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We're celebrities!

Posted at 10:09 AM on July 22, 2008 by Autumn Long (6 Comments)

Hmmm, or maybe not. But we were interviewed on West Virginia Public Radio. Emily Corio, WV Public Broadcasting's Morgantown correspondent, ventured down to the farm last week for an on-site interview with Dan and me. She had noticed my participation on this blog and realized that I lived nearby (at least by West Virginia standards, where a 90-minute drive is considered "nearby").

Ms. Corio arrived, audio recorder and microphone in hand, on Thursday morning to interview us about eating locally and about our "off-the-grid lifestyle." Dan and I had been giggling about the potential hilarity of this visit for the past week, imagining ourselves pointing to various items and deadpanning lines like, "Uhh, this is my zucchini. This is my woodstove. These are my eggplants. This is my puppy dog."

It went better than we had imagined, albeit with ample ammunition for on-air wackiness, at least from Ms. Corio's interview-editing viewpoint. Luckily for us, she's a professional. And I did ask her specifically to "make us sound cool." A Sisyphean task? Perhaps, but she did her level best. You can check out a summary of the story and listen to the audio segment here.

Thanks, WV Public Broadcasting, for making us faaaaamous! Now you'll have to excuse me while I put on dark glasses and run to the limo; the paparazzi are pounding at the door.

Comments (6)

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CONGRATS! It Just makes me laugh because a few months ago you were trying to fimd another recipe to send with Dan to work other then egg salad. Somehow I just can not picture famous people eating egg salad or attempting to make their own mayo!But, just the same good for you.
People are intersted in your way of life. I know my dream is to live off the grid slowly but surely we are becoming more and more self-sufficient. However, it is VERY tough in New England.your tales are wonderful. So, keep it up!

Posted by megan | July 22, 2008 7:29 PM

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Thanks for your support, Megan. I really appreciate your continued enthusiasm for and participation in this endeavor. You are right; I can't imagine actual celebrities eating egg salad. In fact, there's probably some arcane "being a celebrity" rule about famous people not peeling their own eggs, or something to that affect. Ahh well, I guess I'll just have to stick it out with the masses. ;-)
Hope your summer is filled with delicious local produce!
Autumn

Posted by Autumn Long | July 24, 2008 9:13 AM

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Often wondered what happened with you after you went off to college. Then I heard the WV public radio story this morning. I once thought your fame would be on the stage or film, not from being a farmer. But life can be surprising, no?

Anyway, I think what you're doing is great. Got to visit Applecheek Farm in VT (they sell to Horizon) a couple of months ago and saw how they move their pastures and have the chickens following along behind. They're off the grid, too. Impressive. But not at all easy. I'll keep checking in on your blogging, now that I know what you're up to. And if you're selling eggs, let me know, and that'll be one thing I can start locavoring with.

Posted by Lydia Mong | July 26, 2008 7:20 AM

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Hi Lydia, is it great to hear from you! And I'm happy to hear that you heard us on the radio :-) I hope all is well for you these days. Are you still busy with theatre? I ran into Don Gardner a few weeks ago at Kroger, and he is a sweet as ever. And I saw Jim Walker briefly during a recent trip to Sutton, but he was busy with lunch hour at his coffee shop, so I didn't get much chance to chat with him. He seems to be doing well, though, what with being mayor and all!
Thanks for your supportive comments about this local-foods project. Applecheek Farms sounds like a cool place; I'd heard some negative things about Horizon's providers, so it's nice to hear that your first-hand experience with one of them was so positive.
We do sell eggs; it's something that Dan's parents have done since they moved to this farm in 1981. (Dan's dad, George Harrington, was the executive director of the Harrison County ARC until he retired a couple of years ago. He still delivers about 10 dozen eggs each week to his former coworkers in Clarksburg.) I'd be happy to add you to the egg customer list, and I imagine we can work out a method of delivery that would be convenient for both of us. Perhaps you'd like to come out to the farm sometime, buy some eggs, and see our place?
Thanks for reading. Hope your summer is filled with delicious fresh produce!
Happy local eating,
Autumn

Posted by Autumn Long | July 28, 2008 11:22 AM

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Great Job! You guys sounded totally cool:) I love how you can hear birds singing in the background. Sounds like you all live in a lovely place.
Cheers,
Leslie

Posted by Leslie | July 28, 2008 3:29 PM

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Thanks Leslie! Hope you're having a great local summer in Reno,
Autumn

Posted by Autumn Long | July 28, 2008 4:49 PM