VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE 89
AIR DATE 09 27 2019
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Reduce
((SOT))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Grow a lot of our own food. Of course, being self-sufficient
is, kind of, ideal. I’m doing things that people, who would
live off the land, would do.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Repurpose
((SOT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
There are over 21 billion pounds (9.5b kg.) of textile in the
US alone in landfills and I strive to reduce that number by at
least a little bit.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Recycle
((SOT))
((Sandy Nurse, Founder, BK ROT))
And so, everything we bring in comes through here, comes
through this giant pulverizer that’s in the background and we
turn it into compost.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) PA MAC’S HOMESTEAD
((Banner: A Self-Reliant Life))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Caddo Gap, Arkansas))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 5 females))
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m not the fastest milker in the world. The cow really is the
central part for my homestead anyway because she does so
many things. She provides the milk. She gives me one calf
a year that will go in the freezer and….watch out, back up.
That flag means caution. And thank goodness she has a
flag to let us know when that’s happening. And yes, given all
this extra trouble, a lot of people probably would say, ‘I think
I’ll just go to the store.’ And you know what? This isn’t for
everybody. Even people who want to homestead, you know
milking, not everything is for everybody. You need to love it
and I do. It really doesn’t bother me that much. Now dirty
diapers, that bothered me. Why is that? I don’t know. But
my wife took care of the dirty diapers mostly and I took care
of this for her. It works out.
((MUSIC w/ NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m Pa Mac. I live in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. My wife and
daughters and I live on a 52 acre [21 hectares] homestead
that we’re pretty much developing, have developed from
scratch. And what we try to do is grow a lot of our own food.
Of course, being self-sufficient is, kind of, an ideal that may
not really be fully attainable, but it’s the goal.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Can you stir that up for me just a little bit?
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Ellie, why don’t you just twirl it around there for a few
seconds, you know. Then lift it up and you can sit on that
stool and start plucking.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I grew up living what I call small farm country life, and for a
brief period of my life, we lived in mid-town Memphis in an
apartment. I’d never experienced that kind of living. I
thought: somehow, I’ve got to get back. At some point, I
really need to get back.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
The reason I wanted to homestead probably had little to do
with the kids, and when we first started moving back towards
this lifestyle that I’d grown up with, a good life for the kids
was really not a thought for me.
((Ellie McWilliams, Daughter))
If it’s scalded good, then the feathers come of really easy.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
It’s not her first chicken rodeo. If my daughters were to
come on hard times sometime in their life, I think they’d be
able to feed their families, so.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
You did good.
((Ellie McWilliams, Daughter))
Thank you.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
This is the stage where we’re trying to make it more
attractive to Mama. I just wanted to move back to the simple
life because I missed it so badly. And, I guess, it was just
second nature that when I have kids, this is the life I do want
for them.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I reckon this is as close as we can get to the Garden of
Eden. Poke sallet, it is truly a southern tradition. I believe
we’re going to have this for dinner tonight if I can find some
kind soul to cook it for us. My motto for the homestead is, it
doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be. If you’re going
to wait till it’s perfect, you might be waiting a long time and
you need a chicken coop quick. Usable, practical, that’s the
key.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Who is going to cook that? Can, can…..
((Annie McWilliams, Daughter))
I’ll cook it if you’ll wash it.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Deal.
((Annie McWilliams, Daughter))
You can’t eat it by itself. It’s kind of nasty. You have to eat it
with something else.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I beg to differ. I thought it was kind of sweet. It’s an
acquired taste, I suppose. There’s so much to explore out
here, and it’s a fun and a beautiful thing, and to be able to do
it with people you love, that’s a whole other dimension of it,
and brings a note of thankfulness to God for me. Thank you
for allowing me this brief time on earth, living this way.
((NATS))
((Bonnie McWilliams, Daughter))
My superpower is that I can hold seven eggs in one hand.
Some people think, oh, they’re too immature for pets. They
can’t, you know, they don’t think their kids can handle it. But
it’s really just the best way to grow and learn and, you know,
if you can’t keep a chicken alive, what are you going to do?
