Lands End Festival-September 2009

Well, folks… we made it back to Savannah after spending a very enjoyable but way too short six weeks in Amherst. It was really good to experience the friendship and love from folks that we have known for so long, and we thank them for their kindnesses and extend that love back to them. We’re looking forward to seeing the folks who promised to visit.

(Hadley, MA)

Since we had a lot more stuff for our return trip to Savannah, we rented a truck (from Budget), and we loaded it up with a lot of good help from Christopher Brooks (now that’s a good young man). Our plan was to leave Amherst on Saturday the 29^th at 7am; so we left promptly at 2:15pm for an overnight stop at Ayo’s in Maryland. JoAnn led the way in the car. After a stop near Fayetteville, for the night on Sunday, we got to Savannah Monday afternoon and with help from our neighbor, Joe Bennett, we had the truck unloaded by 6:30. Then all we had to do was to unpack the boxes and sort stuff out; we’re still doing that but we only have a little bit to go.

(Kofi and his friend Nicholas in their hide-out)

As we begin Volume 2 of our blog, we have decided to highlight one event or observation each week. This week, we highlight the Land’s End Woodland River Festival.

On Saturday, September 5^th, we drove up to the annual Lands End Woodland River Festival on St. Helena’s Island, SC, about an hour and a quarter from Savannah. Dessie Baker (you may remember her from Onawumi’s birthday celebrations) was our “guide.” The festival site is on the Woodland River, just a few miles away from the Penn Center. The parcel of land is owned by the Land’s End Woodland Organization, formed by 47 Gullah families in 1921. It’s mission remains the same as when it was formed: to protect, preserve, and keep ownership of the property, and they’ve done a good job of it. Preservation of the land is so important because there are always many developers who want to take over the land on the island, which would change the whole character of St. Helena’s. Click here for information about the festival. For more information about the organization, go to their Home page.

(Lands End beachfront)

There were a number of entertainers throughout the day: a cappella singing; praise dancing by some young people; ring shouts; story telling; a demonstration of net-making by Mr. Joseph Legree, an 85-year-old elder of the community; and of course, craft and, food vendors selling all manner of soul food. And of course, Ms. Anita Prather as “Aunt Pearlie Sue” and Queen Quet, the Queen Mother of the Gullah Nation, were there to put the festival into the proper context of passing on the culture. Everybody seemed to have great time. Couldn’t help themselves

(Mr. Joseph Legree)

On our way back from St Helena’s Island, we stopped in Beaufort, SC for a short while. Dessie showed us around area which was the home of Robert Smalls, a U.S. (Gullah) congressman and Civil War hero. Our stop was much too brief and we vowed to return for a full day in the future.

So that’s the way it is. We’re grateful that we got back in safely, and things are looking good. We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, stay well and enjoy life.

Peace and blessings,
JoAnn and Jesse