacrosstheUnitedStates.

•

•

•

BrettThomas’sMobileRakuUnit … aceramicsstudioonwheels

Meetemergingartists

• Basketry,ceramics,glass,fiber, jewelry,metal,mixedmedia,sculpture, andwood.

FreeChildren’sLittleCrafterRoom

PreviewParty

Friday,October20,6–9p.m.

Tickets$100perperson (includes acomplimentaryticketforadmissionallweekend)

TicketscanbepurchasedattheMuseum orbycalling(410)822-2787

academycraftshow.com

Artists’ AwardsSponsor:

Robert Hessler Lynn Latta

Visitthewebsitefor alistingofartistsandothereventstakingplaceovertheweekend.

CraftShow w Sponsor:

KevinMcCoy, MD OrthopedicJoint Fellowship

JasonAaron Burton, PA-C BenjaminFlowers, PA-C

Richard Turney,PA-C

Studentslearnnotonlyhowtoridewell,butcarefor and responsibilityofhorses. Teachingstudentsthe correctwayandtotakeprideintheirworkwillcarry tootheraspectsoftheirlives.

Centreville,MD

The Whisper of a Song

Local songwriter Kentavius Jones explains the power of connection through creativity

Story by Amy Steward | Photos by Caroline Phillips

Kentavius Jones, 34, of Easton has been working as a singer-songwriter for more than a decade and is self-producing his debut album this year, “The Bohemian Beatbox.” Crowdfunding is making this album a reality.

The name of his album is reflective of the influences on his life — the eccentric, free-spirited, and diverse — stemming from his idea that, as artists, we are all the sum of our influences. His influences include reggae, blues, and hip hop, but the resulting style of his music has been categorized as a

combination of singer-songwriter and soul, with an indie sensibility. Jones said the new album will be a collection of old and new songs.

“With ‘The Bohemian Beatbox,’ I want to create something of value for my listeners. It will span many genres, tipping my hat to my influences, and showcase what I do. It will be a working resume for my songwriting. The songs will outlive me,” Jones said.

Local fans have been supportive of Jones’ musical endeavors. In December 2016, he organized an event called Public Display of Art at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, where he serves on the board of trustees. He invited

listeners into a recording experience for four days in the museum’s dance studio to see how the origins of a song come together.

The event kicked off his Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for his upcoming album, raising $10,000, enough for him to produce the album in the coming months.

Jones was born to DJ and musician parents in Champaign, Ill. Growing up in a house filled with music, he naturally took to it at a young age. Some of his earliest memories are of gospel music in church, and listening to Motown, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix on vinyl with his father.

“I remember being fascinated with the extensive collection of sounds and tunes he had,” Jones said.

He moved to Easton at 10, and said he got his real start with music at Easton High School, when Bill Thomas, his choral teacher, told him he heard a voice in him when he sang. Although he couldn’t read music, his choral experience in high school opened the doors to new musical opportunities.

“I saw a guitar laying in the corner of the school’s music room that same year and picked it up. My lacrosse teammate, Justin Ryan, taught me some things on the guitar, and I started playing. While I had been exposed to music all my life up to that point in time, the idea of me creating and performing music was new to me,” he said.

After high school, Jones attended Guilford College in Durham, N.C., and sang in the choir there, memorizing his singing parts by ear. He later transferred to Washington College in Chestertown, where in addition to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science, he took classical guitar lessons and started writing songs.

“Music makes sense to me in a lot of ways as a language — a unifying force that transcends everything,” he said.

In 2003, Jones started his first band, and as the lead vocalist and guitarist, he developed a swoon-worthy stage presence while honing his unique brand of soulful rock.

After college, he travelled to Los Angeles, Calif., to work at a record company for a few years. There, he focused on writing, recording, and playing music. He had hoped to produce his first album in L.A., but he and the record company couldn’t come to an agreement, he said. Instead, he said he fell in love with the backside of music.

“I put a lot of value in my songwriting. I always

“Music makes sense to me in a lot of ways as a language — a unifying force that transcends everything.”

saw my value, but my early experience with the music industry didn’t connect to that value. I wanted to do it my way and earn it honest. I believe that the right circumstances will present themselves. It may be a little slower and a little harder, but I will own it when it’s done,” Jones said.

After returning to Easton from L.A., Jones completed his master’s degree in history at Washington College and worked in a variety of jobs.

“It has always been about finding the time and acquiring the resources necessary to get an album created. It’s about patience and constant support. It’s

hard to balance creativity and living,” he said.

