SAXTONS RIVER — Main Street Arts and the Saxtons River Historical Society are again pairing for a series of Fireside Chats to highlight the area's history on Sundays in January, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., in the dining room of the Saxtons River Inn.
The series begins Jan. 7 with the Back-to-the-Land Movement as told through the experiences of Peter Gould, author of Horse-Drawn Yogurt: Stories from Total Loss Farm.
Gould moved to Total Loss Farm in Guilford in the 1970s at the height of a trend among Americans, many of them young, to get back to their roots and live a simpler life. With the help of locals, they learned forgotten skills as they struggled to balance their peaceful communal life with the chaos brought on by the Vietnam War.
Although they didn't know it at the time, the new farmers were to have an impact on the future of agriculture in Vermont as they provided early impetus for the rise of organic farming and sustainable food production in the state.
The second in the series is Jan. 14, when the topic will be “The Art of Timber Framing,” with Jason Snell, owner of Old Timers Timber Frames in Saxtons River.
The series concludes Jan. 21 with a topic close to home when Mike DeBonis, executive director of the Green Mountain Club, talks about James Taylor's dream of founding a trail through Vermont for his Vermont Academy students.
Attendees are always invited to share their own experiences, photos, artifacts, and stories related to the topic of the evening.
The series is offered at no charge, with donations accepted. Those attending are invited to bring their own memories and memorabilia to share in this informal setting.