Appalachian Dowser’s 2021 Picnic

AUGUST DOWSERS PICNIC is AUGUST 21, 2021!
THANKS yet again to Janet Peterson at her wonderful Cloud 9 farm in FAIRVIEW, south of Asheville, NC.

Picnic/POtluck: Note from Janet:

10:30-11:00 Food set up
11-11:45 am Circle up, "What's new with you?"
Janet explains the set up/activities for pm eat at 11:45-1 pm
1:00 -4:00 PM Dowsing fun and games
Covered dish 137 Bob Barnwell Rd. Fletcher, NC DIRECTIONS BELOW.
Plenty of parking on gravel.
Bring a blanket to sit on or a lawn chair. I have tables, trash cans, tent and pavilion for rain, so rain or shine. I would be glad to coordinate a little walk tour with dowsing involved AND have some games. Anyone else can come up with some games, too. I will need the Dowser's to bring big black garbage bags (4) and to carry off garbage plus a couple rolls of toilet paper. I will have a food scrap bucket for my chickens, water dispenser that holds 5 gallons, out house and hand washing station and 10 chairs (benches under pavilion)

Note on Chapter History from Our former Social Coordinator, Marilyn Gasque, written in 2015:

In the past, It had been a regular tradition but we give the Petersen's a break from us tromping through their land ever so often. This picnic has been always been near and dear to us because it the property was owned by Vernon Peterson whose name is on the original chapter charter. Vern, a retired Eastern Airline pilot, got started on his retirement planning early knowing that he and his family wanted to come to the Appalachian mountains. In the mid 60's, they found this 200 acre piece of property in the Fairview area. They started clearing property and building a home. It was when they had to put a well down that he discovered how important a dowser was. The first well had less than a gallon per minute. So off to Danville, Vermont he went to learn to dowse with Janet at the ASD conference. Still needing help, he found a remote map dowser, Sam Rogers in Tennessee. Sam but a big X on a hand drawn map and said drill there. Janet and Vern found the spot but there was a dead tree trunk there which they had to dig out first. Eventually, after getting his blueberry farm established, he found some fine like minded people in this area to start the Appalachian Chapter on Sept 17th of 1980.

Vern's daughter, Janet, met and married another accomplished dowser, John Shisler and they continued to help Vern with the farm and the Chapter. Some very successful A.S.D. Southeastern Conferences were held in Asheville in the past that we were quite proud of. Vern and John took Richard Crutchfield under their wing after he got the "dowsing bug" too.

Vern and John are dowsing in Heaven now, and, no doubt, helping us by being the App Chap Guides. Janet has continued running the blueberry farm, gotten heavenly involved in beekeeping, running Cloud Nine Relaxation homes (http://www.cloud9farm.net/) all while teaching (but now retired from that). How fortunate we are to have such smart folks to establish the good solid foundation that we have been able to continue being among the most successful chapters in ASD. Let's keep it that way and pass the dowsing bug!

Here are the DIRECTIONS:

Directions from Fletcher Asheville to Cloud 9

Take I-26 W to Fletcher/Mtn. Home Exit 44. Turn North on Hwy 25 N. Go about 3mi to Cane Creek Rd. Turn R. Go to 2nd light. Continue on Cane Creek Rd. Go 2.7 mi. Turn L on Concord Rd. Go 2/10 mi. Turn R on Gravely Branch Rd. Go to end. Turn R on Emmas Grove Rd. Go 1 mile and turn a sharp L on Bob Barnwell Rd.

Directions from Skyland/Arden to Cloud 9

Find the Ingles/EarthFare intersection Turn onto Mills Gap Rd

Cross over RR tracks, go straight through light (crossing Hwy 25 A) Go 1 mile to Concord Rd. Turn L and follow to Y where Concord veers to right, you stay straight which is Emmas Grove Rd. Go 2 miles and pass the Emma's Grove Baptist church Turn Left sharply on Bob Barnwell Rd. Go ½ mi. to #137 black mailbox. "Cloud 9" Follow parking signs.

End at 137 Bob Barnwell Rd Fletcher, NC 28732

828-628-1758 Janet Peterson

Directions from Asheville to Cloud 9 Farm

Approach Asheville on I-40 exit 53A

Highway 74 S east. Go 5.2 miles towards Fairview.

R on Emmas Grove Rd. Go 1.4 mi

R on Bob Barnwell Rd. Go 1/2 mi

Turn L at mailbox #137

Follow parking signs.