The sounds Jones has created throughout his musical career are unique. He believes sound is connected to memory and can help people celebrate, lament, and love.

“I get a thought, a melody — the whisper of the song happens, and I build from there. The origin of a song might be a great riff. The groove develops as the other layers get added,” he said of the songwriting process.

Jones said his music talks about the pain and grit of life as portrayed by American singer-songwriter Ray

LaMontagne, but it also has the lift and hope of reggae great Bob Marley. He said no one musician has influenced his sound and the heart of his music transcends multiple genres — and the social and political issues surrounding today.

“We have lost touch with our toes in the sand. We are so disconnected from the earth — things, money, status, and power are valued more than human life today,” Jones said.

In his personal life, he values his family and friends, especially his four younger brothers who he has encouraged.

He recently began a new career in teaching at Mace’s Lane Middle School in Cambridge. There, he is able to put his degrees to work and be an influence for local kids, something he said he is excited about.

His dream of creating music doesn’t end there, though.

“I would just love the opportunity to constantly create and share my work with the world,” Jones said.

Looking to the future, he affirms these needs.

“The goal is to create for a living. It’s what I do most naturally. It’s the best platform for me to connect to others. I am most rewarded when I am creating and connecting,” Jones said. “My music is a small way to connect us all. It’s essential to our happiness and existence.

Being a professional songwriter would be magical, serving the songs by putting them out there to people.”

For more information about Jones or “The Bohemian Beatbox,” visit kentavius.com. S

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EYE OF THE Artist

Local ceramic artist Paul Aspell to be honored during Academy Art Museum Craft Show

Story by Anne Edwards

This year, ceramics are center stage for the Academy Art Museum’s 2017 Craft Show “Fired Up!” The show will welcome 70 world-class artists to Easton from Oct. 20 to 22.

For its 20 th anniversary year, the Craft Show will shine a well-deserved, overdue spotlight on one of the Mid-Shore’s own from the arts community — the talented Paul Aspell of Ridgely, a devoted practitioner and teacher of ceramics, who wants to be known as a potter and craftsman.

Aspell has devoted his life to turning his beloved clay into things that people will use every day, and to teaching generations of students how to do the same. His mission is to create stoneware that will stand up to your day, your dishwasher, your microwave, and even your oven.

He makes practical ceramics with an artist’s eye, teaching that clay fresh from the earth is vibrant and responsive, and will do what you ask. So learn how to ask. Pottery, he said, comes not from the factory, but from the local wheel — across Europe to Asia, across

Africa and the Americas — everywhere except, he mourned, in American kitchens. Aspell, an instructor at the Academy Art Museum, has decided to turn that around, student by student if he must, teaching his students how to make something purposeful, affordable, and pretty, so it earns its keep.

For more information about the Academy Art Museum Craft Show or its featured artists, visit acade mycraftshow.com or call 410-822-2787. Tickets to the Craft Show, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, are $10 for museum members and $12 for nonmembers.

Paul Aspell of Ridgely forms a bowl from clay on his potter’s wheel.

Photo submitted by the Academy Art Museum.

HEARTHBEAT

Point Pleasant

This elegant Talbot County estate hits the high points of Eastern Shore style

Story by Denae Spiering | Photos by Caroline Phillips

Just off the beaten path in Talbot County, between the villages of Bozman and Neavitt, lies a peninsula known as Point Pleasant Farm — a paradise complete with all the things that make the Eastern Shore beautiful — bountiful rivers, creeks, and ponds; pristine hunting spots; and acres upon acres of lush farmland.

Stretching more than 1,000 acres, enveloped by more than 8 miles of shoreline along Balls Creek and the mighty Choptank River, the property boasts two large, stocked fishing ponds, 400 acres of woods filled with white-tailed deer, 14 miles of trails, and several outbuildings. Follow the miles of trails to the banks of Leadenham Creek, and there on a wide stretch of

Point Pleasant Farm’s estate house living room overlooks Leadenham Creek.

The farmhouse sunroom’s large windows are perfect for relaxing with family and friends.

The Point Pleasant kicthen features a healthy mixture of modern and traditional styles.

open grass with tall Crepe Myrtles lies the property’s large, red-roofed, two-story estate house complete with an in-ground swimming pool.

Other properties along the farm’s trails include quaint farmhouses and a custom-outfitted hunting lodge.

For decades, this scenic piece of land has been revered as nature’s gateway, originally serving as one family’s fox-hunting land and later as a National Audubon Society sanctuary.

