Spring 2012, TN Connections

tnconnections spring 2012

An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

tnconnections.com

Back in Time

Discover 19th-century Tennessee at Davies Manor Plantation

A Taste of the Farm

Meet food producers at local farmers markets

tn almanac

Travel, tips and tidbits at a glance Take a Hike

Photo Courtesy of Andrea Zucker, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau

Earth Day Every Day Earth Day lasts for more than one day at the Memphis Botanic Garden – it’s a monthlong celebration. Annual programs such as the spring plant sale and family Easter egg hunt have “green” themes, and throughout the month visitors can participate in educational activities designed for both children and adults.

In 2011, Memphis Botanic Garden’s “Earth Day, Every Day” celebration included a one-mile Conservation Challenge Hike; Family Rain Barrel Workshop; Kids-Only Yard Sale, where kids “recycled” their toys by selling them; and a wine tasting event featuring hors d’oeuvres and earth-friendly wines.

For information on the 2012 celebration, visit www.memphisbotanicgarden.com.

Springtime = Strawberries If springtime has you longing to bake strawberry pies, cakes and breads, pack up the family and head for Limoland Farm in Pulaski. The farm’s greenhouse is open in April and May for the sale of flowers and homegrown strawberries, and the kids can even pick their own strawberries in a nearby strawberry patch. The greenhouse also offers a large variety of bedding plants, hanging baskets, perennials, vegetable plants and herbs.

Limoland Farm is located eight miles north of Pulaski or 22 miles south of Columbia. Admission is free. For hours of operation, call (931) 363-5744.

When Johnson City resident Johnny Molloy was a student at the University of Tennessee, he developed a passion for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Now a seasoned writer and columnist for the Johnson City Press, Molloy has released a book detailing 40 of the most scenic hiking trails in and around Knoxville.

Released in August 2011, Five-Star Trails: Knoxville includes trails for all skill levels, from families to experienced backpackers. The pocket-sized guide reveals some of Knoxville’s hidden treasures, leading hikers off the beaten path to discover rivers, deep gorges, waterfalls and unusual rock features. It goes beyond average guidebooks by providing directions and commentary for each trail about what to expect along the way. Each trail description also has a one- to five-star ranking in five categories including scenery, difficulty, trail condition, solitude and appropriateness for children.

contents

tnconnections Spring 2012 Edition Managing Editor Jessy Yancey Contributing Writers Roben Mounger, Jessica Mozo Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Creative Services Director Christina Carden Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Senior Graphic Designers Janine Maryland, Vikki Williams Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Content Coordinators Blair Thomas, Jessica Walker Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Sr. V.P./Sales Todd Potter Sr. V.P./Operations Casey Hester Sr. V.P./Agribusiness Publishing Kim Holmberg V.P./External Communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens Controller Chris Dudley Senior Integrated Media Manager Robin Robertson Distribution Director Gary Smith Receptionist Linda Bishop Tennessee Connections is published quarterly by Journal Communications Inc. for participating members of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association.

TMEPA represents 61 municipal power distributors in Tennessee, which serve more than 2 million customers.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067.

Phone: 615-771-0080.E-mail: info@jnlcom.com.

For information about TMEPA, contact: Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association Paddock 1, Suite C-13, 229 Ward Circle Brentwood, TN 37027 Phone 615-373-5738, Fax 615-373-1901 tmepa.org Executive Director Mike Vinson

10 Features 4 Hello, History

Davies Manor Plantation recalls 19th-century Tennessee life

9 Composting 101 ŠCopyright 2012 Journal Communications Inc. and Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

ON THE COVER: Davies Manor, the oldest home in Shelby County. Photo by Todd Bennett

This eco-friendly gardening process helps your garden and the environment

10 Taste the Farm

Farmers markets bring shoppers and food producers face-to-face

12 Best of Broth Worlds

tnconnections.com tnconnections spring 2012

An Official Publication of Your Locally Owned Municipal Electric System

tnconnections.com

Back in Time

Discover 19th-century Tennessee at Davies Manor Plantation

A Taste of the Farm

Meet food producers at local farmers markets

Spring 2012

Homemade broth benefits soups, sauces and a variety of other dishes

Digital Magazine

Departments

Flip through the pages of the magazine without leaving your laptop.

Print and email articles and instantly link to advertisers.

