Fun Fact(s) Friday: Ohio & Scotland

 

As I am in Scotland today, thought it might be fun to share some quirky Ohio - Scotland connections.  There's strangely quite a few...so this may be the first post of many.

1.  For fellow craft beer drinkers, Brewdog, which originated in Ellon, Scotland, opened its first US brewery in Columbus, Ohio in 2017.

2.  The total area of Scotland is 77,933 sq km, and the total area of Ohio is 116,096 sq km.  So this humourous video is actually correct about Scotland being smaller than Ohio.

3.  The Scottish Highlands and the Appalachian Mountains were once part of the same mountain range. Much of eastern and southeastern Ohio is covered by the Appalachian mountains or foothills.

4.  Scotland and Ohio share a fascination with folklore and effigies of serpents.  Researchers from University of Glasgow and the Ohio state government have even worked together to study Ohio's Serpent Mound.

Happy Hogmanay!

John Denver and a Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio

Another topic of conversation during Christmas with a friend's family in London was John Denver.  I think he came up because we watched 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992), which I apparently had never seen before, and discussed other Muppet ventures.  It was needling me that there must be some sort of Denver connection with Ohio and a little searching provided confirmation. 

There's a great write-up about Denver's song 'Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio' in Toledo History Box.

Goosebumps

While staying with a friend's family over Christmas, I was introduced to the charming programme Between the Covers and we had some nice discussions about books that we love and would like to read.  Interestingly, it popped up in discussions that many churches in the UK had raised concerns about the Harry Potter books when they became so popular with young readers.  This was particularly interesting as the parents in this family have worked their entire adult lives with the Salvation Army, which was a church that raised concerns, while their son met his wife through competitive Quidditch.  As we discussed that so many previous children's books and tales have featured witchcraft and fantastical characters, it was mentioned that it was strange that these books were a concern while the series Goosebumps didn't seem to ever be.  This seemed odd to them as they consider the books to be very scary but I honestly don't know myself as I have never read any.  The only thing that I really know about Goosebumps is that their creator/author R.L. Stine is from Ohio and went to The Ohio State University.

History of No-Dig Gardening (a crossover with my other blog 'Canterbury Tails & Herbs')

My first introduction to no-dig gardening was on the first community farm where I worked in east London.  A large patch of the farm where work vehicles had been parked when the trainline was worked upon meant that there was a large disused area of compacted earth.  With the help of permaculture garden designers, a no-dig garden was constructed and is now very productive.  Just as it sounds, it is a process of gardening without reliance on cultivation of the land but rather adding organic matter to the top and allowing nature to take its course.  Today's most wellknown promoter of no-dig gardening is Charles Dowding but the origins of the philosophy or practice, as well as actual technique, are still debatable.  

While trying to learn more to experiment with and start a no-dig patch on my new community farm site in west London, I came across an excellent episode from Empress of Dirt podcast: Empress of Dirt's 'A Brief History of No-Dig Gardening Through the Years'.  According to their research, the first no-dig gardening influencer was Edward H. Faulkner of Elyria, Ohio.  His book Plowman's Folly (1943) was written for farmers and is now considered a milestone.  Faulkner was a county agent in Kentucky and Ohio, a Smith-Hughes teacher of agriculture, and a soil and crop investigator.

"Probably no book on an agricultural subject has ever prompted so much discussion in this country."--Louis Bromfield

Tracy Chapman...I had a feeling I could be someone

Yesterday, walking through the shopping centre between work and my train, I heard 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman and tears, as usual, came to my eyes as I heard the refrain: 

And I-I had a feeling that I belonged

I-I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

Chapman was born in Cleveland, Ohio and like 'Fast Car' has always written music about poverty, human rights, and other social issues.  As a social activitst, she has done significant work for Cleveland City Schools, including an essay contest called 'Crossroads in Black History'.  

AAREG entry for Tracy Chapman:  From Ohio to the World

Unexpected but happy reference

In my mind, science fiction and fantasy have always been the best creative genres to metaphorically explore the truths of the human condition.  This is incredibly true for Wynonna Earp, which not only addresses nearly every familial and interpersonal relationship imaginable with sensitivity, wit, and honesty, but had the guts to make a healthy, endearing, and sexy queer love story front and centre in its imagined world.  The beauty of this inclusive storytelling built a tremendously loyal fan base of Earpers, who provide love and support to one another much like the characters in the show.  #WayHaught

While collectively fighting the good fight against demons, your favourite characters don't always get along; they have arguments, misunderstandings, and sometimes betrayals whereby you think there may be no remedy or turning back.  Yet, they always eventually work through those differences and actually grow through heartfelt but imperfect communication.  It's all a bit messy but obviously full of love.

This may be a shitshow, but its our shitshow. 

- Wynonna Earp

Since the series is set in the American west (think OK Corral), filmed in Canada with a mostly Canadian cast, it simply didn't seem possible that Ohio would ever get a mention and I was okay with that because of all of the amazing elements that the show provides as mentioned above.  You can't have everything, can you?  Yet, to my surprise, when Doc says he has a list of places he wants to visit now that he is leaving Purgatory, moving on, and wants Wynonna to join him, on the top of his list is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio!  Wynonna queries if they can visit Miracle, Montana on their way to Cleveland to visit their daughter Alice, who was sent away for her safety.  ❤

While I hope the fan effort is successful to #BringWynonnaHome for another season, it is heartwarming to know that Ohio will play some part in her journeys. 

Academic article about Earper fandom by an Ohio State University PhD candidate

Great recap/review of the episode 'Old Souls'  

Wynonna Earp came at a dark time for queer women (LA Times)