August 15, 2007

NONFICTION
By D. CAMERON LAWRENCE
On a day when the air is so humid it holds moisture like clay, so hot mirages dance on the road—the kind of day when most people stay inside for the air conditioning—my husband John and I drive to the family farm, 60 miles southeast of our home in Louisville, Kentucky. We… »

Ain’t it great to be smug

HALF-EMPTY MASON JAR
By LESLIE SMITH TOWNSEND
Feet pounding and arms pumping, I round the corner of the running track, the scuffed up lane-lines blurring and joining like roads cresting at the horizon. Twelve laps equal one mile; I will run two.
I’m annoyed at first by the sound of athletic shoes squeaking to a sudden stop on… »

NONFICTION

Chilaquiles

By MICHELE NIESEN

The azaleas won’t flower. I pruned them below the new growth. I think you said above. The forsythia bloomed way too early, but I haven’t killed them yet. I got exactly five tomatoes this season and they were pretty good, I guess. I can’t remember if you told me to mulch the rhododendrons… »

Final Judges for Literary Contest

We are pleased to announce the final judges of poetry, fiction and nonfiction for our 2009 Literary Contest (listed below). New Southerner’s editorial advisory board and staff members will determine finalists in each category. Final judges will select winners and runners-up. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2009. Click here for Contest Guidelines. We… »

Seeking Submissions-We Pay

We are now accepting submissions, concurrent with our annual literary contest.
Entries must be the author’s original, unpublished work and should be appropriate for publication in New Southerner. The magazine’s mission is to promote self-sufficient living, environmental stewardship and support for local economies. For more information, see our General Submission Guidelines.
$200 PRIZES FOR POETRY, FICTION AND… »

Good Neighbors

By LESLIE SMITH TOWNSEND

“Harriet’s moving,” Loren, my husband announced, walking through the front door.
“Where to?” I asked.

“Minnesota. One of her best friends lives there and talked her into it. She wants to get her masters in nutritional science. The house goes on the market next week.”
I felt stunned. Would Harriet be moving if we’d been… »

Common Work

NONFICTION
By DANA WILDSMITH

“As a poet, I hold the most archaic values on earth: the fertility of the soil … the common work of the tribe.”–Gary Snyder
“I think we’re neighbors. Tell me again where you live.” Kathy’s on the phone with me about some community theater business, and I’ve tried twice already to explain where I… »

Lessons in Neighborliness

By BRIAN LOWRY

A few years ago I attended the Healthy Foods, Local Farms Conference sponsored by the Community Farm Alliance of Kentucky. Amish farmer, naturalist and writer David Kline gave a wonderful speech that day. A question and answer period followed. The topic of technology came up. Of his people, David said, “We allow technology… »