SUNY Brockport hosted author Scott Chaskey and his wife Megan Chaskey for the Writers Forum event on Wednesday Oct. 16.
Scott Chaskey’s book titled “Soil and Spirit,” is a collection of interconnected themes and essays about Chaskey’s life as a writer and his surprising turn to a farmer. The two professions, though unalike, are woven together by Chaskey’s poetic language throughout the story.
It’s rare to seek out farming advice from a poet, but at the Writers Forum individuals from both ends of this spectrum unite to understand and seek knowledge of Chaskey.
Owners of Oatka Creek farm, Ben Pfeffer and Carolyn Fitzgerald, attended the Writers Forum to ask about some prevalent issues in the farming community. Pfeffer led the conversation with a question regarding technology within small scale diversified farming.
“It’s kind of a matter of balance. We started with the hand pushed rotary tiller on our land and wound up with six tractors,” Chaskey said. “At the same time, we noticed the most important thing we were doing was educating people who had a sense of purpose, stemming from this line of work.”
Chaskey’s farming advice was understood. However, the questions advice did not stop there. Brockport English majors also asked Chaskey about developing his book. Olivia Robinson specifically asked about the decision on the title, “Soil and Spirit.”
“I couldn’t get the title, it’s a hard thing to do. It came to me after a women wrote a review about my book ‘Seed Time’ and used the term ‘soil and spirit.’ There was the title,” Chaskey said.
Chaskey has a vast appreciation for learning and attributes all of his mentors and supporters in his dedication portion of “Soil and Spirit.”
“Whatever I’ve learned, I want to acknowledge who I’ve learned from. My teachers, the farming that I’ve done and other writers that I’ve learned from. I wanted to acknowledge all of that,” Chaskey said.
The next Writers Forum event will take place on Wednesday Nov. 6 with author, Alicia Elliot and her book titled, “And Then She Fell.”
