Blue Ridge LIfe, Issue #168

MARCH 2019 NO. 168 PRICELESS (FREE!)

STELLING BANJOS 10

• GETTING GUTSY 21

•

SAGE STEPS UP MARCH 2019 Blue Ridge LIFE281

We will Meet or Beat Most Cash and Prescription Plan Prices.

Approved Provider of Piedmont Community Health Plan Prescriptions Independent Distributor 16076491

STONEY CREEK PHARMACY

2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA M-F 9-6, Saturday 9-2 Closed Sunday and Holidays.

24 hour prescription refills: 434-361-0370

With a heart for serving the community he loves, Bob Ladd is here to help manage your health.

Visit us on Facebook to reserve your spot in one of our exciting classes on how to live your best life!

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Call for an appointment in our Afton office today.

540-885-4500

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle!

Sto n e y C r e e k

Nelson County

112 Blue Chicory Lane This 5 BR, 4.5 BA architectural stunner in Stoney Creek is warm and welcoming. True craftsmanship and character are seen throughout the 3,384square-foot home on 1.2 acres.

Boasting mature landscaping, a paved drive, courtyard area, pool, and a 3-car garage with finished living space. Every detail was inspired with luxury and comfort in mind, with 3 fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, oversized decks for entertaining, sauna, steam shower, sunken den with built-in bookcases, synthetic slate roof, and much more.

The garage has plenty of room for additional storage and is finished with an upper level bedroom, office and full bath. $529,000

Oakcrest Lot 7 Build your dream home and enjoy privacy and wonderful mountain views! The land is mostly wooded with elevated building sites providing panoramic views with selective clearing. The 5.12-acre parcel is situated near the upper cul-de-sac in a small community offering great privacy between neighbors. Live in a highly desirable location within minutes of Wintergreen Resort and a mile of Bold Rock, Devils Backbone, and Rockfish Valley Trails. This area is in the process of getting fiber optic internet lines installed and should be on a spring/summer roll out providing the ability to work from home. Soil study previously done for 3 BR dwelling. $119,000

24 Barn Owl Lane Best in Class!

Rare opportunity to build on Lake Monocan in Stoney Creek. Big Blue Ridge view, expansive water view and yes, that's the golf course across the lake! Close to all of Stoney Creek’s amenities, the Farmers Market and a plethora of breweries, cideries, wineries and restaurants. Just 30 minutes to Charlottesville! $149,900

Wintergreen Resort PRICE REDUCED!

16 Stony Cove Lane Rustic sophistication is waiting for you in this handsome mountain retreat. Custombuilt one-owner home has never been rented. Constructed in 2012 with upgraded materials—stone fireplace, wide oak floors, local soapstone counters, stainless steel appliances, hickory cabinetry, tile baths, surround sound and stereo, and more! 3 BR and 3 BA. Family room on the lower level that walks out to a concrete patio wired for a hot tub and plumbed for an outdoor shower. Spacious deck. Mature evergreens to add color year-round.

Low maintenance and energy efficient! $349,000

101 Blackrock Circle This charming log home was renovated and expanded in 2010 with new master suite, kitchen, baths, wood flooring, windows, roof, HVAC, 2 decks, stone exterior, cathedral tongue & groove ceiling, wood beams, skylights, and insulated crawl space. The current owners added a buried propane tank, gas fireplace, gas tankless water heater, new ceiling fans, light fixtures, and complete renovation of the 2nd master bath.

This open but cozy home also features mountain views and is within walking distance of the ski slopes, Blackrock Village, and the Plunge hiking trail. This is the perfect mountain getaway for enjoying skiing in the winter, hiking, golf, concerts, and cooler temperatures in the summer. $335,000

271 Hager Lane Privacy, views and minutes from breweries, cideries, Nellysford and Wintergreen! This 3 BR, 3 BA home on 11.41 acres is perfect for year-round living or as a getaway. The main level has a spacious great room with a handsome fireplace and a wall of windows.

The kitchen has tiled floors with radiant heat and granite countertops and custom cabinets. Hardwood floors in the living area. Master and guest bath have been totally re-done. Upper level master with a balcony and a large sitting room/loft. Walk-out basement with rec room, bath and laundry.

1-car garage/shop and storage area. $349,000 Home and 24 acres (mostly pasture) for $395,000 Additional 42.15 acres could be purchased as well.

1089 Beech Grove Road Own a charming home in the middle of Beech Grove on 2.27 acres with mountain views, mature landscaping and a private back yard. The main residence has 3 BR, and 2.5 BA with a stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen and tile floors. The great room has a cathedral ceiling and opens to a covered entertainment area. A large shop building in the back of the property has a 2 BR, 1 BA apartment. The shop has a huge amount of storage space. Minutes to the Devils Backbone brewery, cideries, Wintergreen Resort, the Farmers Market and shopping and services in Nellysford. $329,000

370 Piney Mountain Lane Modern farm with 50 acres in Shipman. This quality-built cape cod home has 3,900 square feet including 4 BR and 3.5 BA. There

is a 5-acre lake along with a fenced pasture, pole barn with enclosed hay storage, and equipment buildings. $549,000

(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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License Class A - (BLD) 32216A

Custom Homes | Major Additions | Renovations 434.316.0090 RMGantt.com

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

Community

Roy Wheeler’s Mountain and Valley Properties contributes a portion of every sale to a local organization.

This month’s RW gift goes to The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.

Service

Customer surveys in 2018 indicate that 99% of our clients rated us excellent or very good and would recommend us to their friends and family!

Integrity

Our Wintergreen office and agents have never had a legal dispute or real estate board complaint since establishment in 2006.

Beautiful Views!

905 Diamond Hill Condos

Reduced !!Rare WALK OUT ski slope condo. Furnished and ready to enjoy this ski season! Granite counters, stainless appliances, full kitchen, wood burning fireplace to relax by after a day on the slopes. Hot tub on patio! Great location for rental too. Walk to The Edges Restaurant, Mountain Village. $112,500.

Call Steve Marianella (434)566-1293.

Great Investment!

Breathtaking Views!

99 Deerberry Ln

Nice furnished 5 bedroom home that could be your vacation getaway or investment rental. Annual revenue almost $30,000 with much of the ski season pre booked. One car garage, quiet and secluded location on cul de sac, and open layout perfect for entertaining. $364,900. Call Steve Marianella (434)566-1293.

Well Maintaned!

20 Pedlars End

Homes this young offering superb energy efficiency & excellent location at Wintergreen Resort do not come to the market often! Located only a 5-minute walk to the Tyro slope, this modern mountain chalet is the perfect base camp for all who wish to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains. $425,000.

Call Gavin Sherwood (434)962-0226.

Amazing Views!

Endless Views!

16 Buckhorn Ln

A truly elegant home sitting atop Virginia’s Premier Four Season Resort offers all the modern conveniences & beauty you could want! Stone fireplace leads your attention all the way up to the gorgeous pine cathedral ceilings which run thruout the foyer, great room, & gaming loft. $415,000.

Call Gavin Sherwood at (434)962-0226.