2 Municipal Power Perspective 3 Tennessee in Focus 14 Spring Activities in Tennessee 17 Connect to Tennessee Products

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municipal power perspective

Membership

Powerful Electricity Warnings about substation safety can save lives Mike Vinson Executive Director Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association

TMEPA is a membership association of all 60 municipal electric power providers in Tennessee, which serve more than 2.1 million homes and businesses. This figure includes more than 70 percent of the electric consumers in our great state. Our primary objective is to represent the members in the state legislative arena, although we do participate in national issues in conjunction with APPA and TVPPA. The demands of this responsibility required us to add a new employee to our staff. That new employee is Katie Hitt, director of government relations. Katie has the responsibility of serving the members of TMEPA, primarily at the Capitol in Nashville, but she will also assist as needed in national issues and in the many other services we offer municipal electric systems.

On another note, this past January a man apparently cut through the fencing surrounding a public power substation to steal copper wire. It was a really bad decision. While in the substation, he actually pulled about 300 feet of copper wire to be sold, but then he came into physical contact with high voltage wiring/equipment that electrocuted him. His death certainly wasn’t worth the small price he would have received for copper wire. This unfortunate incident has been repeated other times over the years at electric utility substations 2

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across the country, and not always by thieves attempting to steal materials and equipment. Children have also been known to climb over fences to retrieve balls and kites, or sometimes simply out of curiosity. All public power substations are gated and locked for public safety. Signs are prominent warnings of the danger, yet they are sometimes ignored. Serious injury and even death can occur to someone who ignores these warnings. We ask you to make sure your child understands this.

If your child is somewhat older, he or she may ask questions about the dangers involved. If a more detailed answer will help get the message across, here is a simple explanation that should help your child respect a substation fence – and the power of electricity: An electrical substation changes the very high voltage carried by the long-distance transmission lines into lower distribution voltage that serves homes and businesses.

In order to perform this task, the substation needs a direct feed from the transmission line into the substation structure. The equipment within the substation is ALWAYS under high voltage electrical load. It is always dangerous, and it can always cause serious injury or death if touched.

Only substation technicians, linemen and maintenance crews are trained to work in high-voltage situations and to recognize and avoid potential hazards.

Some of the equipment in substations could be energized at more than 138,000 volts. Remember that substation fences mark the danger zone limits. Stay outside the fence, and stay safe!

Alcoa Electric Department Athens Utilities Board Benton County Electric System Bolivar Energy Authority Bristol Tennessee Essential Services Brownsville Utility Department Carroll County Electrical Department Electric Power Board of Chattanooga CDE Lightband – Clarksville Cleveland Utilities Clinton Utilities Board Columbia Power & Water System Cookeville Department of Electricity Covington Electric System Dayton Electric Department Dickson Electric System Dyersburg Electric System Elizabethton Electric Department Erwin Utilities Etowah Utilities Department Gallatin Department of Electricity Greeneville Light & Power System Harriman Utility Board Humboldt Utilities Jackson Energy Authority Jellico Electric & Water Systems Johnson City Power Board Knoxville Utilities Board LaFollette Utilities Lawrenceburg Utility Systems Lenoir City Utilities Board Lewisburg Electric System Lexington Electric System Loudon Utilities City of Maryville Electric Department McMinnville Electric System Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division Milan Department of Public Utilities Morristown Utility Commission Mount Pleasant Power System Murfreesboro Electric Department Nashville Electric Service Newbern Electric Department Newport Utilities City of Oak Ridge Electric Department Paris Board of Public Utilities Pulaski Electric System Ripley Power and Light Company Rockwood Electric Utility Sevier County Electric System Shelbyville Power System Smithville Electric System Sparta Electric System Springfield Electric Department Sweetwater Utilities Board Trenton Light & Water Department Tullahoma Utilities Board Union City Electric System Weakley County Municipal Electric System Winchester Utilities

Tennessee Connections

tn in focus

Spring flowers at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park in Limestone Staff Photo

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cover story

Hello,

History Davies Manor Plantation recalls 19th-century Tennessee life

story by Jessica Mozo photography by Todd Bennett

I

n a society where dishwashers, televisions and master baths are the norm, it’s hard to imagine life circa 1850 when cooking was done over an open fire and the nearest bathroom was in the backyard.

