When Life Gives You Sunflowers, Make SunSticks!

During a dispute with a neighboring gardener at Sunshine Community Gardens in Austin, Berkley Bettis decided to plant a thick row of sunflowers between the two beds to put a pleasant barrier against an unpleasant situation. Soon, birds began spreading sunflower seeds.

The following season, sunflowers grew all over his plot. He let them grow and cleared the stems once they dried up. An idea struck him while he handled a stiff, gnarled stalk.

He turned the stem upside down, cleared most of the shoots from the root ball, and imagined a sturdy yet light walking stick. After a bit of polishing and staining, the sunflower stalks are ready for a new life making sure people have steady footing.

Bettis has been making SunSticks ever since.

"When life gives you sunflowers, make SunSticks," became his motto. A bad situation turned into an unexpected form of art.

Now Bettis makes two sizes, a short cane for daily use and a longer staff that's perfect for hiking. The sunflower's root ball seems to fit perfectly in the palm in shorter versions and invoke a dramatic mysticism in longer versions.

The walking sticks sell for $15 for canes and between $20 and $50 for staffs, depending on how intricate the root ball is. Bettis donates the entire purchase price to Sunshine Community Gardens as a gesture of gratitude for all the flowers, fruits, and memories the space has given him over the years.

Contact Berkley Bettis of SunSticks at Dolrsdad@aol.com.