Poet, anthologist and editor Jennifer Horne appeared on the Alabama Arts Radio Series on November 11 in an interview conducted by Jeanie Thompson, Executive Director of the Alabama Writers Forum. Horne, a recent recipient of an Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship, discussed her work as an anthologist, including the compilation and editing of Working the Dirt: An Anthology of Southern Poets, published by NewSouth Books in 2003.

Horne explained that she had begun work editing a volume of poetry dedicated to Southern gardening when NewSouth editor Randall Williams suggested the subject of farming. That project evolved into Working the Dirt, a volume devoted to farming and gardening themes.

The book’s focus is perhaps more relevant today than when it was first published, said Thompson, because of the recent “eat local” movement focusing on fresh, regionally available produce. Horne agreed that there is more public consciousness today of gardening and farming. During the interview, Horne performed two poems with similar agricultural themes, Farmer’s Market by Marcia Camp and Summer Food by Coleman Barks.

Listen to the interview at the Alabama State Council for the Arts website.

Working the Dirt is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon, or your favorite local or online book retailer.

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