That’s why Davies Manor Plantation in Bartlett invites people to discover pioneer life in a two-story log frontier house that’s the oldest home in Shelby County (home of Memphis) open to the public.

“People are always interested in the way of life from those times, and some of our older visitors remember those things from their

own childhood,” says Betty Brown, historic buildings administrative assistant at Davies Manor Plantation. “School kids are especially fascinated by it because it’s all new to them. They can’t imagine not having bathrooms, and they love the inventiveness of the people who lived back in those times.”

Built between 1807 and 1837, Davies Manor is located on a 640-acre Revolutionary War land grant. It was the home of brothers Logan and James Davies, who purchased the property and the log house in 1851 and raised their families there. Logan’s

granddaughter, Ellen Davies Rogers, died in 1994, but she had the foresight to create the endowment and association that oversees the manor today.

“We offer docent-led tours of the house, and there are pictures of the whole Davies family lineage in the front hall,” says Nancy McDonough, historic director at the Davies Manor Plantation.

“We show visitors how life was for them. Water and electricity were put in the house in the 1950s, but we’ve taken most of the modern things out.”

All the furnishings in the home are from the 1830s through the

Travel Back in Time Located just outside of Memphis, the historic Davies Manor Plantation is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m., April through mid-December. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for students. Group discounts are available. Visitors can embark on a docent-led tour of the historic manor house followed by a self-guided tour of the plantation grounds.

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Annual events include the Shelby County History Festival in April, the Family Picnic in May, the Shelby County History Awards Banquet in August, and the Quilt and Fiber Arts Show the first weekend in November.

For more information, visit www.daviesmanorplantation.org or call (901) 386-0715. Check out Davies Manor Plantation on Facebook to get information on dates and times of regular and special events.

Tennessee Connections

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Tennessee Connections

“

People are always interested in the way of life from those times, and some of our older visitors remember those things from their own childhood.”

Staff Photo

1850s, and the plantation desk and sugar chest are original to the house.

“The kitchen furnishings are turn of the century because that’s when the kitchen was added to the house,” McDonough says. “Other furnishings include a lot of Davies’ family pieces that came from different members of the family.”

One thing that impresses visitors the most is nearly all of the original logs are still part of the cabin’s construction, with the exception of a few that were replaced during a restoration in the late 1990s.

“It’s miraculous that these logs that were cut in the early 1800s have survived all this time,” McDonough says. “We believe the home’s survival is due to the Davies’ selection of excellent materials.

They chose poplar logs, which are termite and rot resistant, and the home was well-maintained by the family and never sat empty for long periods of time.”

Davies Manor Plantation manager Randall Langston is 65 and started working at the plantation with his father at age 14. He knew Ellen Davies Rogers well, so if a visitor has a historical question about

the property, chances are Langston has the answer.

“My grandfather used to build log houses, so I’ve always enjoyed working on this old log house,” Langston says. “I was with Miss Ellen ’til the day she died. I guess I stayed here so long for the loyalty of it.”

The log cabin isn’t the only historic structure on the plantation.

There’s also a cattle barn that’s been transformed into a community center that hosts weddings nearly every weekend, and two other historic cabins were moved to the property in 2006 from Libertyland (a Memphis amusement park) when it closed.

“One was the Gotten family summer home, and renovations on it are nearly completed,” McDonough says. “It has a textile display including spinning wheels and a large floor loom, and it can be rented for small events such as outdoor weddings. The second cabin is awaiting restoration.”

The plantation also includes displays of historic farm tools like the Davies family would have used.

“We plant a cotton patch every

year for kids to see, and we grow heirloom plants in a vegetable garden,” Brown says. “This is a working farmhouse, so people can relate to it better than the typical plantations that belonged to wealthy families.”

Today, the plantation is surrounded by the upscale Davies Manor subdivision, where more than 800 homes are situated on streets named after members of the Davies family. But despite its modern surroundings, the plantation remains an island of historic refuge.

“Walking on the property is like walking back in time,” McDonough explains. “A strange peacefulness comes over you as you walk under the 150-year-old white oak tree and the massive 85-yearold magnolia tree. There’s also a herd of white-tailed deer that live here. It’s a very enjoyable environment to work in and visit – stress just melts away.”

