¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN ARTIST WHOSE RECENT WORK WAS INSPIRED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> THE DOTS SORT OF BECAME A REPRESENTATION OF HOW HUMANS CONNECT TO EACH OTHER.

>> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT A SERIES THAT CELEBRATES AND HONORS THE WORK OF LACK WRITERS -- BLACK WRITERS.

>> WRITING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE FEW TIMES WHERE WE REALLY GET TO SPEND TIME WITH OURSELVES AND REALLY REFLECT ON THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD.

>>> AND WE'LL EXPLORE THIS FARM-TO-VASE FLOWER FARM.

>> THEY BRING US A PLACE IN TIME.

YOU REMEMBER THE SPECIAL PEOPLE LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> FORT FOR -- SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

IT'S A BIT OF A CLOUDY DAY, BUT AS THEY SAY, APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY WERE FLOWERS.

IT'S SPRINGTIME IN NEW ENGLAND WHEN THE GRASS GROWS GREEN AND THE FLOWERS BOOM.

WE'RE COMING FROM YOU FROM ROOTED FLOWERS FARM, LOCATED IN THE FEEDING HILLS SECTION OF THE HAMPDEN COUNTY TOWN OFFING AGAW, MASSACHUSETTS.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROOTED FLOWERS A BIT LATER, BUT WE START OFF WITH THIS EVENING BY TAKING YOU TO THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD FOR OUR FIRST STORY.

ARTIST PAUL BLOOMFIELD'S COVID-19 SERIES WAS DIRECTLY INSPIRED BY THE EARLY WEEKS OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE TWIN STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN LUNG BECAME THE STARTING POINT FOR EACH OF HIS WORKS IN THE SERIES.

THE LUNG SUGGESTED A PARALLEL STRUGGLING, THAT WE ARE SIDE BY SIDE IN THIS TOGETHER BUT JUST CA POSED WITH THE REALITY OF SUFFERING ALONE.

THE COVID SERIES RECENTLY HUNG AT THE AIMEE FINE ARTS GALLERY ON THE CAMPUS OF -- AMY H. CARBERRY FINE ARTS GALLERY ON THE CAMPUS OF SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SPOKE WITH US BOTH THE ARTIST AND GALLERY DIRECTOR SON GRA PERON TO FIND OUT.

>> PAUL BLOOMFIELD'S INSTINCT WAS TO FIND SOME WAY TO REFLECT THE FEAR AND THE STRUGGLE MANY PEOPLE FELT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT WE NEED REMINDING OF COVID WAS CERTAINLY NOT MY INTENT, BUT THIS IDEA THAT WE EXPERIENCE THIS THING TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY THAT EXPERIENCE IS -- IS BECOMING MORE OF THE PASSION.

>> IMAGES OF HUMAN LUNGS WITH DROPLETS, USING COLORS, GESTURES, AND PATTERNS.

THE SERIES ALLOWS THE VIEWER AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE REALITY OF OUR COLLECTIVE PAIN AND SUFFERING CAUSED BY COVID-19.

>> TO HELP ME PROCESS THIS, AS A HUMAN, AND AS AN ARTIST, PROCESS THIS BY DOING SOMETHING VISUAL, THAT WOULD SORT OF HELP ME DEAL WITH IT, I SUPPOSE.

>> SO THE DROPLETS THEMSELVES CLOSELY RESEMBLE THE ACTUAL LOOK OF THE COVID MOLECULE.

AND THE FACT THAT SP THEY'RE DELIVERED BY AIR IN A CONTACTLESS WAY THROUGH THE AIR.

LIKE THESE DROPLETS ARE SORT OF MIMICS THE WHOLE WAY THAT COVID IS TRANSMITTED.

SO THE PAINTING IS ALMOST LIKE A SORT OF VISUALLY INTERPRETATION OF HOW THAT HAPPENS.

>> THE COVID-19 SERIES HUNG AT THE AMY H. CARBERRY'S FINE ARTS GALLERY ON THE CAMPUS IN MARCH.

THE GALLERY FEATURES WORKS BY ARTISTS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL REPUTAY, AS WELL AS STUDENT WORK.

