Coyote Trails at Buckhorn

 A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of hosting a group from Coyote Trails School of Nature. Their classes are grouped into "Trails of Study" upon the 'wheel' and reflect their year-round nature awareness curriculum.  They teach students about animals, the colors, the directions, the elements, the medicine is all represented upon and within the 'Wheel of Study.' They were a wonderful group, and we are excited to see them at Buckhorn in the future!

From Joe Kreuzman, Director of Coyote Trails


I would like to share my observations from a recent adult weekend program I ran at Buckhorn Springs Resort. To begin with, I teach and train individuals awareness tools for connecting with nature. The land that the Sargents have been caring for holds a very special history of healing and Bruce has worked his professional carpentry skills into a beautiful restoration of the Resorts historical buildings. These buildings are an addition to the natural setting of the land such as the confluence of Baldy Creek and Emigrant Creek which has been left nicely undeveloped. This combination of modern comfort and security with natural and wild areas offers a perfect setting for programs or personal retreats.

 

From the staff and the quiet to the bobcat hunting by the greenhouse to the bear wandering  past the main lodge, Buckhorn has much to offer. I am excited to continue to hold programs at Buckhorn Springs and can safely recommend it to individuals or groups of any size. To stay at Buckhorn is to step back in time.

Enjoy the fine meals and camaraderie, 

Joe Kreuzman, Director
Coyote Trails School of Nature
coyotetrails.org


Until Next Time,

Lauren

PS Make sure to check out pictures from our cooking class on our Buckhorn Facebook Page.

Buckhorn Memories by Sarah Lemon from the Mail Tribune

Leslie, Lauren and Carol taught their first cooking class at the Ashland Co-op last week! Everything turned out delicious, thanks to those of you who made it. Leslie even brought a huge basket of greens that she offered to the class attendees. Everyone went home full and content, and especially enjoyed the surprise Arugula Pesto Crostini that was passed out at the beginning of the class. 

Thank you to Sarah Lemon from the Mail Tribune who wrote a great article in Medford Mail Tribune:

Buckhorn Memories

Now that her family's cookbook is published, Leslie Sargent is ready to prepare all-new meals for guests and staff at Buckhorn Springs.

"She had to cook it over and over," says Sargent's daughter, Lauren, who mined her mother's memory for recipes and committed them to print over the course of two years. The result is "Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook," self-published in August.

Containing about 100 recipes and photography by Leslie Sargent's husband, Bruce, the 24-page, hardcover book painstakingly chronicles the story of the historic lodge and retreat fed by mineral springs a dozen miles east of Ashland and pays modern-day tribute to its owners and guests. Profits from the $34.95 book benefit the Sargents' nonprofit foundation to restore the property, particularly its physiotherapy clinic.

Stocked at Ashland Food Co-op, Bloomsbury Books and the Northwest Nature Shop in Ashland, as well as Pot Rack in Jacksonville, the book guides readers through mealtimes at Buckhorn Springs with guests' favorite dishes. Flavors range from Asian pad Thai and Latin-inspired tacos and quesadillas to Indian and Middle-Eastern specialties. The vast majority vegetarian, the dishes fit easily into mainstream diets incorporating whole grains and vegetables.

Calling the recipes accessible and prime examples of the region's cooking, Ashland Food Co-op culinary educator Mary Shaw says the book makes it obvious why Buckhorn Springs enjoys such a strong following. A Thursday Co-op class with Leslie and Lauren Sargent and fellow cook Carol Worthington will give participants a taste of the retreat's ambiance. "Undoubtedly, they will tell a lot of wonderful stories," says Shaw.

Beyond techniques, the cooks also will share produce grown on Buckhorn's property by Aiyana Green. The menu of quiche, garden salad and soup will make use of abundant spring greens. A longtime customer of local farmers, Buckhorn should be able to furnish almost all its own vegetables this year, says Leslie Sargent.

"We had great success last year with carrots and beets," she says. "That's why I don't like to be stuck to certain menus."

Green's efforts, with help from a new colony of bees, yielded enough vegetables to supply a community-supported agriculture program for 14 families, most friends of the Sargents, in Buckhorn's off-season. Green also has been selling surplus Tuesdays at the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market in Ashland.

In the dozen years since the Sargents have eaten a mostly vegetarian diet, they've seen some of their staple ingredients, such as quinoa and amaranth, become widely recognized. More recently, guests are citing food allergies and requesting gluten-free dishes even more often than vegan, the Sargents say. And with more of Buckhorn's property dedicated to gardening, guests can get better acquainted with their food.

