Blackberry Farm Fall Newsletter 2017

SEASONAL NEWS & NOTES ~ FALL 2017

TA K I N G I N THE V IE W When I’m on the Mountain, I feel such an incredible connection to the sky, to the mountains, to Sam. This pristine land, with its panoramic mountain views, is truly a special and magnificent place—one our family has come to love over the last decade. Perhaps that’s why I am so excited to finally share it with our friends and guests. Breaking ground on Blackberry Mountain this year is the culmination of many dreams. Our ultimate goal has always been to protect the land for our community and future generations, but Sam and I also dreamed about taking all that we learned from Blackberry Farm and creating something from scratch. This year, as construction is underway, that dream is coming to life.

Everywhere else I look on the Farm, things are coming to fruition, too. Our gardens and fields are shifting into Fall harvests; our Wellhouse team is releasing a new, expanded line of spa products (the bath salts are a must try!); and the trees are just starting to show their famous Fall colors. Familiar faces are beginning to arrive for all the Autumn festivities when the Smoky Mountains are at their peak—I look forward to seeing some of you out on the hiking trails!

Fall always seems to fly by on the Farm…so holiday lights will twinkle in our evergreens before we know it. Do yourself a favor for the busy holiday season, and pick up a few easy gifts next time you’re here (or you can always order online). Lately, the new Make a GREAT Day™ cuffs have become my go-to gift for friends. It’s easy to mix with other bracelets or wear solo. I love seeing it shine on my wrist as a positive reminder throughout the day. And for host gifts, I always bring pimento cheese, pickles and a few bottles of Blackberry Farm beer—from football season on through Christmas parties. Do you have a Farmstead favorite you find yourself giving over and over again? I’d love to hear if you do!

Plenty of crisp, beautiful days in Millers Cove lie ahead of us. I hope to share some of them with you!

Mary Celeste Beall, Proprietor

new HEIGHTS

When Fall comes to Millers Cove, we find ourselves looking up, taking it all in. We can’t help it—not when we’re surrounded by Autumn landscapes this beautiful. Trees flame into living color against deep blue skies, and the mountains call to us stronger than ever. We take deep breaths of the crisp air as we tackle new summits and celebrate all the adventures Fall brings us.

autumn

SHARING

ANTICIPATION Farmstead Manager Dustin Busby pauses his preserving to share what he’s looking forward to this Fall.

Q

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FARM AS THE SEASON CHANGES?

THE SOUTH We like to think the experience of Blackberry Farm extends far beyond the boundaries of Millers Cove—and that’s in large part due to our friends and collaborators across the nation.

We share more than good times here on the Farm. We share a philosophy of life, an appreciation for hard work and beautiful craft. That’s why we are always so thrilled to welcome pioneering makers like Natalie Chanin and fashion designers like Billy Reid back to the Farm. Long a friend of Blackberry Farm, Billy Reid has become a household name, hailed as “perhaps the most likable player on the American menswear scene.” What Billy— along with so many other Southern makers—has managed to express is the essence of true

Southern style: fashion that is fully informed by where it comes from. It’s timeless. Functional.

Made to last. And just unusual enough to make an impression.

We raise a glass to friends like Billy Reid, as we have been doing for years now, with our Brewery team joining the party at Billy Reid’s stores and Shindigs. We honor the icons of Southern style: yesterday’s, today’s and those yet to come. And we roll up our sleeves and get back to the rewarding work of crafting beautiful things that last.

Join us for the Billy Reid Shindig this Fall, November 16–19, 2017.

Q

WHAT ARE SOME FALL PRODUCTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

Pumpkin and Pear Butter and Apple Butter are must-haves from our Farmstead. Black walnuts and persimmons also arrive in Fall, and they are delicious ingredients that are native to our area.

It’s the same wonderful cycle that farmers were experiencing hundreds of years ago.

The animals get big, the sheep’s milk starts to slow down, the vegetation starts to go into its resting period as it gets ready for Winter. It’s beautiful.

Q

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO SHOWCASE IN YOUR FALL COOKING?

Squash is versatile, and there are so many different squashes to try. It’s fun to do a tasting of squash for a first course. For starters, you can marinate spaghetti squash, purée acorn squash or make noodles with butternut squash.

