New Website!

I just launched a new website where I'll be posting my writing and audio stories from now on. So please join me on mirandaesbennett.com!

Singing strength with Note-oreity

I was skeptical when I got the assignment to put together a piece on an a cappella group about their popular video. I've never been one for a cappella and I didn't think a Beyonce cover was going to convert me. And it didn't. But what struck me was how much these women believe in the social good of music. They really want to change the world with their songs. Skip to 5:21 to listen to the segment:Here's a link to their music video.

Constant Reinvention with Alexander "Buck" Giannini

An advertisement for Buck's salon from the early 1990s.

This piece has been a long time coming. Buck is one of the first people I interviewed and he patiently sat down with me three times after that once I had a better microphone and was more comfortable interviewing.

I didn’t have time to include a bit of Buck’s family history that mirrors his own struggles and successes. In christening the salon with his name, he was also calling forth the wanderlust and enterprise of his ancestor Antonio Giannini who, like buck, took a leap of faith at the age of 27. Antonio Giannini was one of several Italian laborers recruited by the merchant, Filipo Mazzei who had grand designs for establishing wine, silk, and olive oil business in Virginia.

Mazzei met Thomas Jefferson and with their shared interest in agricultural experimentation, Jefferson convinced Mazzei to try growing vineyards on land adjoining Monticello. Antonio Giannini went with him, arriving in Charlottesville in 1773.

At the end of his contracted 5 years of indentured service, Antonio was ready to enjoy some independence. When Mazzei left America for Europe to drum up support for the revolutionary cause in 1778, Antonio began working for Jefferson. Antonio then bought land in Albemarle county but when he was denied rights to build a mill on that land, he yearned to return to his home in Italy. His contract with Mazzei included a return passage at the end of his service. But with Mazzei back in Europe, Antonio sued Jefferson for indemnification for this promised return. He lost the suit. In his 50s Antonio became an ordained Baptist minister. Among his duties were officiating marriages in Albemarle, Louisa and Nelson counties. He was trapped in Charlottesville, just as Buck would be 200 years later. Both adapted to the situation—building the community they so yearned to be part of.

Disappearing Mountain Lake

 At first we thought the story was why Mountain Lake has been rising and falling to such extremes but that's actually just the nature of the lake. And you can actually learn a lot about the way the earth works from this cycle of emptying and refilling. I produced this story (with a lot of help from Kelley Libby!) for With Good Reason.

Building Permanance with the Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville, Part 2

In my second piece on the Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville I looked at how people are taking ownership of this organization as it evolves to face new challenges including a redevelopment plan.

You can listen to part one of this two part series here. 

Sowing Reciprocity at the Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville, Part 1

I seem to be on an urban garden kick lately. But I find myself drawn to the communities that crop up around them.

The Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville has so many facets and is forging community on so many levels that I decided to do a two part series on their work. Here's part one, which focuses on their unique economic model. 

Growing New and Old Roots

Charlottesville is a town that prides itself on welcoming people from around the world–-among them many refugees. Some of those refugees are working on a farm that’s actually giving them the opportunity to enrich our community and help us rediscover our roots. I am so grateful to New Roots Coordinator Brooke Ray and farmer Samyan Raouf for showing me around.


Go to the Saturday market on Michie Drive 2-5pm!