Point Pleasant Farm originally was created by Jean Ellen du Pont Shehan, when she purchased five farms in the Bozman-Neavitt area to create an estate that would enable her to pursue her passion for fox hunting, something the du Pont family was known for.

She installed wide trails and roads throughout the 1,000 acres, and a sprawling chain link fence,

“I had never seen anything quite like it. Opportunities like this don’t come around too often. I took a deep breath, and let it roll.”

— Robert Pascal

rumored to keep in her stocked skulk of foxes.

In 1997, du Pont donated the property to the Audubon Society, as well as an annual endowment to help preserve the land. In 2008, du Pont became ill and no longer could provide the annual funding, and Audubon was forced to sell.

It would be almost two years later before the property would be purchased by philanthropist Robert Pascal.

“I had never seen anything quite like it,” Pascal said. “Opportunities like this don’t come around too often. I took a deep breath, and let it roll.”

Pascal grew up in New Jersey, and said, as a boy, he never imagined a place like Point Pleasant Farm existed.

“I grew up in the Bellville-Bloomfield area, just outside of Newark. I had to go 3 miles just to see something green in Jersey,” Pascal said. “Once I

Follow the miles of trails on Point Pleasant Farm to the banks of Leadenham Creek, where on a wide stretch of open grass with tall Crepe Myrtles lies the property’s large, red-roofed, two-story estate house.

came to the Eastern Shore — I loved it here. It’s another world.”

Pascal didn’t want to just own Point Pleasant Farm; he wanted to develop it — not with houses, but with opportunities for veterans.

“As soon as I bought this place, I was telling (the veterans) to come down to the house and utilize it. This place is too big and too great to have one man hoard it all,” Pascal said.

Pascal currently works with veteran organizations, including Healing Waters and Hope for the Warriors. Veterans have held marathons, triathlons, fishing tournaments, and hunting trips on the property.

When the veterans come to the farm, they stay in a large, white farmhouse overlooking Balls Creek. The farmhouse has been dubbed the “Warrior House.”

On average, veterans and their families stay at the “Warrior House” once or twice a month for long weekends, Pascal said.

Sharing and preserving the beauty of the farm has been a personal mission for Pascal during the past five years.

Since purchasing the property, he has taken several steps toward ensuring the area will never be developed, including an agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This agreement allows Pascal to retain ownership of the property, while preserving it from development at any time in the future, he said.

Pascal had the ponds stocked with catfish and large mouth bass, and this past spring, he introduced nearly 500 mallard ducklings to the area.

“There are not many places like this left. It would be criminal to ever develop it,” he said. S

Other properties along Point Pleasant Farm’s trails include a custom-outfitted hunting lodge, complete with guest rooms, taxidermy, a large sunroom overlooking a stocked pond with catfish and large mouth bass, and an in-house bar.

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PLENTY OF FLAVOR, AND JUST ENOUGH HIGH SPIRITS

BURN

Story by Sarah Ensor | Photos by Caroline Phillips

Jon Cook talks to us about his distilling process and what makes Blackwater Distillery’s spirits so special

The front office at Blackwater Distillery, in sight of and a few steps from the distillery and tasting room, smells earthy and woodsy – and predictably boozy.

The distillery is housed in a one-story brick industrial park unit at 184 Log Canoe Circle in Stevensville. A visit and $5 buys a shot glass, a tasting, and a rich education from the people who brought distilling back to Maryland.

Jon Cook owns Blackwater with his brother, Chris. The Cook brothers and distiller Andy Keller easily offer conversation about the spirits they produce, the distinct history of distilling, flavors offered by various barrels, and the craft-distilling market. Keller often guides tours of the distillery between his work producing spirits, although guides handle the tours when crowds are expected.

Jon Cook and Keller enthusiastically tell the stories of their craft as they check on barrels

Blackwater Distillery’s Picaroon Dark Run was named Best of Category by the American Distilling Institute in 2017.

Blackwater Distillery’s distiller, Andy Keller, joined the team nearly four years ago. Keller taught himself the process of distilling.

and discuss various projects, sometimes with one another. On one wooden barrel turned on end is an open book, face-down. You will never read this book — “Report on the Experimental Work, Jamaica. Sugar Experiment Station.” The book originally was published in 1906 as a report to the Jamaica Department of Agriculture about the sugar experiments of 1905. Only one section is about distilling.

The Cooks first had the idea to open a distillery 11 years ago,

and began production about six years ago. Maryland had no distilleries at the time, and Blackwater was the first licensed microdistillery in the state. No one had received a Maryland license to distill since 1972.

