“Top of the Stairs”

Oil on panel • 12 x 16 • 2021 • Amanda Acker

In This Issue: What is Round Pole Framing and What Does It Have To Do With the Monetary Economy? "The Tracker," Chokecherries, and more.

It Takes Both Kinds

Round Pole Framing and the Monetary Economy

“…Round pole was new to me, and the more I learned, the more hungered for it. I had encountered that sensation at Strawbale Studios before. Eight years earlier, the Oxford forest’s humble dwellings and rightly scaled woodland livelihood had awakened a sense of possibility within me. The hand-hewn DIY ethic showcased at Strawbale Studios; the cultivation of time and skill required to build a life with one’s hands — the spot illumined a different way than the college, career, contentment pipeline I had been struggling to embrace. I do also remember that sense of possibility crumbling as I heard how much money constructing a naturally built home would cost. It sounded too far out of reach at the time.

After the round pole workshop came to a close, I drove back up north. My brother, visiting from California, sat in the passenger seat. He listened to my words on round pole framing and all that went on that weekend. He took it in, thought for a second, and then shared his reflection…”

Read the Whole Essay (1,240 Words, 6 Minute Read)

Listen to this Edition’s Essay in Audio Form

The Warp — Ideas and Inspiration

|| 1 || I recently read Tom Brown Jr’s “The Tracker.” The short book, written by the figure behind the philosophy and curriculum the Human Nature School grew from, is a classic in the orienteering, naturalism and wilderness world. It was a joy to read—the sort of piece that reoriented my vision to deeply appreciate a smattering of trillium dappling the forest floor, as I made my way through the woods on a Monday morning. A reminder of “good medicine,” defined in the book as “any experience so memorable that it just has to be a gift from the spirit-that-moves-through-all-things.”

|| 2 || We came across a flowering shrub in the fields behind our house recently. It’s wedged between a scotch pine and an autumn olive, so we hadn’t noticed it until it threw out its vanilla-scented flower bundles. It’s a chokecherry. We had planted a couple last year from the conservation district’s plant sale, but this one clearly predated ours—a good find.

There are glycosides throughout the whole thing—the leaves, the pit, the wood, the stems, etc. The only part that doesn’t have those glycosides, which are broken down into cyanide when ingested by ruminants, is the flesh of the fruit. Despite the poison character, these cherries, or Asasaweminagaawanzh, are the most important fruit of the traditional diets of many Native American tribes of the Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, and Boreal Forest regions of Canada and the United States.

Chokecherry was also one of three tree species, amongst maple and serviceberry, worked with in a recent hedgelaying workshop led by Jim Jones at an Ontario skill share. I had heard rumblings in the past of bringing Jim to Northwest Michigan for a workshop or leading a Small Farm Conference session. To my knowledge, that’s not happening this year, but I’ve got my fingers crossed for the future.

|| 3 || You might have noticed the Desmond Liggett Wealth Advisors sponsorship mention near the bottom of these emails. Back in February, I met with Zach and Matt, the two behind Desmond Liggett, to talk about the idea of sponsoring this newsletter. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. The world of wealth advising and investment isn’t my world, and if you would have sat at the table along with the three of us, you would have known it. They fielded poorly worded questions from me, answering honestly and helpfully, and I walked away from the occassion thankful for the time and knowledge they were willing to share.

They aren’t paying me to write this, and they don’t know these words are being included, but I felt that this edition’s essay, which dives into a bit on wealth and economics, would be an appropriate time to make mention for those wondering about their logo’s inclusion. They’re in tune with “carefully supporting good, yet financially-involved, efforts in the world , investing in systems geared towards sparking a positive impact,” and I’m glad they’re doing what they’re doing. Reach out if you or your family might be trying to figure out some financial quandaries, and, if you’re like me, know you can ask the hard questions.

|| 4 || This edition’s art comes from Amanda Acker, an alumni of the early days of Crosshatch’s Hill House residency. We love her work. And we loved the residency. So why isn’t the residency a current Crosshatch staple? You can find a few answers here. That doesn't mean it’s gone for good though. We’re excited to be in the planning phase for a residency program at The Alluvion, have visions of residencies offered at Hatchquarters, and are organizing the Michigan Artists Residency Summit in September. Contact amanda@crosshatch.org if you’d like information on the upcoming gathering.

The Weft — News and Events

|| 1 || Tip of the Mitt Fiber Fair. June 3rd and 4th, at the Emmet County Fairgrounds in Petoskey. Click here for workshop details and a list of forty vendors participating in the Fiber Fair.

|| 2 || Growing Organic Webinar with USDA. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a wide range of programs to help agricultural producers grow organically, for both certified and transitioning operations. In the past year, USDA has upped its investments for organic agriculture, including the new Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) that helped create new programs as well as bolster support for existing ones.” Find out more about these programs by registering for this webinar and Q&A held on June 6th, 2pm ET.

|| 3 || MI Mud Conference, June 16th-17th at NMC. Want to dive into the world of ceramics? Consider attending the MI Mud Conference, a collaboration from the Michigan Ceramic Art Association and Northwestern Michigan College. Find more information and reservations for the two-day conference here.
|| 4 || June Happenings at The Alluvion. Despite being in preview mode, there’s a lot going on this month! I tried to briefly summarize upcoming highlights, and I can't. If you’d like, you can check things out yourself by going here. There you’ll find an array of happenings, in addition to regular staples like the Jeff Haas Quartet and Funky Fun Mondays with Big Fun and Funky Uncle.

|| 5 || Great Lakes Woodworking Festival, June 17th-18th in Adrian, MI. “A weekend filled with all things woodworking, inspired by the beauty and sustainability of our natural resources.” Find workshops and gatherings ranging from spoon carving and bowl turning, to demonstrations of hand raising an 8,100 lb. white oak truss and an attempt to trigger a table saw safety brake with a hot dog. There’ll be food and a kid’s corner too. More information is available here.

|| 6 || You might be wondering what’s happening with the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. There’s too much to detail here as we work things out, but we’re excited to be back with all of you in person on a Northern Michigan farm during the warmer months. We’re looking at featuring:

More hands-on learning
On-the-ground demonstrations
Fresh local foods meals
Networking opportunities
Click here to follow along, and watch for more news in upcoming months.

|| 7 || Veterans Inspiring Veterans Art Show ‘23. The Veterans Inspiring Veterans Art Show will be held on June 24th, at the Flintfields Horse Park in Williamsburg. Applications from veterans to show artwork are being accepted through May 11th. All proceeds from artwork sold go directly to the artists. Find more information on applying, or attending the show, here.

|| 8 || Inland Seas Pier Party. Welcome the ISEA’s newly acquired schooner Alliance to Suttons Bay on Saturday, June 24th, from 11am-3pm, as it sails in with Inland Seas. Enjoy an afternoon of deck tours, music, and food while celebrating the schooners that inspire people of all ages to be curious and passionate about protecting the Great Lakes. Find more information here.

The Whole Field • Volume 2 • No. 11 • Full Moon • June 3rd, 2023