agri-Culture

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Leslie Amick is an artist and naturalist. A love of nature and the beauty surrounding all of us influences all of Leslie's work. She loves to explore the flora and fauna by creating likenesses using textiles. Mostly wool, the sculptures she creates not only highlight a particular beast or plant, but gives them a sense of being. Her sculptures are described as whimsical most of all. Perhaps it's that bit of attitude frequently displayed by the subjects. As the sculpture evolves, the personality also develops. This gives her work a totally relatable presence to those who view it.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/leslie.amick/

https://www.thistleworthneedleworks.com/

https://texaswoolweek.com/

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This month Susan stopped by one of her go to places for her crafting...slowfiber in Monterey, CA.

Jaki Canterbury is building a community. Sharing maker skills, supplies and time. 
At slowfiber, the classroom is available, the shop is full of sustainability treasures and the ideas are boundless. Jaki says... You bring what you don't need and then get what you do need in the BUY SELL TRADE program. Your environmental foot-print is so much smaller this way. slowfiber is full of pre-owned supplies as well as new-sustainable-only maker-goods.

So, sit back, relax, sew, knit or make what tickles your fancy. Please enjoy this month's episode of Susan's Shire.

Links:

https://www.slowfiber.com/

https://www.mosshollowhill.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maker_culture

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For today's episode, we are at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. We sat down and had a discussion about pork (since it was Pork Day at the show) with Courtney Gray, Executive Director for the PA Pork Producers Council. 

Links: 

https://www.whypapork.com/

https://www.sonofabutchershow.com/

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Hello Everyone and a Happy 2026!

This month Susan sits down to discuss all things pop culture and the influences it's had on her art and life and maybe yours. So, cue up your Betamax deck and reminisce about what inspired you and your crafts.

Links:

https://www.mosshollowhill.com

https://www.starwars.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

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It’s our last podcast of 2025 already.  In honor of what’s left in the barrel at the end of the year, the best way to enjoy both is to drink up with Paul and Pierce of Taconic Distillery.  

For this one, we have a video on the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel to go with this one, in case your imagination needs a visual boost.  For the taste buds, you might want to head to the Hudson Valley.

Links:

https://www.taconicdistillery.com/

http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com/

https://sheepandwool.com/

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On this episode Susan discusses the joy of making gifts. Whether that be a handmade felted ornament, a special song, or holiday memories.

Links:

https://youtu.be/fGmAekTPD5c?si=Sg45IZ3I5Ukd7HfL

https://www.mosshollowhill.com/

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And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker" -- so God made a Farmer.  --Paul Harvey

Links:

https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Paul%20Harvey%20-%20God%20Made%20A%20Farmer.pdf

https://www.collierswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2013_02_Gazetteer.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey

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For this month's podcast I travel to Rhinebeck, NY for the NY State Sheep & Wool Festival. I met so many wonderful and talented people...I was totally geeking out. With my cameraman Oscar in tow, the two of us interviewed some amazing talent, from rug hooking to fine art. So please sit back and enjoy this month's episode of Susan's Shire.

Links:

http://www.ravensgateprimitives.com/

https://www.sheepincognito.com/

https://www.toftuk.com/

https://makeitwithwool.com/

https://chesapeakefibershed.com/

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Muck, glorious muck!  Sounds funny, but it’s true.  The “muck” found north of NYC and south of the capital city may look like black dirt to some, but it’s more like black gold to those who know – and that’s not a Clampett reference.  The agricultural region known as the Hudson Valley grows almost everything like nowhere else, due to this phenomenal resource.

Join us today as we speak with Michael Risario and Jeff Scales.  They took a moment from their busy duties at the Rhinebeck Farmers Market to talk about the incredible bounty that can be found in the Hudson Valley – but especially can be found every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rhinebeck.  Rain, shine…or muck.  Just how we like it.

Links:

http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep

https://www.ediblehudsonvalley.com/2022/black-magic-hudson-valleys-special-soil/

https://www.rhinebeckreformed.org/history

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genus

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This month Susan discusses the difference between a yarn festival, a fiber festival and everything in between. Susan just returned from the Lambtown Festival in Dixon, CA and will be heading to Rhinebeck, NY for the 45th annual New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. She gives us a little history about some of these festivals and what inspired her down the path of fiber arts and that there isn't such a thing as bad sheep's wool, because someone loves it. So, please sit back and enjoy this episode of Susan's Shire.

Links:

https://www.mosshollowhill.com

https://www.lambtown.org

https://sheepandwool.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber_art

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit

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