For the first several years, Blackwater was alone, but now the industry has multiplied. The Maryland Distillers Guild now comprises an organization of about 16 Maryland distilleries. In the same time frame, the United States craft distillery industry has expanded from about 40 to

more than 1,000, Jon Cook said.

The Cooks released their first product shortly after production began, a vodka they called “Sloop Betty” — caramel vodka made with real caramel and vanilla beans, organic wheat and organic sugar cane, no artificial flavors or extracts. It is smooth, crisp, and leaves a hint of sweetness on the tongue.

Blackwater Distilling recently has expanded its offerings. It still offers its signature “Sloop Betty,” but today Blackwater has four vodkas, four types of rum,

and a couple whiskeys under its belt, as well.

“Our approach to the market has always been first and foremost on the quality of what’s in the bottle,” Jon Cook said.

The Cook brothers said they focus on developing the quality of their products over time, starting with the best ingredients. Some unreleased products have been in development for as long as two years. Judging by the number of gold medals and excellent reviews,

Blackwater Distilling lives up to its standards.

Keller joined Blackwater Distilling nearly four years ago. He got his start brewing beer at home. Although he initially wanted to start a brewery, Keller decided the market was saturated, so he bought a still and taught himself the process.

Keller said he did not consider rum among his favorites when he began working with Blackwater, but now he is almost obsessed with it. His favorite Blackwater product is Picaroon

Dark Rum, which in 2017 was named Best of Category by the American Distilling Institute.

In Blackwater’s Finishing Barrel Series, smaller quantities of whiskey are finished in various barrels, such as sherry casks or port barrels. As Keller experiments with different types of wood barrels and barrels aged with other spirits, guests have the unique opportunity to try each type for themselves. Keller said it is an interesting way to play with blending whiskey, and it is a good opportunity for consumers to learn more.

Working closely with consumers, Keller has just finished working on Solera-aged rum, which is made by aging and blending rum through at least five rows of barrels — a technique that originated in

Spain. The process involves only a small percentage of rum being bottled from the bottom row. Then, that portion of the barrel is filled with rum from the barrel above it, and so on until the empty portion in the top row is filled with new rum. Once completed, Blackwater

Tours of Blackwater Distillery begin on the hour, every hour, from noon to 4 p.m. daily, and the distillery closes at 5 p.m.

will have one of the first American Solera-aged rums.

For the Cook brothers, it’s all about the process.

“We like to think it’s a combination; it’s the process. It’s Andy’s skill as a distiller, it’s the ingredients we use, it’s how we flavor, how we produce. Everything we do, we put a lot of attention into … It’s just like a religion,” Jon Cook said. “There are shortcuts that people take — we don’t take them. It takes a while. We don’t want to release something that we don’t think is great, because we don’t want everybody to think of that one product when they think of us.”

Tours begin on the hour, every hour, from noon to 4 p.m. daily, and the distillery closes at 5 p.m.

For more information, call 443-249-3123. S

A visit to Blackwater Distillery in Stevensville and $5 buys a shot glass, a tasting, and a rich education in distilling.

Pleasesubmit your EasternShorephotos honoringholiday traditionsandfamily recipes forthe Traditions Edition to be considered forfeature. Pleasesend to: submissions@shoremonthly.com by Tuesday, November14

Pleaseinclude yourname inthesubmission.

Calvert’s

The American Chestnut Land Trust is home to miles of trails, sights to see and adventures to make your own

Story by Sarah Fallin

Inside photos by Diona Townsley

Pathways

Tucked away in central Calvert County is a network of 22 miles of trails that displays some of the best of what nature has to offer. From a series of beaver dams, to a trail that takes hikers across a creek with a raft-and-pulley system, there’s a trail within the American Chestnut Land Trust in Prince Frederick for all those who love the outdoors.

Many of the miles of trails located near Prince Frederick and Port Republic are in the Parkers Creek watershed. One trail, the Prince Frederick to Bay, or PF2Bay, runs about 6 miles from the center of the Calvert peninsula, the county seat of Prince Frederick, to the Chesapeake Bay.

Photo submitted by the American Chestnut Land Trust.

It’s a challenging route that includes five footbridges and connects to several of ACLT’s other trails. The round trip is 12.2 miles and is estimated to take more than six hours. The trailhead, 105 Vianney Lane, Prince Frederick, shares a parking lot with St. John Vianney Church.

For the best views of the Bay, the time to hike the PF2Bay Trail is during fall or winter, when there aren’t many leaves on the trees.

