Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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Local winery reclaims land Reclamation wine — is that anything Hke dandelion or elderberry wine? No, this wine doesn ' t come from a special fruit, but it does grow in strange ground. The Oliver Wine Co., owned by lU Professor of Law and Mrs. William Oliver, has developed an experimental vine- yard on reclaimed strip mined land owned by the Falcon Coal Company in eastern Kentucky. The five-acre vineyard is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, Oliver said. Although the winery is satisfied with the results of the experiment, Oliver said he can ' t recommend the process to other wine companies yet. We want a little more experi- ence, he said. The experimental vineyard will continue at the Kentucky site for at least another year and Oliver has already discussed plans to expand the project to areas in DuBois County, Indiana. The company expanded its production capacity with the addition of a new building at the winery located near In- diana 37. With this expansion, We can now supply more product, Oliver stated. Since the company was established in 1972, Oliv er said they have been sold out of products about 20 times. A wine in great demand is Camelot Mead, a honey-based drink. It ' s been so popular, we haven ' t been able to make as much wine, Oliver said. The wines have been so popular that Oliver ' s needs little advertising to publicize its wares. Many of the winery ' s cus- tomers are people who stop there for free taste samples. Oliver explained that he refrains from advertising a great deal in the Indiana Daily Student. It ' s probably not the most effective form of advertising for us because half of the paper ' s subscribers are not of drinking age, he estimated. 16 Photos 1. D. Schwalm

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Rudi ' s, Mall cause sprawl Care for some Red Zinger tea or Black Russian bread? If so, head on over to Rudi ' s Ashram bakeries, deh or Tao Restaurant. Besides food services, Rudi ' s businesses provide a means of livelihood for members of the area Ashram community. Michael Shoemaker, the teacher of the Ashram community who is responsible for the various enterprises, estimated that 80 people work at the different area operations. Of these, he continued, 50-60 are college students and most are members of the Ashram community. The rest are area resi- dents. Shoemaker, a former lU student, said the Ashram is not a faith or religion, but a way of life. Its followers are mem- bers of a community, he said. The businesses, Shoemaker explained, are owned by the community to support community members through the earning of wages and salaries. In addition to Rudi ' s enterprises in Bloomington, there are nine other Ashram centers in metropolitan areas such as In- dianapolis, Ann Arbor and Cincinnati. The newest local Ashram enterprise is Rudi ' s Oriental Art store which contains several ancient and authentic pieces in various mediums. Indian and Chinese wall-hangings and original-design jewelry are also sold. Shoemaker explained the switch from food services to art: My teacher, Rudi, (for whom most of the enterprises are named) started collecting different pieces as a hobby. Then after his death, I started the business, both as a means of support and for the cultural exposure. Cindv Mossier lim Mendenhall (OPPOSITE PAGE) The Latimer homestead has been in the family for over 100 years. Mrs. Frieda Robertson, who inherited the farm from her father Clarence Latimer, lives there now with her husband, daughter and mother. The farm, used to raise beef cattle, is a little of old Bloomington surrounded by its new commercial enterprises. (ABOVE) At the Tenth Street Rudi ' s Bakery, only one of the many Ashram businesses, customers wait for delicatessen treats. 15

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races balloons One form of advertising is a large green and yellow, ten- story-high hot air balloon. This Camelot Mead Balloon en- tered a race sponsored by the lU Student Foundation during Little 500 weekend. Oliver ' s underwrote the cost of the race. In conjunction with the balloon race, the winery con- ducted a Camelot Wine Festival, in which minstrels played old-time instruments to portray a Middle Ages at- mosphere. Jesters wandered through the crowd as members of Pretense Theatre performed short plays depicting life in the Middle Ages. The Society for Creative Anachronism gave ratan sword fighting demonstrations. Oliver wines have traditionally been of good quality. The Camelot Wine Festival entered into that tradition, as the company planned to make it a yearly event. Marianne Gleissner, Nanri Hellmich (LEFT) Oliver employe John Hartman checks dormant grape vines before they are planted. , . . r (ABOVE) Hartman and Jimmy Butler. 73 lU graduate, prepare to transfer wine from the large wooden vats into individual kegs. Oliver Winery has many old-new contrasts: wooden and stainless steel vats, and a corrugated steel storage area rather than an earth-bound cellar, for example. (TOP) John Hartman draws a sample from a keg of aging wine (RIGHT) A unique form of advertisement, the Camelot Mead balloon sails silently across campus. 17