"They just love that they can see exactly where it's coming from," says Lauren Sargent.

Purchase the book or read more about Buckhorn Springs at www.buckhornsprings.org.

Reach Food Editor Sarah Lemon at 541-776-4487 or email slemon@mailtribune.com.

Happy Easter!

Until Next Time, 

Lauren

Buckhorn Cooking Class at the Ashland Co-op!

We hope you will join us at the Ashland Co-op for a Buckhorn cooking class. All of the vegetables will be from Buckhorn's own garden/farm, and you can find all of the recipes in the Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook, except the Spring Soup. Chef Leslie wanted to leave the soup open to creative inspiration from the garden. The best part is you get to eat it all too!

Menu:

Vegetarian Quiche (with crust demonstration)

Buckhorn Spring Soup with Leslie's Stock

Garlic-Tamari Dressed Garden Salad

Vegan Wheat-Free Cashew Cookies 

When: Thursday, April 21
Time: 6:30-9:00pm
Where: Ashalnd Co-op's Community Classroom 

(Cashew Cookies)

Visit: www.ashlandfood.coop to sign up today! Please tell anyone you think may be interested!

~ Lauren

Ashland Film Festival, Audience Choice: The Welcome

Hello Friends of Buckhorn,

The results are in, the audience's choice for most excellent film at the Ashland Independent Film Festival was 'The Welcome' directed by Kim Shelton and produced by Bill McMillan and Kim Shelton, filmed at Buckhorn in 2008. This film is close to our hearts because Leslie Sargent and Kim Shelton are sisters. It has been amazing to watch the journey from beginning to end.

 Kim, Bill and the Film Crew

 "The Welcome offers a fiercely intimate view of life after war: the fear, anger and isolation of post-traumatic stress that affects vets and family members alike.  As we join  them in a small room for an unusual five day healing retreat, we witness how the ruins of war can be transformed into the beauty of poetry. Here our perceptions are changed, our psyches strained, and our hearts broken.  And at the end, when this poetry is shared with a large civilian audience, we begin to understand that  all of us are a vital piece of the Welcome as Veterans try to find the way back home.  Their examples of unflinching honesty, courage and love lift us up, inspiring all of us once again to feel our common humanity, always the first casualty of war."
 

The Welcome, filled with beautiful scenes of Buckhorn in the spring time, is this years must see. As Ashland Daily Tidings reporter Vickie Aldous wrote:  

"Every year, there's at least one film at the Ashland Independent Film Festival that leaves audiences saying, "Everyone in America should see this." This year, "The Welcome" may very well be that film."  

After the showing, where 500 people packed into the Ashland Armory for the viewing, a hand full of the vets stood up for an incredibly touching question and answer period. They called people to take action share the film with people in their community. The film can be purchased for $25 at: www.thewelcomethemovie.com

 

We would like to extend gratitude to Kim and Bill for working so hard to make this idea come to be. We encourage you to share this healing film, all donations will go toward Distribution, Outreach and Audience Engagement.  Help to make an impact with this film.  All donations tax deductible: Please visit The Marion Institute 501(c)3,  Fiscal Sponsor, to support this important project. 

Until next time,

Lauren

Feature in the Prescott College Transitions Magazine

Hello Friends of Buckhorn!

The spring edition of Prescott College's Transitions Magazine includes a wonderful article on page 16 titled "Right Next to the Tree" about the Sargent's Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook in addition to many other great articles discussing the question, "Where Does Our Food Come from?". Prescott College is a special place for Bruce, Leslie, Russell and Lauren Sargent who all attended and graduated from Prescott. Bruce studied Architecture and Building, Leslie studied Writing, Russell's degree was in Adventure Education and Environmental Studies and Lauren's in Cultural and Regional Studies/Art and Environmental Studies.

You can also read the Sargent's article: "Right Next to the Tree" (as well as many more) here: http://bit.ly/fC4e7y

Right Next to the Tree
Prescott College Transitions Magazine

"When it comes to the recipe for enjoying life, the Sargent family shares the secret ingredients in Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook (2010). Bruce ’73, Leslie ’74, and Lauren Sargent ’08, two generations of Prescott College alumni (Russell ’07 is also a graduate), combine sustainable eating practices, a love of the earth and it’s creatures, family lore, and time-honored family favorite recipes, all intermingled with a history of
the lovingly-restored Buckhorn Springs retreat and spa in Ashland, Ore., that’s been the family home for over 20 years.