((NATS))
((Bonnie McWilliams, Daughter))
I’ve always been really proud of my dad and his show, just
‘cause he enjoys what he’s doing and it’s fun to watch him
enjoy it and teach other people about it, because he likes it
and wants to keep the old way alive, and it’s just fun to
watch him.
((NAT sound: The Farm Hand’s Companion Show))
((Courtesy: YouTube))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m the creator of the Farm Hand’s Companion Show on
YouTube. That’s a show that’s dedicated to the celebration,
the preservation, and the developing of the old-time,
traditional farm. That’s something I’m real passionate about
and I love showing and teaching other people old-time skills
that, in a lot of instances, are being forgotten.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
And I cut right there. I’m going to go in for a close-up
because everybody wants to see a close-up of a nail being
driven in a board. You want to hear the only word I would
probably ever say in my videos? Ouch!
((NAT sound: The Farm Hand’s Companion Show))
((Courtesy: YouTube))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
If you watch my YouTube channel, people may be under the
impression that I’m living off the land. Well, I’m doing things
that people, who would live off the land, would do. But my
wife, you know, she does a good bit of shopping. You know,
not everything that appears on our table is not from the
garden, but a lot of it is.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
But I have my own production company. I produce radio
programs for preachers and that basically pays the bills.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’ve had a guy leave a comment, a question on YouTube one
time and he said, ‘Are you prepper? Are you preparing for
you know, economic downturn?’ Not necessarily. You
know, the main reason I do this is I love it. I can’t not do it.
And when people watch somebody talking or teaching about
something they love, it’s contagious. One down and 32
more to go, give or take. I want to inspire people to actually
be motivated to work with their hands. That’s the reason I
called it Farm Hand’s Companion. It’s a catchy little phrase,
but it means something to me. To be able to work with your
hands and then enjoy the fruit of your labor, that sparks
things in people that really not much else can. This is my
dirty little secret, so, don’t tell anybody. Farm Hand’s
Companion Show is, really, Pa Mac’s secret weapon against
socialism. When you have individuals, who are given the
freedom to be and do what they want to do, it ends up
helping society and it ends up bringing us closer together
than it otherwise would in any other way.
((NATS w/ MUSIC))
((Lynna McWilliams, Wife))
I don’t normally eat poke.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Home grow bacon in the beans.
((NATS w/ MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Repurposed Clothing
((SOT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
All of my pieces have recycled fabric. Everything I use is
recycled or donated.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) WEARABLE ART
((Banner: Wearable Art))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Map: Severna Park, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 4 females))
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Sewing is my biggest hobby. It relaxes me. It is very
therapeutic to me. I love just being able to create anything
that I really think of.
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Before I could even talk, I could always be drawing anything.
And then as I grew older, I’ve always been creating things,
like, it started off with earrings, then I changed to felted mice,
and then, I eventually got into sewing and jean jackets. My
definition of wearable art is something that makes you feel
unique. It’s one-of-a-kind, often handmade. First, I go
through my fabric, see what I have, see what kind of jackets
I have, find out a design that works on it through trial and
error, or maybe just the design comes to me.
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Then, I will cut it out and pin it on the jacket and then, sew it
on. And all of my jackets are finished with a custom label
that I make, that says my name and the number of the
jackets that I have.
((NATS
Ellie’s mom: The darker color would look good on a lighter
jean jacket))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
My mom has always been a huge supporter of the arts, and
she’s always given us a place to express our creativity.
((NAT
Ellie: Oh, here’s a tee-shirt I can put on the back of one.))
((Amy Heath, Ellie’s mother))
Creativity feeds kids’ brains, and with something they
probably can’t get elsewhere. She started making earrings
and felting, and then exposing herself through church and
craft fairs.
((NATS
Cheryl Crow: So, show me what you are doing now. Gosh,
that’s just beautiful.))
((Cheryl Crow, Ellie’s Mentor and Middle School
Teacher))
We introduced new classes called Project Runway and was
it to be fashion, sewing.
