I've been calling my consulting work a "side hustle" ever since I left nonprofit+community+farming to focus on songwriting in 2017. I've been happy to have this work to support my music because I refuse to put my songs under the pressure of being profitable and I also refuse to deprive my songwriting of resources.📀📀📀 I am, however, ready to retire the idea of my "other work" as somehow “other” or “on the side.” This is not because I'm worried my music will never earn, nor is it because I'm getting ready to head back to community work full-time. It’s moreso because I kinda LOVE working with organizations+communities that know who they are, share a vision for their future, and are navigating how to fully, intentionally express their potential.⚡️ One of my client organizations, @friendofthebend, does vital land protection, agriculture support, food access, outdoor recreation, and community building work in the only remaining rural area of Nashville. We put on an beautiful event last night featuring local food and songs from the legendary @suzybogguss; we raised a pile of money to steward #BellsBend's precious, working landscape. Some community members here know that I'm a singer-songwriter, just put a record out, and that I have a song about this place. These adorable people insisted... like INSISTED 😅... I play a couple songs following Suzy, who kindly agreed to let me take the stage and even lent me her guitar. 🤯 I'm sharing this not to say "Nashville is unbelievable"- though it sometimes is. I'm also not saying "I'm so grateful to always land in incredible communities“- though I really am. 🙌 I AM sharing this because- though a lot is said about pursuing one’s passion- I haven’t heard much encouragement for pursuing multiple passions simultaneously. This is probably because it’s even scarier / messier / less acceptable than going after “that one crazy dream.” It might also be due to some cultural beliefs around having to pay for doing what you love by doing something you kinda hate that makes money. It might be because we prefer lazy labels: songwriter, development officer, dissatisfied employee. 😆 [continued in 1st comment] 📸: @driver49

"Sara’s understated but very much penetrating vocals, deliver her lyrics with dynamic civility in ‘Food And Medicine’. The bluegrass/country offering, just like a short story, paints a story that many of us can acclimate and understand. Sara wants to tell the ‘human story’ and in ‘Food And Medicine’ she certainly attains with glorious success." Thanks to @comeherefloyd for the thoughtful review. 💛💛💛 #foodandmedicine #dirigoattitude

Thanks to DJ @artiemartello for giving my record such great attention on his programs!📀 Today, he’s spinning #luckyforme on Power Folk. Despite the much-appreciated airtime from folk radio, this is a good one to check out if you prefer my more country sounding tunes.🍻🍫 #dirigoattitude

‘I Believe in Unity’ made it onto last weekend’s playlist at The Midnight Special- a great folk program out of WFMT Chicago that’s been on air since 1953. Thanks, y’all! 🦅💛🤸🏼‍♂️📀 #ibelieveinunity #dirigoattitude

After a few much needed days away from the ol’ social medias, I’m back to let ya know I’ll be playing live on @middaykentucky TOMORROW at 12PM Eastern. (I DID miss #mainebirds!🤣) Tune into WTVQ in the Lexington area or Google your way to the livestream. #youblend #springinthesouth #dirigoattitude

My mom is a better fisherman than your dad. HMD, Kath. 🎣 #onemorecast

Songs are magic. I’m more and more convinced of that every day. Let’s make some.✨ Join me and outdoorswoman / #maineguide / badass @nstaradventures for some water, words, and wonder on a #Maine lake. 🛶 FMI: www.northstaradventures.me 💛 #mainesong #songsaremagic #unitymaine #dirigoattitude #lakewinnecook #unitypond #northstaradventures #thatgreenblobisalgae🤣

🦅 Y’ALL, I AM SO EXCITED! 🦅 This little record is #22 on the Folk DJ chart for April 2019. 🎣’Food and Medicine’ is the #3 song AND ‘In the Bend of the Cumberland’ is the #14 song. 🎣My name is next to the #25 position for most played artist in the same month. 🎣THANK YOU, FOLK DJs! 📻Thanks also to @therealdarrellscott and @marygauthier who appear on each tune, respectively, and likely helped DJs take a chance on me.💛💛💛#dirigoattitude #songaremagic

I'm thrilled to see 'In the Bend of the Cumberland' among @thealtroot's Top Ten songs of the week! Especially incredible to see my name alongside @anidifranco, @risingappalachia, #elizagilkyson, etc. And of course the song features @marygauthier, who is some of the best company one could keep. #bellsbendmagic #dirigoattitude

"...It’s meat and potatoes bluegrass/country stuff. I like it, it’s very 'clean' sounding, reminds me of mountains or long grass near a creek. Can’t go wrong with that." Thanks to Robert Dean at @farcethemusic for the kind words about #DirigoAttitude. 💛 #gityousome #northcountry #songsaremagic