1596 Vista Condos

Awesome view from this 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo with updated kitchen and tasteful furnishings. Open floor plan with lots of light. Wood burning fireplace. Walk across the street to golf and tennis. Short walk to ski (behind Highlands), the aquatics center, fitness center and Trillium Foundation. Ready to move in and enjoy spectacular sunrises and star gaze from your deck at night. $229,000. Call Lauri Powell 540-718-1470.

40 Timber Ridge Ln

Extraordinary mountain views from this unique 5 bedroom house, on level lot with a hard-to-find large fenced backyard, perfect for children and dogs. Completely renovated inside and out. Designer furnishings, cabinetry, high end appliances.

Gourmet kitchen to please any chef. $1,400,000 Call Lauri Powell 540-718-1470.

Meet our agents and the organizations they are proud to be a part of: Steve Marianella

Gavin Sherwood

Marjolaine Marianella

Gavin@sherwoodteam.com (434) 962-0226

SMSales1@aol.com (434) 566-1293

Marjolaine.marianella@gmail.com 434-326-2828

Wintergreen Adaptive Ski

WNF, Friends of WG and Nelson Co. Youth Recreation

Charles Bindig

Cbindig@gmail.com (571) 209-7306

The Nature Foundation at WG

Lauri Powell

LPowell@TheChaseTeam.com (540) 718-1470

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation Monticello

www.RW-MVP.com | 434-361-1490 725 Beech Grove Rd, Roseland, VA 22967 Partnering with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@blueridgelife.com

a mom & pop since 2005

Blue Ridge Life magazine (formerly Nelson County Life) is published monthly by The Afton Group, LLC and is distributed free of charge. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

Advertising deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at BlueRidgeLife.com or contact us at info@blueridgelife.com.

Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company.

Blue Ridge Life Magazine, published by The Afton Group, LLC is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing oppotunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.’ This magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

Contributors Linda Crowe Victoria Beecher Godfrey Stephanie Gross Kate Simon Advertising sales@blueridgelife.com Address: The Afton Group, LLC P.O. Box 455, Wintergreen, Virginia 22958

434.361.0104

Have a story idea? Email us at info@blueridgelife.com

march 2019

,

Yolks for Folks

Eggs picked daily by humans, laid by hens that enjoy a life on pasture, and nest on fluffy piles of hemp.

Sold by the dozen at Tuckahoe Antiques, Rt. 151 in Nellysford.

10

stelling banjos Beards and banjos seem to go together.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

Where in my talent contract do I get royalties for use of this photo?

#hensonhemp

from

21

thepublishers

gutsy A cultural revolution, fermentation is making a comeback.

28

step up for down syndrome Sage Ebelherr is one of many faces behind an annual community event.

inside basic necessities ................. 9 cover story...........................10 ask the dr. ......................... 22 at home with marlo ......... 23

on the cover Photo credit: Stephanie Gross Geoff Stelling picks a tune on a banjo bearing his name. Story starts on page 10.

Mama’s got a new nickname: Band director.

You can thank my witty daughter for that distinction. Though I can jam out with a plastic recorder, appropriately cradle a viola, and air drum my heart out whenever that Phil Collins song comes on, I’ve never been in a band, much less directed one. Managing a team of polyester-clad teens holding shiny things on a football field is way beyond my skill set.

“Places, please!” Peyton will tease me each month as I gently herd cats/ assemble the family for the monthly “from the publishers” picture that’s been going on for about 10 years, longer if you don’t count the kids.

The band director can take the hint and my relationship with my family and the preservation of my sanity is important. Kids, you win.

This monthly picture thing is all yours.

Well, I say that now, and like many folks raising children, our parenting philosophy seems to change roughly every 60 days.

This picture was taken super last-minute after dinner as news of impending snowy weather began to trickle in. There’s one thing you

never want to interrupt: Tommy and his glass of wine as a winter weather advisory comes down. What we’re saying is this picture didn’t take much planning.

And I love it. I have one child who is barefoot, clearly still in a girly doll phase. Beside her I’ve got a young prepster who seems to be outgrowing Minecraft and is now into Bendy and the Ink Machine.

If you love the look and feel of old black and white cartoons like Steamboat Willie, you will love the Bendy and the Ink Machine aesthetic. Even alleged band directors have been known to enjoy watching them on YouTube with their kids.

Enjoy!

Yvette and Tommy Stafford

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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SPECIALS Through the End of M arch!

(Sunday) ! Kids night (Monday) # Steak night (Tuesday) $ 1 Off Pint Night (Wednesday) Cheeseburger & a Pint Night $

STE AL the GLASS

(Thursday) * 1 Off Pint Night (Friday) $Seafood Night $

LIVE MUSIC 7-10 PM % Prime Rib night

(Saturday)

Visit wildwolfbeer .com or our facebook page for more details on specials, events & live music lineup!

Coming Soon!

This Barleywine exhibits wonderful layered caramel,toffee and bready notes backed by an amazing american hop finish. 11.5% ABV || 40 I BU 2461 ROCKFISH VALLEY HWY • NELLYSFORD, VA | WILDWOLFBEER.COM 8

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

basicnecessities

By Kay Pfaltz www.basicnecessities.com www.kaypfaltz.com Trends, Eating & Drinking with the Seasons What’s old becomes new again, and what’s new quickly fades into tomorrow’s sigh or snicker. But the seasons are eternal. True, with climate change, our weather patterns are changing: warm weather in February, big snows in March and April but unless a meteor strikes, spring will come, the days lengthen and the peepers begin their chorus at dusk. And for better or for worse, trends will always be a part of our social fabric. One year it’s kale or avocado and mermaid toast; the next boba and cheese tea. The pomp and grandeur of Haute Cuisine was toppled by the innovative youth of Nouvelle Cuisine. Yet like most regimes, this one too became corrupt, and the pendulum swung back to comfort food and Bistro cooking. And so it goes….

What makes sense—what the animals know and our ancestors knew (were forced to know or perish) was how to eat with the seasons. There were no tomatoes in

Winter is a Great Time to Tour the Best of Wintergreen

winter. Many studies point to the health benefits of eating seasonally, not to mention lessening our carbon footprint. Just because we can eat strawberries in January doesn’t mean they’ll taste like they do in June— that once-a-year thrill of the first juicy berry we knew as children but have all but lost with our craving for immediacy and ease.

March can find us salivating in anticipation of spring’s bounty: spinach, asparagus, ramps, fiddleheads and spring peas. Try grilled asparagus with cilantro pepita pesto with a glass of Grüner, Verdicchio or Orvieto in orange or white. Remember, orange wine is simply skin-macerated white.

Or maybe spring pea risotto with Picpoul or Riesling. If you’ve leftover truffles from winter, throw those in for a jolt of umami and pair with an orange wine. What’s old is new and this trendy newcomer actually dates back millenia. As natural wines become mainstream, we’ll come to think of Pét-Nat and orange (amber or ramato) wines the way we once did rosé. Anyone remember the flute à corset (ie weird, squiggly-

MLS# 585773

$60,000

shaped) bottles of rosé in the 70s and 80s? Most wasn’t so great, but who cared? You were in Antibes or somewhere south before a dazzling Mediterranean. And then, just like that rosé became fashionable in the U.S., a trend that has fortunately not faded away.