In April 2011, the state designated Davies Manor as a site on the Tennessee Civil War Trails Map with a marker on the front lawn.

Left: Davies Manor Plantation in Bartlett is the oldest home in Shelby County. Above: The home’s furnishings include Davies’ family pieces.

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Composting

feature

101

This eco-friendly gardening process helps your garden and the environment

C

omposting does not have to smell or attract animals. The process is not complicated or expensive. A few minutes a day can reduce your volume of garbage, enhance your f lower and vegetable gardens, and stem your need for chemical and commercial fertilizers.

What You Need • Poultry netting and metal posts, concrete blocks, or wood pallets • Pitch fork or garden spade • Organic matter

What To Do 1. Remove grass and weeds from a four-foot square or circle with a four-foot diameter. Cover the area with 10 layers of newspaper (not the shiny, colored inserts) to help keep weed seeds that remain in the soil from germinating.

2. Skip the expensive commercial compost bins and build your own. A three-sided enclosure of concrete blocks or wood pallets, about the size of a four-foot cube, works well.

3. Add organic matter. A three-inch layer of cut grass or raked leaves to start.

4. Keep a covered container in your kitchen for organic waste suitable for composting: spent coffee grounds and tea bags; vegetable peelings; old or spoiled produce;

Spring 2012

out-of-date herbs and spices; discards from tomato canning; and crushed eggshells are some examples.

5. Take a minute to chop items into smaller pieces before putting them in the small kitchen container; an entire banana peel will break down eventually, but one chopped into ¼-to-½ inch pieces will decompose much faster.

6. Dump your kitchen scraps into the compost pile and toss some browned grass or leaves on top.

This helps control unhelpful insects, such as flies.

Tip: Hold the walnuts. Walnut branches, leaves, husks and shells contain a toxin that kills helpful bacteria and poisons the compost.

7. Grab the garden spade or pitchfork and mix it up.

You can toss the pile every day, or once a week.

Nature will take its course no matter your schedule.

8. If it hasn’t rained, hose the pile so it is like a moist sponge. The process needs air, moisture and heat (created by chemical reactions and helpful organisms that aid decomposition) to work.

9. Get your (gloved) hands on manure from cows, horses, goats or donkeys. Waste from animals that eat grass, hay and other plants will enrich your compost.

10. You’ll know the compost is “done” when it smells like earth and is moist and crumbly.

Dig the good stuff from the bottom of the pile, or, if you have room, build a second bin after your first pile is three-feet high.

Things to Remember

Organic matter derived from plants is fine; waste from meat or other items that contain oils are not.

Steamed veggies that have no butter are okay, but bread, pasta and other foods with oil in or on them are not.

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feature

Taste the

Farm Farmers markets bring shoppers and food producers face-to-face

Farm-to-Fork Recipes Visit our sister site Farm Flavor at farmflavor.com to find hundreds of tasty recipes in categories ranging from Spring Recipes to In the Garden.

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Tennessee Connections

story by Jessica Mozo

F

armers markets can be irresistible with the lure of fresh-picked arugula, kale and chard, crisp carrots, broccoli and asparagus, and ripe red strawberries to sort through on a spring day. However, that shopping experience has become more than just buying produce – it has become a way to meet your neighbors and the people who grow your food.

Tennessee has more than 100 farmers markets sprinkled across the state offering nearly everything food buyers could want, from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, baked goods, flowers and crafts.

Several markets, such as ones in Memphis, Nashville, Jackson, Chattanooga and Knoxville, are open year round while others operate from spring through fall.

Shoppers at farmers markets cover a wide demographic of people – men and women, young and old, and a wide range of incomes, too.

But no matter what their demographic, shoppers tend to love a farmers market’s winning combination of just-picked produce, affordable prices, friendly vendors and a lighthearted atmosphere.

Another thing buyers appreciate is the food at farmers markets is simply better than store-bought.

It doesn’t have to be bred for shelf life, travel time or appearance in a store, which results in a much better taste than food that has to be shipped and stored.

Also invaluable is the ability to chat with producers about the foods they grow. Face-to-face communication between producers and consumers is special – something you won’t find at a grocery store.

And it beefs up the local economy by keeping profits local.

Whether you are new to farmers markets or a loyal market shopper, keep these tips in mind to make the experience a lot more satisfying: 1. Call ahead to confirm hours and location if you are visiting a market you haven’t been to before.

