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P. 35
Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper July 2015 Page 35
Christine Schoenemann (Maccabee)
Christine is changing her last name back to her
German maiden name, at least in this paper, so
On The Wild Side The DVD Almost Blue Mountain City can be
watch for the change.
found in the library and is for sale through the
Thurmont Historical Society. it is a must see!
“ Oh the place that I’m from is the place that I won,
It’s the joy of my heart, it is my own.
It took many a year but I’m finally here,
With a hey and a hoe, to the field I go! “
—Song of the Homesteader
Lyrics of the poem are from Christine’s “Song of a Homesteader,” available on My intention when first moving
her CD recorded at Apple’s Church in Thurmont in 2002. here was to create integrative
German Homesteaders in the gardens, allowing mostly native
trees and wild plants to grow, in
between which I would have my
Catoctins beds of vegetables. The plan seems
Most of us who have transplanted away, coming from exotic places to be working out quite well, for
all of us—the birds and the bees,
ourselves into this wonderful upper like China, Japan, Vietnam, India, the flowers and the trees, and all of
Frederick County soil are so busy Africa...and so many other countries, the native plants simply growing
with our present-time lives that we do too innumerable to list. and waiting to be known and
not even consider the roots of how I cannot even imagine what it appreciated...like most of us!
Thurmont even got here in the first must be like to be so displaced, I believe there is a little bit of
place! I know I was guilty of this, until whether it be by choice or slavery, the homesteader urge in every
I viewed the marvelous DVD Almost persecution or war. Fortunately, I was gardener, no matter how large or
Blue Mountain City by Christopher able to come here to my mountain small the property. The satisfaction
Haugh last month. As I witnessed valley home by choice. The first thing of growing one’s own blueberries,
the area’s fascinating history unfold I did when looking at this property tomatoes, green beans, and the like,
before me, I was awestruck by the as a potential homestead was to put and even canning produce goes deep
vintage photographs and drawings, a shovel into the field to see what the into that ancient urge to survive
but especially by the interviews of our soil was like. My fervor for living in and to thrive independent of—and
area old-timers and historians. the country and growing crops was frequently in conjunction with—
My ancestry is 100 percent more deeply entrenched in my genes others. (Remember the earlier days of
Germanic, settling in Baltimore and than I knew even then, as it is in the bartering?)
Wisconsin, so as I watched this DVD genes of many others. Happily, in our very own town of
it became crystal clear why I was The soil had to be rich, but Thurmont, there is a new program
drawn here to put down roots and even if it wasn’t, I knew tricks to to make us a Sustainable Maryland
do my homesteading work and my make it better. Some of those ideas Community. A Green Team will
music. Names like Weller and Apples, came to me through books, but be encouraging the creation of
Harbaugh, Kelbaugh, and many mostly through family heritage. My a community garden, as well as
others—so familiar to me now—took Germanic ancestors were all of hardy encouraging people to buy local
on new meaning as I viewed the peasant stock, and all were avid produce. This is one initiative among
documentary. gardeners and lovers of nature and other projects that will benefit
I was also inspired to see how music, so you might say I came by the environment. (Google Green
initially only hardworking, creative my passions naturally. Team Thurmont and join us!) This
Germans came to settle in this area. Since that fateful day just twenty- movement here and elsewhere around
In fact, they were purposely brought six years ago, I have allowed trees the country is increasingly becoming
here, as Germans were known for to grow back on my 11.6 acres. an ethical imperative. My personal
their ethics of hard work, creativity, Locust and ash, mulberry and cherry, belief is that the less traveling, the
and downright determination pine, and so many others, including better, and that includes my food.
(which I can relate to, because I the wonderful dogwoods and red Now that I have established my
am as persistent and unrelenting buds. They all came back without own German roots here, I know for
as they were when it comes to my my help since the rootstock was certain that these mountains, valleys,
homesteading efforts and my music). simply waiting for someone like me and plains are still filled with people
Since those even earlier years to come along. I then integrated a with vision, much as they were
when the Native Americans were few favorites, though not native— centuries ago. I have been privileged
kicked off their land and forced into remember, I am not native either— to get to know many dedicated,
all sorts of difficult situations (we all such as the wonderful mimosa tree. creative, and caring people, heirs
know that sad history) other folks I now have several large trees, which to the hard work of the talented
have immigrated to this fair land. are now just starting to bloom, the German immigrants who first settled
They were equally as full of hope bees and butterflies swarming to their in this region. This gives me great
for freedom and independence from sweet smelling flowers. hope. Years ago, in my twenties,
their own oppressive governments. I never buy nectar from the store and poor as a church mouse, I had a
They were of all nationalities: Irish, for the hummingbirds, as there are dream of homesteading, and now I
Scottish, French, British, Spanish, so many flowers here, especially the am here. So, “with a hey and a hoe,
Scandinavian, and others even further mimosa, which they love. to the field I go!”
