Morgan Siem 3/15/24 Morgan Siem 3/15/24

News from Soil & Sky Fest

An early-bird bribe & new music

Early bird tickets are up! Why is that important in March when the Fest is in September?

Well, 1) because early bird ticket purchasers are scoring 20% off and are locking in their parking passes, which will disappear.

And, 2) because it’s a vote of confidence for what we’re doing. Purchasing your tickets early helps us have the funds we need, when we need them, to put the festival together and secure contracts with incredible performers.

And, 3) because we’re offering a bribe to sweeten the deal. Each ticket purchased in March is entered in a raffle to redeem a free meal from Left Bank Butchery or the Cauldron during the festival.

Rodrigo & Jason, here for a pig pickin’ with all the fixin’s — Left Bank Butchery

“Maybe we can talk about the weather”

Weather? What about the weather? We’re not afraid to talk about the weather! We launched Soil & Sky Fest last year in the midst of Hurricane Ophelia—apparently the Sky was just very eager to meet the Soil on that day. But I digress. We’re on this topic because The Collection just released a new song: The Weather.

Upcoming Events

Moccasin-Making Workshop
March 16-17
at Benzai Bloomstead

Hide-Tanning Workshop
April 25-28
at Benzai Bloomstead

Moccasin-Making Workshop, 2 Days
March 16-17 (THIS WEEKEND)
At Benzai Bloomstead, the homesite of Soil & Sky Fest
Learn More

Bliss Boogie
April 5-7
in Pittsboro, NC
Learn More

Hide-Tanning Workshops, 4 Days
April 25-28
At Benzai Bloomstead, the homesite of Soil & Sky Fest
Learn More

Morgan Siem 3/5/24 Morgan Siem 3/5/24

Register by March 9 for Moccasins

Time to register for upcoming events, thoughts on voting, bloomstead bloomings & potential workday March 21.

Moccasin Workshop - Register by March 9

Friends, if you are thinking of joining the 2-day moccasin-making workshop, please register this week (by Saturday, March 9).

Upcoming Events:

Bliss Boogie in Pittsboro: April 5-7. Register here.
4-Day Hide Tanning Workshop, here at Benzai: April 25-28. Register here.
Shibori & Indigo Dye Workshop, here at Benzai: June 15. Save the Date.
Soil & Sky Fest, here at Benzai: Sept 21. Early bird tix available now.

As you consider which events and workshops light you up, I’ll put in a friendly nudge to go ahead and register and get it secured onto your calendar as soon as you’re able. These are all events that are lovingly curated by very small teams of people pouring their hearts (and savings) into the planning, and it helps us greatly, greatly, greatly when people register with plenty of lead time. <3

Other News: Voting - How are you managing to do all the research each time? I find it HARD.

It’s March 5, which means I headed to the polls today. I do worry quite a bit about the political trajectory of our nation, and of the entire world. I feel a slurry of crushing emotions about it. And yet, I do still vote. Every time. Especially because farther down the ballot are candidates who are local people. They live right here, their children attend school here, they would like to be able to swim in the same rivers, and on and on. These are folks we have the opportunity to speak with face-to-face if we so choose. They are making choices about what developments get approved in our neighborhoods, what environmental standards we set for our creeks, whether or not we want a police presence in our public and private schools, and more.

Each time I go to vote, I wonder how everyone else does it. Honestly. It is such hard work to try to get the facts about all of the candidates. I wonder how people are managing to do their research while also trying to keep up with their farms and families and work and all else. Sincere question: how are you doing it? Do you simply vote for presidential candidates and leave the rest blank? Do you do hours of research? Do you have a trusted source you turn to for voting advice? Should we form research teams to spread out the labor before each election? I’m genuinely curious. Maybe you’ll feel willing to share your experience in the comments or by replying to this email.

Other-Other News: Bloomstead Bloomings

The trout lilies are up en force on the land right now carpeting the wooded slopes. Yesterday I spotted an ALBINO TROUT LILY! I’ve never seen that before. I didn’t have my phone with me at the time, so I’ll go visit it again this afternoon and take a picture. I’ll plan to post it to my IG so ya’ll can see. The bloodroot by the back campsite are juuuust starting to bud out. By next week, there will be a sea of them as well. Bountifully blooming right now are: hepatica, trout lily, purple dead nettle, henbit, daffodil, spring violet, chickweed and speedwell. And the red maples and elms are like cloud bursts of buds.

Final Other News: March 21 Workday

I’m toying with the idea of hosting a workday on the land on March 21, in honor of Soil & Sky’s 1/2 birthday. That is a Thursday. Would anyone be interested in that? I’ve got a handful of projects, including: mowing, making trails, restoring the bell tent, creating parking barriers, making bamboo privacy screens for the green room and picking up roadside litter. These are the kinds of projects that I love most — how I spend my time when given the opportunity. Please let me know if you’d be interested in joining me on March 21. If there are enough people interested, then I’ll put the word out and plan to light a bonfire that evening, weather permitting.

With Love,
Morgan