Q

WHAT DO YOU HOPE GUESTS GET OUT OF THE FARMSTEAD PRODUCTS?

I hope they get a taste of the season.

When you open that jar, you taste a moment from our garden. You get the feeling of anticipation for next Fall and the nostalgia of the past Fall.

MAKE IT

ou may have heard Blackberry Farm team members say, “Make a great day!” or seen the phrase online or on property. To the Farm family, this motto is so much more than a simple phrase.

It’s a way of life—a way of life inspired by an incredible leader, husband, father and friend. The Make a GREAT Day™ brand pays tribute to the late Sam Beall, visionary proprietor of Blackberry Farm. Every morning, Sam would encourage his children to go out and “make a great day!”

Sam’s oldest daughter, Cameron, wanted to continue spreading her father’s commitment to engaged optimism and honor his pursuit of making great days. She began buying t-shirts from thrift stores and stitching “Make a Great Day” into the shirts to distribute amongst friends and family. Cameron’s seed of an idea grew into a movement that we are proud to share.

Now, in Sam’s honor, Blackberry Farm is inviting others to follow Sam’s example and embrace the life-changing pursuit of positivity.

Our new collection of upbeat, encouraging lifestyle products is designed to help you Make a GREAT Day™! Having a great day is passive. Making a great day is active. It’s a point of view, a philosophy, a way of seeing the world. It salutes the indomitable human spirit. Most importantly, it calls us to seize the most from life.

Join us on this adventure! Wear your positivity, follow along on Instagram @makeagreatday and tag your great days with #makeagreatday.

Want to get your own inspiring gear? Visit makeagreatday.com. A portion of all sales will benefit the Blackberry Farm Foundation to support a nonprofit fellowship program in Sam’s honor, The Sam Beall Fellows Program.

LIVING A

IN VOGUE OUR NEW WELLHOUSE SPA PRODUCTS ARRIVE IN TIME FOR FALL. We were so humbled and honored to have Vogue Magazine highlight our newly reformulated and expanded line of Wellhouse spa products in their October 2017 issue. You can experience the new line for yourself this October when the fresh Appalachian Hyssop and Bourbon & Lavender products arrive on shelves.

Each fragrance collection will now include body wash, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, hand cream, body oil, bath scrub, bath salt and body butter. The formulas have been reimagined with lavender and hyssop grown and harvested here on Blackberry Farm. Both fragrance blends were chosen for their healing, soothing qualities and are sure to whisk you away to the peace of the Farm every time you use them. Look for the new Wellhouse line in Vogue Magazine and at blackberryfarmshop.com this Fall.

legacy

S

am Beall grew up at Blackberry Farm and made it his home until his untimely passing in 2016. As proprietor, he shaped Blackberry Farm’s distinct standards of excellence and top-notch service and helped Blackberry Farm become a world-renowned destination.

Sam began his work journey by immersing himself in study at some of the very best restaurants, hotels, vineyards and creameries in California, and that experience forever shaped his vision for Blackberry Farm.

Through financial support and work/study opportunities at world-class hospitality venues and with renowned food and beverage craftspeople, the Sam Beall Fellows Program from the Blackberry Farm Foundation will provide people in their hospitality and culinary careers with the opportunity to have the kinds of formative experiences Sam had. The program will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those who will carry on Sam’s legacy, his love of saying “welcome,” his passion for food and wine and his insistence that we all “Make a GREAT Day™.” More details about this special initiative will be announced in the months ahead.

A TORCH LIT In August, we launched the Sam Beall Fellows Program with unforgettable cuisine by Chef Daniel Boulud and Chef Cassidee Dabney paired with wines from Importer Billy Weiss. With support from our friends at Le Creuset, the event created hours of memorable conversations around the table—just as Sam would have wanted. We are honored by all who came to help his legacy live on.

EPIC ANNOUNCEMENT AN

MOUNTAIN MEETS MODERN. After years of careful planning and design, we are thrilled to introduce Blackberry Mountain, a remarkable destination that marries the legendary hospitality of Blackberry Farm with the bold, adventurous spirit of a pristine mountain setting.