Christine Schoenemann (Maccabee)
Christine is changing her last name back to her
German maiden name, at least in this paper, so
On The Wild Side The DVD Almost Blue Mountain City can be
watch for the change.
found in the library and is for sale through the
Thurmont Historical Society. it is a must see!
“ Oh the place that I’m from is the place that I won,
It’s the joy of my heart, it is my own.
It took many a year but I’m finally here,
With a hey and a hoe, to the field I go! “
—Song of the Homesteader
Lyrics of the poem are from Christine’s “Song of a Homesteader,” available on My intention when first moving
her CD recorded at Apple’s Church in Thurmont in 2002. here was to create integrative
German Homesteaders in the gardens, allowing mostly native
trees and wild plants to grow, in
between which I would have my
Catoctins beds of vegetables. The plan seems
Most of us who have transplanted away, coming from exotic places to be working out quite well, for
all of us—the birds and the bees,
ourselves into this wonderful upper like China, Japan, Vietnam, India, the flowers and the trees, and all of
Frederick County soil are so busy Africa...and so many other countries, the native plants simply growing
with our present-time lives that we do too innumerable to list. and waiting to be known and
not even consider the roots of how I cannot even imagine what it appreciated...like most of us!
Thurmont even got here in the first must be like to be so displaced, I believe there is a little bit of
place! I know I was guilty of this, until whether it be by choice or slavery, the homesteader urge in every
I viewed the marvelous DVD Almost persecution or war. Fortunately, I was gardener, no matter how large or
Blue Mountain City by Christopher able to come here to my mountain small the property. The satisfaction
Haugh last month. As I witnessed valley home by choice. The first thing of growing one’s own blueberries,
the area’s fascinating history unfold I did when looking at this property tomatoes, green beans, and the like,
before me, I was awestruck by the as a potential homestead was to put and even canning produce goes deep
vintage photographs and drawings, a shovel into the field to see what the into that ancient urge to survive
but especially by the interviews of our soil was like. My fervor for living in and to thrive independent of—and
area old-timers and historians. the country and growing crops was frequently in conjunction with—
My ancestry is 100 percent more deeply entrenched in my genes others. (Remember the earlier days of
Germanic, settling in Baltimore and than I knew even then, as it is in the bartering?)
Wisconsin, so as I watched this DVD genes of many others. Happily, in our very own town of
it became crystal clear why I was The soil had to be rich, but Thurmont, there is a new program
drawn here to put down roots and even if it wasn’t, I knew tricks to to make us a Sustainable Maryland
do my homesteading work and my make it better. Some of those ideas Community. A Green Team will
music. Names like Weller and Apples, came to me through books, but be encouraging the creation of
Harbaugh, Kelbaugh, and many mostly through family heritage. My a community garden, as well as
others—so familiar to me now—took Germanic ancestors were all of hardy encouraging people to buy local
on new meaning as I viewed the peasant stock, and all were avid produce. This is one initiative among
documentary. gardeners and lovers of nature and other projects that will benefit
I was also inspired to see how music, so you might say I came by the environment. (Google Green
initially only hardworking, creative my passions naturally. Team Thurmont and join us!) This
Germans came to settle in this area. Since that fateful day just twenty- movement here and elsewhere around
In fact, they were purposely brought six years ago, I have allowed trees the country is increasingly becoming
here, as Germans were known for to grow back on my 11.6 acres. an ethical imperative. My personal
their ethics of hard work, creativity, Locust and ash, mulberry and cherry, belief is that the less traveling, the
and downright determination pine, and so many others, including better, and that includes my food.
(which I can relate to, because I the wonderful dogwoods and red Now that I have established my
am as persistent and unrelenting buds. They all came back without own German roots here, I know for
as they were when it comes to my my help since the rootstock was certain that these mountains, valleys,
homesteading efforts and my music). simply waiting for someone like me and plains are still filled with people
Since those even earlier years to come along. I then integrated a with vision, much as they were
when the Native Americans were few favorites, though not native— centuries ago. I have been privileged
kicked off their land and forced into remember, I am not native either— to get to know many dedicated,
all sorts of difficult situations (we all such as the wonderful mimosa tree. creative, and caring people, heirs
know that sad history) other folks I now have several large trees, which to the hard work of the talented
have immigrated to this fair land. are now just starting to bloom, the German immigrants who first settled
They were equally as full of hope bees and butterflies swarming to their in this region. This gives me great
for freedom and independence from sweet smelling flowers. hope. Years ago, in my twenties,
their own oppressive governments. I never buy nectar from the store and poor as a church mouse, I had a
They were of all nationalities: Irish, for the hummingbirds, as there are dream of homesteading, and now I
Scottish, French, British, Spanish, so many flowers here, especially the am here. So, “with a hey and a hoe,
Scandinavian, and others even further mimosa, which they love. to the field I go!”