2. Bring your own reusable shopping bag.

3. Bring cash – many vendors do not accept credit cards.

4. Use small bills and change.

5. Call ahead if you are looking for a specific item. Notify vendors in advance if you want something they don’t always carry.

6. Dress accordingly. Farmers markets are almost always

outdoors, so bring your sunscreen in summer and a sweater in the fall.

Comfortable shoes are a must.

7. Get to know your food producers.

Ask them questions about how they grow the food, what their favorite recipe is, the best way to cook their product, or about a food’s nutritional value.

8. Bookmark the market’s website, and sign up for emails about happenings at the market.

9. Bring friends. They will appreciate you introducing them to a world of delicious, locally grown foods.

For a list of farmers markets across Tennessee, visit www.picktnproducts.org.

Spring 2012

Staff photo

Right: Robbie Lynn and her grandson Destin sell produce at the Cannonsburg Historic Park Farmers Market in Murfreesboro. tnconnections.com

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Best of

Broth Worlds

Homemade broth benefits soups, sauces and a variety of other dishes

“

Good broth will raise the dead.�

- South American proverb

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Tennessee Connections

taste of tn story by Roben Mounger

H

ere is a fond yet twisted memory of broth. When I was young, I remember staring at a steaming bowl of vegetable soup as my mother said, “Now, if you finish that, you can have a chocolate cupcake.” Quite a challenge for a child growing up in a sweet-deprived home, initiated by a cavity-free father.

I focused on the beautiful golden broth.

Spoonful by lovely spoonful, it was soon gone, but what to do with the vegetables?

Hovering over the bowl, she said in summation, “That counts.” So began my once forced but ultimately eternal love of broth.

What Is Broth?

By definition, broth is the result of a liquid simmered amid bones, meat, fish, cereal grains and/or vegetables.

In my proper adult kitchen, while preparing the utilitarian base, I dwell in comfy satisfaction because a broth can braise pork chops or brace a soup. Frozen, it can later bring homemade goodness to stir fry, rice, sauce or gravy. A canned version of the same pales in comparison.

Ingredients for Good Broth

My well-worn volume of Laurel’s Kitchen, a classic whole foods cookbook, says, “The difference between buying preprocessed food and preparing it from scratch yourself is that you naturally tend to make ‘wholesomeness and nourishment’

your first priority, while manufacturers first consider profit. They eliminate parts of food that do not store well, adding chemicals that mimic flavor since these steps reduce costs and lengthen shelf life.”

No mystery here – superior flavor pours from a certain standard of care. Broth, a staple of most cuisines, can be made with fresh produce and thrifty lesser cuts – necks, wings, feet and knuckles, all rich in fats and flavor. Such a stewpot delivers stock so rich that it is famously beneficial for the well being of those on the mend.

Stone Soup

Another girlhood prompt was causal in my allegiance for homemade broth. No doubt as a follow up to the cupcake reward, reading the old folk story of Stone Soup expanded my horizons. From then on, I was smitten.

A favorite of tiny imaginations everywhere, the story demonstrates cooperation amid scarcity. When hungry strangers ask townspeople for food, a little of this and a little of that unite in a soup of satisfaction.

As the South American proverb says, “Good broth will raise the dead.”

Foundational in most of my favorite dishes, I begin by tossing ingredients into the stockpot. Old as history, such activity is therapeutic and the outcome is superior to a chocolate cupcake for more reasons than one.

About the Author Roben Mounger, known as Ms. Cook, has a penchant for searching out locally produced ingredients for her family’s meals. For some 15 years, she has eaten year round by way of CSAs and farmers markets. In 2009, she began an organic farm internship with Arugula’s Star of Neal Family Farms.

Roben writes a weekly column about food and people for The Columbia Daily Herald and blogs about eating locally at www.mscookstable.com.

Homemade Broth 2 large carrots, ends removed, peeled and diced

2 cups of mushrooms, sliced

A few whole peppercorns A few whole cloves

2 onions, peeled and diced

1 leek, white and pale green parts only, diced

4 ribs of celery, diced

2 large garlic cloves, minced

6 cups cold, filtered water

A few stalks of parsley

Thyme or rosemary bundled with a cotton string, or any combination of fresh herbs from your garden

Begin with an aromatic mirepoix (French for a combination of onions, carrots and celery). Add cold, filtered water to cover the mirepoix, about 6 cups. Add remaining ingredients, plus any other vegetable trimmings saved for up to a week.