Just up the cove from the Farm, the national park-inspired property features wine, food and wellness experiences as dramatic as the miles of protected lands that surround it. Here, in this expansive setting, views are epic and uninhibited. Streams are crystal clear, and opportunities—for adventure, for legacies, for truly extraordinary adventures—unfurl in every direction.

PART PARK, PART PRESERVE

Blackberry Mountain will be a one-ofa-kind boutique hotel and retreat for people who are eager to share memorable experiences and magnificent natural places with their families.

ON THE HORIZON Blackberry Mountain will open late 2018.

To learn more about progress, reservations and select real estate opportunities, visit blackberrymountain.com

GATHER

SHARE

TREK TRAVEL October 15-20, October 22-27, October 29-November 3 Trek Travel is a world leader in luxury cycling tours, and they are collaborating with Blackberry Farm to create an amazing cycling experience that invites guests to explore the Smoky Mountains.

With Trek's knowledgeable guides as your compass, explore Tennessee countryside and winding back roads, finishing up with a tour of Blackberry Farm and an incredible wine-paired dinner at The Barn.

Call 866.464.8735 to speak to one of Trek Travel’s trip consultants.

BROTHERS OSBORNE November 30 Blending country and rock, brothers John and TJ Osborne are sure to captivate you with their signature twang-and-crunch sound. Recent winners of Vocal Duo of the Year at the 50th CMA Awards and GRAMMY nominated for their number one hit “Stay a Little Longer” and single “21 Summer,” the Brothers Osborne will put on a performance you won’t want to miss.

JOIN US FOR UPCOMING MUSIC, FOOD, WINE, ADVENTURE AND FRESH AIR.

PASSION PROJECT December 3-6 Chef Katie Button and Winemaker Maggie Harrison both experienced turning points in their life that lead them to pursue their true callings. Now they are coming to share their passions at Blackberry Farm. Get a first-hand lesson with a cooking demonstration from Chef Katie, and dive into taste notes at a wine tasting with Maggie. Then enjoy the incredible balance of these two artisans coming together to create special menus and wine pairings to toast pursuing your passions.

Featuring Chef Katie Button, Executive Chef at Cúrate and Winemaker Maggie Harrison of Lillian Winery and Antica Terra

BODY AND SOUL September 24–27 Daily yoga led by Jill Knouse will strengthen and awaken the body to encourage true connection. A blend of wellness activities, coupled with cooking demonstrations and farm-fresh meals and juices, will nourish and refresh the body. Wrap it all up with a mindfulness wine and cheese tasting and a trip to the spa, and you’ll leave completely rejuvenated, body and soul.

Featuring Jill Knouse

All Wrapped Up The Blackberry Farm gift experts step up to make your holiday shopping simple and elegant this season.

Blackberry Farm Wool Blanket

This classic is crafted from yarn spun from our very own flock of sheep.

Hand-dyed and woven with a striped pattern, our warm wool blanket can live on your porch or be draped over your favorite reading chair. Each blanket is unique with subtle shade variations and a whipstitch hem. 48” x 60”. $318

Blackberry Farm Breakfast Collection Any gift that includes Allan Benton’s famous bacon is sure to make you a star. Ideal for corporate gifts or relatives, this Southern breakfast spread from our farm will brighten anyone's morning. $105

Jam Duo Before holiday party season starts, stock up on these charming sets.

Pair with a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery—voilá, effortless yet sophisticated host gift. The set includes Blackberry Jam, Strawberry Jam and a wooden spreader. $38

Make A Great Day Bracelet

Want more ways to breeze through your holiday shopping? Browse our curated selection of stylish, artisan gifts at blackberryfarmshop.com.

Mother, sister, daughter or friends— this hand-stamped cuff is a thoughtful gift for any woman in your life.

Engraved with your choice of English or Latin, it will add a bit of inspirational shine to her wrist.

Sterling silver or brass, $48

N o. 1 HOTEL FOR FOOD LOVERS

WINTER ESCAPE From the sparkle of the holidays to the stillness of peaceful landscapes, our Winter rates make cooler months an extraordinary time to experience Blackberry Farm.

CALL 800-557-8864 TO PLAN YOUR STAY