No parachute

Last summer, I called my Aunt for career advise. She suggested I read "What Color is Your Parachute." I had never heard of the (best-selling ever career) book, which might explain the challenges I was currently facing.  I just knew...

Wisconsin Roots Music Cooperative

Recently we've been working with local musicians from the Wisconsin Roots Music Cooperative. The Coop is a forum for artists to collaborate and help each other gain exposure.  It's one of a myriad of ideas and to come out of...

The Worth of Nature: Backyard Stories by Alan Haney

Eldridge Cleaver said, “You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.” Cleaver was bright man, a leader in the civil rights movement, but I think he got this one wrong,...

5 Things I’ve learned since my Mom died

Before my mom died, I made her promise to haunt me. She said she would, but made me promise to believe it was really her. The night she died, I had a vivid dream where she sat me down to...

Rumination in My Garden: Backyard Stories by Alan Haney

One of the more cherished benefits from my backyard is the space it allows me for soul-searching and deep thinking. In today’s hustle-bustle world, we too often fill every available minute with mindless things, or at least things that occupy...

For my Father

My father would have turned 70 today. He was a great man. Not many people knew that, least of all him. He taught me so much during the years we were together and perhaps even more during the many years...

Boats & Bluegrass Bliss Bubble

A magical bliss bubble encircles Boats and Bluegrass Festival and all its happy campers. We look forward to it all year long. This year, like all others, was epic. Ed was Master of Ceremonies for the festival, Ryan and I played...

Snails and Slugs: Backyard Stories by Alan Haney

A telltale trail of slime revealed where the slug had spent the early morning hours working its way from one side of the broccoli leaf to the other during the night. The past two days of rain opened the opportunity...

Social Events: Backyard Stories by Alan Haney

We have two social events each year at the farm, in addition to many visits with friends and family.  Both of our social events celebrate our union with the earth.  In the autumn, it is cider pressing, usually in October,...