>> I'M SORT OF SURPRISED, TO BE HOPEST, THAT -- HONEST, THAT I DID SO MUCH.

I DIDN'T -- YOU KNOW, AS I SAID TO OTHER PEOPLE, I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT I WAS DOING.

I WOULD DO SOMETHING, WORK IT OUT, DO THE COLORS, THE SHAPES, OKAY, DONE FOR THE DAY.

PUT IT IN THE PILE AND NEXT THING I KNOW I WOULD HAVE A PILE OF WORK AND THAT STARTED TO BUILD UP AS A BODY OF WORK, WHICH I NEVER PLANNED IT TO BE.

I JUST -- IT SORT OF EVOLVED THAT WAY.

LIKE NONE OF THIS WAS MEANT TO BE.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE THIS BIG SHOW LIKE THIS.

>> SONDRA PERON IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS GALLERY DIRECTOR.

>> THE COVID SERIES IS A TIME STAMP.

IT'S A MOMENT IN TIME THAT ISER IN GOING TO -- HOPEFULLY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE WAY THAT IT HAS AND DID.

AND FOR PAUL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL PORTRAYAL OF THE PANDEMIC AND COVID AND THE VIRUS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS OF IT, BUT I ALSO THINK HIS EXHIBITION IS A COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW.

WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO A SPACE LIKE THIS, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO LOOK AT COVID IN THE WAY THAT PAUL HAS PRESENTED IT.

BUT WHEN YOU DO, IT'S JUST GIVING YOU A MOMENT TO REFLECT.

>> BLOOMFIELD RECALLS INITIAL REPORTS OF COVID AS BEING A RESPIRATORY INFECTION THAT WAS CAUSED BY DROPLETS TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE AIR.

THE LUNGS TO HIM SUGGESTED A PARALLEL STRUGGLE, THAT WE ARE SIDE BY SIDE IN THIS TOGETHER.

BUT ON OTHER DAYS HE SAW THE IRONY OF BEING NEAR PEOPLE, JUXTAPOSED WITH THE REALITY AND PAIN OF SUFFERING ALONE.

>> THE WORK ITSELF, BECAUSE IT USED -- IT RELIED ON THIS IDEA OF DOTS, THE DOTS SORT OF ULTIMATELY SORT OF BECAME A REPRESENTATION OF HOW HUMANS CONNECT TO EACH OTHER.

AND SO REALLY, DESPITE THE SORT OF AWFUL AND DEADLY QUALITY OF THIS DISEASE, DIFFERENT KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS HAVE EVOLVED.

WE'VE LEARNED TO SORT OF DEAL WITH EACH OTHER DIFFERENTLY AND REACT WITH MAYBE BETTER THAN WE DID.

I DON'T KNOW.

HOPEFULLY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WE KNOW IN-PERSON LEARNING -- WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

, FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

THE FINE ARTS GALLERY ON THE CAMPUS CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND CREATIVE TALENTS OF AIM -- AMY H. CARBERRY, AN ASPIRES, ARTIST, POET, AND ALUMINA OF THE COLLEGE WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2003.

THE GALLERY WAS GIFTED TO THE SCHOOL BY HER FAMILY AND PRODUR DAVE FRASER SPOKE WITH ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND GALLERY DIRECTOR SONDRA PERON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPACE.

>> OUR -- ART IS HUGE.

I THINK EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS MURALS, THEY NEAT OUTDOOR SKULL UP -- NEED OUTDOOR SCULPTURES.

IF WE WERE TO COVER UP ALL THE WORK THAT WE ENJOY AND TAKE FOR GRANTED, WE WOULD SUDDENLY BE AT A GREAT, GREAT LOSS.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> PERFORMANCE POET, PLAYWRIGHT, AND AUTHOR NICHOLE HAS -- NICOLE M. YOUNG-MARTIN HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BLISS HER DIFFERENT CREATIVE PRACTICES, AND HER LATEST VENTURE IS A WEB SERIES CALLED "BLACK WRITERS READ.

>> Reporter: IT SHOWCASES, HONORS, AND SHOWCASES THE WORK OF BLACK WRITERS BOTH NOTLY -- NOLLY AND NATIONWIDE.