There also are three shorter hikes — 7.7 miles, 6.6 miles and 4.5 miles — for those who seek Bay views but don’t want to dedicate an entire day to the excursion.

ACLT’s most popular trail is the Parkers Creek Loop, which is 3 miles long.

The newest addition to ACLT’s trails is a raft-and-pulley system over Parkers Creek. The trail to get there is windy and hilly, but is filled with history. It’s one of the few historic roads in Calvert County to which the public has access.

For the best views of the Bay, the time to hike the

PF2Bay Trail is during fall or winter, when there aren’t many leaves on the trees.

For beginning hikers or families with younger children, ACLT recommends the Turkey Trail, a 1-mile round-trip hike that departs from ACLT’s North Side Trailhead on Double Oak Road and affords a view of Parkers Creek and the Bay. There also is a slightly steeper 1.1-mile round-trip hike to a three-tiered beaver dam with a lot of beaver activity, also departing from the North Side Trailhead. As an added bonus, at the North Side Trailhead, there’s a natural play area for children, complete with a canoe sandbox, balance boards, and a music area.

In the 1930s, a storm destroyed the only bridge across Parkers Creek. For years, ACLT sought an Earth-friendly way to connect the two shores, in addition to connecting its multiple trail systems. The trail includes is a 3-mile round trip hike to the raft or a 10-mile round trip hike from ACLT’s headquarters on Double Oak Road in Prince Frederick to the south trail system in Port Republic. The 10-mile round trip includes several stream crossings and contains the most difficult portion of trail within ACLT. Experience is recommended for the trek down to the South Side Trailhead.

Another off-the-beaten-path historical site is the Hance-Chesley Cemetery, which can be found off the Swamp Trail, accessed from the South Side Trailhead. The cemetery has headstones dating back to 1812 and can be accessed only by those who hike to it. The cemetery was restored by Calvert Garden Club and ACLT volunteers.

Top left: Wild mushrooms grow along the South Side Trails. Top right: The American Chestnut Land Trust is home to a number of magical and mysterious species of flora and fauna. Bottom: An old gate stands open along a North Side trail.

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Délicieux Filet et une boisson

Delicious filet and a beverage from The High Spot

Story by Josh Bollinger | Photos by Henley Moore

When people see steak is on the menu, they may think mashed potatoes, asparagus and cream sauce on top. But that’s not how Patrick Fanning, the chef and owner of The High Spot in Cambridge, sees it.

Instead, when ordering the filet mignon from the

gastropub’s menu, guests should expect something rooted in simplicity but blooming with complex flavors — a dish from a man with a passion for locally sourced products that have multiple uses in an old-family style of eating.

This month’s installment of “Taste Buds” features Chef Fanning and his pan-roasted filet mignon available at The High Spot, 305 High St., Cambridge. Fanning suggests pairing the dish with a classic pinot noir, a pale ale made specifically for his restaurants, or a boozy blueberry-infused mixed drink.

Fanning locally sources as many products as he can, and uses as much of the products as he can to “have as little footprint on the community as possible.”

He gets his beef loin (and bison)

through SB Farms of Hurlock in Dorchester County. It’s partly grass-fed and corn-fed — the corn giving “it a sweetness, a fattiness” — and there are no hormones added.

Fanning pan roasts the filet, topped with sea salt and coarse black pepper, with “a little bit of fat on the edge of the filet, just to kind of give it that saltiness.”

After basting it in butter and removing the filet, it goes into the oven with more butter, and the pan is deglazed with Cognac, shallots, and garlic. The kale is then added, tossed, and cooked.

Fanning sets the filet atop an

one of the restaurant’s signature drinks — the Blueberry Whiskey Smash. A sampling of Chef Patrick Fanning’s specials and a some of The High Spot’s interior dceor.

Clockwise from left: The High Spot’s panroasted filet mignon pairs well with a French pinot noir, a local pale ale from RAR brewing, or a boozy blueberryinfused mixed drink. Chef Patrick Fanning makes

English-style potato cake filled with organic duck eggs, cheddar cheese from Chapel’s Country Creamery of Easton, and coats it with panko. The potato cake rests on a bed of sautéed kale.

For the wine, Fanning chose The High Spot’s French-style house pinot noir, Domaine Brunet, 2015.

“For me, personally, I’m always going to go with a glass of wine with a steak,” Fanning said. “It’s old-world French, so it’s not going to be as bright of a wine that comes from California,

so it’s going to have a little more depth to it.”