((NATS
Ellie: This one’s my personal one.
Cheryl: Oh, yeah! That’s lovely!))
((Cheryl Crow, Ellie’s Mentor and Middle School
Teacher))
Ellie, I guess, would have been 11, and always was a dream
student. She was always very involved in the class, always
working very proficiently, very creative.
((Angela Germanos, Drama Director, Severna Park High
School))
I have been working with Ellie Heath for three years. As a
freshman, two years ago, she volunteered and helped with
costumes.
((NATS - Mamma Mia Musical School Production))
((Angela Germanos, Drama Director, Severna Park High
School))
Last year, again, worked with us for Mama Mia and designed
several costumes. We’re excited that the students can take
ownership of the process and be involved in the creative part
of it, not just the singing or the dancing or the acting, but
they can do the costuming or the makeup and the tech,
these kinds of things themselves.
((Terri Ann Stahl, Ellie’s Science Teacher and Key Club
Advisor))
Every year, we have a prom fashion show, which is the
biggest fundraiser of the year. So, we were thrilled to have
Ellie volunteer to design a dress that could be modeled in
the show.
((NAT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
All of my pieces have recycled fabric. Everything I use is
recycled or donated. There are over 21 billion pounds (9.5b
kg.) of textile in the US alone in landfills and I strive to
reduce that number by at least a little bit. My advice for
young people is that if you have a dream or an idea, stick
with it, pursue it, try to see if you can find people who can
support your idea, and just make it a reality.
((PKG)) UPCYCLED JEWELRY
((Banner: Upcycled Jewelry))
((Reporter/Camera: June Soh))
((Map: Hyattsville, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub character: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
This is the bottom of the milk jug. The milk bottles are very
good material for jewelry making. It offers two different
textures. So, we have, like, a more textured surface and
then we have a very smooth surface, and that allows to
create a lot of texture within the piece.
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I have always been very attracted to just repurposing and
recycling in my daily life, just personally. I was just doing it
naturally, but then, when I learned about the amount of
waste that we had in the world, then I, sort of thinking that,
maybe, I should do more.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
My name is Jasmin Picariello. I am the owner of the fashion
company Giulia Letzi and the founder of Project META.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
META means destination in Italian. The new destination is,
literally, just not having our plastics in landfills and oceans,
but repurposing it and making other things that we are going
to use every day and for a longer period of time.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I moved to the US when I was 16. I am originally from Italy.
And ever since from 2011, my mother and I worked on
business together, first focusing on luxury Italian handmade
scarves, and then later on developing into upcycled jewelry
and accessories, which has eventually become the core of
Project META.
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
What really motivated me to start this project came from a
2017 study on plastic. What was discovered is that globally
in the world, we've produced 8.3 billion tons of plastic. And
of that number, unfortunately, only 12 percent is being
incinerated, only 9 percent is being recycled, which means
that nearly 79 percent is just in landfills and waters. And that
is a huge amount.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I am now shaping the aluminum, which I took from used
coffee pods. I get this design idea mainly from my love of
geometries and symmetries. The aluminum in the original
circular shape of the coffee pod really inspired me to keep
the spiral round motif.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
These pieces are created with aluminum. This aluminum
comes from coffee pods and soda bottles.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
This blue is actually the natural color of the bottle that I've
used.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
When we first started, we were using plastic from our own
consumption or from our friends’ consumption, like,
anywhere that we can save some plastic, we would use it.
But now, I get my plastic and aluminum from grocery stores
and coffee shops from my neighborhood. We want to make
sure that this is an initiative that involves community and
local partners as much as possible.
((NATS))
((Drew Nixon, Vigilante Coffee))
We go through a lot of plastic bottles every week, and
instead of throwing them away, we're trying to make better
decisions with our recyclables by partnering with META, and
we feel this is a way to improve the planet one small step at
a time.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I am a true believer that we don't need just a handful of
people recycling and doing zero waste perfectly, but we
need a lot of people doing that even if imperfectly. And so,
with Project META, if we can even help, you know, the one
person a day contribute to this initiative and realize that their
changes and their actions daily will have an impact, then, I
think, we are heading in a good direction.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Repurposed Church
((SOT))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This church was built in 1902. Wow, this is a cool building.
