The Village Green News : Storytelling/Writing

Fodder’s 2026 Storytellers told of survival, putting down roots and taking new challenges

Sheela Clary — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:30:16 GMT

FODDER 2026 WAS SPONSORED BY

GUIDO’S FRESH MARKETPLACE, HOUSATONIC HERITAGE, EDIBLE BERKSHIRES AND THE VILLAGE GREEN NEWS.

Participating organizations were Berkshire Agricultural Ventures , Greenagers , Berkshire Grown, Great Barrington Land Conservancy and BRIDGE.

This year I had the pleasure of working with 8 farmer storytellers, ranging in age from 17 to 60+, to develop stories of the farming life, which reflect the diversity of this place we all call home.

ALL THE STORYTELLERS!

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RONAN CONWAY AND YNEZ BOURDON TALKED ABOUT RUNNING THE SUMMER CAMP AT GIDEON’S GARDEN, WITH BRIDGE

ASHNI SUNDER SPOKE OF HER KINSHIP TO HOME IN THE CARIBBEAN AND TO ELIZABETH “MUMBET” FREEMAN

SEIDE DESTIN SPOKE ABOUT GROWING UP IN HAITI, AND OF HIS LONG JOURNEY TO MASSACHUSETTS, WITH THE HELP OF BRIDGE STAFF AND INTERPRETER FOR THE EVENT LINA POLO

INDIAN LINE FARM’S ELIZABETH KEEN TOLD THE LOVE STORY OF HOW SHE MET HER HUSBAND AL AND LANDED IN EGREMONT.

ANNA CORTEZ GOT SO INTO DESCRIBING THE WAY HER FAMILY MADE SUGAR CANE AND COFFEE THAT SHE FORGOT ALL ABOUT HER COMFORT BLANKET/ WRITTEN STORY.

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GEORGE MERZIER SPOKE IN CREOLE TO TELL HIS STORY COMING TO THE US, WORKED WITH LINA TO TRANSLATE IT INTO SPANISH, AND LINA READ THE ENGLISH VERSION. IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE TO GET A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND FEEL WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE AN IMMIGRANT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

KYLE WILSON TALKED ABOUT THE HARDEST DAY OF WORK HE’D EVER EONE, WITH GREENAGERS, AND OF THE BENEFITS HE GOT OUT OF IT.

ME, THE PROUD TEACHER, GIVING KYLE A SECOND ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

Shire Stories’ Upcoming Ticketed Storytelling Events at Greenagers and Indigo Room

Sheela Clary — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:25:59 GMT

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FODDER: Stories from the Fields

Sunday, September 27 * 3 pm

April Hill, South Egremont · at Greenagers

Farmers take the stage to draw the audience into the work of being a farmer in the Northeast. This year’s storytellers include Mary Berle, Elizabeth Keen, Krystyna Kurz, Ashni Sunder, several youth farmers, and others.

Co-produced by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Berkshire Grown, Bridge, Farmsteads for Farmers, and Greenagers.

Get tickets →

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2025 INDIGO ROOM STORY EVENT

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Sunday, November 22 * 4 PM

The Indigo Room at the Mahaiwe · Great Barrington

Email Sheela at 413villagegreen@gmail.com to inquire about telling a story.

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Summer 2026 Storytelling Events

Sheela Clary — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:24:35 GMT

SHEELA AND HER STORYTELLING STUDENT GROUP AFTER THE EVENT AT THE MOUNT ON AUGUST 9TH.

STUDENTS: Laura Squires, Gleison Ariel-Pena, Maria Cotto, Lina Barstow, William Ospina

LITERACY NETWORK’S 3RD ANNUAL STORYTELLING EVENT

LINK TO THE CTSB RECORDING OF THIS YEAR’S VERY ENTERTAINING HOUR OF STORYTELLING.

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