"Ora E. Anderson:
The Soul of the Woods offers a moving and thoughtful portrait of
one man's engagement with nature in his Appalachian Ohio home.
Both as a creative writer and public activist, Anderson promoted
a romantic and practical vision of our relation to the land in
the hope of restoring "balance to our soul." His preservation
efforts over the past forty years offer broader insight as well
into the historical development of America's struggle to build
an "ethic of appreciation for nature."
Propelled by
Anderson's deep commitment to and enthusiasm for nature, this
beautiful film effectively conveys the value of connection to
place in nurturing the human spirit. When combined with
Anderson's sensitive writing and other accompanying materials,
The Soul of the Woods should stimulate an important public
dialogue about our responsibility to the land we inhabit, as
individuals and as a community."
- Howard Sacks, Director, Rural Life Center, Kenyon College
"Ora Anderson had
the soul of a poet. But his poetry was not merely in his
writing, it was in every piece of wood he carved, every parcel
of land he saved and nurtured, and in every person whose life he
touched. While we no longer have Ora to talk to, to walk beside,
and to laugh with, we still have his incredible vision, his
remarkable life story, and his boundless joy for nature. All of
these wonderful things are included in "Soul of the Woods."
-
Bill Thompson
III, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest
"Ora E. Anderson:
The Soul of the Woods" is a touching look at one man's efforts
over the better half of a century to nurture the return of
Ohio's forests and other natural areas. With humor, warmth and
depth, Ora draws us into his world of awe and appreciation for
nature's splendor and resiliency beginning with the
transformation of his own old farm and invites us to share his
vision of an Ohio rich in healthy habitats and thriving
wildlife."
- Jessica Keith, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio
"Here
is a book and a video of a man who loves the forest because of
the forest. The twentieth century saw massive destruction to the
forests and habitats of Appalachian Ohio. Too few people took
notice. But Ora Anderson did take notice. And he ultimately
became a steward and impresario of the natural world. This is a
delightful, inspiring, human story of what can occur when a
thoughtful, passionate, and committed citizen decides to change
the world around oneself.
The video is a
24-minute-long piece beautifully and soulfully produced on the
incredible life and legacy of Ora Anderson. The DVD also
includes a sampling of Anderson's carvings of birds-carvings
that are so carefully done they resemble three-dimensional
Audubon paintings-as well as steps required to carve such
masterpieces. Also included are poetry and prose from Anderson
himself. The companion paperback book includes an accessible
article on the natural history of Appalachian Ohio, along with
meaning-laden poetry of Anderson. This is a must have for anyone
concerned with the natural, fragile world of Appalachian Ohio
and beyond."
-
Chad Berry, Director, Loyal Jones Appalachian Center,
Berea College
"The
challenge and reward of documentary filmmaking is to capture the
essence of the subject that has so enthralled the filmmaker and
give viewers a sense of that wonder. This challenge has been met
in the new work ,“The Soul of the Woods,” a multi-media package
produced by Jean Andrews and Steven Fetsch.
Ora “Andy” Anderson was one of
those rare breeds who understood nature and the depleted rolling
hills and farmland of Southeast Ohio. In 1956 he and his wife,
Harriet, bought her old family homeplace, a rundown 90 acre farm
near Athens and went about transforming it into a wondrous
nature preserve, Windfall Ridge, that, now, over fifty years
later gives light to the souls of a man and woman with a dream.
The preserve is an exquisite tribute to nature’s astonishing
ability to heal itself over time and become a soulful forest
again, replete with plants, trees and animals that once had been
driven from the land by man’s industry.
In this cinematic homage to nature and to Mr.
Anderson, we come to love a character and a place through the
sheer power of the storytelling and artistry of this 92-year-old
man. True conservation starts in the heart, and a big heart has
Anderson—big as all outdoors and then some. He is one with
nature, and it plays out in every detail of his life. After
nurturing his land, and the loss of his wife, he takes up
woodcarving and manages to teach himself how to capture the
spirit of the many feathered creatures that now populate his
woods. At first glance one would think that these carved birds
were real or preserved by the hand of a skilled taxonomist. They
seem at once alive, captured in mid-movement, lifelike in their
perches and stances. You can almost hear them sing a woodsong
over the replenished acres inhabited by Andy and all the wild
animals who have returned to the woods of Windfall Ridge."
- Oral Historian and Filmmaker Jack
Wright
Ora E. Anderson:
The Soul of the Woods is a wonderful companion to A
Forest Returns—and vice versa, both produced by Jean
Andrews and Steven Fetsch of Ohio Landscape Productions, Inc.
A Forest Returns provides a story of the region’s
history, especially as it relates to the land, its cover, uses
(and abuses) as told by Ora as a journalist and historian.
The Soul of the Woods affords the viewer with
glimpses into the man whose very soul thrived on communing with
nature, conserving the land, and sharing this love and concern
with others as an artist, storyteller and a poet.
…Once is not enough
to view the video or read the booklet as much can be gained and
appreciated with re-viewing and re-reading. For those of us not
fortunate enough to own one of Ora’s carved birds, perhaps
having seen some firsthand, the carving demonstration is
fantastic! Persons with an affinity for Appalachia—its
geography, geology, ecology, people and place, etc.—will enjoy
The Soul of the Woods which also pays tribute to the
beauty, wisdom, life experiences and contributions of a real
gentleman.
- Deanna L.
Tribe, Assoc. Prof. Emerita, and Community Development
Specialist Ohio State University Extension, McArthur, Ohio
Ora E. “Andy” Anderson is a legend in Ohio, but it is his beloved
old farm that takes center stage in Soul of the Woods, just
as it did in Anderson’s life. This DVD and its companion booklet
give us rare insight into this remarkable man and how (and why),