Let's do something neat. A very European-style brew pub
could be really, really cool in here.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) BIRDHOUSE ARTIST
((Banner: New Life for Old Barns))
((Reporter: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Pop-Up Banner: Environmentally Conscious Artist at
Smithsonian Craft Show))
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Farm Journal, Media))
((John Guertin, Artist))
In the early days, I would go out and purchase a barn. So, I
started collecting them. I wanted to preserve them. My
thought being, if you can use recycled material from old
sources to bring new generations of birds into the world and
other creatures, thinking that this is really the full circle of life,
and it makes a wonderful statement about our purpose in the
world, that we don't just exploit it, but rather we give
something back.
((NATS))
((John Guertin, Artist))
What we've tried to follow was a more ancient style of
making things, 19th century approach and craftsmanship in
honor of St. Francis. She is the patron saint of the
environment. If you look at the real design of the mission, it
has a rose window exactly in the position, perfect for a
birdhouse in honor of the musical nature of birds. You see
the F holes and has a copper predator guard to stop
sparrows from damaging. What we've been trying to do is
encourage people to celebrate the idea of conservation,
((Courtesy: Farm Journal, Media))
make collectable birdhouses that are functional, architectural
and scientific works that will serve the needs of songbirds
and other cavity nesting species, such as owls and bats, and
hopefully make some small impact on the environment by
encouraging people to participate in box programs to help
these creatures.
((NATS))
((PKG)) CHURCH BREW WORKS
((Banner: New Life for an Old Church))
((Reporter: Nataliya Leonova))
((Camera: Oleksii Osyka))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania))
((Main characters: 5 males))
((NATS))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This church was built in 1902 and came up for sale, and it
was, “Wow, this is a cool building. Let's do something neat.
A very European-style brew pub could be really, really cool
in here.” So, they actually wanted the building to remain in
the community and part of the community.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
The first time I came here, I felt, drinking beer in a church, I
just didn't feel comfortable at all. But then, when I realized it
was de-sanctified, then I just went along with the flow.
((NATS))
((Dan Yarnall, Head Brewer, Church Brew Works))
I think the vast majority of the people, that they really have
no qualms about this. This has been here so long now in
Pittsburgh, it's definitely part of the culture. It's part of, you
know, kind of the landscape.
((NATS))
((Jason Campbell, Patron, Church Brew Works))
It's unique just because of the atmosphere. I mean, the
ceiling alone is, what is that, like 50 feet [15 meters] or
something like that. And you can see how they have all the
equipment set up there.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
When the sun, and the sun sets over here, when it
penetrates those windows, it's gorgeous, just gorgeous.
((NATS))
((Jeff Hazard, Patron, Church Brew Works))
You walk in and it's big, and there’s an echo. You, kind of,
feel like you're in church really. But then, you see all the
vats and all the silos and all that stuff and people have a
beer, it’s a little different. I had rattlesnake for the first time.
I didn’t even know they served it here, but it was on the
menu. So, that was good.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
This church is actually part of the Pittsburgh history, in the
sense that Pittsburgh went through a period of de-
industrialization. And when the steel mills closed back in the
80s, people that used to come and worship here left, and the
church was, you know, basically no longer needed.
((NATS))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This place is now part of the community. People can
continue to gather. Even though it was once a house of
worship, and people would socialize and interact and have
school, weddings, dances. That opportunity is still here, just
in a different form. So, we're still a part of the fabric of the
community.