(At this time, you can also choose to add bones, roasted meats, fish parts or grains for added flavor. Feel free to play around with any combination of additional vegetables, except those from the cabbage family.) Simmer for at least 30 minutes. Cool, and pour through a fine sieve. Discard components, including the vegetables, as they are now depleted of vitamins. Salt to taste. The broth can be refrigerated for several days before use or can be frozen.

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events

Spring in Tennessee

products, services and equipment.

CONTACT: 615-876-7680, nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com

Festivals, celebrations, activities and more

Mountain Quiltfest – March 14-17, Pigeon Forge This event pays tribute to the art of quilting with a quilt show, showcasing more than 200 quilted pieces, a large vendor area and classes taught by the nation’s top quilting experts. CONTACT: 800-251-9100, mypigeonforge.com

50th Annual Irish Day Celebration – March 17, Erin Enjoy a parade, food, entertainment and crafts at the largest Irish Day celebration and parade in this area. CONTACT: 931-289-5100, houstoncochamber.com

Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival – March 27-31, Nashville America’s largest festival dedicated to songs and songwriters covers all genres of music: country, rock, folk and more. CONTACT: 800-321-6008, tinpansouth.com

Antony Boshier

Mule Day – March 29-April 1, Columbia

Enjoy a mule pull, a mule sale and mule shows at Mule Day in Columbia, March 29-April 1.

This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in March, April and May as provided to Tennessee Home & Farm by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

To include your local events in our listing, please contact them at www.tnvacation.com.

Due to space constraints, we are unable to list all of the events provided or accept unsolicited events. However, you can find additional information and events at the department’s website.

Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

MARCH

Tennessee’s Commemoration of the War of 1812 Bicentennial – Through June 24, Nashville

Visit a special bicentennial exhibit opening at the Tennessee State Museum.

CONTACT: 800-407-4324, tnmuseum.org.

Smoky Mountain Springfest – March 1-June 3, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

A countywide celebration featuring special events, great entertainment, local craft 14

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shows and beautiful spring scenery.

CONTACT: visitsevierville.com, gatlinburg.com or mypigeonforge.com

23rd Annual Nashville Lawn & Garden Show – March 1-4, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville Tennessee’s premier horticultural event, the Nashville Lawn & Garden Show features outstanding live gardens created by professional landscape designers, a series of free lectures and 250 exhibit booths of horticultural

One of the world’s biggest mule celebrations.

Events include mule sale, mule pulling, mule shows, pancake breakfast, flea market and parade. CONTACT: 931-381-9557, muleday.com

150th Commemoration of the Battle of Shiloh – March 29-April 8, Shiloh A week of events includes more than 13,000 re-enactors March 29-31, the Tennessee Sesquicentennial Commission’s Signature Event April 4-5 at Pickwick Landing State Park, and a grand illumination across Shiloh Battlefield on April 7. CONTACT: nps.gov/shil/index.htm, tncivilwar150.com

Tennessee Healthy Hardwoods – March 31, Oak Ridge This field day event held by University of Tennessee AgResearch takes places at the Forest Resources Center and begins at 8:30 a.m. CONTACT: Ginger Rowsey, 731-425-4768, http://agriculture.tennessee.edu

APRIL

52nd Annual Dogwood Arts Festival – April 1-30, Knoxville Miles of trails feature some of the most spectacular dogwood trees of all kinds. CONTACT: 865-637-4561, dogwoodarts.com Tennessee Connections

Awesome April – April 1-30, Nashville

National Cornbread Festival – April 28-29, South Pittsburg

Memphis in May International Festival – May 4-26, Memphis

A musical tribute to the city that promises a major event each weekend. CONTACT: 800-657-6910, visitmusiccity.com

National Cornbread Cook-Off, plus art and shows. CONTACT: 423-837-0022, nationalcornbread.com

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration – April 4, Memphis

Franklin Main Street Festival – April 28-29, Franklin

Month-long events include Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. CONTACT: 901-525-4611, memphisinmay.org

The National Civil Rights Museum offers a special program to commemorate the late Civil Rights leader. CONTACT: 901-521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org

Featuring more than 200 artisans and crafters, three stages, two carnivals and an international food court to round out a full weekend of entertainment.

