their business, their way they life and how it all works together. I have been doing this story on the family behind Ancient Roots since when it all started in February for a class assignment. For the class assignment everything fell through and on my Sunday jaunt through the Athens farmers markets I just happened to walk up to the Ancient Roots stand and ask for Lauren’s number and it all started from there.

Lauren Genter and Justin Reynolds are the owners of Ancient Roots and also the mother and father of their two sons Immanuel and Addae, who play a key role in their business. Ancient Roots is a local business in Athens Ohio that makes herbal remedies of all kinds, kombucha and “just local stuff for local people” as Lauren says.

Not knowing what she was getting into Lauren agreed to let me to do a story on their business. I ended up fallowed her for a little more than a month. I finished with a story about her and her two sons, Addae and Immanuel.

When Soul of Athens started I decided that I really was going to do a story on Ancient Roots and so I have. After about a little more than three months I have not only made a story on their family business but I have created true friends. Lauren and Justin where the most friendly and open people I have photographed, telling me about themselves, their family and beliefs. Many times I never took a photo I just sat and talked with them.

But sadly with MANY, MANY (can I say that again) MANY late nights of hard work and in my opinion a wonderful story, my story, was among many other similar stories therefore got cut. Even though I had put more work into this story than have even put into a story I am glade that I got to work with the students I did, learned what I learned form them and from Lauren and Justin. The people I photographed and worked with make all my stress and hard work worth it in the end. But because you will not be able to see my hard work I will tell you just a little bit about what it is all about by some images that where in my video and quotes pulled from the audio.

Ancient Roots is a true locally grown business but not only in the since of their produce; Ancient Roots was started by the creations of creams and healing salves made for their son, Addae. The work put into their produce is scheduled around their family time, allowing them to always be with kids and allowing them to chose when they want work. Lauren says, “Our business is inextricable from our family. If Justin’s with the kids I’m at the office making stuff and if Justin is at the office making stuff then I am at the park with the kids. That’s part of what we wanted. We wanted that for our family, for to be together and to work for ourselves.” They wanted a business for their family but also good for other things: “You know something we could do that was good for the planet and good for people and good for our family.”

Ancient Roots was created through Lauren and Justin’s’ way of life. “Everything that we use is chemical free a lot of that comes from beautiful land here in Athens. Some of it is certified organic from, some of it we pick by hand walking through the hills or in our garden or in people’s that we knows gardens and farms. You know we are trading with local famers, people in other places in Ohio, and you know the circles go out from there,” said Lauren. “The idea is that we are making stuff here with local ingredients for people who live here in this environment that the plants where ideally raised in too. So I feel like even if you never meet that specific plant you know each other. You know I think there is a healing in that goes beyond what you can explain,” said Lauren at the ending of my story, which sums up their life and business. Sadly I cannot put everything in here so there is a bit left out. But I hope you enjoyed my visual story translated into words by the words of Lauren Genter.

Halie Cousineau

getting to know Patty and all the wonderful people in her life. Everyone was so helpful in granting me access to taking photos wherever Patty went. The challenge was getting them to ignore my camera and me. That was especially true with Patty’s cat, Cinnamon. There we times when I was taking photos of Patty in her apartment, and Cinnamon would come right over to me and curiously stare into my camera. That is exactly what happened here, when Patty’s friend and aid, Margaret Wharton of Havar Incorporated, was over helping take care of Patty’s finances and paperwork. I’m still not sure if Cinnamon liked me, or just my camera.

Erin Corneliussen

Shooting at The Bruce Manor was a lot of fun. Imagine the excitement of a live concert, the feel of a party, and not having to spend a lot of money to have a good time and that is what The Manor is. From the outside, the house might not look like much but as you step inside, you immediately notice the character of the place. Posters from past shows around Athens clutter the yellow, torn wallpaper in the living room. During the week, the house is just like any other living space, but come the weekend, the furniture is moved out and the house is transformed into the place to see live music. Local acts, along with traveling bands, come to play at this three-year-old concert venue many times each year.

You must watch your head as you enter the small doorway that leads down to the basement of The Manor, for it is here when the main acts play. The basement is dark, musty, and cramped—the perfect place for a DIY house show. Packed like sardines, the crowd is hit with a wall of sound from whoever is playing just an arms-reach away. After the set, everyone claps and cheers and shuffles upstairs to the front porch—the social hotbed of The Manor. The porch is a mixture of beer, cigarettes, whiskey, singing, dancing and friendship. It is a great place to meet new faces or talk to the band that just performed.

If you are looking for good music, good people, and a good time, then all you need is a six-pack of PBR and a donation at the door.

Dustin Franz