((NATS))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
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((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Pop-Up captions over B Roll))
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Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
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CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE 89
AIR DATE 09 27 2019
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Reduce
((SOT))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Grow a lot of our own food. Of course, being self-sufficient
is, kind of, ideal. I’m doing things that people, who would
live off the land, would do.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Repurpose
((SOT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
There are over 21 billion pounds (9.5b kg.) of textile in the
US alone in landfills and I strive to reduce that number by at
least a little bit.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Recycle
((SOT))
((Sandy Nurse, Founder, BK ROT))
And so, everything we bring in comes through here, comes
through this giant pulverizer that’s in the background and we
turn it into compost.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) PA MAC’S HOMESTEAD
((Banner: A Self-Reliant Life))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Caddo Gap, Arkansas))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 5 females))
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m not the fastest milker in the world. The cow really is the
central part for my homestead anyway because she does so
many things. She provides the milk. She gives me one calf
a year that will go in the freezer and….watch out, back up.
That flag means caution. And thank goodness she has a
flag to let us know when that’s happening. And yes, given all
this extra trouble, a lot of people probably would say, ‘I think
I’ll just go to the store.’ And you know what? This isn’t for
everybody. Even people who want to homestead, you know
milking, not everything is for everybody. You need to love it
and I do. It really doesn’t bother me that much. Now dirty
diapers, that bothered me. Why is that? I don’t know. But
my wife took care of the dirty diapers mostly and I took care
of this for her. It works out.
((MUSIC w/ NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m Pa Mac. I live in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. My wife and
daughters and I live on a 52 acre [21 hectares] homestead
that we’re pretty much developing, have developed from
scratch. And what we try to do is grow a lot of our own food.
Of course, being self-sufficient is, kind of, an ideal that may
not really be fully attainable, but it’s the goal.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Can you stir that up for me just a little bit?
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Ellie, why don’t you just twirl it around there for a few
seconds, you know. Then lift it up and you can sit on that
stool and start plucking.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I grew up living what I call small farm country life, and for a
brief period of my life, we lived in mid-town Memphis in an
apartment. I’d never experienced that kind of living. I
thought: somehow, I’ve got to get back. At some point, I
really need to get back.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
The reason I wanted to homestead probably had little to do
with the kids, and when we first started moving back towards
this lifestyle that I’d grown up with, a good life for the kids
was really not a thought for me.
((Ellie McWilliams, Daughter))
If it’s scalded good, then the feathers come of really easy.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
It’s not her first chicken rodeo. If my daughters were to
come on hard times sometime in their life, I think they’d be
able to feed their families, so.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
You did good.
((Ellie McWilliams, Daughter))
Thank you.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
This is the stage where we’re trying to make it more
attractive to Mama. I just wanted to move back to the simple
life because I missed it so badly. And, I guess, it was just
second nature that when I have kids, this is the life I do want
for them.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I reckon this is as close as we can get to the Garden of
Eden. Poke sallet, it is truly a southern tradition. I believe
we’re going to have this for dinner tonight if I can find some
kind soul to cook it for us. My motto for the homestead is, it
doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be. If you’re going
to wait till it’s perfect, you might be waiting a long time and
you need a chicken coop quick. Usable, practical, that’s the
key.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Who is going to cook that? Can, can…..
((Annie McWilliams, Daughter))
I’ll cook it if you’ll wash it.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Deal.
((Annie McWilliams, Daughter))
You can’t eat it by itself. It’s kind of nasty. You have to eat it
with something else.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I beg to differ. I thought it was kind of sweet. It’s an
acquired taste, I suppose. There’s so much to explore out
here, and it’s a fun and a beautiful thing, and to be able to do
it with people you love, that’s a whole other dimension of it,
and brings a note of thankfulness to God for me. Thank you
for allowing me this brief time on earth, living this way.
((NATS))
((Bonnie McWilliams, Daughter))
My superpower is that I can hold seven eggs in one hand.
Some people think, oh, they’re too immature for pets. They
can’t, you know, they don’t think their kids can handle it. But
it’s really just the best way to grow and learn and, you know,
if you can’t keep a chicken alive, what are you going to do?
((NATS))
((Bonnie McWilliams, Daughter))
I’ve always been really proud of my dad and his show, just
‘cause he enjoys what he’s doing and it’s fun to watch him
enjoy it and teach other people about it, because he likes it
and wants to keep the old way alive, and it’s just fun to
watch him.
