Grapevine

Some thirty-five years ago, when I decided how great it would be to make my own wine, from my own grapes, I planted one little Concord grapevine next to the split rail fence in my front yard.  The little grape vine struggled to live its first few years, but not nearly as much as my wine making struggled.  The cheapest jug wine was so superior to my meager efforts that I quit wine making (to the applause of my wife, I might add).

                I ignored the grapevine—what good are grapes if you didn't make wine from them?  But soon, that little vine, not so small anymore, was producing a few quarts of beautiful, purple grapes each year.  Ruth began making grape jelly from my grapes—a couple jars the first few years, then more jars.  Wonderful, beautiful grape jelly.  Who says grapes are only for wine?  You didn't hear it from me (even Germans will occasionally admit they are wrong).

                This year, that little grapevine, still only one, has a trunk the size of my arm and sends out vines to the end of the split rail fence and beyond.  And yesterday, with Sue and grandson Josh’s help, we picked nearly a bushel of grapes. Some of the bunches had as many as 30 grapes. How many jars of grape jelly in a bushel of grapes?  We’ll find out.

                Thoughts of making my own grape wine have long ago faded into history—it’s just too difficult to top home-made grape jelly smeared generously on a piece of toast, certainly not with a glass of awful home-made wine.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Grapes for wine?  Try home-made grape jelly instead.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV 7:00 p.m.  A Farm Story with Jerry Apps. Live in Milwaukee.

September 8, Milwaukee Public TV 3:00 p.m. A Farm Story with Jerry Apps.

September  9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Community Center, 7:00 p.m.

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14, Mineral Point Book Festival. 8:30-9:30 Writing Workshop, Mineral Point Library.

September 15, 10:00-1:00 Book Signing, Machine Shed Restaurant, Waukesha.

September 16, Winchester Academy, Waupaca Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

September 18, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, WI 7:00 p.m.

September 21, 12:00-2:00 p.m.  Old World Wisconsin, Book Signing.

September 23, 6:30-7:30 Mount Horeb Public Library.

September 26, 7:00 p.m. WPT, Premier Showing, “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps,” Green Bay, Rock Garden, 1951 Bond Street, 7:00 p.m.

September 28, 1:00 Barnes and Noble, Wausau, Book Signing.

October 1, 6:00 p.m. UW Memorial Library Commons, WPT “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”

October 4-5, Heartland Fall Forum (Book Festival), Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chicago. O’Hare.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY WITH JERRY APPS” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Egg Harbor Book Festival

 The Egg Harbor Book Festival, the community’s first, was off to any excellent start  thanks to Mary “Casey” Martin, who organized the event, and the good people of Egg Harbor who supported it.  Over two weekends, August 16-18 and August 24, authors who ranged from Wisconsin’s poet laureate, Max Garland, to a bevy of local writers showing off their wares at the Saturday p.m. author signings, to yours truly who had the keynote spot on Saturday morning.

            The weather was great; the setting was more than great.  I spoke on the porch of the famous Alpine Resort, which is right on the waters of Green Bay, with sailboats everywhere on Saturday morning.  The Alpine Resort, which has been in the same family since 1922, includes, in addition to the beautiful lodge and a group of guest cottages, a 36-hole golf course.

            Billed as “The Egg Harbor Book Festival—2013 Road Trip,” one of the purposes of the festival was to raise money for the Egg Harbor Library, described as being the size of a closet.  Much thanks to Mary “Casey” Martin, a native of Egg Harbor who now lives in Wisconsin Rapids.  She is a writer, a radio interviewer, a publisher (Home Brew Press) and an all-around friend of Wisconsin writers and the book publishing business.  Hats off to “Casey” for a job well done—we writers appreciate the work you have done and continue to do.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: If you think books are dead, attend a book festival.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Story. Live in Milwaukee

September  9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Community Center, 7:00 p.m.

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14, Mineral Point Book Festival. 8:30-9:30 Writing Workshop, Mineral Point Library.

September 15, 10:00-1:00 Book Signing, Machine Shed Restaurant, Waukesha.

September 16, Winchester Academy, Waupaca Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

September 18, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, WI 7:00 p.m.

September 21, 12:00-2:00 p.m.  Old World Wisconsin, Book Signing.

September 23, 6:30-7:30 Mount Horeb Public Library.

September 26, 7:00 p.m. WPT, Premier Showing, “Winter on the Farm,” Green Bay, Rock Garden, 1951 Bond Street, 7:00 p.m.

September 28, 1:00 Barnes and Noble, Wausau, Book Signing.

October 1, 6:00 p.m. UW Memorial Library Commons, WPT “Winter on the Farm.”

October 4-5, Heartland  Fall Forum (Book Festival), Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chicago. O’Hare.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

Farm Story

I am continually amazed, surprised, and humbled by the reaction to the Farm Story documentary, which is now showing on some 60 plus PBS stations across the country.

Chicago’s WTTW will air the program Sunday evening (August 18) at 6:00 p.m. and I will be there in person to discuss the show.  Here is what the publicist for WTTW had to say about the documentary:

A Farm Story with Jerry Apps is a portrait of farm life seen through the eyes of a boy growing up in rural America in the 1930s and 1940s. Using archival photos and film, teacher, author and historian Jerry Apps tells the story of growing up in Wild Rose, Wisconsin - America's archetype rural farming community.

A Farm Story is the personal and family story of millions of Americans who grew up on farms. Like a family photo album for millions of Americans, the documentary takes the viewer through memories of 'things that aren't there anymore' and of experiences that created their values of hard work, determination and community -- values that drive a generation of Americans who grew up on the farm. The documentary carries the viewer from childhood on the farm in the '30s to the rural electrification that changed American farms and rural life forever.