I SPOKE WITH HER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS NEW SERIES AND HER CAREER VARIOUS CREATIVE DISCIPLINES.

>> THE WRITER IN ME THAT WAS BORN, TALK WITH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND FROM THERE I'M ABLE TO COACH PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR OWN.

SO AS A WRITING STRUTTERROR, AND LEADING -- INSTRUCTOR, AND LEADING PEOPLE, THERE IS POWER IN A PERSONAL STORY.

I LEAD PEOPLE IN TERMS OF HOW THIS CAN GAIN CONFIDENCE -- WRITING IS SO POWERFUL.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID TO ME, OH, I'M NOT A CREATIVE WRITER.

I DON'T DO POETRY BECAUSE IT'S SINGING.

AND I'M LIKE, POETRY IS NOT THE SAME.

POETRY IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

AND THE WRITING PROMPTS IT.

I TAKE PEOPLE THROUGH.

WOW, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS FACET OF MYSELF.

LIKE THERE'S A WRITING PROMPT THAT I DO WHERE I ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE A LETTER TO THEIR YOUNGER SELVES.

AND JUST THE THINGS THAT THEY REALIZE ABOUT THEIR LIFE AND THEIR GROWTH IN THAT MOMENT, AND I'M LIKE, YES, AND WRITING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE FEW TIMES WHERE WE GET TO REALLY SPEND TIME WITH OURS AND REALLY -- OUR SELF AND COLORADO -- WELL REFLECT OUR GROWING.

WRITING CAN BE POWERFUL.

>> HOW IS IT FOR YOU REVISITING SOME OF THESE PAST EXPERIENCES?

IS THERE A LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY AND HESITATION YOU HAVE WITH SHARING YOUR PERSONAL STORIES?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

I AM -- I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE NOW.

A MEMOIR ON DATING AND IT'S BEEN ON HOLD SINCE I'VE GOTTEN MARRIED AND HAVEN'T HAD THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF DATING.

AND SOME OF THE VENTER IN THAT WRIET -- VULNERABILITY IN THAT WRITING IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT ME BUT IT'S ABOUT LIKE HOW -- WHAT I'VE DONE HAS IMPACTED OTHER PEOPLE OR VICE VERSA.

SO I GET VERY VULNERABLE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND WRITING ABOUT HOW OTHER PEOPLE INFLUENCE ME, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO COME AFTER ME WITH A LAWSUIT, BUT ALSO, TOO, I WANT TO HONOR THE FACT THAT IT IS THE STORY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AND WHEN I'M WRITING THAT PERSON IS NOT ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORY.

SO I HAVE TO DANCE AROUND A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WHAT I SHARE, FROM CHANGING NAMES TO FICTIONALIZING THE STORY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING PERSONALLY, I THINK BECAUSE I GREW UP AS AN ONLY CHILD, MY BROTHER AND I WERE LIKE 15 YEARS APART.

SO WE GREW UP AS ONLY CHILDREN.

AND MY PARENTS WERE NOT THE ONES WHO WERE -- YOU'RE SEEING -- YOU'RE SEEN AND NOT HEARD.

MY PARENTS WERE LIKE, NO, WE NEED YOU TO TALK.

SO I BECAME THIS VERY BOISTEROUS CHILD WHO ALWAYS TOOK THE STAGE.

SO ME SHARING PERSONAL THINGS ABOUT MYSELF, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE TOO MUCH OF AN OPEN BOOK.

WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND OTHER PEOPLE, I GET REALLY VULNERABLE BECAUSE I'M JUST LIKE, THEY ARE NOT HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NARRATIVE.

>> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT POINT.

I LOVE THAT POINT.

THERE'S ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S ALSO BROUGHT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.

AND IN JUNE TWEAPS, YOU -- TWEAPS, YOU -- 2020, YOU HOSTED PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

WHAT WAS YOUR VISION BEHIND CREATING THIS EVENT AND HOW HAS THAT GROWN SINCE THE INITIAL GATHERING?

>> AAH, YOU HAVE SO MANY GREAT QUESTIONS.