((NAT sound: The Farm Hand’s Companion Show))
((Courtesy: YouTube))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’m the creator of the Farm Hand’s Companion Show on
YouTube. That’s a show that’s dedicated to the celebration,
the preservation, and the developing of the old-time,
traditional farm. That’s something I’m real passionate about
and I love showing and teaching other people old-time skills
that, in a lot of instances, are being forgotten.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
And I cut right there. I’m going to go in for a close-up
because everybody wants to see a close-up of a nail being
driven in a board. You want to hear the only word I would
probably ever say in my videos? Ouch!
((NAT sound: The Farm Hand’s Companion Show))
((Courtesy: YouTube))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
If you watch my YouTube channel, people may be under the
impression that I’m living off the land. Well, I’m doing things
that people, who would live off the land, would do. But my
wife, you know, she does a good bit of shopping. You know,
not everything that appears on our table is not from the
garden, but a lot of it is.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
But I have my own production company. I produce radio
programs for preachers and that basically pays the bills.
((NATS))
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
I’ve had a guy leave a comment, a question on YouTube one
time and he said, ‘Are you prepper? Are you preparing for
you know, economic downturn?’ Not necessarily. You
know, the main reason I do this is I love it. I can’t not do it.
And when people watch somebody talking or teaching about
something they love, it’s contagious. One down and 32
more to go, give or take. I want to inspire people to actually
be motivated to work with their hands. That’s the reason I
called it Farm Hand’s Companion. It’s a catchy little phrase,
but it means something to me. To be able to work with your
hands and then enjoy the fruit of your labor, that sparks
things in people that really not much else can. This is my
dirty little secret, so, don’t tell anybody. Farm Hand’s
Companion Show is, really, Pa Mac’s secret weapon against
socialism. When you have individuals, who are given the
freedom to be and do what they want to do, it ends up
helping society and it ends up bringing us closer together
than it otherwise would in any other way.
((NATS w/ MUSIC))
((Lynna McWilliams, Wife))
I don’t normally eat poke.
((Gary “Pa Mac” McWilliams, Creator, The Farm Hand’s
Companion Show))
Home grow bacon in the beans.
((NATS w/ MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Repurposed Clothing
((SOT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
All of my pieces have recycled fabric. Everything I use is
recycled or donated.
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) WEARABLE ART
((Banner: Wearable Art))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Map: Severna Park, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 4 females))
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Sewing is my biggest hobby. It relaxes me. It is very
therapeutic to me. I love just being able to create anything
that I really think of.
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Before I could even talk, I could always be drawing anything.
And then as I grew older, I’ve always been creating things,
like, it started off with earrings, then I changed to felted mice,
and then, I eventually got into sewing and jean jackets. My
definition of wearable art is something that makes you feel
unique. It’s one-of-a-kind, often handmade. First, I go
through my fabric, see what I have, see what kind of jackets
I have, find out a design that works on it through trial and
error, or maybe just the design comes to me.
((NATS))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
Then, I will cut it out and pin it on the jacket and then, sew it
on. And all of my jackets are finished with a custom label
that I make, that says my name and the number of the
jackets that I have.
((NATS
Ellie’s mom: The darker color would look good on a lighter
jean jacket))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
My mom has always been a huge supporter of the arts, and
she’s always given us a place to express our creativity.
((NAT
Ellie: Oh, here’s a tee-shirt I can put on the back of one.))
((Amy Heath, Ellie’s mother))
Creativity feeds kids’ brains, and with something they
probably can’t get elsewhere. She started making earrings
and felting, and then exposing herself through church and
craft fairs.
((NATS
Cheryl Crow: So, show me what you are doing now. Gosh,
that’s just beautiful.))
((Cheryl Crow, Ellie’s Mentor and Middle School
Teacher))
We introduced new classes called Project Runway and was
it to be fashion, sewing.
((NATS
Ellie: This one’s my personal one.
Cheryl: Oh, yeah! That’s lovely!))
