Monday, May 27, 2013

Those Happy Industrious Mennonites

-Posted by Isaac

After years of me pulling all the weight around here, my mennonite wife finally managed to do something:

 Kidding, Honey, kidding!

This is the latest in a long successful string of Jayne projects. She co-authored a book! Seriously, an actual book! Published by Adams Media, it will be at Barnes and Noble and other such stores around mid-June. Or if you're interested, just pick up a copy from us at a market.

 It is exactly what the title reads: a book about crafting using products from the hive. It's about 150 pages long, explores beeswax projects with candles, soaps, lotions, lip balms, salves and also many cooking recipes using honey. Jayne was in charge of the beeswax section.

Of course Jayne didn't want me to blog about this, and when I insisted (You don't just write a book every day!), she instructed me not to sound too braggy. So I won't. I guess authoring a book speaks for itself.

This found its way to facebook last week and the comments generally went like, "Awesome! You run a business, you feed, clothe and entertain three small children... how in the world??"
Jayne is just taking it all in stride, deflecting the spotlight as usual and moving on to the next task. It's a bit different from the normal approach (my approach) which involves gobbling up compliments and basking in the glow for as long as it lasts. I'm even inclined to coattail Jayne's accomplishments. "Well, you know what they say, ' behind every great woman...' "
It makes me think that Jayne may be a little closer to being truly happy and it also reminds me of a particular Todd Snider song. One that talks about success and how you've reached its true pinnacle  when you don't even care about the money, compliments or publicity that come along with it. The next time you see Jayne, go ahead and congratulate her (although she probably doesn't need it).

In other mennonite news, a fellow named Anthony Zimmerman contacted me a few weeks ago about some hives for pollination. That first phone conversation I (rudely) asked if he was mennonite. I know there are many conservative mennonites around Bainbridge farming produce. Sure was! This week I loaded up 12 hives at four in the morning and took them south to where Ohio turns beautiful.


As I expected, but even beyond my expectations, the Zimmermans are quite an industrious family. Six greenhouses, 3000 hanging baskets, acres of pumpkins, squash, cantaloupe, tomatoes, hay, draft horses and chickens... just a start. They also play around with lumber, producing pallets and operate a bike repair and sales shop.
Anthony was about my age, talkative, inquisitive, enthusiastic, and modestly (much like Jayne) didn't want his picture taken. (I then thought better of going around snapping shots of all the family's endeavors.)

The greenhouse on the back forty
 We covered a wide variety of subjects in the hour I was dropping off the hives. Hiking came up.  He said that he and about 10 others were going out to Vermont to hike the Long Trail next month. Wow!
He also directed me to the Buckeye Trail which ran just south of there about three miles.
I later filled the morning with a long and beautiful trail run. Thanks, Anthony.

Six (blurry) hives in the morning sun
Back at home I told Jayne about the operation, the productivity and how impressed I was. "Mennonites just seem to have it together. They're in to everything and they're good at it..."
She just looked at me and commented, "You married into some good genes didn't you?"

3 comments:

  1. Hi, I am a fellow Witt grad. I follow blogs about natural and healthy lifestyles and came across this review about your book. http://gazingin.com/2013/06/14/book-review-honey-crafting/
    Just wanted to share the praise with you in case you don't get sent these links. I happen to LOVE raw honey and was quite interested in the book before realizing who wrote it. I plan to pick up a copy as I have been interested in getting into making soaps with beeswax.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Barbara! I do remember you from Witt... we have a mutual friend Danielle. I checked out your blog and it is full of so many nice pictures! Your son is so cute! Thanks so much for checking out the book! Jayne

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  2. Hi Barbara! I do remember you from Witt... we have a mutual friend Danielle. I checked out your blog and it is full of so many nice pictures! Your son is so cute! Thanks so much for checking out the book! Jayne

    ReplyDelete