For those who prefer something different, Fanning said The High Spot’s Blueberry Whiskey Smash, made with ginger beer; organic, Canadian-style whiskey from Rogue Ales and Spirits of Oregon; and blueberries from a local farm is a good option.

“Berries and steak go hand in hand. We do a cognac butter on top of this filet, and cognac is rich and sweet and round. Blueberries — people think

of blueberries as being super sweet, but they’re not really super sweet. We add a little bit of ginger to them and we cook them down with a little bit of the whiskey. It airs well,” Fanning said. “Berries and steak go well together all the time. That’s why red wine goes well together with steak, just because of that voluptuous feeling in your mouth.”

And for brew lovers, Fanning said his signature Pat’s Pale Ale, which is brewed by RAR Brewing — a two-minute walk from The High Spot — solely for

his restaurants, is the way to go.

“It’s basically an aggressively hopped pale ale,” Fanning said.

It’s made with Cascade, Chinook and Simcoe hops, and is the only filtered beer RAR brews, he said.

Fanning is a former military man who, after leaving, attended the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Ore., and later the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. His passion for cooking began when he was young and used to help his mom in the kitchen.

After leaving a position heading the kitchen at Evolution Craft Brewing Co. and setting off on his own, Fanning opened The High Spot in Cambridge in 2011.

The restaurant recently has celebrated its anniversary, and during those six years, Fanning has opened two additional restaurants in Cambridge — Stoked Wood Fired Eatery (featuring pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven) and Rock Lobstah (which Fanning described as the Subway of lobster, but with a bar). S

Top left: The High Spot’s craft brew listings. Bottom left: Chef Patrick Fanning. Center: The High Spot gastropub, 305 High St., Cambridge, is open daily. Top right: The High Spot gastropub offers a relaxed atmosphere with upscale fare made with locally sourced ingredients. Bottom center: Chef Fanning’s pan-roasted filet mignon.

Photos by Caroline Phillips

Apple and Fig Crostata

Pie Dough

1 pound, 11 ounces all-purpose flour

2 ounces sugar

1 teaspoon salt

11 ounces butter

6 ounces shortening

1 cup ice water

Pulse flour, sugar, salt, water, butter, and shortening in food processor until butter is the size of peas.

Transfer to stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Gradually add water while mixing on low speed until dough holds together when pressed.

Separate dough into four equal parts and wrap each separately. Chill for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to two days in refrigerator. Freeze for up to six months.

Muffin Crumbs

1 pound melted butter, cooled slightly

8 ounces whole wheat flour

1 pound all-purpose flour

8 ounces granulated sugar

10 ounces light brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda

Combine dry ingredients in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. With mixer on low speed, stream in melted butter and continue to mix just until combined.

Sprinkle mixture on to parchmentlined sheet pan and fluff with fingers. Chill in refrigerator until set.

Crumbs may be sprinkled on top of muffins before baking. Store unused crumbs in freezer for up to four months.

Apple and Fig Crostata

1 pound of peeled, cored, and cut apples (cut about ¼-inch thick). We used a mix of Granny Smith and Gala apples

½ pound fresh mission figs, washed and quartered

4.5 ounces granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine

ingredients and let sit for about 5 to 6 minutes. This will let the sugar draw the moisture out of the fruit.

Roll one disk of pie dough to about 12-inches in diameter. Put rolled dough onto the center of a parchment-lined sheet pan. Place fruit mixture in center of the pie dough, be careful not to add the juice. Dot fruit with small bits of butter.

Brush the edges of the dough with egg wash. Roll the edges of the dough up around all sides to form an edge around fruit filling. Brush edges with egg wash and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

Place crostata on the top rack of preheated oven and bake until the crust begins to brown ever so slightly.

Remove from oven and sprinkle top with about 1 cup of muffin crumbs. Increase heat to 350°F and return crostata to oven. Bake until crust is golden brown, fruit has softened, and crumbs are golden. Allow to cool.

Chef Steve Konopelski is a graduate of the worldrenowned French Culinary Institute, where he studied the art of French pastry, graduating in the top of his class. He is the chef and co-owner of Turnbridge Point Bed and Breakfast in Denton, where his desserts and pastries are in high demand. He just was named Best Chef on the Eastern Shore by What’s Up Media. He has been seen on season two of the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, where he advanced through eight episodes to the finale. Prior to opening Turnbridge Point, Konopelski worked as an assistant to James Beard award-winning pastry chef Claudia Fleming. As a retired Broadway performer, he brings an artistic flair and a keen eye for detail to the culinary world.