((Cheryl Crow, Ellie’s Mentor and Middle School
Teacher))
Ellie, I guess, would have been 11, and always was a dream
student. She was always very involved in the class, always
working very proficiently, very creative.
((Angela Germanos, Drama Director, Severna Park High
School))
I have been working with Ellie Heath for three years. As a
freshman, two years ago, she volunteered and helped with
costumes.
((NATS - Mamma Mia Musical School Production))
((Angela Germanos, Drama Director, Severna Park High
School))
Last year, again, worked with us for Mama Mia and designed
several costumes. We’re excited that the students can take
ownership of the process and be involved in the creative part
of it, not just the singing or the dancing or the acting, but
they can do the costuming or the makeup and the tech,
these kinds of things themselves.
((Terri Ann Stahl, Ellie’s Science Teacher and Key Club
Advisor))
Every year, we have a prom fashion show, which is the
biggest fundraiser of the year. So, we were thrilled to have
Ellie volunteer to design a dress that could be modeled in
the show.
((NAT))
((Ellie Heath, Owner, Three Blue Bunnies))
All of my pieces have recycled fabric. Everything I use is
recycled or donated. There are over 21 billion pounds (9.5b
kg.) of textile in the US alone in landfills and I strive to
reduce that number by at least a little bit. My advice for
young people is that if you have a dream or an idea, stick
with it, pursue it, try to see if you can find people who can
support your idea, and just make it a reality.
((PKG)) UPCYCLED JEWELRY
((Banner: Upcycled Jewelry))
((Reporter/Camera: June Soh))
((Map: Hyattsville, Maryland))
((Main character: 1 female))
((Sub character: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
This is the bottom of the milk jug. The milk bottles are very
good material for jewelry making. It offers two different
textures. So, we have, like, a more textured surface and
then we have a very smooth surface, and that allows to
create a lot of texture within the piece.
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I have always been very attracted to just repurposing and
recycling in my daily life, just personally. I was just doing it
naturally, but then, when I learned about the amount of
waste that we had in the world, then I, sort of thinking that,
maybe, I should do more.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
My name is Jasmin Picariello. I am the owner of the fashion
company Giulia Letzi and the founder of Project META.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
META means destination in Italian. The new destination is,
literally, just not having our plastics in landfills and oceans,
but repurposing it and making other things that we are going
to use every day and for a longer period of time.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I moved to the US when I was 16. I am originally from Italy.
And ever since from 2011, my mother and I worked on
business together, first focusing on luxury Italian handmade
scarves, and then later on developing into upcycled jewelry
and accessories, which has eventually become the core of
Project META.
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
What really motivated me to start this project came from a
2017 study on plastic. What was discovered is that globally
in the world, we've produced 8.3 billion tons of plastic. And
of that number, unfortunately, only 12 percent is being
incinerated, only 9 percent is being recycled, which means
that nearly 79 percent is just in landfills and waters. And that
is a huge amount.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I am now shaping the aluminum, which I took from used
coffee pods. I get this design idea mainly from my love of
geometries and symmetries. The aluminum in the original
circular shape of the coffee pod really inspired me to keep
the spiral round motif.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
These pieces are created with aluminum. This aluminum
comes from coffee pods and soda bottles.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
This blue is actually the natural color of the bottle that I've
used.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
When we first started, we were using plastic from our own
consumption or from our friends’ consumption, like,
anywhere that we can save some plastic, we would use it.
But now, I get my plastic and aluminum from grocery stores
and coffee shops from my neighborhood. We want to make
sure that this is an initiative that involves community and
local partners as much as possible.
((NATS))
((Drew Nixon, Vigilante Coffee))
We go through a lot of plastic bottles every week, and
instead of throwing them away, we're trying to make better
decisions with our recyclables by partnering with META, and
we feel this is a way to improve the planet one small step at
a time.