Come browse our skin-macerated whites (orange wines). Red, white and rosé too!

Cantina Marilina, Sikelè, 2018 (organic) $18.99 – Grecanico from Noto, Sicily, with 16 hours on the skin. Look for notes of hazelnut, jackfruit, fermented apple with some funky sourness. Pair with arugula salad with shaved Grana Padano and walnut oil. The bitter arugula and umami of the cheese will pair perfectly with the acidity and slight tannins of the wine. No arugula yet in the garden? Try leeks au gratin with Gruyère. But don’t drink orange wine because someone tells you it’s the next rosé, drink it because you love an earthy, full-bodied, different tasting white. Trends come and go but remember classic and good, as in fashion, tend to last.

MLS# 585525

$83,500

Café Wine and Cheese Shop A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge!

Wine tastings offered on Wednesdays and every other Tuesday. Call for more information.

Mon 10am-4pm Retail Only Tu-Th 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Sun 10am-3pm Reservations advised for weekend dinner and brunch.

2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us

Friend BASIC NECESSITIES Visit us on Foodwaze Review us on Trip Advisor and Yelp

MLS# 585756

$254,900

734 Laurelwood

3204 North Ridge

1801 High Ridge Court

1BR, 1 BA condo at a short walk to skiing, restaurants, The Market.

Private swimming pool. New furniture.

1BR, 2 BA condo with nice year round mountain and Shenandoah Valley Views. Beautiful sunsets.

Furnished. Ground floor.

3 BR, 3 BA condo with bright, open and spacious floor plan.

Good mountain and valley views.

Handicap accessible. Furnished.

Dima Holmes 434.962.2252 DimaDHolmes@gmail.com

MLS# 584878

$409,000

45 Timber Camp Drive P.O. Box 747 Nellysford VA 22958 WintergreenResort.com

Beautiful, energy efficient contemporary home built in 2007.

3BR, 2.5 BA, nice seasonal views.

MLS# 585911

$459,000

2243 Laurel Springs Drive Craftsman home located on 1.3 ac lot bordering the GWNF. Superb privacy and fantastic mountain and valley views.

MLS# 585849

$659,000

323 Chestnut Place Luxury 4BR, 3.5 BA home with amazing mountain and valley views to the East. 2 master suites, den. Main floor living.

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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ALBEMARLE COUNTY STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

Stelling Banjos

Tours and Tastings daily 299 eades lane lovingston, Virginia 22949 www.vadistillery.com | @vadistillery

A rare peek inside the shop where banjo beauties are born, strings attached.

For a guy who got kicked out of the University of Virginia for “playing too much music,” there’s a certain poetic justice that Geoff Stelling is making a respectable living in a one-room school house tucked away in Jefferson country. I’d love to tell you where Stelling Banjo Works is but Geoff ’s stare is not the kind you deflect.

“They’ll just come up here unannounced,” he laments.

“Here” is a hollow near an ambiguous county line. The last time I was up this way, it was a dead zone for cell service. Now I’ve got three bars of LTE, a better signal than I’ve got on my farm which is right off a main road.

When a banjo-loving visitor drops in without making an appointment, “it disrupts our work,” Geoff explains. “I mean, we have to keep working.”

“Understood,” I assured him. And I promised Geoff that even though I’m shining a bright light on his world by publishing a story on him and his craft, this piece is not a brochure — and it is most certainly not an open invitation for the public to disrupt the important work happening within these walls. Just remember: If you hear banjo pickin’ in the hills and you’re not sure where you are, it’s best to turn the other way.

Get it? Then, read on. continued on page 12

Blue Ridge Homecrafters Environmentally friendly custom building remodeling & renovation

blueridgehomecrafters@gmail.com www.blueridgehomecrafters.com facebook.com/blueridgehomecrafters

Owner, Philip Wangensteen Building High Quality Homes Since 1994

Call us today

434-987-0991 MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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continued from page 11

Before I step foot inside this mountain schoolhouse-turned shop, we meet in the office, a building adjacent to the shop.

There’s a wall plastered with signed autographs of bluegrass artists, obvious owners of a prized Stelling banjo. And over to the right is a glossy of comedian/actor/producer Steve Martin.

“What the hell is he doing with one of your banjos?” I asked, immediately awkwardly aware that I just dropped a curse word in front of Geoff and I haven’t even been here two minutes.

Backstory: I used to play doubles tennis with him and I believe audibly cursing on the court to be a sin. Geoff didn’t blink at my word choice and started on a story about banjo legend Tony Ellis. Tony appeared on the David Letterman Show in 2005 with Steve, a big fan of his who happens to be an accomplished banjo player as well.

“On a Saturday afternoon I get a phone call from Steve Martin. He says, ‘What would I have to do to get a banjo?’ I said, ‘Tell me what you want, I’ll give you a price and ship it to you.’ So he got one called the Swallowtail.”

Described on Stelling’s website as a “truly Celtic banjo from stem to stern” the instrument is crafted out of shaded curly maple, with nickel or chrome engraving depending on your taste and budget. “The swallow, oak leaf, acorn, and closed knot inlays relate to the sacred Druid and Celtic traditions of the past.” In other words, it’s a beautiful instrument that produces beautiful sounds. A stunning marriage of function and form, much like my instrument of choice, a gorgeous 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display. And while I won’t go as far to accuse Geoff of being anything like testy Apple founder Steve Jobs — though he always struck me as eccentric — I learn that Geoff began his banjo business much like Steve began his computer business: inside a garage in California.

While Jobs was traveling through India in 1974 seeking enlightenment, Geoff had already found it and set up shop in La Mesa, just outside of San Diego. continued on page 14

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR MARCH? 3/1 - 5:30-8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - STAN HAMRICK

3/2 - ALL DAY

MARDI GRAS PARTY - CAJUN FOOD SPECIALS & LIVE CAJUN MUSIC FROM JOLIE FILLE

3/8 - 5:30-8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - GREG WARD

3/15 - 5:30-8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - ELI COOK

3/16-3/17 - ALL DAY

ST. PATRICK’S DAY - IRISH FOOD SPECIALS & GIVEAWAYS ALL WEEKEND

3/22 - 5:30-8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - GARY RANDAL

3/29 - 5:30-8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - ALEX ARBAUGH

NELSON COUNTY’S

ORIGINAL BREWERY

AFTON BREWPUB HOURS MON-SAT: 11AM-10PM | SUN: 11AM-9PM VISIT WWW.BLUEMOUNTAINBREWERY.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION · 540-456-8020 · 9519 CRITZERS SHOP RD, AFTON VIRGINIA 22920

Anniversary Celebration Saturday, April 6 1 - 5 PM Special commemorative glass free with tasting

Côte-Rôtie Food Truck

Erin and the Wildfire 2-4 PM

1PM - Meet & Greet Gabriele Rausse the “Godfather of Virginia Wine”

Richard Leahy book signing 1-2

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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continued from page 12

ANTIQUES

TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen

CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville

VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton

Come warm up with one of our

Daily Soup Specials

MAC’S Country Store FRIED CHICKEN

The Best Around Burgers – Salads – Sandwiches Selection of Va Foods and Wines 7023 Patrick Henry Hwy, Roseland

434-277-5305 Mon-Sat 6am-8pm Sun 9am-8pm EXXON GAS 24/7 14

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

But before the banjo became Geoff ’s business, it was his love and it budded when he was on the cusp of becoming a teenager.

