Our new video documentary, "Ora E Anderson: The Soul of the Woods" is different than "A Forest Returns", the first documentary with Ora about the beginning of the Wayne National Forest in Southeastern Ohio. We tried to convey with 'Soul' the breadth of Ora's vast experience and his advocacy for decades of preservation of natural areas in Ohio. At the same time we offer viewers a glimpse of Ora's deep love of his Athens County tree farm and all the changes that he helped to make. Using quotes and art from the companion booklet we hope to draw attention to Ora's other passions for the written word and the artistic dimensions he so often shared about his beloved tree farm. Ora often said his farm and the surrounding hills provided all the inspiration he needed to live a long, joy-filled life. We hope our viewers will feel inspired by this message.

DVD and Companion Booklet Release Date Nov 21, 2009!

Ora E. "Andy" Anderson is a legend in Ohio, but it is his beloved old farm that takes center stage in "Ora E. Anderson: The Soul of the Woods", just as it did in Anderson's life. This DVD and its companion booklet give us rare insight into this remarkable man and how (and why), over the course of his life, a worn-out Ohio hill farm was transformed into a wooded nature preserve teeming with life.

Here, we walk with Anderson over his land, listen to his story—and, perhaps, to the "soul of the woods" inherent within us all—and find our own lives enriched. The accompanying booklet features Anderson's insightful essays on the history of the land, along with selected poems—all beautifully illustrated with original watercolors and drawings of the Anderson farm.

All proceeds from the sale of this booklet and video are donated to the Ora E. Anderson Conservation Fund for Appalachian Ohio. Please enjoy this trailer, and contact Jean Andrews at andrews@ohiolandscape.org to purchase.

The upstairs gallery space at The Dairy Barn Arts Center was filled to capacity last night, as the room was transformed into a movie theater for the Athens-area premiere of 'Ora E Anderson: The Soul of the Woods'. About 160 movie-goers, young and old, packed the auditorium.

It was a great night! The video combines Ora's joy for the outdoors with scenes from his tree farm depicted in watercolor by artist, Barb Kostohryz. Bruce Dalzell's fresh music evokes a sense that the viewer is strolling through the woods with Ora Anderson. Segments of my interviews with Ora about his role in the emerging land preservation movement in Ohio during the last half century are the canvas upon which art, music and nature blend to create a unique portrait of an extraordinary man during a fascinating time in history.

It helped that folks responded to the video in the way we hoped. Ora would probably ask, "So, what's next on our list?" To which I would reply, "Share your story with the rest of the world, one group at a time!" In doing so, I hope to encourage others to get involved in the things that matter to them the most. Ora did. Even through his 90's!

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio has chosen Ora Anderson along with Ambassador and Mrs. John Ong to honor as 'Child of Appalachia' honorees for 2009-2010. Last year's honorees were Governor and Mrs. Ted Strickland.

The Foundation chose Ora Anderson because he was passionate about conservation and committed to preserving the natural beauty of Appalachian Ohio.

A few days ago I came across an essay Ora wrote in 1998, about his love of the earth. The essay included this observation:

"It's a wonderful old world, despite its warts and wrinkles. It deserves more respect than we are inclined to give it. With just a modicum of benign help, old Ma Nature can stage some amazing comebacks.

Take the Canada goose, for instance. Please."

I had to laugh! I recall the Canada geese certainly enjoyed free reign in and around his farm ponds.

"Ora E Anderson: The Soul of the Woods" is a small collection of poems and prose written by Ora Anderson and beautifully illustrated by graphite drawings by Athens-area Barb Kostohryz. Barb walked the fields and woods of the Anderson farm for inspiration and it shows.