SO BLACK WRITERS REED HOW IT CAME ABOUT -- "BLACK WRITERS READ," HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

AT THE TIME TRUMP WAS LOOK TO HOST A RALLY IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ON JUNE 19ED OF THAT YEAR, WHICH IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A HUGE MASSACRE WHERE BLACK BUSINESSES AND BLACK PEOPLE WERE MURDERED IN LIKE 9 TEEN 21 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND HE WAS DOING IT IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF MY WRITING COLLEAGUES WERE TAGGED ON FACEBOOK AND MANY PEOPLE KNOW US AS ACTIVISTS AND THEY'RE LIKE, CAN YOU DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST VERY DISRESPECTFUL.

AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, WHAT CAN I DO IN LIKE A WEEK'S TIME, BECAUSE THIS POST CAME OUT A WEEK BEFORE JUNETEENTH.

AND I'M LIKE WHAT CAN I DO IN A WEEK.

I'M REALLY GOOD AT PUTTING ON EVENTS AND CONVENING PEOPLE VIRTUALLY.

SO I PUT A CALL OUT, EVERYONE JUST SEND THIS OUT.

AND WHAT HAPPENED, I ACTUALLY GOT MORE THAN 16 WRITERS TO APPLY TO READ THAT EVENING.

BUT I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE OVER THREE HOURS.

AND VIRTUAL.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BOOK EVERYONE THAT NIGHT.

AND GIVEN THE IMPACT THAT IT HAD AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE THAT EVENING, IT TURNED INTO A MONTHLY WEB SERIES, BLACK WRITERS READ.

LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 AND HOW IT'S GROWN NOW, WHERE NOW IN SEASON 2, AND ORIGINALLY IT WAS JUST GOING TO LIVE LIKE ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK AS A LIVE STREAM.

I WAS RECENTLY APPROACHED BY A PUBLICIST WHO HAS IN HER COFFER LIKE A SLATE OF WRITERS THAT SHE WANTS TO HAVE ME INTERVIEW BEFORE THEIR BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED.

AND IT'S SO MANY PEOPLE AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS NOW.

AND I'M LIKE, AUDIO POT CASTS.

SO I'M ADDING AN AUDIO PODCAST.

WE NOW FEATURE WRITERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.

I ACTUALLY AM BOOKING SOMEONE BASED IN GUYANA.

I BOOKED SOMEONE BASED IN PORTUGAL.

AND I ALSO GOT INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE U.K. >> AND BLACK WRITERS READ IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF ONE OF YOUR INITIATIVES THAT FOSTERS THE TALENTS OF OTHER CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS.

AND YOU'VE DONE THAT A LOT THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

YOU HAD PROCEEDS FROM YOUR DEBUT, SPOKEN WORD ALBUM, INPUT LIVE FROM THE VALLEY, THAT CREATED A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN IN NON -- AND NONBINARY WRITERS OF COLOR.

AND YOU JUST HAVE THIS -- GROWN THE "BLACK WRITERS READ" PODCAST AND SERIES.

SO WHY IS COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> I WOULDN'T BE AN ARTIST IF IT WEREN'T FOR COMMUNITY AND CABLATION.

THERE ARE SO MANY -- COLLABORATION.

THERE ARE SO MANY -- LOCAL ARARTISTS, DIANA AL VARVEZ, CHRIS MONTGOMERY, IF IT WANT FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND PUSHING ME TO DO WHAT I DO, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S THE WHOLE KIND OF PAYING IT FORWARD.

I NEED TO CREATE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THEN ALSO, TOO, IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, BECAUSE I WORKED IN THEATER AND MUSIC PRIOR, THOSE ARE SO HARD TO BREAK INTO.

AND THE PIPELINES ARE INTENSE.

AND EVEN AS A WRITER, THE MAIN STREET PIPELINES IN TERMS OF GETTING PUBLISHED ARE INTENSE AND I EXPERIENCED THOSE MYSELF.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS THAT MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY WANT EXPOSURE TO THEIR WORK.

SO ESSENTIALLY, I'M TRYING TO CHISEL THROUGH THE CONCRETE CEILING TO OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AFTER A FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR A PLACE TO START HER FLOWER FARM, REBECCA SADLOWSKI GOT THE CALL IN MARCH OF 2019 THAT A NEARLY SIX-ACRE PLOT OF LAND IN FEEDING HILLS WAS AVAILABLE.

