Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery – 1863

The Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863. The cemetery is located outside the walls of Fort San Felipe del Morro fortress, one of the island's most famous landmarks. The average height of the wall is 40 feet, and the width ranges from 15 to…

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Medford Archives Fellow, a Unique Employment Opportunity
Platinotype from the book project, "What Happened?"

Medford Archives Fellow, a Unique Employment Opportunity

Platinotype from the Floyd County, Virginia book project "What Happened?" Wake Forest University’s Z. Smith Reynolds Libary seeks a distinctive individual for a fellowship position in its Special Collections and Archives. This full-time temporary position will be responsible for arranging, inventorying, rehousing, and describing the Houck Medford Collection.  This position is a career-building opportunity where the successful candidate will have responsibility for processing a complex archival collection that includes physical and digital items.  The fellow…

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Raw Peanut Power
These farmers can talk and chew gum at the same time. This is a great example of precision big-ag farming. There are only 100 pounds of lost peanuts in 5,000 pounds harvested.

Raw Peanut Power

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A book release with a free Southern picnic?!

What more could one ask for? Former North Carolina poet laureate Joseph Bathanti and renowned documentary artist Houck Medford will be celebrating the release of their new book, "Rising Meadow". The conservation farm of the same name "Rising Meadow Farm" and the American Farmland Trust will be hosts and honorees for the free event - Saturday, October 15. To register, click here!

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Cyder to Syrup

The Against the Grain Farm family prides itself on a culture that anything is possible. Their members will try anything - at least once. They are not afraid of failure. The farm has made molasses before, which is a very similar process. Start with the juice and reduce it with even heat until it thickens. A test run on the stovetop gave these adventurers all the confidence that they needed. Full steam ahead! Literally!

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Why I am a digital photographer supporting the Film Photo Award …

https://www.filmphotoaward.com/ I believe a successful storytelling photographer needs to be passionately engaged in a time-rich long-term project with a well-defined goal.  Film by normal constraints slows time.   Time allows the photographer to be responsive to the unexpected and unknown which will inevitably occur.  Rapid firing digital shooters do not have that luxury and only a hope that they have captured the moment in a thousand rapidly acquired images.  Film shooters on the other hand can…

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The Nose Knows
The Nose Knows

The Nose Knows

  The impetus for this photograph was to capture a projected sky image of Against the Grain Farm's new heritage Scottish Highland Cows which have a horn spread of nearly six feet.  But today – no cows - only goats. The conversation then turned to the anticipated reaction of the goats to the ground camera.  Will they walk around it or will they walk over the top it? This photograph projects an unanticipated third outcome.…

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An innovative and courageous, but well informed move …
Typical Customer "X"

An innovative and courageous, but well informed move …

The indoor winter version of the Boone (N.C.) Winter Farmers Market has decided to reopen - outdoors. Boone, N.C. and it's summer Watauga Farmers Market has grown in popularity each year as a destination for locals and others to shop for fresh produce and locally made crafts.  To balance the uncomfortableness of cold weather, the market was reinvented as the Boone Winters Farmers Market by moving indoors December through April into the cramped exhibition hall…

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Recycling turkeys cultivate climate resilience
Recycling turkeys help mitigate climate resilience by improving The Soil's health and moisture retention.

Recycling turkeys cultivate climate resilience

The farmers at Against the Grain Farm have the highest regard for The Soil and regard it as if it were another family member.  A top-of-mind awareness of soil health perpetuates this farm’s culture.  In three days of turkey harvest last week, all the byproducts from the harvest process were emptied onto their composting platform.   Their goal is to strengthen The Soil  and promote healthy plant growth, reduce the need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizers,…

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What Happened?

  What Happened? According to local resident Willie E. Graham (1887 - 1969), God made heaven and had a little left over so he made Floyd County, Virginia. The county is situated on a high plateau adjacent to the Blue Ridge escarpment in the southwestern part of the state. Because of its unique geological setting, all of its streams originate within the county boundaries, none outside it. Floyd County was officially established in 1831. From…

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