Farming and Music: An Interview with The Montvales
Working the land and Americana music have always gone hand-in-hand. Today, that still rings true for one half of the duo The Montvales, Sally Buice. When she’s not performing with her best friend Molly, the multi-talented musician works just outside of Cincinnati at Running Creek Farm. Running Creek Farm, located in Mt. Healthy, OH, grows a wide variety of vegetables and flowers. They sell their locally-grown, pesticide-free produce at the Northside and Hyde Park farmers markets in the Cincinnati area.
Working on a variety of farms for the past 10 years, Sally says that she loves working the land as well as doing music. “I feel like sometimes the two are at odds against each other though. Music is all about being on the road and moving around while farming requires you to be committed to one spot. I also work part time as a bison and cattle wrangler on a ranch in Colorado, which adds to my inspiration for music. I tend to write a lot about connecting with the land. There’s nothing like riding a horse to clear your mind and give you inspiration!” The Montvales craft stripped down, banjo-and-harmony driven songs that strike just the right balance between catchy and lonesome.
While farming and ranching are often the muse for many musicians, scientists have studied the effect music has on plants as well. They found that sound waves encourage growth by stimulating the plant’s cells. When the cells get stimulated, nutrients are encouraged to move around the plant body more, promoting new growth and keeping them healthy. So next time you’re out working with your plants or animals, try putting on some good Americana music and see what happens! We’d love to hear about your results!
Follow: Running Creek Farm: Website, Facebook
The Montvales: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify
Guest Editor: Lindsi Rian | follow @lindsiriancreative
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