CONTACT: 615-591-8500, historicfranklin.com

Rivers & Spires Festival – April 19-21, Clarksville A festival with more than 100 entertainers, kids area, car shows, food, jazz and more. CONTACT: 931-245-4344, riversandspires.com

Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival – April 19-22, Memphis A celebration featuring education, economics, fashion, arts, crafts, music and cuisine. CONTACT: 901-947-2133, africaninapril.org

Nashville Film Festival – April 19-26, Nashville With genres from drama to comedy to foreign documentaries, this festival has something for everyone. CONTACT: 615-742-2500, nashvillefilmfestival.org

62nd Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage – April 25-29, Gatlinburg

Tennessee Iris Festival – April 28-May 5, Dresden A week-long event filled with family fun, from the citywide yard sale to its annual Music Fest.

CONTACT: tennesseeirisfestival.com

Trenton Teapot Festival – April 29-May 5, Trenton The week-long festival begins with a ceremonial Lighting of the Teapots on April 29 and culminates in the annual Grand Parade on May 5. CONTACT: 731-855-2013

MAY

Storytelling Live! – May-October, Jonesborough Storytellers from across the U.S. will share stories and entertain guests. CONTACT: 800-952-8392, storytellingcenter.net

Cosby Ramp Festival – May 6, Cosby This buegrass music, food and family festival celebrates the ramp, an onion-like vegetable that grows in the East Tennessee’s mountains. This year the festival will be held at a new location, 200 Major Jim Burnett Drive. CONTACT: Kathy Cody, 423-623-1009

West Tennessee Strawberry Festival – May 6-12, Humboldt In its 75th year, this festival includes parades, live entertainment, barbecue cook-off, concerts, fireworks and more.

CONTACT: 731-784-1842, wtsf.org

71st Annual Running of the Iroquois Steeplechase – May 12, Nashville

This is the nations’ oldest continuously run, weight-for-age steeplechase. CONTACT: 866207-2391, iroquoissteeplechase.org

Blooms Days – May 12-13, UT Gardens, Knoxville Unique garden goods, dozens of workshops, live musical performances, children’s activities and more make Blooms Days a great destination for more than

Celebrate and enjoy the beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park with over 150 different programs, including hiking tours, motorcades, demonstrations and classroom lectures centered on the flowers, plants and wildlife in the great outdoors.

CONTACT: (865) 436-7318 ext. 222, www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org.

Organic Crops Field Tour – April 26, Knoxville

University of Tennessee AgResearch Organic Crops Unit presents this field day event, a tour of organic crops.

The event begins at 9 a.m. CONTACT: Ginger Rowsey, 731-425-4768, http://agriculture.tennessee.edu

A celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts with an emphasis on Italian and Mediterranean culture. The festival features opera performances and stage productions as well as music and dance.

CONTACT: 865- 524-0795, knoxvilleopera. com/rossini/festival-information/ Spring 2012

Staff photo

Rossini Festival Italian Street Fair – April 28, Knoxville

Many visitors head to Memphis each year to experience the world-famous Beale Street. tnconnections.com

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just gardeners. CONTACT: 865-974-7324, http://utgardens.tennessee.edu

International Biscuit Festival – May 17-19, Knoxville

Named one of the country’s top-10 food festivals, this popular event will rise again in downtown Knoxville at Market Square.

Guests enjoy food, fun, music and more throughout the three days of the Festival.

CONTACT: biscuitfest.com

Sevierville’s Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass – May 18-19, Sevierville This event features the Tennessee State Championship Barbeque Cook-Off, bluegrass concerts from rising stars and bluegrass legends, kids games, great food and authentic mountain crafts. CONTACT: visitsevierville.com/vsevents.aspx

Americana Music Festival – May 24-27, Crawford Enjoy a three-day camping and music festival that coincides with the taping of an episode of the “Jammin’ at Hippie Jack’s Americana Music Series” on PBS. A similar fall festival is held in September. CONTACT: 931-445-2072, myhippiejack.com

Granville Heritage Day – May 25, Granville Antique car, tractor and engine show, bluegrass festival, storytelling, arts and crafts, children’s rides and great food. CONTACT: 931-653-4151, granvillemuseum.com

Muster Day on the Natchez Trace – May 25-28, Natchez Trace As part of Tennessee’s commemoration of its role in the War of 1812, experience living history demonstrations and historic speeches recreated by impressionists in a festive atmosphere.

