Forgotten Fields Project

In this episode, the story of punishing heat and drought and how farmers are coping.  This as we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation.  A wide ranging discussion with three special guests we think you will find entertaining and informative.

On this special show we focus on the 250th commemoration of the American Revolution and how it affected Botetourt County agriculture.  Join us and our special guests as we do a deep dive into history. 

April was a crazy weather month.  As warm temperatures moved in, plants said "yes please". Then bitter cold followed. This episode ponders the effects and costs for local farmers and orchards.

Before radar, satellites, and apps, there was the sky—and those who knew how to read it. In this episode, we explore the sayings passed down through generations, like rings around the moon before snow, red skies at morning, the hush before a storm. Are these just old wives’ tales, or do they hold real observational wisdom?

Our ancestors lived close to the land, watching patterns, seasons, and subtle shifts in nature to guide their decisions. Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped looking up.

Joined by Kevin Myatt of Cardinal News, we wander through pieces of weather wisdom and regional lore—examining what holds truth, what doesn’t, and what these sayings reveal about how people once lived in rhythm with the natural world. Along the way, Chuck Miller weighs in on how we might begin to incorporate these observations back into our own lives—what it means to live with that kind of awareness, and what we may need to remember again in order to do so. More than prediction, this episode asks a deeper question: what might we gain by paying attention again? 

Join us this episode as Tom and Tara reflect on an unusually long stretch of icy winter weather and how it shaped life on the farm day after day. With no quick thaw in sight, even routine chores become calculated, careful work. They talk through the challenges of animal care, frozen ground, and altered rhythms, alongside the stark quiet and fleeting beauty that winter can bring. It takes preparation, patience, and adapting when the land sets the terms—and a reminder that farming means meeting each season as it comes, ice and all. 

As the year draws to a close, we gather around the metaphorical hearth for a thoughtful holiday wrap-up episode. We’re joined by Tom Williamson, who offers a candid and deeply grounded perspective on the future of farming, and the barriers, obstacles, and opportunities that face farmers today—highlighting the critical role of community, stewardship, and long-term thinking in sustaining agriculture for generations to come.

As we look ahead to the coming year, this episode serves as both a reflection and a call to remember what matters most: the land beneath our feet, the people who tend it, and the responsibility we all share in shaping the future of food.

In this episode, we step into the misty crossroads of memory and myth, where history lingers and the past refuses to rest. Joined by Lynsey Allie, Director of the Botetourt County Historical Society, and investigative medium Laine Crosby, we wander through the area's most enduring ghost stories— from whispered Fincastle legends to spirits said to haunt old homesteads and forgotten spaces. Along the way, we explore why we cling to these tales, what they reveal about our fears and hopes, and how our stories shape the land just as surely as the land shapes us. These aren’t just ghost stories; they’re reminders that history has a heartbeat, and sometimes, you can still hear it... 

In this episode's conversation, we sit down with Pastor Chuck Miller of Wheatland Lutheran Church, whose Garden of Grace nourishes countless across Botetourt County. Did you know that right here at home there are families struggling with food insecurity—children going to bed hungry? With rows of vegetables and baskets of produce, Chuck provides not just food, but dignity, compassion, and the reminder that we are only as strong as our weakest link. His vision is simple yet profound, and left us questioning not just ourselves, but how we see the world, our neighbors, and the kind of community we hope to belong to here in Botetourt. 

Set along the banks of the James River, the Botetourt County Fair isn’t just an event—it’s a living tapestry, woven from generations of history, heritage, and homegrown spirit. In our first-ever live, on-site episode, we wander through the sights and sounds of fair day, from the historic Wilson Warehouse in Buchanan—where we uncover the county’s vital role in early river transportation and commerce—to the bustling show ring, where young citizens proudly present their hard work, skill, and dedication before the judges’ eyes.

Join us as we share stories from those who work tirelessly to preserve and promote our rich history, the volunteers who keep the fair thriving, and a determined 4-H showman just moments before leading her calf— the culmination of months of hard work and preparation— to be judged before the panel and the gathered crowd. 

The fair changes with the years, but one thread remains unbroken: it’s made by the people, for the people, in celebration of who we are, the roots that ground us, and the legacy we’re still writing.