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, and has recently published a book of poetry, Time and Poetry.

Reach out to Jay: j@ug.farm

The Dowsing of Little Cheek

(AND OTHER EXCITING TALES) Did you hear the one about the dowser whose divining rod kept leading him into Chelsea’s Tap Room on 4th Street? A coalition of scientists, nimbies and his competitors tried to get his dowsing license revoked until he proved in fact that Chelsea’s was watering down their whiskey. Dowsing, which used… Continue reading

Hoses

Is it just me, or is there some mean, vindictive spirit in garden hoses that makes them always want to bend the wrong way when you are trying to wind them up? Many, many years ago, when I was in the prime of life, I owned a lovely country house in Maryland behind which I… Continue reading

Planting Time

The word “plant” is a very versatile word. It can mean a dandelion or an oak tree, or the stuff they make Beyond Meat from. It can mean a giant steel manufacturing factory. It can mean a CIA double agent inserted in a key Politburo agency. You can plant a rosebush, an idea, a kiss… Continue reading

Coffee, Tea or Me?

Actually, I’ll take a hot chocolate. They serve a very delightful one at the Blue Heeler Coffee Shop, which is a food truck permanently located right across the road from Maple View Farm Ice Cream at the corner of Dairyland and Rocky Ridge roads in Hillsborough, NC. Right there in the heart of the Union… Continue reading

Fixing Things

When it comes to handyman stuff, mark me down as poor to medium. Maybe about the fortieth percentile. I mean, I can rewire a lamp, do simple carpentry – as long as it doesn’t involve power tools, blow leaves and paint anything I can reach. I used to be able to clean gutters, but old… Continue reading

Christmas on the Farm

Well, it’s Christmastime here at Union Grove Farm, and here at the Little House by the Vineyard, the spirit of the season is being enjoyed by one and all. Of course, one is all there is here at the Little House, but that one – me – certainly is just bursting with holiday cheer. I’ve… Continue reading