• Alan Chadwick
  • Bernard Taper

In 1978 Bernard Taper (1918 – 2016), a biographer of Pablo Casals and George Balanchine, writer for The New Yorker magazine, and professor of journalism at UC Berkeley, embarked on a study of Alan Chadwick. His plan was to write a two part piece on Alan in The New Yorker magazine and follow that up with a Chadwick biography. Those writing projects never materialized.

Bernard Taper’s Obituary (URL Link): Bernard Taper
 
However, over the ensuing decades, Bernard gathered a treasure trove of materials about Alan and recorded his interviews with Alan onto cassette tapes. The tapes were recorded in 1978 and 1979. After Bernard passed away, his son Mark generously allowed The Alan Chadwick Living Library and Archive Project to copy, digitize, and display these tapes and materials on this website.
 
It is recommended that one listens to these tapes in chronological order. They open a door of discovery into the life, work and legacy of Alan Chadwick. The hope is that in the future, Alan will continue to inspire others to pursue truth, beauty and goodness, both in the Garden and in their lives. 

NOTE: The use of headphones or earbuds is suggested.  

Rodney Blackhirst
“Everything That is Real is Secret”

Transcripts from Bernard Taper’s Recordings by Rodney Blackhirst

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Bernard Taper Audio Recordings

DateTitleTopics
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #1The First Meeting & Discussion. The Cosmic, Education, Nature, Plants
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #2Discussion Of True Economy, Nutrition; Herbal Remedies & Effects, Child Education, Life and Nature & An Approach To Horticulture. Alan’s Experience At UC Santa Cruz. Sacredness vs. Utility
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #3Discussion Of The Lemon Soda Springs Project. Verbosity. Astronomy; The Sun, The Earth & The Cosmic Performances. Nature. The Classic 4 Elements. Soil. Seeds, Blooming & Plants. Fresh Food. “Bloom” (Aura) & “Area Of Discontinuity”
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #4The Sun & The Cosmic. Sacrament vs. Utility. Nature Gives Life & Our Energy. Ants. Vision & Practicality. Technique. Obedience. Ritual. The Arts That Come Out Of The Garden. Alan’s Family
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #5Bouillabaisse. Lunch. Alan’s WW2 Conscientious Objector Status & War Experience; Wounds. Chemicals & Pesticides. Alan’s Lemon Soda Springs Planning. T. E. Lawrence. Various Topics.
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #6Origin Of Coffee In Ethiopia. Education Was Myth & Fairy Tale. The Theater; Alan Played Lincoln. Steiner. Alan’s Upbringing & Tutoring. Alan’s Grappling With Trying To Inform Other People. Amor & Psyche. Jacques Cousteau. Fish & Mice Experiments
March 10, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #7Channel Island Cows, Alexanders Herb & Milk. Elemental Beings. Cultured-Domesticated Plants From Wild Origins. Varietal Disintegration. “Hybris” - Hybrids. Bernard Tapes Himself About His Sharing With Alan.
April 16, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #8Alan Recites Paracelsus Quote & Lays Out His Vision For The New Garden Project For The Lemon Soda Springs Group Of Supporters.
April 29, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #9Bernard’s Taped Notes To Himself In The Car, On The Way To Meet Alan; And Meeting With Alan Later. Covelo Issues. Lunch. Theater. Dorset Coast. Various Topics.
April 29, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #10Various Topics. Poetry. Theater. Memorization. Plant Life & Performance. Chains Of ‘Bashilik’. Compost. Soil. Fertility.
April 29, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #11Nature Walk. Nature. Plants. Gardens.
April 29, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #12Nature Walk. Nature. Plants. Gardens.
April 29, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #13Various Topics. Friendship. Culinary. The War. Angelica Cultivation.
May 5, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #14Bernard Taping Himself In The Car; Questions For Alan. Various Topics. Lunch In Nature. Ballet. Impresarios. Wines. Mysticism.
May 5, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #15Lunch In Nature, Part 2. Alan’s Family History. Alan’s Later Life Discussed. Theater After The War. South Africa. Art.
May 5, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #16Lunch In Nature, Part 3. Various Topics.
May 5, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #17Indoor Conversation. Various Topics. Alan’s Life Experiences.
May 5, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #18Indoor Conversation, Part 2. Various Topics. Theatrical Plays. Chekov, Ibsen, Tolstoy. Beauty. Art. Alan’s Tutors. Elsie Fogerty’s Drama School.
May 12, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #19Indoor Lunch, Part 1. Various Topics. Wine & Soils. Tasteless Food. Utility vs Beautification. Suffering.
May 12, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #20Indoor Lunch, Part 2. Various Topics. Alan’s Life Experiences. Alan’s Family. Alan’s Worldview.
May 12, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #21Indoor Lunch, Part 3. Various Topics. E. F. Schumacher. Film World. Vision of The Garden Project.
May 12, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #22Alan & Bernard; Car Ride Discussion. Various Topics. Alan’s Perceived Task. Covelo vs. Santa Cruz. Alan’s Time On Long Island. Alan’s Arrival & Work In Santa Cruz. Alan In Dorset. Various Topics.
May 12, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #23Car Ride From Lemon Soda Springs, Alan’s Discussion Of Garden Planning. Various Topics.
May 21, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #24Discussion at Alan’s Domicile, Part 1. Various Topics. Romanticism. Alan’s Views On Living. Alan Discusses His Public Talks. Suffering.
May 26, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #25Discussion at Alan’s Domicile, Part 2. Various Topics. All Birth Comes Out Of Darkness. Discussion Of Plant Growth. Garden Secrets.
June 2, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #26Discussion at Alan’s Domicile, Part 2. Various Topics. All Birth Comes Out Of Darkness. Discussion Of Plant Growth. Garden Secrets.
June 22, 1978Conversations with Bernard Taper #27Jasper Rose (Art Historian at UCSC) Interviewed By Bernard Taper About Alan Chadwick.
June 14, 1979Conversations with Bernard Taper #28Alan On Deeper Aspects Of Nature & Human Relationship To Nature; The Virginia Garden Project. Alan Takes Stock Of His Life Changes.