a simple introduction

Meet Fairman and Kate Janey of Sandy Mush Herbs, in Sandy Mush, NC. These are some of the most interesting and beautiful folks around.

I have a deep admiration and respect for these two. Living on a remote mountaintop and growing herbs and plants isn't for the weak. These two make it look easy. I frolicked through tropical and exotic flora, encased in 100YO glass green houses with wood heat. Such wonder. I thought how amazing it would be to grow up here as a child.

This is one of the 20 or so photos I made on this magical day.

I returned with an handmade book of their photos, my smoked chicken and my Sara's coleslaw. It was divine.

Fairman and Kate Janey in their 100 year old greenhouse

Fairman and Kate, created this remote mountaintop nursery 50 years ago. This glass greenhouse, where they sit in the photo above, is over 100 years old. Now if you are a math whiz you will see that the numbers don't add up. When Interstate 26 went in, Fairman saved this greenhouse, already over 50 years old, piece by piece and rebuilt it on his property. It is made of glass and cypress. over 100 years old, never been painted and it is still standing strong. Remarkable structure, incredible humans! The following 2 photos are that of the little booklet I made for them, printed on handmade paper and embellished with gold acrylic inks, leaves and a real butterfly wing.

I frolicked through tropical and exotic flora, encased in 100YO glass green houses with wood heat. WOOD HEAT! That means each of the many greenhouses has a wood fired stove that must be kept fed. Such wonder. I thought how amazing it would be to grow up here as a child and how hard the work would be!

I returned with an handmade book of their photos, my smoked chicken and my Sara's coleslaw. It was divine.

These are the types of encounters I hope to experience in my Nomadic Journey through Scotland Workshop in October. There is one seat available if you are interested

Kate and Fairman Janey standing out side of their greenhouse in Leicester, NC August 2024.

For this adventure into the unknown, I worked with my Deardorff 8x10 and the Voigtlander Heliar 11 3/4” lens with paper negatives, a Fuji GFX100sii with a Zeiss Distagon T 35/1.4, Zeiss Planar 85/1.4, Voigtlander 58/1.4 and my little pocket RicohGRii.

This kit feels very compatible and complementary for me. Im working my GFX100sii very much like my 8x10 camera, locked down on a tripod with just a few very intentional frames. I really feel the end product also gets along well together. There isn't a blatant shift of feeling in the prints. While, yes, I can most certainly tell which was made by what camera, it isn't as jarring as say using a modern lens designed for that GFX set up. As for the little powerhouse of a pocket camera, the Ricoh GRii, it just fills in anything and anywhere. My favorite of all time because there are always 2 in my front pocket! Did I mention they are pocket cameras!? lolThese are the types of encounters I hope to experience in my Nomadic Journey through Scotland Workshop in October. There is one seat available if you are interested

Art is dying #II