Left by his mother to be raised by his grandmother in Milwaukee (that’s a whole ‘nother story), Geoff ’s mother came back for her son and had a new man in her life about the time Geoff turned 6.

“We drove across country in the middle of winter to somewhere in the Bronx. It’s kinda fuzzy ... It was a long time ago.”

The Bronx apartment had a rodent problem so they quickly found a better place in Manhattan, near 3rd Avenue and 51st street, by the East River. It was there that Geoff the city kid first came into contact with the country sounds of a banjo.

“As a 10-year-old I had been listening to AM radio at night when I was supposed to have been sleeping, and I was tuning into The Wheeling Jamboree and maybe the Grand Ol’ Opry, listening to bluegrass, country music.

And the banjo caught my ear.”

Banjo caught his ear like a possum catches a chicken, devouring it with a seemingly insatiable appetite. Everything — well, most everything — was banjo for Geoff at that point.

His journey from New York to California to Virginia involves strategically dodging the Vietnam war draft (though not his military duty since he did join the Navy Reserves), a starter marriage that ended in divorce (Ladies, relax. He is happily married to his current wife Sherry, who began as his accountant), and various gigs in bands as a banjo player. By the time he had chosen to set up shop in Somewhere-in-the-hills, Virginia, there was no question banjo was in his blood.

It’s rainy and foggy as fudge as we walk the few steps over to the shop where a small team of men are diligently working on instruments. Local musician, Jimmy Spitler, is perched on a stool working on a banjo neck. Jim Mereen is in construction but also puts in a good chunk of hours at the shop.

David Houchens is in an adjacent room, carefully guiding a piece of wood through the blade of a band saw.

Off in a room away from the saw dust sits a row of finished banjos awaiting Geoff ’s approval.

“I have to set them up after they’re put together and I’ll check the strings and the neck bow and the tension and where the bridge is set and I’ll set it up to where like it and play a tune or two on it. I just set one up today and packed it up before you got here.”

And like a pesky visitor — though I am on official business — I begged him to show me what that sounded like. He settles onto a stool in his shop and begins picking away.

“35 years I’ve been here. That’s half my life.

I’m pretty much attached to it.”

Tethered together, like the strings on a banjo. BRL

March Adventures OUTPOST TAP ROOM & KITCHEN

BASECAMP BREWPUB & MEADOWS

50 northwind lane, lexington, VA • 540.462.6200

200 mosbys run, Roseland, VA • 434.361.1001

3/5

Mardi Gras Party, 4-10pm

3/9

Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm

Live music from The Adrian Duke Project, food & drink specials, costume contest and giveaways throughout the evening.

Acoustic duo

3/16 3/16 3/21

Reilly's Red Fun Run, Registration: 9am, fun run: 10am Wear a St. Patrick's Day inspired costume for a chance to win prizes. $20 per person, visit dbbrewingcompany.com to sign up.

St. Patrick's Day Celebration Irish music, Irish food, and Irish beer!!! What more could you ask for?

Reilly's Red Irish Style Red Ale and Ramsey's Export Stout releases start at 11:30am, Irish band starts at 4pm in The Meadows.

Spirits 101 Class, 6-7:30pm Join Matt Casto, Manager of Distilling Operation at Devils Backbone Distilling Co. on a tour of our distillery and a guided tasting of our current spirits. $18 per person, visit dbbrewingcompany.com to sign up.

3/23

Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm

WEDNESDAYS

GROWLER GRAB DAY, 11:30AM - 10PM

Acoustic duo

3/2 3/7 3/8 3/9 3/14

MUG CLUB, 6:30-8:30PM Tasting Beer Session – Discuss Tasting Techniques over a purchased flight

ALEX SHREVE, Rockin’ Jammin’ Acoustic, 6:30-9:30PM KYLE & JUSTIN, Reggae/Soul, 6:30-9:30PM PI DAY CELEBRATION, ALL DAY Get a slice of pie with every meal purchase (while supplies last)

3/16

ST. PADDY’S DAY PARTY, 6:30-9:30PM

3/21 3/22 3/23 3/28 3/29 3/30

GROWLER GIRLS, 6:30-9:30PM

SUNDAYS

BRUNCH SPECIALS & BEER MIMOSAS, 11:30AM-3:30PM

WEDNESDAYS

DBbrewingcompany.com

RYAN GREER, Soul Americana, 6:30-9:30PM

TUESDAYS

Irish music by Silo feat. Chris & Craig; Wear your best green; Irish food specials Paint Fundraiser – Benefitting scholarships for local women in Rockbridge County

CRAIG HANSON, Folk Rock, 6:30-9:30PM TROUTMOUTH, Folk, 6:30-9:30PM GAME NIGHT: SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT, 7-10PM Hosted by Dizzle – Prize for Winner

GREG WARD, Reggae, 6:30-9:30PM UNLUCKY & LONESOME, Old Time Americana, 6:30-9:30PM GROWLER GRAB DAY, 11:30AM-10PM BURGER, BEER, BRAINPOWER, 6:30-8:30PM $11 Burger – Two Extraordinary Chef Crafted Burger Specials for just $11 Special pricing on pints between 6:30–8:30PM Trivia – test your knowledge over a great burger and a pint

Enjoy Responsibly. ©2019 Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA

Successfully Matching Buyers And Sellers Since 2004 JUST LISTED !

ROCKFISH RIVER VIEWS!

ARCHITECTURAL STUNNER

2136 Dutch Creek Ln, Shipman $495,000 (MLS 585903) Situated between Sugarloaf and Mosby Mountains in Nelson County is this 94 acre parcel with the perfect combination of hardwood forest and open pasture. Follow Dutch Creek to this small community created with conservation and preservation in mind.

Hiking trails, large pond, tobacco barns, and more.

1128 Rockfish River Road, Shipman $289,900 A trip along the Rockfish River brings you to a spot just south of the historic “Rockfish Depot”, which is the setting for this charming 1820’s farmhouse.

This federal style home with double covered front porches enjoys a view of the river and surrounding mountains. 2,197 sq. ft with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, fireplaces, heart of pine floors, generator and much more. A must see!

112 Blue Chicory Lane, Stoney Creek $529,000 (MLS 585617) True craftsmanship is evident throughout this 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home on 1.2 acres in Stoney Creek.

Over 3,000 sq. ft. with mature landscaping, paved drive, courtyard area, pool & detached 3 car garage with finished living space. Every detail was inspired with luxury & comfort in mind. 3 Fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, sauna, steam shower and much more.

Sara McGann

434.996.4962 sbmcgann@gmail.com MARCH 2019

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Mountain Homes for Your Outdoor Lifestyle.

