Sandhills Woman’s Exchange
“Artisan Spotlight”
by Ron Rhody
A Purple Squirrel is a mythical creature.
Head-hunters use the term to describe a person
with the unique combination of experience,
personality, drive, and creativity that can
produce desired results to almost any challenge
– a creature as rare as a purple squirrel would be.
Lisa Redmond might be one.
An accomplished wildlife biologist whose
field of concentration was endangered species,
she spent much of her early professional career
working for the protection of the Red Cockaded
Woodpecker in coastal eastern North Carolina
and in South Carolina and Florida.
She is an experienced and enthusiastic
outdoorswoman whose grandfather and
grandmother taught her fishing and cooking
and whose parents encouraged her love of the
outdoors and being scientifically inquisitor as a
child growing up in upper New York state.
From the woods, she became a manager of
complex projects in out of the way places, and
developed a variety of skills and interests that
led her to Pinehurst where she creates and
directs the multifaceted outreach programs
of the community treasure that is the Givens
Library and manages the affairs and programs
of the Given Book Shop in the historic old Post
office.
She also crafts earrings for “Bhramari Bee’ds.”
Bhramari is the Hindu Goddess of the Bees.
Bees and other pollinators are in danger from
many environmental threats and contaminates.
She has chosen them as her symbol and donates
a portion of all proceeds to pollinator research
and protection.
Bharmari Bee’ds” are small but enticing. She
fashions them for wear as every-day-useful sets
at a price point people can comfortably meet,
can have fun with and project the role they wish
to play for the day without angsting.
Earrings are a relaxing diversion for Lisa.
Most of her time now is consumed with the
Given and its community programs, but she and
her “he-can-make-anything” husband, Dean
Segovis, finds time to create useful things out of
discards such as yard art out of bubble-gum or
welded metal.
He restores vintage automobiles and teaches
kids and adults how to make robots and restores
vintage motorcycles and gets involved with
electronics through a video series now marking
its seventh year.
They met at a Makers Fair. He taught her
how to weld and gave her a band-saw for her
birthday. The rest is history.
Purples Squirrel?
May not be needed with people like Lisa
nearby. Lisa Richman—The Cabin’s Spotlight
Artisan.☐
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Why not choose your favorite from the
chalkboard full of specials behind the counter
and join us around the table.
Darryl and Meg, Buggy Town owners.
Established in 2014, Buggy Town Coffee in
downtown Carthage greets all who enter as
family. From inside, the whitewashed walls,
succulents, mismatched tables and chairs join
the large windows overlooking the heart of
town with the church on one side, the jail on the
other. Just down the way, the library, courthouse
and post office greet locals as dog walkers pass,
cars travel to appointments, and friends meet.
So Buggy Town Coffee is adding a new
feature for locals to enjoy? Meg begins, “For
about two years now, we’ve been using coffee
from different roasters around the country
with our main source coming from a roaster in
Asheville who offers exceptional coffees from
small lots. Our dream to roast our very own
coffee is currently underway."
Buggy Town Coffee offers a place for
locals to experience different coffees? Yes.
Not only do we want our guests to experience
different coffees and flavors, but we also seek
to introduce various roasters, coffee farms, and
coffee shops through workshops and coffee
sampling. In addition to achieving a great cup of
coffee, we also desire to build our relationship
with the source. When you appreciate how
coffee grows, you encourage a more sustainable
future for coffee.
Do you have a favorite? We predominately
use Latin American and African coffees. Darryl
favors an Ethiopian washed process coffee
with more of an earthy tone, and I (Meg) enjoy
the Ethiopian natural process that gives more
fruit-forward notes. Where it’s grown, how it’s
grown, and how it’s processed alters the flavors
as well. The many variables can affect how the
coffee tastes even from one year to the next,
and people are even experimenting with new
methods. These coffees are top grade and
roasted to bring out their natural sweetness so it
doesn’t need cream and sugar if you don’t want
to add it. We enjoy tasting them all. Every batch
is tasted before it’s bagged.
What’s included in the roasting process?
The beans arrive green and take around 13
minutes to roast per batch. We will use the
roasted beans in our coffee shop and bag it for
home use and for sale on our website.
In looking forward to the new year,
what’s your vision for Buggy Town Coffee?
In addition to roasting coffee beans, we
will be and launching our website as well as
expanding our space.
In January, we’ll be offering a coffee class
featuring tastings from different regions and
introductions of coffee varieties, roast levels,
and brewing methods. More info available on
our website or social media.
Inviting all friends near and far to come
and ride the Buggy at Buggy Town Coffee,
Darryl and Meg affirm, this is the year to
experience great coffee! Bring a friend,
become part of the Buggy Town family, and
enjoy a new brew locally roasted. ☐
For more info, see ad. p.5.
Meg Russell with a coffee plant.
Lisa Redmond with Bhramari Bee'ds.
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The Russell Family
of Buggy Town Coffee.
Going on its 96th year, the Sandhills
Women's Exchange is located in the
Village of Pinehurst right across from
the Village Chapel. The Cabin, built in
1810, and relocated in 1895 by the Tufts
family, maintains the following mission,
"To help people help themselves."
p.36 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 133