At Buckhorn Springs, guests become lifelong friends and locals make the trek to the green haven for parties and weddings (the book includes two pages of wedding photos), including most of the parents of Quinn’s (the youngest Sargent) gradeschool class. Photos of restoration projects intermingle with mouthwatering recipes; amaranth cornbread, an exotically violet-colored berry cheesecake, and Lauren’s chocolate mousse featuring a berry compote layer.

Lauren credits skills in Photoshop and In Design as well as project development and coordination learned during her Senior Project for setting the groundwork for the family collaboration. The rest was already there, the result of lives well lived. “I’ve always known I was one of those apples that fell right next to the tree, but working with my parents as peers, for the first time, allowed me to truly recognize it,” she said.

Speaking of apples, the book includes Lauren’s tempting recipe for vegan apple muffins on page 35. The Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook is available at buckhornsprings.org."

Until next time,

Lauren

Learn About Our WWOOF-ing Program

Hello Friends of Buckhorn!

Progress continues at Buckhorn, cabins 9 and 12 are well on their way to completion. They will soon complete the circle of renovated cabins and create four living spaces for our valued WWOOF'ers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). We had our first WWOOF-er's last year with Buckhorn resident and farmer, Aiyana, heading up the program. We have hosted two volunteer WWOOF-er's in the past, but with the growing gardens we will be ready for three to four workers as soon as the cabins are ready.

Cabin 9 with the framing finished.

WWOOFer's can find our more information about work trade at Buckhorn on our profile page of the WWOOF website. Generally they volunteer for 20 hours a week for room access to anything growing in the gardens and meals when we have groups. Additional paid work is also appreciated when we need the extra help during our busy season. We ask for a minimum stay of a month and if the feeling is mutual we hope that they stay on for longer.

Cabin 9 with the ceiling finished.

Fruit trees have been planted in the freshly broken grown above the existing greenhouse. Aiyana continues to plant seedlings for the coming season.

Our first little fruit tree, planted and growing!

Aiyana covers seedlings in the dark.

Bruce's old shop has finally been cleared out and is being converted into an Employee and WWOOF-er lounge. We will also use it as a excess food storage and laundry area. We are especially excited for the completion of this building; owner/chef Leslie wants to call it "The 'L'". It will also have a restroom in the far corner available for guests with a dual flushing toilet!

The 'L'

Bruce puts finishing touches on the wall, excited to be working outside of his office again!

Stay tuned for more updates and new projects at Buckhorn. Remember to 'Like' us on our facebook page for weekly updates!

The Sargents

Buckhorn's CSA and Expansion of the Gardens, yet again!

Hello again friends of Buckhorn!

Many changes are happening in 2011 and the endless projects at Buckhorn are going full force. We started the year with our very own Buckhorn CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) service! CSAs in general provide benefits to both the farmers and the eaters. Farmers are paid for their work prior to the season or harvest, and know that someone wants the food they are growing and harvesting. Eaters get to know their farm and how their food is produced, and are provided with the freshest produce around (most greens in the stores are from CA or Mexico right now).



We have 13 members that have committed to one month of veggies for $7/week. By late spring and summer we will be using most of the greens for Buckhorn guests, but will pick it back up in the fall/winter. If you are interested in a share please contact Aiyana at: aiyanaoutside@gmail.com

Resident farmer Aiyana easily convinced Bruce to expand the gardens. Bruce climbed onto his tractor, yet again, and carved out numerous new terraced garden beds.


Excited to fill the new gardens are hundreds of seedlings happily growing in the greenhouse. Fruit trees are on their way, the fence posts are in and WWOOFER's (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) are ready to put in their share of hard work.



We have also been in the process of updating our website. Check out our new look and let us know what you think: http://buckhornsprings.org/ (remember, it's a work in progress!)

Buckhorn Springs Heritage Cookbook Update:

After the new year, Lauren and Bruce went on a book tour in the bay area. They ventured into many book stores, cookware stores and gift shops - overall a great success! While working out a transaction at a book store, they were recognized by a former guest who bought the book on the spot.



It is still available to purchase through our website. Check it out by clicking here! We also added a page on our website titled " Recipe of the Month," check it out for favorites from the book and new inventions from Chef Leslie.