” I’ ve got the best job in the world … And the people I teach, they fuel me. It’ s the most incredible thing, and I’ m grateful every day to be able to do it.”
— Kara Barnard
Nhất Hạnh.“ Sitting at his feet for a week was a high point in my life,” she remembers.
But make no mistake: Kara’ s spirit may be open to the infinite possibilities of the universe, but her feet are planted firmly in the realities of Midwestern business ownership. Along with her former student Kristin Thompson, she’ s a proprietor of Weed Patch Music, a Nashville shop specializing in custom-built instruments and forging connections with its customers.
“ It’ s hard sometimes, balancing Buddhist principles with the demands of retail,” she says.“ Staying present in the moment, striving to always maintain good energy, it can be a challenge. But we do it, and whether it’ s people who’ ve never heard of Weed Patch coming in off the street, or seasoned musicians from all over who seek us out specifically, they’ ll find us to be human beings who want to talk to them, who want to share with them the love we have for what we sell.”
The merchandise at Weed Patch— stringed instruments made with pride by local builders— includes handmade guitars, dulcimers, banjos, and mandolins— every piece set up to sound its best.“ There’ s nothing like holding a musical instrument, knowing where it comes from and hearing how it sounds,” Kara says.“ That’ s why Amazon won’ t ever take the place of stores like ours.”
A few years ago, a conversation with Jon Kay, Director of Traditional Arts Indiana, led Kara to her most recent undertaking.“ I was trying to expand out to a new audience, and Jon suggested seniors,” she says. Soon
Continued on 26 the heartbeat in their own chest.” Playing music with others, she says, puts us in communion with each other, and ultimately, with the universe.
If you think this sounds like something out of eastern philosophy, you’ d be right. Somehow, between giving lessons, performing and competing internationally, founding the Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and running her own businesses, Kara’ s also been a longtime student of Buddhism, taking her vows with worldrenowned monk and educator Thích
March / April 2019 • Our Brown County 17