SOON AFTER, THE HAVE I ANN -- ADVENTURE OF TURNING AN OVERGROWN PROPERTY INTO THE BUSINESS KNOWN AS ROOTED FLOWERS WAS UNDERWAY.

222 MRKS THEIR THIRD YEAR OF GROWING AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRINE VISITED THIS FIELD-TO-VASE FLOWER FARM TO I KNOW WERE US THE STORY.

>> -- TO BRING US THE STORY.

>> THIS AREA WAS SURROUNDED BY SO MANY OLD DYING TREES, THAT IT WAS BARELY VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.

THIS TRAILER, WHICH NOW SERVES AS THE STORAGE UNIT, WAS ONCE SITTING ON A LOT.

WAITING TO BE DIMINISHED.

THIS UNIT HERE, WHICH NOW KEEPS FLOWERS COOL AND FRESH, WAS THE BACK END OF A SEAFOOD REFRIGERATOR TRUCK.

IT ALSO WASN'T TOO LONG AGO THAT THE IDEA OF TURNING THAT WHICH WAS DEEMED UNUSABLE INTO FUNCTIONING COGS IN THE GREATER FARM EGG OPERATION KNOWN AS -- FARMING OPERATION, KNOWN AS ROOTED FLOWERS, WAS A SKETCH ON THE NOTEPAD.

HERE IT IS.

THIS WHOLE TRAILER IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF SEVERAL RECLAMATION PROJECTS ON THE FARM.

BUT BEFORE THEY CLEARED THE LAND OUT OF THE BRUSH, DEADWOOD, AND SMELLY MUD THIS, PLACE WAS A BREEDING GROUND FOR TICKS AND MOSQUITOES.

SO THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS ONE GIANT RECLAMATION PROJECT.

BUT EVEN WITH THE PROPERTY CLEARED AND READY FOR FARMING, THERE WAS STILL ONE REVISION TO BE MADE.

AND IT INVOLVES THE BUSINESS PLAN.

>> WHEN I STARTED TO GROW CUT FLOWERS, I THOUGHT, I HAVE TO SELL THESE TO FLORISTS.

I CAN'T CREATE A FINISHED PRODUCT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BUY.

BUT THEY KEPT ASKING ME FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS.

LIKE BOUQUETS AND CENTERPIECES AND THIS AND THAT.

SO MY MINDSET CHANGED.

WELL, WHY CAPITAL WE DO THAT.

WE'RE GROW -- CAN'T WE DO THAT.

WE'RE GROWING THE PRODUCT.

I JUST HAVE TO LEARN DESIGN OR LEARN HOW TO CREATE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING TO THE EYE.

SO I DID SOME SELF-TEACHING.

I WENT TO A FEW CLASSES.

AND THEN THAT'S WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING.

WE BECAME A CUT FLOWER FARM THAT GREW FOR EVENTS.

AND THEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAME ESSENTIALLY A FLORIST.

>> THE START-TO-FINISH ASPECT OF THIS INFORMATION HAS ITS PERK -- OPERATION HAS ITS PERKS AND DETRACTORS.

THEY CAN REALLY ONLY GROW WHAT'S IN SEASON.

THE FLIP SIDE IS THAT THEIR YIELD IS ALWAYS FRESH AND HAS ZERO TRAVEL TIME.

THAT'S SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF WHEN THEY PICK SOME UP AT THE STORE.

>> THEY'RE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE.

AND THESE FLOWERS ARE TRAVELING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SOMETIMES ONE WEEK TO UP TO TWO WEEKS FROM HARVEST, TO WHEN THE STEM IS GETTING PUT INTO A VASE.

SO WE'RE TAKING ALL THAT OUT, INCLUDING YOU KNOW, THE PACKAGING THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED WITH IT, THE CARBON FOOTPRINT.

WE'RE FIELD-TO-VASE.

>> TRYING TO FIND THOSE VASES, CUSTOMERS NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE SHIPPING CONTAINER AT THE HEAD OF THE PROPERTY.