MOUNTAIN HOMES AT WINTERGREEN

$199,000

MLS# 584187

MLS# 584347

$274,567

$54,000

MLS# 576174

62 Oak Lane

127 Black Rock Circle

216 Timbers Condos

This is a quiet ski chalet that’s had many renovations. New hardwood floors, new kitchen, cabinets, counters & appliances, all new bathrooms. Lots of storage space and features a convenient location with great seasonal views. Close to ski slopes & activities.

Beautifully renovated and furnished with great taste. Recent renovations include central heat/ air, gas 3-sided fireplace, new roof in 2010, all hard-woods and tile, and much more. This home is walking distance to the ski slopes and located in the heart of Black Rock Village.

This villa is fully remodeled. It’s offered turn-key and ready to be enjoyed. Tastefully furnished.

Strong rental in resort’s rental program. Walk to shopping, dining, skiing, festivals, kids’ programs, etc. The ultimate in year-round convenience, for you or your guests!

$249,900

MLS# 579303

MLS# 580020

$379,000

MLS# 584042

$129,900

62 Agate Lane

1167 Devils Knob Loop

2041 Stone Ridge Condos

Wonderful Blackrock location and just a short walk to skiing on Tyro ski slope. Central heat & air and many new upgrades. A rare combination of highly desirable features and location. The lots to the left and right of home may also be purchased for more privacy.

The perfect Christmas present to any family!

This beautiful home adjoins the George Washington National Forest and Appalachian Trail. Close to all Devils Knob facilities. The view from the rock out cropping at the rear of the home is spectacular. Nice deck for entertaining.

Nice floor plan of a 2BR, 2BA condo on one level.

Beautiful views of the 18th Fairway of Devils Knob Golf Course. Wonderful sunsets all year round with a bit of mountain views in the winter. Condo is a short walk to all upper mountain amenities.

Sold Furnished.

$495,000

MLS# 584266

302 Pedlars Edge Drive Beautiful home with year-round mountain and valley views. Enjoy breathtaking sunrises from several large decks as well as from inside the home. Dramatic great room with floor to ceiling windows and stone wood burning fireplace.

Large lot. Short drive to the ski slopes.

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200

16

CONDOS AT WINTERGREEN

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

MLS# 578180

$549,000

293 Cedar Drive Rare opportunity to own one of most amazing sites at Wintergreen, with panoramic views in every season from the top of the Blue Ridge mountains! Existing home has been well maintained by the owner, for whom this was a primary residence for many years.

MLS# 581067

$199,000

1640 Overlook Condos Looking for an immaculate 2 BR, 2 BA condo with minimal steps, is close to everything, and boasts some of the finest mountain & valley views at Wintergreen? This is it!

Recently updated, easy one level living with an abundance of natural light & a spacious deck.

WintergreenRealEstate.com

To Learn More, Contact Us Today!

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200 STONEY CREEK AND NELSON COUNTY

$65,000

MLS# 585331

MLS# 573912

$115,000

2040 Stone Ridge Condos

738 Laurelwood Condos

Absolutely the best value for a 1 BR, 2 BA condo at Wintergreen! Meticulously maintained and upgraded; this mountain getaway overlooks a landscaped lawn, gardens, & boasts views of 18th fairway on the Devils Knob Golf course, plus winter views of the valley & mountains beyond!

Cozy mountain condo located in the heart of the Wintergreen Resort Village. Open and bright floor plan of 2BR/2BA on one level. Many interior upgrades. Condo conveys fully furnished and in move-in condition. On the Wintergreen Resort rental program and generating a solid revenue.

MLS# 582360

$130,000

1595 Vistas Condos This condo is a bottom floor end unit with one of the most spectacular views on the East Coast. Ski shuttle stops at front door, and across the street from restaurant, spa, pools & exercise facilities.

A short walk to Devils Knob Course, Tennis, and exclusive Devils Grill.

MLS# 584116

$274,900

MLS# 576097

$459,000

77 Valleymont Lane This home is exceptionally well constructed.

The views are some of the best in Stoney Creek, across the Rockfish Valley and surrounding mountains. The lot offers exceptional privacy, since it sits on over 3 acres. The house has two level decks and a gazebo. Two-car garage.

$145,000

3201 North Ridge Condos

MLS# 584725

$549,000

947 Black Walnut Drive

A very spacious ground level 3BR, 3BA condo. The ski shuttle stops at complex. This condo is a short walk to restaurants, tennis, golf, Wintergreen Garden Spa, The Nature Foundation, hiking, etc. Located on Devils Knob. Seasonal views of valley & sunsets.

MLS# 585445

MLS# 575395

This spacious home enjoys a great open flow for entertaining on the main level. Sunroom off the kitchen is a bright place to gather in every kind of weather. Large, unfinished area on the upper level is great for storage or could be finished. Large hobby room on lower level.

$335,000

635 & 636 White Oak Condos

1562 Vistas Condos

Unique opportunity to own 2 White Oaks combined into a large 4BR, 4BA, furnished villa, with many upgrades. With no other attached units to this property, it feels like you have your own private home but with the benefit of maintenance free living.

Magnificent views over the village center, ski slopes, and Rockfish Valley. Condo is located on top two levels of building. Cathedral ceilings, two master suites, Oak floor in great room, granite counters in kitchen. Walking distance to some amenities. On ski shuttle route.

MLS# 576857

$699,000

1261 Crawfords Climb Custom, private home rests atop Crawfords Climb. A dramatic wall of windows allows abundant light into the home. Decks offer panoramic views. A soaring stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Paved driveway, stone walls & entry columns create an elegant statement.

3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen Resort VA 22958

MARCH 2019

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Rockfish River Gallery Fine Art and Exquisite Crafts from Virginia

4th Year Anniversary

Celebrate with us Saturday, March 9 and enjoy

10% off storewide!

Receive a free gift bag with yout purchase over $10 . Celebration is from 11 am 3pm.

Part Of Our Mission Is to Allow As Many As Possible Local And Extended Local Artists And Artisans To Display Their Work and to Promote Art in the Community at Large. We now have more than 50 artists, Artisans and Authors Displaying their Work

Rockfish Valley Community Center 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA 22920 We are open all year Weds. through Sat. from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. 434 - 294 - 4668 Check our website for info, map and news. www.RockfishRiverGallery.com

asktheDr.

By Dr. Charles Cole Afton Family Medicine Dear Dr. Cole, I feel stressed all the time. I don’t know what to do about it.

Stress is an inevitable part of life and will always be there to some extent. It may be related to work, money, family, health problems, marriage issues, etc. Having purposeful stress reduction and stress management strategies is very important so that you can control the stress rather than letting it control you.

Avoiding stress when possible is important. We have complicated lives – often more complicated than is necessary. Try to simplify your life and don’t go looking for trouble.

Live within your means and have good healthy habits. Learn effective time management. Have structure in your life so you don’t feel like you’re spinning out of control.

But you can’t avoid all stress. A certain amount of stress in inevitable.

It is important when looking at stress to consider these questions: Can you do anything about it? Is it something you can control? If you have no control over a stressful situation then you may need to accept it and learn to manage the stress. It reminds me of the well-

known Serenity Prayer by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr– God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

If you have stress in life that is unavoidable and you cannot control it, how can you manage it? Stress management does not just happen, you need to be purposeful about it. Different people use different strategies and you need to find what works best for you. General principles we can all use include keeping a positive attitude, good nutrition, regular exercise (very important), adequate rest, making time for hobbies or pleasurable activities, avoiding self-medication with drugs or alcohol.