Finding your inner

It’s 6 a.m. Monday morning. Cell phones, computers, tablets, and easily accessible Wi-Fi; the ubiquitous Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Don’t forget 24-hour worldwide news accessible at your fingertips. Is your heart rate up, yet? And you haven’t even finished your breakfast.

These daily additions to our lives can leave many of us feeling like we are constantly “plugged in” and on high alert. Always being “on” can lead to anxiety, negativity, and high stress levels, which may become hard to manage, making it hard to relax when we are afforded those precious

moments to unwind. Finding ways to cope with daily stresses, physical and mental illnesses, and other challenges, such as situations of abuse or trauma, can be difficult enough without the added external stressors.

There are options for those seeking to unplug and de-stress, and fortunately, the Mid-Shore has a host of ways to accommodate almost everyone’s needs.

“I think it’s true for almost everybody, that getting away from all of this stuff that’s calling our attention all the time — our phones, our iPads, our

Story by Katie Willis | Photos by Cecile Davis, Greg Sharp, and Diona Townsley

sanctuary

Photo by Cecile Davis

Photos by Cecile Davis

Freya Farley, executive director of Evergreen Easton Point, said her passion is developing programming where people are able to get out in nature She believes aligning oneself with nature can help stoke healing processes and reduce stress.

computers, the TV — getting away from those things is helpful,” said Freya Farley, executive director of Evergreen Easton Point.

Evergreen Easton Point is an advocacy organization for health and wellness in the community. The center offers programming services around that idea, including acupuncture, massage, reiki, yoga, tai chi, and meditation classes. Farley said the center is a place for the community to experience serenity, whatever that means for them.

“We are really looking to educate the community on health and wellness in a holistic way,” Farley said.

The center also is working toward a partnership with Talbot County Public Schools, Farley said, which will train teachers to bring mindfulness into their classrooms, and help calm and center their students. She said she is hoping the programming and training will be offered as ongoing support for the county’s teachers, and in the future the program may expand to other Mid-Shore counties.

“Reaching kids is really imperative,” Farley said. “If you reach them when they’re young, they will always have that for the rest of their lives.”

Teaching kids to center and calm themselves while they are young is easier than trying to shift embedded behaviors in adults, she said; however, the center specializes in shifting those ingrained behaviors and thought processes, which can create challenges to promoting one’s balance in one’s life.

Programming tailored toward helping

people relax includes yoga, tai chi and yoga nidra, all mindfulness-based, and activities designed to help to calm the nervous system, Farley said. Yoga nidra, in particular, which also is called “yogic sleep,” can help those suffering from high anxiety and stress, and help with post-traumatic stress disorder, she said.

“That’s really the goal of those (programs) — is to sort of bring you back into your body and calm the nervous system. And as that happens, the mind starts to calm down also,” Farley said. “This is really kind of a stressful time for a lot of people.”

She said it is important to look at health and well-being as a maintenance effort, part of a daily routine. Although taking part in these programs will help participants immediately feel better in some ways, easily identifiable benefits aren’t always evident at first, Farley said. She also cautioned against seeking “quick fixes” when it comes to your health and well-being.

“(A quick fix feels) really good when you’re doing it, but long term that doesn’t really get to the root of the problem. It doesn’t help you find the tools that you need to be able to continue (your well-being) moving forward,” Farley said. “It’s important to continue with (these programs), so that your body really gets into a routine of knowing how to do that.”

Our bodies want to be in balance, she said, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle and focusing on goals toward better health will help your body crave more stability.

“Over time, your body starts to crave the things that you’re doing. And your body wants to be in balance — that’s its natural state. So if we can help encourage that movement towards balance, your body naturally already wants to go there. It’s just kind of turning that switch and helping the body remember. Over time, that process gets easier,” she said.

Farley said, for the most part, participants immediately will realize they are sleeping better and waking up more rested, and many people leave Evergreen’s classes feeling more relaxed. The goal is to keep that feeling going, and develop the tools you need to help yourself find that calm and peace anywhere, anytime, she said.

“Whenever you take time for yourself,” Farley said, “you’re always going to feel that benefit, just from the time itself.”

The best way to start the road to well-being is to start a health journal, she said, where it will be easy to list problem or focus areas, and to track specific goals.

“It’s not so esoteric,” Farley said. “There are those tangible (goals) that (people are) looking for, and people don’t always know what that is.”

She said that’s where the center can help people flourish, by helping them find out what their health goals are, so they can sustain them.