AGAIN, THIS WAS THE RE-PURPOSING OF AN OBJECT THAT IN TURN BECAME THE PERMANENT SOLUTION TO WHAT WAS AT THE TIME A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.

>> THE INITIAL NOTION WAS THAT WAS WE NEED A UNIT THAT WE CAN SELL OUT OF BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY STOREFRONT SPACE.

AND WE ALSO NEEDED SOMETHING IN THE WINTER MONTHS THAT WE COULD STORE STUFF IN YOU, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN, OUR PACKAGING GOODS, PAPER PRODUCTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WHEN WE GOT IN THE SEA CONTAIN, IT WAS LIKE LATE SUMMER, FALL.

WE RAN THE FARM STAND OUT OF THAT AND THEN IT WAS SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO USE THE REST OF IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR STORAGE.

NOW JUST BECOME FULL-TIME STORM -- PARDON ME STAND -- FARM STAND.

>> REBECCA SADLOWSKI IS A CASE STUDY OF SUCCESSES.

THIS TIME TIME -- ONE-TIME DENTAL HI JENNIST IN HER SPARE TIME HAS NOW MADE DIGGING HER STANDS INTO THE -- HANDS INTO THE DIRT A FULL-TIME ENDEAVOR.

SHE KNOWS THAT FLOWERS ARE TANGIBLE OBJECTS WITH SO MANY INTANGIBLE AND DESIRABLE QUALITIES.

>> IT'S AN EXPERIENCE.

I THINK AND I AM SO PASSIONATE ABOUT, AN EXPERIENCE, THAT LOCAL CONNECTION, AND FLOWERS ESPECIALLY, THEY BRING US A PLACE IN TIME.

YOU REMEMBER THOSE SPECIAL PEOPLE LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD.

I'VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED FLOWERS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE GIFTS AND IT'S BEEN A JOY TO PRODUCE SUCH A THING THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY AND THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXTRA, ROOTED FLOWERS' OWNER REBECCA SADLOWSKI TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF FINDING FARMLAND IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS TO DEVELOP HER FLOWER FARM.

>> WHEN I FIRST SAW THE PROPERTY AND THE POTENTIAL, I THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO THURN THIS -- TURN THIS AROUND.

BUT AS PEOPLE STARTED COMING IN TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY, LIKE SOIL SCIENTISTS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, IT WAS A LITTLE DISCOURAGING BECAUSE THEY KEPT SAYING, IT'S GOING TO BE YEARS BEFORE YOU OPERATE OUT OF HERE, BEFORE YOU GROW ANYTHING.

BUT THAT WASN'T AN APTION.

WE HAD TO BE GROW -- AN OPTION.

WE HAD TO BE GROWING THAT FOLLOWING YEAR.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED VIE PI -- VIOLINIST FRANCESCA ANDEREGG HAS RELEASED A NEW ALBUM ENTITLED, BRAVE NEW WORLD, MUSIC FROM THE AMERICAS.

SHE PRESENTS THE WORKS OF FOUR COMPOSERS FROM THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES WHOSE MUSIC SHOWCASES A RICHNESS OF SOUNDS AND STYLES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

I SPOKE WITH ANDEREGG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BOTH THE ALBUM AND HER WORK AS A MUSICIAN.

>> THE PIANIST, AND I, WE'VE PERFORMED CONCERTS TOGETHER OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO MAKE AN ALBUM AND WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING FOR CONNECTIONS AMONGST THE PIECES THAT WE TYPICALLY PERFORM TOGETHER.

WE DECIDED THAT THE MUSIC FROM THE AMERICAS WAS THIS IDEA THAT KIND OF LINKED IT.

SO MUSIC BY AARON COPELAND AND EVE BEACH AND ALBERTO AND HECTOR FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

SO THAT WAS OUR CONNECTION.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY INTERESTED KNEE ABOUT YOUR NEW -- ME ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM WAS LEARNING THE BACKGROUND OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MUSIC, FROM THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I REALLY REALIZED, THAT THIS CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSICAL MUSICKISTS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT KUN -- MUSIC EXISTS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

>> SOME OF IT WAS LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PERIOD OF TIME, DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF FUNDING AND INTEREST IN SENDING ARTISTS FROM LATIN AMERICA TO NORTH AMERICA AND VICE VERSA.

