Little House by the Vineyard

A Blog Column by Jay Bryant

Little House by the Vineyard is a blog column reflecting on life on the farm, through the unique perspective of Jay Bryant, Union Grove Farm’s Poet Laureate.

Jay Bryant is a retired speechwriter, communications consultant for U.S. Senators, congressmen and governors, television producer, internet columnist, radio personality, poet and author who now lives in a little house by the vineyard at Union Grove Farm. He has been a commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. He and Greg Bohlen collaborated on the novel The Sugar Rat, and the non-fiction work, Common Men. Jay also authored the novel Earth and Water.

Reach out to Jay: [email protected]

Water, water

Ever since old Noah checked the weather report on his cellphone and saw there was a 100% chance of rain for the next 40 days and nights, mankind has had this love/hate relationship with water. Here in North Carolina this year, it’s been mostly hate, We have had devastating floods that have brought tragedy to… Continue reading

Join Me for My Book Signing

The folks at Union Grove Farm have decided to throw a book signing party to celebrate the publication of my latest book, Time and Poetry, a collection of verse and short prose written over the past 60 years. And you are certainly invited. It will be Sunday, November 17, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, at… Continue reading

Kidnapped !? Me?

There I was, standing by the side of the road, minding my own business with my thumb in the air when a car pulls up and this blonde orders me to get in. So I do. I don’t know if she’s a guardian angel or a kidnapper, but I figure I’ll chance it. She says… Continue reading

The French Connection

The French are a strange people. A few weeks ago they all trooped to the polls and voted to turn their government over to the most right-wing group in the country. But in this strange land, you have to win twice to take office, and when they voted the second time, only a week later,… Continue reading

Young Greg

The first thing you have to remember about Greg Bohlen is that he is the baby of the family, born twenty years after his oldest brother, Bob, and a full ten years after Chris, his other brother. His two sisters, Ginny and Susan, were born between Bob and Chris. So Greg was not only the… Continue reading

The Cabin

I made history one cold March dark last week by becoming the first person to survive a night spent in The Cabin. This ranks right up there with my being the only person in history to have walked out of a supermarket having bought just two items, a jicama root and a box of Fudgesicles.… Continue reading