“Find your sanctuary,” Farley said. “(Evergreen) is a wonderful place to come feel relaxed, but it’s also about finding that within yourself, and being able to take that away from here and not

need a specific place or time, or class, to be able to find that within yourself.”

While some of the programming may be unfamiliar to those who are new to Evergreen, Farley said it is important to realize anyone can achieve balance and well-being in their lives, and Evergreen’s programming is meant for those with all levels of experience.

Farley’s passion is developing programming where people get out in nature, which she believes can help stoke healing processes and reduce stress.

“When we say ‘get out in nature,’ it’s a little bit of a misnomer, because we are nature,” Farley said. “We’re part of nature. We belong in the lifecycle of nature. So being out in nature, and being part of that cycle and process, is natural for us. It helps bring our bodies into balance.”

Farley said being connected to the Earth is an important part of a wellness routine.

“It’s so important to be viscerally connected to the land and the water. I think that’s part of wellness for us, and it’s important for us to feel that connected, so that we can take care of the Earth also. So it’s kind of this symbiotic thing,” she said.

There are locations throughout the Mid-Shore where you can get out and experience the calming influence of nature, including Tuckahoe State Park in Queen Anne, Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Easton, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, the Frank M. Ewing/Robinson Neck Preserve on Taylors Island, Martinak State Park in

There are locations throughout the Mid-Shore where you can get out and experience the calming influence of nature, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambrige, pictured.

It’s so important to be viscerally connected to the land and the water” — Freya Farley

Photos by Diona Townsley

Denton, Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge near Rock Hall, Turners Creek Park and Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area in Kennedyville, and Terrapin Nature Park in Stevensville.

Sometimes, though, different circumstances can require an alternative approach. For those experiencing physical, mental, or emotional challenges, therapeutic horseback riding may be an option worth exploring.

Talbot Special Riders Executive Director Kim Hopkins said horses can calm the mind, body, and soul. The program runs out of Timber Grove Farm in Preston. The nonprofit has been serving the people of the Mid-Shore’s five counties for 36 years.

TSR’s fall session is running now through mid-November.

In addition to hippotherapy, or using horseback riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment, TSR recently began a new program called CATCH Riders, which stands for Creating A Therapeutic Change through Horsemanship, a learning program that assists riders by enhancing life skills and encouraging growth.

CATCH Riders is unique because it is made of three components: an unmounted portion, a mounted portion and a support group at the end of each day. The program first was implemented with sexual abuse and trauma survivors.

Equine therapy encourages relaxation for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, and panic attacks, because the horse is a nonjudgmental, living being that offers comfort, she said. The benefits of therapeutic riding can include improved self-esteem and motivation, development of trust, and improved attention, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Photos by Greg Sharp

Hopkins said hippotherapy also can be a good alternative for seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia-related conditions or Alzheimer’s disease because of evidence equine therapy assists with diminishing aggressive behaviors and aids in memory recollection.

Equine therapy encourages relaxation for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, and panic attacks, because the horse is a nonjudgmental, living being that offers comfort, she said. The benefits of therapeutic riding can include improved self-esteem and motivation, development of trust, and improved attention, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Hopkins said even the program’s volunteers find they are more relaxed while helping program participants with the horses. Since the organization is driven solely by volunteers, she said this may be an added benefit for those considering helping out with TSR.

“(Volunteers) may come to the farm after a tough day at work or home, and I can see the stressors

start to melt once they pick up a brush and glide it across a horse, or stop by the barn to nuzzle a warm horse muzzle,” Hopkins said. “While working with our riders and horses, the volunteers are focused 100 percent on the tasks at hand, and any worries from outside forces are immediately forgotten. Many have told me that coming to TSR is their therapy.”

One thing is for certain, according to Hopkins and Farley, your health and well-being should be a priority. Taking time to care for yourself, physically and emotionally, can make a difference in anyone’s life.

“The idea of finding the sanctuary within yourself, anybody can do it,” Farley said. “Everybody deserves to be healthy and feel good, and be relaxed.”

For more information about Evergreen Easton Point, visit evergreeneaston.org or call 410-819-3395.

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer with Talbot Special Riders, visit www.talbotspecial riders.com or call 410-673-7450. S

THROUGH THE LENS

Photo by Cliff Holland

Photo by Guthrie Matthews

Photo by Cindy Steedman

Photo by Pascale Bernasse

Photo by Patsy Bridges

Photo by Catherine Bitter

Photo by Pascale Bernasse

Photo by Patsy Bridges