((NATS))
((Jasmin Picariello, Founder, Project META))
I am a true believer that we don't need just a handful of
people recycling and doing zero waste perfectly, but we
need a lot of people doing that even if imperfectly. And so,
with Project META, if we can even help, you know, the one
person a day contribute to this initiative and realize that their
changes and their actions daily will have an impact, then, I
think, we are heading in a good direction.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Repurposed Church
((SOT))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This church was built in 1902. Wow, this is a cool building.
Let's do something neat. A very European-style brew pub
could be really, really cool in here.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) BIRDHOUSE ARTIST
((Banner: New Life for Old Barns))
((Reporter: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Adam Greenbaum))
((Additional Camera: Philip Alexiou))
((Adapted by: Philip Alexiou))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((Pop-Up Banner: Environmentally Conscious Artist at
Smithsonian Craft Show))
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Farm Journal, Media))
((John Guertin, Artist))
In the early days, I would go out and purchase a barn. So, I
started collecting them. I wanted to preserve them. My
thought being, if you can use recycled material from old
sources to bring new generations of birds into the world and
other creatures, thinking that this is really the full circle of life,
and it makes a wonderful statement about our purpose in the
world, that we don't just exploit it, but rather we give
something back.
((NATS))
((John Guertin, Artist))
What we've tried to follow was a more ancient style of
making things, 19th century approach and craftsmanship in
honor of St. Francis. She is the patron saint of the
environment. If you look at the real design of the mission, it
has a rose window exactly in the position, perfect for a
birdhouse in honor of the musical nature of birds. You see
the F holes and has a copper predator guard to stop
sparrows from damaging. What we've been trying to do is
encourage people to celebrate the idea of conservation,
((Courtesy: Farm Journal, Media))
make collectable birdhouses that are functional, architectural
and scientific works that will serve the needs of songbirds
and other cavity nesting species, such as owls and bats, and
hopefully make some small impact on the environment by
encouraging people to participate in box programs to help
these creatures.
((NATS))
((PKG)) CHURCH BREW WORKS
((Banner: New Life for an Old Church))
((Reporter: Nataliya Leonova))
((Camera: Oleksii Osyka))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania))
((Main characters: 5 males))
((NATS))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This church was built in 1902 and came up for sale, and it
was, “Wow, this is a cool building. Let's do something neat.
A very European-style brew pub could be really, really cool
in here.” So, they actually wanted the building to remain in
the community and part of the community.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
The first time I came here, I felt, drinking beer in a church, I
just didn't feel comfortable at all. But then, when I realized it
was de-sanctified, then I just went along with the flow.
((NATS))
((Dan Yarnall, Head Brewer, Church Brew Works))
I think the vast majority of the people, that they really have
no qualms about this. This has been here so long now in
Pittsburgh, it's definitely part of the culture. It's part of, you
know, kind of the landscape.
((NATS))
((Jason Campbell, Patron, Church Brew Works))
It's unique just because of the atmosphere. I mean, the
ceiling alone is, what is that, like 50 feet [15 meters] or
something like that. And you can see how they have all the
equipment set up there.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
When the sun, and the sun sets over here, when it
penetrates those windows, it's gorgeous, just gorgeous.
((NATS))
((Jeff Hazard, Patron, Church Brew Works))
You walk in and it's big, and there’s an echo. You, kind of,
feel like you're in church really. But then, you see all the
vats and all the silos and all that stuff and people have a
beer, it’s a little different. I had rattlesnake for the first time.
I didn’t even know they served it here, but it was on the
menu. So, that was good.
((NATS))
((Patron, Church Brew Works))
This church is actually part of the Pittsburgh history, in the
sense that Pittsburgh went through a period of de-
industrialization. And when the steel mills closed back in the
80s, people that used to come and worship here left, and the
church was, you know, basically no longer needed.
((NATS))
((Sean Casey, Owner, Church Brew Works))
This place is now part of the community. People can
continue to gather. Even though it was once a house of
worship, and people would socialize and interact and have
school, weddings, dances. That opportunity is still here, just
in a different form. So, we're still a part of the fabric of the
community.
((NATS))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
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((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS))
((Pop-Up captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
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We cover it
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BREAK
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SHOW ENDS