SO THAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE LIKE A KIND OF CULTURAL DIPLOMACY OR LIKE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BETWEEN A NATION.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING HISTORICALLY.

AND THEN I THINK RECORDING IS A VERY SPECIAL PROCESS AS A MUSIC -- MUSICIAN, BECAUSE IT'S VERY TIME INTENSIVE AND VERY HARD, BUT YOU GET TO SORT OF LISTEN TO -- AND ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU'VE RECORDED IT, WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING TO HOW TO IT THE IT TOGETHER, AND YOU HEAR ALMOST LIKE SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF HOW YOU COULD PUT IT TOGETHER.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND WHAT EXACTLY DO I WANT THE AUDIENCE TO HEAR, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE IN A LIVE CONCERT HALL, OF COURSE, THERE'S THAT WONDERFUL SPONTANEITY.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT INFLUENCES WHAT THE AUDIENCE HEARS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> LIKE SOMEBODY COUGHS OR -- LET'S SAY THE PIANO IS LIKE LOUDER IN ONE CONCERT HALL OR JUST HOW MUCH DOES THE SOUND ECHO OR THERE'S SO MANY OF THOSE TINY THINGS THAT YOU JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW.

AND IT CAN ALWAYS BE DIFFERENT.

AND THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

BUT I THINK ON A RECORDING YOU HAVE THE ABILITY USING TECHNOLOGY TO CONTROL EXACTLY HOW MUCH REVERBERATION THERE IS AND GETTING INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT AND BEING REALLY CREATIVE WITH THAT TO SAY, THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT THE AUDIENCE TO HEAR IN THIS PIECE.

>> AND THE COMPOSERS ARE DESCRIBED FOR THIS ALBUM, AS USING MUSIC'S POWER TO EXPAND OUR SENSE OF SPACE AND TIME.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC IS REALLY GOOD AT DOING THIS?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO -- [LAUGHTER] >> SO BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES -- MUSIC THAT'S PARTICULARLY SLOW WITH KIND -- WILL KIND OF ALTER OUR SENSE OF TIME OR MUSIC THAT HAS UNUSUALLY LONG PHRASES, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE IN THE THIRD MOVEMENT OF THE AMY BEACH SONATA FOR VIOLIN.

THE PHRASES ARE LIKE TWO MINUTES LONG.

USUALLY WE THINK OF PHRASES ARFOUR BARS.

BUT THESE ARE -- ARE FOUR BARS.

BUT THESE ARE LONG PHRASINGS.

AND SO IN THAT WAY, IT CAN INFLUENCE.

IT CAN ALSO -- COMPOSERS CAN USE MUSIC TO INFLUENCE OUR SENSE OF TIME IN OTHER WAYS.

SO SOMETIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE COPELAND, THERE'S A LOT OF UNPREDICTABILITY IN HOW THE MUSIC UNFOLDS AND I THINK THAT ALSO KIND OF ALTERS OUR SENSE OF TIME.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST A CERTAIN FREEDOM TO HOW THESE PARTICULARLY COMPOSERS USED TIME, WHICH ALTERS THE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE LISTEN.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING INTERESTING TO REALIZE, I KNOW AS A MUSICIAN AND LISTENER.

>> SO YOU GREW UP IN THE BERKSHIRES WHICH BRINGS YOU BACK TO THIS AREA FOR PERFORMANCES.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS AREA THAT YOU LOVE AND YOU JUST REALLY CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM?

>> I LOVE THE LITTLE TOWNS.

I LOVE TO GO TO LENOX.

I LOVE TO GO TO GREAT BARRINGTON, STOCKBRIDGE.

AND I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS ALSO, BECAUSE NOW I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST, IT'S VERY FLAT.

AND SO I MISS THAT FORESTS AND HILLS AROUND ME.

SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO ROOTED FLOWERS FARM INNING AA BOMB FOR -- AGAWAM FOR HOSTING US THIS EVENING.

PLEASE JOIN US EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.