Meditation, mindfulness, prayer are other techniques that are often used.

Don’t let your stress take over, learn to control it.

Dr. Charles Cole is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. This column is provided as a service to readers of Blue Ridge Life Magazine and it does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of this magazine.

If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.

S E N TA R A A F T O N FA M I LY M E D I C I N E

CALL US TODAY!

434-263-4500 8535 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949

FOSTERFUELS.COM PROPANE • GAS LOGS • TANKS • HEATERS • GRILLS & MORE 18

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

DISCOVER WHY PEOPLE TRUST SENTARA AFTON FAMILY MEDICINE OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm 10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR151), Afton, VA For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sentara.com or call (540) 456-6710.

Follow us on Facebook @MarthaJeffersonHospital, and Twitter @MarthaJefferson.

athome

Spring into Action!

Staging your home to spring ahead of the competition

withMarlo

By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County

Spring can breathe new life into the housing market. With the April showers and May flowers come more buyers… and, oh yes, more sellers. If you are planning to sell your home this spring, you need to differentiate your home.

How? Consider price, marketing, and condition. Set a marketdriven price, hire an agent who will aggressively market your home, and make sure that your home is in tiptop shape. Here are a few staging tips that can help your home spring ahead of the competition.

Give priority to these first three tips, some of which cost nothing more than a little time and energy: De-clutter! Have a yard sale or rent a storage unit. Remove books from shelves, pack the knickknacks, and clear the countertops. Pack away your shabby recliner and get rid of “I will use it one day” furnishings

and gadgets. You want just enough furniture to define a room’s purpose without over-crowding. If your house is jam-packed, it may not appear spacious enough to the buyer prospect.

Fix it! Minor repairs and/ or renovations can have major payoffs. Leaking faucets, squeaking doors, torn screens, un-caulked tubs, scuffed walls, and dated wallpaper or fixtures can dampen a buyer’s enthusiasm. Fix those problems, so the buyer feels excited about the possibilities, rather than overwhelmed with deferred maintenance.

Spring-clean! A clean home is refreshing, rather than the depressing alternative. Go beyond dusting and vacuuming, and truly deep clean everything from floor to ceiling… yes even the cobwebs and dust gathered in the fans and those other hard to reach places. If you don’t do windows, than hire someone!

Marlo Allen

Other staging considerations: Create positive focal points. Pull furniture away from walls and arrange in appealing groupings allowing plenty of pass-thru space. Don’t block the rooms “wow factor” like a fireplace or a gorgeous window view.

Highlight key rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms most influence a buyer’s decision. Even if these rooms are not the most modern, they can appear “newer” and more inviting with the right touches. Consider replacing light fixtures, faucets, or drawer pulls if needed. Otherwise, dress the rooms with a splash of color to accent the space. Kitchen: fresh flowers, bowl of fruit, new sink mat and towels. Bathroom: Fresh flowers, fragrant candle, new bath mat, towels, and shower curtain.

Cultivate curb appeal and accentuate outdoor living space.

Buyers may never get inside if the outside doesn’t have curb appeal.

434-996-3525

Call Marlo, an experienced, local, top producing agent!

Get market facts for a property you plan to sell or buy. Consultations are FREE!

Associate Broker Cell: 434.996.3525 Web: InsistOnThatGirl.com Email: Marlo@InsistOnThatGirl.com

Insist on that girl!

Buyers often have more options in the spring; make your home “The One”!

Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson County and helped found Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery of Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.

InsistOnThatGirl.com Custom with large,open gathering places!

“For Sale” to SOLD!

Marlo G. Allen

Power wash, paint, landscape, and mulch as needed. Makeover the deck, porch or patio; cover the worn picnic table with a bright tablecloth, replace the faded chair cushions, and arrange greenery and flowers.

Strive for cheerful and bright.

Turn on lights and lamps and open blinds and curtains to let the sunshine pour in. Consider removing heavy, light-blocking window coverings.

Appeal to all the senses. Just prior to a showing, toss a clean sheet and fabric softener into the dryer or boil water with orange peels and cinnamon.

1211 Blue Ridge Dr; Wintergreen #582237; 4Br/4Ba; $374,900

Well maintained and constructed Tectonics home with privacy and direct golf course access and views! Ideal opportunity to have a mountain getaway for personal enjoyment AND an income producing property. Privately rented by owners with rental income of $17,000 per year. Sold turn-key with ability to sleep 12. Many extras: cathedral ceilings, stone fireplace, open flow for easy entertaining, spacious kitchen with island and breakfast nook, 2 master suites, bathrooms for every bedroom, second family room, 800+ sq ft of wrap around decking, lots of parking, and ideal location to walk to many amenities such as golf, tennis, hiking trails, and the Chestnut Springs Park with FREE pool, playground, and pavilion for property owners.

Marlo is a top-producing agent throughout Nelson County, Stoney Creek and Wintergreen.

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Celebrating a culture of

EXCELLENCE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

CHARLOTTESVILLE STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD

Gutsy!

A Cultural Revolution

WAYNESBORO

[ augusta county ]

STORY by LINDA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

In kitchens, pantries, basements and back rooms, a cultural revolution is quietly sweeping the country. Your next door neighbor, the guy at work – you never know who may embracing the growyour-own movement that is mounting in numbers across the Commonwealth.

And it’s all perfectly legal.

We’re talking bacterial cultures here, the stuff of fermentation – sauerkraut and pickles – by the jar and by the crock. This is not your mama’s sauerkraut, no. It’s more like your grandmother’s.

The 10,000-year old practice of fermenting vegetables is back. continued on page 22

The Fountain Room at The Mark Addy Inn is now open for

Sunday Brunch Brunch available Sunday's 11am- 2pm Breakfast Daily

Dinner available Thursday-Saturday (10% off any reservation if you live within 50 miles of us!)

ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL MEALS (434)361-1101

Help us GROW!

Garden Week Special April 8-11 & April 15-18

STAY TWO NIGHTS FOR $100 This Spring we are offering a discounted stay to those who are interested in helping us keep our Inn at its best indoors and out!

CALL NOW TO RESERVE! (minimum 2 night stay-each person must work 4 hours each day)

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Brady S. Nicks Attorney-at-Law,

Counselor, and Officer of the Court, serving Citizens of Nelson and Surrounding Counties in Matters before the Courts, Civil or Criminal, or between Parties.

Consultations are Confidential and Free.

434-263-4141 All Client calls returned within 24 Business Hours.

Office Located on the Courthouse Grounds, Lovingston. nicksatlaw.com

ANTIQUES

TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen

CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville

VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton 22

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

continued from page 21

Things have changed since Sandor Katz, the fermentation evangelist largely credited with the revival of this food preservation method, gave his first fermentation workshop in 1999.

“In our time, most people are raised to view bacteria as dangerous enemies and refrigeration as a household necessity,” he says in the introduction to his book, The Art of Fermentation. “The idea of leaving food outside of refrigeration in order to encourage bacterial growth triggers fears of danger, disease and even death.” Now the folks at Blue Ridge Bucha are hosting workshops to dispel that myth.