Memphis Italian Festival – May 31-June 2, Memphis

This community celebration demonstrates the values of family, faith and fellowship in the Italian-American tradition. Music, food, events, games, arts and crafts and more.

CONTACT: 901-767-6949, memphisitalianfestival.com

Green Travel Tips

1

Carpool whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint – and you’ll also spend less money on gas.

2

Staying overnight? Unplug major appliances to save energy and lower your electric bill.

3

Support Tennessee’s sustainable tourism. Find green lodging, dining and attractions at tnvacation.com/green.

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Tennessee Connections

connect to tn products

Statewide roundup of favorite finds Gone to the Dogs If you have a picky pup or one with allergies, check out the specialty dog treats made by Spoil Me S’mo in Watertown. The company makes its healthy dog treats with human-grade ingredients and no preservatives in six yummy flavors.

The treats are named after the owners’ five dogs, Dixie, Avid, Tiny, Jake and Bella. Bella’s Bears are a low-calorie treat, while Jake’s Jacks are cheesy and meat-free. Dixie’s Peanut Butter Prints are free of most common dog allergens, and Tiny’s Treat Twists are made with oatmeal, applesauce and cheese.

Avid’s Pantalizing Pinwheels taste of honey and garlic. Rounding out the list of doggy snacks are Honey Apple Hearts and Salmon Waves (which are also popular with cats).

For more treat details or to order, visit www.spoilmesmo.com.

Squeaky Clean

Pining for Peonies You might say the Vance family of Hartsville is head over heels in love with peonies. They grow as many as 70 varieties of peonies per year and sell both cut flowers and peony roots for planting through their business, SaGrace Florae.

SaGrace Florae began as the dream of owner Derek Vance, who spent his childhood helping pot plants at his family’s tropical plant nursery in Florida. He developed a passion for having his hands in the dirt, and decided as an adult to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a commercial cut flower grower.

Among the peony varieties SaGrace Florae grows are Coral Charm, Double Pink, Charlie’s White and Leona Weinberger.

For information on availability and how to order peonies, visit www.peonyfields.com.

Spring 2012

After spending years battling allergies and dry skin, Jenny Drake of Hickman began making homemade soaps and bath products. Much to her surprise, her skin problems improved greatly simply by switching to handmade soaps.

Before long, friends and relatives began buying her soaps, and Drake realized a business opportunity.

On their farm, Peaceful Pastures, Drake and her husband Darrin produce all-natural beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, duck and goose. In 1994, they added Jenny’s handmade bath and body products to that list.

All Peaceful Pastures soaps are stirred, cut and wrapped by hand in small batches. Find more at www.peacefulpastures.com.

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Journal Communications 725 Cool springs Blvd., suite 400 franklin, tn 37067

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PAID

Lebanon Junction, KY 40150 Permit No. 222

Energy-Saving Tips for Spring Following these steps can save you money this season Refrigerator: • Your fridge is responsible for up to 11 percent of your household’s energy usage.

• Make sure the condenser coils in your fridge are free of dust and pet hair. Clean coils allow air to circulate more freely, using less electricity.

• Pay attention to the seals on your fridge’s door.

They should be clean and tight.

Cooling: •

Instead of replacing a faulty air conditioner, consider an attic ventilator. It can provide as much comfort as your air conditioner at a lower price. The ventilator brings cool air up through your home – all you have to do is pump in cool air in the evenings.

• Whether you have an air conditioner or attic ventilator, keep doors and windows shut tightly during the day to keep cool air from escaping.

Kitchen:

Bathroom:

• Use an exhaust fan to get rid of hot air when you’re cooking.

• Install a water saving showerhead, reducing your hot water use without cutting down on time in the shower.

• Give your stove and oven a break, and use your microwave and countertop appliances to prepare food.

• Install a ceiling fan in your kitchen to keep air circulating.

• Don’t keep hot water running nonstop while washing your face or shaving.

• Take a shorter shower to avoid sending money down the drain. No purchase necessary!