Owsley Fork Sanctuary Founder & Director, Linda Bryant is a poet and journalist. She was inspired to create the sanctuary after visiting Berea for a writing workshop at Berea College in 2017. “When I walked into that workshop, I had a powerful sensation of coming home," Bryant says. "I didn’t really know what it meant other than I was quite fond of this area. Then things started to happen, and a series of unplanned occurrences led me back to Berea. I didn’t even know I was looking for land — much less land where I could start a retreat for artists — but the opportunity to buy the Owsley Fork property arose and as soon as I walked into the main house and gazed out the window, I just knew I was home.”
Owsley Fork Sanctuary Co-Directror, Coleman Davis, is an organic farmer, poet and painter. Since moving to Owsley Fork Sanctuary he’s dedicated himself to growing medicinal native Kentucky plants on the surrounding acreage. He also became a devoted student of guitar and dulcimer. He spent much time as a construction worker on the West Coast and brings with him a full-set of maintenance, design, and construction skills. As a resident of the sanctuary he’s usually available for forest tours and guided hikes. Coleman is willing to help with anything from making s’mores to identifying wildflowers and birds. If he’s not busy fixing something or doing some trail maintenance, a kayak trip on Owsley Fork Lake is not out of the question.
Owsley Fork Sanctuary Assistant Director (or whatever), Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, is an author, editor, & ghostwriter. He is Author of two poetry collections, Visiting Hours & Ghost Gear; Editor of Apocalypse Now: Poems & Prose from the End of Days; Acquisitions Editor for Upper Rubber Boot Books; Founder and Editor of PoemoftheWeek.com and The Floodgate Poetry Series; and professor of creative writing at Colorado Community College. Learn more at AndrewMK.com.