On a foggy night in Waynesboro, nine people armed with sharp knives, bowls and mason jars trickle out of the surrounding hills and hollows to gather at Blue Ridge Bucha for a fermentation workshop. (Itself a fermentation business, BRB brews and markets kombucha, a fermented tea drink, but that’s another story.)

Filling the tap room are crates of cabbages, boxes of collard greens, jars of crushed red peppers, pickling spices, knobby hands of gingerroot and fat cloves of fresh garlic, all provided by Dawn Story and Brian Neitzel, partners in Farmstead Ferments, a local business in Scottsville, Virginia.

They’re here on this night to share their knowledge of all things fermented.

“As a child, I was always the one drinking the pickle juice. That was my entre into the world of fermentation,” says Dawn. As for Brian, his German grandparents made sauerkraut by the barrel. “But they canned it afterwards,” he says, a tinge of remorse in his voice. “I didn’t know at the time that canning destroys the beneficial bacteria.”

Dawn perches on a stool, the very picture of classic style in her plaid vest, ruffled blouse and tweed slacks. Colorful jars of bright carrots, green globes of Brussel sprouts, and delicate pink gingerroot glow like rare gems on the counter behind her. “How many of you have eaten fermented foods today?” she asks, looking for a show of hands. Not that many.

“If you’ve had coffee, tea, yogurt, chocolate, beer, wine, or cheese, then you can raise your hand,” she says. “We eat them every day without even knowing it. Fermented foods are some of the most coveted foods on the planet,” she continues. “It is said that one third of the food consumed is actually fermented.”

Fermentation is one of the oldest preservation methods, she explains, with examples found throughout all cultures throughout all of time.

Cleopatra used apple cider as a cosmetic. Sea captains stowed barrels of sauerkraut on long voyages to stave off scurvy, proof that not only are they delicious (Dawn calls it a “party on a plate”), but fermented vegetables are good for your health – possibly essential as researchers are discovering.

Healthy bacteria break down the cellulose in vegetables, making them easier to digest and as a result nutrients like iron become more available to your system. And they’re loaded with vitamins B12, C, amino acids, enzymes and electrolytes. It’s widely believed that fermented foods are safer than raw vegetables due to their higher saline and lower pH environment which makes survival difficult for dangerous bacteria like E. coli and other bacteria which cause food poisoning like botulism and salmonella.

Get in the Swing!

Come Play at Wintergreen

It’s golf season at Wintergreen Resort. Ranked the number one golf resort by Blue Ridge Country Magazine, Wintergreen is the ideal destination to get your game ready for 2019 with our top-rated Golf Academy and 45 holes spread across two beautiful courses.

From private lessons to 3-hour intensive clinics to 3-day schools and weeklong junior camps, we offer focused, personalized instruction on every aspect of the game, tailored for a range of abilities, from beginners to life-long golfers.

Visit the website for all the details including special offers.

855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com

continued on page 25

MARCH 2019

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23

We are currently buying old barns, sheds, cabins, and houses for salvage. have one to sell? call us.

Meade Shirley 540-241-9075 elkmountaincontracting.com 24

Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019

Winter(green) Wonderland.

Come Play in the Mountains!

continued from page 23

The wonders don’t stop there. Research is being conducted on the “gut-brain connection.” In the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, researchers Eva Selhub, Alan Logan and Alison Bested indicate that “… fermentation may often amplify the specific nutrient and phytochemical content of foods, the ultimate value of which may associated with mental health;” also that “… the microbes (for example, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species) associated with fermented foods may also influence brain health via direct and indirect pathways.”

“We are discovering that one of the keys to our well-being is the well-being of the microflora with whom we share these bodies, and with whom we co-evolved,” says The Omnivore Dilemma’s author, Michael Pollan in the forward to Katz’s book. “And it looks like they really, really like sauerkraut.”

Added benefit: naturally fermented foods have a decently long shelf life.

Farmstead Ferments puts a 6-month “Best By” date on their jars, but they can be eaten long after that. While they don’t have to be refrigerated, cooling slows down the fermenting process, making the veggies stay crisper longer. However once they grow soft, they can be used to improve the flavor of other foods, such as stir fries, soups and stews. Very little goes to waste.

Perhaps best of all, it’s simple to make your own fermented foods. All you need is a cabbage, salt, a jar and a sharp knife. Brian, more casually dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt and a black apron, demonstrates his preferred way to chop cabbage, slicing it like bread, then chopping it up and placing it in a bowl. He pours a little sea salt in his hands then plunges them into the bowl begins to massage the shreds which soon begin to glisten as the cabbage releases its moisture. Then he crams it all in a mason jar, pounds it down with a wooden mallet, and screws the lid on. Before the workshop is over, the cabbage will be completely covered with its own briny juice, well on its way to becoming kraut.

Get away to the magic of the mountains.

Wintergreen Resort is the place to unplug and connect for winter fun! Roar with laughter as you whizz down the mountain at The Plunge, Wintergreen’s mega-snowtubing park. Fly solo or hook your tubes together for an even bigger thrill as you speed 900 feet down the slopes in your groomed lane.

continued on page 26

Experience the delights of skiing or riding Wintergreen’s 24 slopes and two terrain parks. New to skiing or riding? It’s not too late to discover the joys of winter sports. Wintergreen’s Snowsports School offers private and group lessons for all skill levels, offering top-notch instruction for adults and kids plus equipment rentals.

Discover the magic of Winter(green) Wonderland now!

855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com

MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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continued from page 25

It’s time for the participants to try their hands at it and soon the taproom is filled with the sounds of laughter and chopping as carrots, cabbage, even apples are sliced and diced. The air is redolent with the pungent aroma of garlic and the tang of fresh gingerroot.

Jan Timrick from Waynesboro has made kimchi and sauerkraut before. She signed up for more information from the experts. “I know it’s really good for my health – that’s why I’m here.”

Millard Mathews wants to make kimchi. Sisters-in-law Jodi and Lauren Boyd of Stuarts Draft are diving in for the first time with carrots and cabbage. Kim Eastep of Afton seems addicted to the Farmstead Ferment kraut and wants to learn how to make it at home. A manager at the Batesville Store in Albemarle County where they smoke their own pastrami, she’s served it on locally made bread from Goodwin Creek Farm and Bakery.

“People say it’s the best Reuben south of New York State.”

There’s time left for quick samples of kraut, pickles and pickle juice, accompanied by oohs and ahhs, gasps of surprise, expressions of pleasure. By the end of the evening, folks pack up their equipment and gaze lovingly at their own colorful jars as they head for their cars. Good eating and improved health are just a few weeks away. BRL

For those who like the idea of fermented foods, but may not have the time or inclination to make their own, click on farmsteadferments.com and look for a list of places that carry their products. Or visit their charming storefront at 330 Valley Street in Scottsville and buy it directly from the source.

Check out blueridgebucha.com for more information on kombucha and upcoming workshops.