 Jerry shares stories about the party line telephone, the one-room schoolhouse, the routine of work and chores and community of those family farms that built America into the agricultural center of the world. A Farm Story with Jerry Apps deeply resonates with viewers with rural roots, many who left the farm but who recognize that the experience made them who they are and can feel a kinship with Jerry when he says, 'Today I'm as proud as proud can be of having experienced what I experienced, and I wouldn't change it for anything. '

Jerry Apps Bio: Jerry Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Who would think that something old (like early farm life) would be of interest today?

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 18, 6:00 p.m. WTTW, Chicago Public TV. A Farm Story.

August 24, Egg Harbor Book Festival, Alpine Resort, 10-11:30. All about writing.  Book signing 1-4.

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Story. Live in Milwaukee

September 9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Community Center, 7:00 p.m.

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14,  Mineral Point Book Festival. 8:30-9:30 Writing Workshop, Mineral Point Library.

September 15, 10:00-1:00 Book Signing, Machine Shed Restaurant, Waukesha.

September 16, Winchester Academy, Waupaca Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

September 18, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, WI 7:00 p.m.

September 23, 6:30-7:30 Mount Horeb Public Library.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

The Great River Road

            Ruth and I traveled the Great River Road from La Crosse to Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin’s second oldest city this weekend.  And what a great trip it was.  On Thursday I gave a keynote talk to the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (a great group) in La Crosse.  Then on Friday we headed south along the river, with huge bluffs to our left and the Mississippi River rolling along to our right, on our way to Villa Louis where on spoke on Saturday.  The views across the river are absolutely magnificent—with Minnesota first and then Iowa, each crowding up to the river, as does Wisconsin.  Wildlife everywhere.  Ducks, herons, I even saw a bald eagle soaring above us.

            Through the little river towns of Stoddard and Genoa, Victory and De Soto, Ferryville and Lynxville and onto into Prairie du Chein.  The occasional tow boat lumbered north, some pushing as many as eight barges in front of them, moving slowly, but never stopping.  Fishing and pleasure boats scattered as the tow boats approached, and then reappeared once the tow boat moved on.

            In places the mighty Mississippi was so narrow one could throw a stone across it (well maybe half way across).  Other places, near the locks and dams, the river was a half mile wide.

            Oh, how busy was the river.  Boats of every size, outboards, inboards, fishing boats, house boats, pleasure boats.  Little boats. Big boats.  Even a kayak or two and once in awhile a canoe.

           

            The Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway, is celebrating 75 years—it officially was officially established in 1938.  This famous piece of U.S. history is nearly 3,000 miles long, touches 10 states, 33 river towns and boasts 70 nature interpretative centers.  Want a great trip—give the Great River Road a go. 

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: It’s good to leave the old home place once in a while, and see something new.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 18, Chicago Public TV. A Farm Story. Live in Chicago

August 24, Egg Harbor Book Festival, Alpine Resort, 10-11:30. How I became a writer.  Book signing 1-4.

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Story. Live in Milwaukee

September 9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Community Center, 7:00 p.m.

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14, Mineral Point Book Festival. 8:30-9:30 Writing Workshop, Mineral Point Library.

September 15, 10:00-1:00 Book Signing, Machine Shed Restaurant, Waukesha.

September 16, Winchester Academy, Waupaca Public Library, 6:30 p.m.

September 18, Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, WI 7:00 p.m.

September 23, 6:30-7:30 Mount Horeb Public Library.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.

A Farm Story Update

            I've just returned from Kansas City, Mo where I helped Public TV station KCPT with August fund raising.  They aired my documentary A Farm Story. During the breaks I talked about the background for the show and a little more about what farm life was like during the 1930s and 1940s when I was a kid.  I am always amazed at the response to the show— constantly the phones were ringing in the studio as volunteers recorded pledges.

            I discovered last week, that more than forty public TV stations are airing A Farm Story, from WGBY in Western New England to WKNO in Cordova, TN;  from KLRU in Austin Texas, to KVIE in Sacramento ,CA;  From WETA in Washington, D.C. to KUED in Utah.  From KBTC in Western, WA; to WUCF in Central Florida.  And many more.

            I am more than pleased with how many people across the country are interested in the history of the small family farm and how those who grew up and worked these farms contributed many important values to our present day society.  Values such as the importance of communities and neighbors, appreciating little things, working together as a family, and knowing that we all depend on the land. 

            I am also extremely pleased that people across the country are learning about little Wild Rose, WI, my hometown.  A publicist for KUED in Utah wrote “Wild Rose, Wisconsin is the archetypal rural farming community in America.”  High marks for my hometown indeed.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When you have something good to say about something; say it.

August 6-7, Nebraska Public TV, Lincoln, Nebraska.  A Farm Story.

August 8, Environmental Educator’s Conference, Noon. Keynote, UW-LaCrosse

August 10, 2:00 p.m., Presentation Villa Louis, Prairie du Chein.  Horse Drawn Days.

August 18, Chicago Public TV. A Farm Story.

August 24, Egg Harbor Historical Society (details to follow)

September 7, Milwaukee Public TV.  A Farm Story

September 9, Byron Historical Society, Eden Town Hall. (details to follow)

September 10, DTS Banquet talk, Deer Valley Lodge, Barneveld

September 14, Mineral Point Book Festival.

 FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “JERRY APPS: A FARM STORY” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.