OLD WORLD CARPENTRY “hoch die zimmererkunst” Jens Müller

6997 Rockfish River Road Schuyler, VA 22969 434.831.5998 CUSTOM SAWING WITH A WOOD MIZER PORTABLE BAND SAW

oldworldcarpentryvirginia.com 26

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MARCH 2019

540.448.3145 Cell 540.886.3447 Office AllenPersinger@remaxagent.com

A short drive from Rt. 29 South and Rt. 151. Lovely home with 1400 s.f. cottage offers an idyllic retreat to those looking for the peace of rural life without the seclusion. Living room with fireplace and built-ins.

First floor master suite with double sinks and laundry.

2nd floor with 2 large bedrooms, full bath. Beautiful views. Multi-tiered fish/lilly pond. Cottage with partially finished 2nd floor has many possibilities. MLS 579357 $569,000

Upcoming Events

434-263-4881 Mark your calendar for our

Rabies Clinic on March 23, 2019.

At Lovingston Veterinary Hospital 9 AM to 12 PM. $10 per vaccine. Please bring previous rabies certificates in order to receive a 3 year booster.

NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

n March 7 - Blooming Flowers Before Their Time with Meg Laughon n March 16 - Apple Tree Grafting with John Hoskins and Matt Fortune n March 21 - Tick Borne Illnesses and Native Plants with Dr. Joe Pond n April 18 - Herb Day with Chris Casey n April 24 - An Abundance of Dahlias with Bev Lacey n April 25-27 - Plant Sale at Pharsalia

434-946-5059

For more classses and to register online, please visit www.PharsaliaEvents.com.

434-277-5231

North Branch School Preschool – 8th grade

Inspiring a love of learning since 1983 Outdoor time for all ages every day Small class size

North Branch School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color or income & actively seeks minority students.

A North Branch education is affordable.

Ask about our financial aid and scholarships.

540-456-8450 www.north-branch-school.org MARCH 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

27

AFTON

[ nelson county ]

STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

28 28

Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Ridge LIFE

MARCH 2019 MARCH 2019

SAGE STEPS UP A community gathers to celebrate kids like Sage, born with an extra chromosome on the 21st pair.

With a stack of books on a coffee table, Sage Ebelherr is slumped across a coffee shop couch fiddling with a strand of hair. Typical teenage girl behavior, but her entry into this world was anything but.

“I was a new mom and there was so much we had to tend to,” Robyn recalls. It was October 2001 — mere days after the 9-11 attacks — and she and husband Greg, were in the hospital for Sage’s birth. It was complicated, Robyn tells me, as she and Greg found themselves hearing “unimaginable words from a team of nurses who were caring for her immediately after she entered the world.”

Greg and Robyn had been going back and forth on a name: Bella, Italian for “beautiful” and Sage, “Wise One.” And during these tense moments no parent ever wants to experience, the baby’s name became clear. Robyn had just heard a nurse saying she lost the heartbeat.

“At that moment, the only words that came through me was Sage! I called out her name over and over again as they tended to her, until I finally heard them say, ‘We have a heartbeat!’”

Sage had a heartbeat followed by a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. As new parents spending their first days with Sage in the NICU, Greg and Robyn began to adjust to life as parents of a child with an extra chromosome on the 21st pair. Being able to bring their daughter home marked one of many precious milestones.

“It was a blessing to even walk through the door with her,” Robyn tells me as she glances over to her teen, now 17. “It was a true blessing for us that we even have this opportunity to walk with her on this journey. She has given us so much in our lives … I am a different person because of Sage. We are a different family because of Sage. We have grown so much in different directions that allowed us to be more patient, kinder people. We are understanding, accepting of everything life has to offer. It has basically taught me how to live in my moment.”

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Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Ridge LIFE

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Part of living in the moment includes toting around an overstuffed folder filled with papers and notes. Not only is Robyn a mom, wife, and teacher, she is the organizer of this year’s Step Up for Down Syndrome Community Day taking place Sunday, March 24 at Blue Toad Cidery. Money raised from the event will go towards supporting area families living with Down Syndrome. Attached to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond, some of the money raised will go towards supporting the group’s First Call program.

Imagine being in the hospital, like Robyn was, and having to navigate the newness of a child born with a chromosomal disorder the CDC says is seen in roughly 1 in 700 babies.

“I have a picture of a baby I just held last weekend,” Robyn notes, glancing at her phone. “[The mother] lives two hours away. She has four other children and she had to go home and see her children and she asked me to come in and hold her baby. She was feeling very uneasy about leaving her for the first time.”

So as a First Call responder, Robyn answered the phone and drove to the hospital to hold a baby whose face genetically expresses the syndrome shared with her own daughter.

“When Sage was born, we didn’t have this program available. I know what it’s like being alone in the hospital room and laying by the bedside.”

And before Sage was even born, Robyn had years of experience as a special ed teacher — in hindsight, she thinks that prepared her to be Sage’s mom. But even with the credentials, Robyn realizes parents of Down Syndrome children need support.

“If I could clone Robyn and give every child that case manager I would.”

Charlotte Zinsen Booth is speaking to me during an open house for North Branch School, Sage’s alma mater, a small K-8 private academy in Afton that Charlotte founded in 1983. The school’s motto resonated with the Ebelherrs as they searched for an educational setting in which Sage could thrive with her local community: Everyone is honored at North Branch School. “[Robyn] had a lot of doors shut in her face,” Charlotte tells me over the sound of the front door swinging wide open for families arriving to the Open House. “I had never had a Down Syndrome child at North Branch but I sat down with Robyn and the classroom teacher … and we heard about what success her preschool had been.”

So they came up with a game plan and perhaps more importantly, a common commitment to include Sage with the rest of her neurotypical peers. Because after all, grades K-8 represent the sweet spot of childhood.

“One of the things Robyn helped articulate was that none of us know about anyone how far they can go. We can make all kinds assumptions based on past, other people, data, information from other people, but any human being is an open potential. To just be with that person where they are, we don’t know where they’ll go. She never knew. I never knew.”

So you could imagine the emotions on graduation day when Sage came up to speak before a room filled with nearly 200 people.

“There were more people crying when Sage spoke than ever in graduation,” Charlotte recalls. “The children in her class, alumni who came back for that graduation, younger children … every adult, teacher, parent, friends. She’s radiant.”

A “snapshot of the human potential movement” is how Charlotte likes to describe it. And though many people won’t have the honor of going to school with a Down Syndrome child, Robyn hopes the Step Up for Down Syndrome Community Day event will encourage the kind of unity Robyn says has been instrumental in raising Sage, who is now a sophomore in high school.

“If we just [encourage] people’s potential and not place limitations on people we can really truly understand their capabilities and what they can do,” Robyn says.

“It can be huge and grand and endless.” BRL Born with Down Syndrome, Sage Ebelherr has always been a part of the Nelson County community. The Ebelherrs are hoping you’ll join them for the Step Up for Down Syndrome Community Day event Sunday, March 24 from 1pm - 4pm at Blue Toad Cidery on Route 664, on the way to Wintergreen Resort. Guests can enjoy an afternoon of live music by David Tewksbury, face painting, a silent auction, as well as eats from Blue Mountain Food Truck and Carpe Donuts.

Money raised from the event will go towards supporting area families effected with Down Syndrome.

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