Spring 2010, Tennessee Home and Farm

Tenne sse e

Home & Farm tnhomeandfarm.com Spring 2010

BARN AGAIN FFA, Campbell’s help restore historic Old Hickory farm

SEE TENNESSEE Win a trip to Sumner County

PRETTY AS A PITCHER Southeast’s only female pewterer hones her craft in Somerville tnfarmbureau.org

Published for the 648,086 family members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau

Ten n e ssee

Home & Farm An official publication of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation © 2010 TFBF Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation tnfarmbureau.org

EDITOR Pettus Read CIRCULATION MANAGER Stacey Warner BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Lacy Upchurch, Vice President Danny Rochelle DIRECTORS AT LARGE Jeff Aiken, Charles Hancock, Catherine Via DISTRICT DIRECTORS Malcolm Burchfiel, James Haskew, Eric Mayberry, Dan Hancock, David Mitchell STATE FB WOMEN’S CHAIRMAN Jane May ADVISORY DIRECTORS Dr. Joseph DiPietro, State YF&R Chairman John Chester CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Julius Johnson TREASURER Wayne Harris COMPTROLLER Tim Dodd

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jessy Yancey COPY EDITOR Joyce Caruthers CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Cowan, Catherine Darnell, Susan Hamilton, Laura Hill, Anthony Kimbrough, Leslie LaChance, Jessica Mozo, Brooke Rawlins, Jessica Walker

Editor’s note

Springing Forward Spring is a time of rejuvenation, and in this issue, we offer several stories in the spirit of the season. Our cover story features a woman of rare metal, Kathleen Armour Walker, who is bringing back the ancient alloy of pewter in the form of dishes, jewelry and other art and décor at her West Tennessee shop and studio. Another Tennessee woman, Karen Guy, has kept alive the strong-willed spirit of her ancestor, Andrew Jackson. Read about the recent restoration of a barn on her Davidson County property on page 12.

Speaking of barns, we also visit a barn-turned-restaurant in Walland that serves up down-home country cooking. And our recipes section couldn’t get much more springlike, focusing on the incredible edible egg – for breakfast and beyond!

Find more recipes online at tnhomeandfarm.com, and while you’re there, be sure to enter our contest to win a trip to Sumner County, as well as our 15th annual photo contest, which kicks off with this issue.

Jessy Yancey, associate editor thaf@jnlcom.com

DATA MANAGER Chandra Bradshaw SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Brian McCord STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeff Adkins, Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier, J. Kyle Keener CREATIVE DIRECTOR Keith Harris ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Carden PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER Katie Middendorf SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Candice Sweet, Vikki Williams

At a Glance/A sampling of destinations in this issue

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR Andy Hartley WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR Franco Scaramuzza

2/Dover

3/Cross Plains

1/Bulls Gap

WEB CONTENT MANAGER John Hood WEB PROJECT MANAGER Yamel Ruiz

4/Walland

WEB DESIGN LEAD Leigh Guarin WEB PRODUCTION Jennifer Graves COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN Alison Hunter

5/Somerville

AD TRAFFIC Marcia Millar, Patricia Moisan, Raven Petty CHAIRMAN Greg Thurman PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Bob Schwartzman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ray Langen

1/ Order geraniums, tomatoes and a variety of other plants from Myers Greenhouse in Bulls Gap page 7

SR. V.P./SALES Carla H. Thurman SR. V.P./OPERATIONS Casey E. Hester V.P./SALES Todd Potter V.P./VISUAL CONTENT Mark Forester V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Teree Caruthers V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING Kim Newsom PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Natasha Lorens

2/ Learn about wild horse and burro adoption at Carrs’ Ranch in Cross Plains page 20 3 / Find the perfect piece of pewter at Tennessee Pewter Co. in Somerville page 8

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Jeffrey S. Otto CONTROLLER Chris Dudley ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER, CUSTOM DIVISION Beth Murphy INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER Robin Robertson DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Gary Smith

4 / Taste down-home cooking at The Rustic Barn in Walland page 16 5 / Try a tropical salad or perk up with a cup of coffee at Cup A Doodle Brew in Dover page 29

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Yancey Turturice CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT Rachael Goldsberry SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR Rachel Matheis OFFICE MANAGER Shelly Grissom RECEPTIONIST Linda Bishop Tennessee Home & Farm is produced for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation by Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080.

All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reprduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member

Magazine Publishers of America Member

Custom Publishing Council

TENNESSEE HOME & FARM (USPS No. 022-305) Issued quarterly by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, 147 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401, (931) 388-7872. Periodical permit paid at Columbia, TN, and additional entry offices.

POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: Tennessee Home & Farm Executive Offices, P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313.

SUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE ADDRESS Contact your county Farm Bureau office. TH&F is included in your $25 Farm Bureau annual dues; no other purchase necessary.

ADVERTISING POLICY For advertising information, contact Robin Robertson, (800) 333-8842, ext. 227, or by e-mail at rrobertson@jnlcom.com.

All advertising accepted is subject to publisher’s approval. Advertisers must assume all liability for their advertising content. Publisher and sponsor maintain the right to cancel advertising for nonpayment or reader complaint about service or product. Publisher does not accept political or alcoholic beverage ads, nor does publisher prescreen or guarantee advertiser service or products. Publisher assumes no liability for products or services advertised in Tennessee Home & Farm.

Please recycle this magazine

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Table of Contents

Features 8 / Pretty as a Pitcher

Tennessee Pewter Co. sets up shop in Somerville

12 / Barn Again

FFA, Campbell’s help restore historic Old Hickory farm

16 / Home Plates

The Rustic Barn offers Southern cooking in an unusual atmosphere

20 /Their Wildest Dream

Cross Plains couple coordinates wild horse and burro adoptions

24 / Eggs-quisite!

Delectable dishes bring the egg out of its shell

8 12 38

Departments 5 / Read All About It

Privacy missing at the doctor’s office

6 / Short Rows

Earth Day hits the big 4-0

28 /Country Classics

Butter Brickle Bread takes the cake

29 /Restaurant Review

The perks of Cup A Doodle Brew

30 /Gardening

Get garden pests to bug off

33 /Farmside Chat Meet Catherine Via

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35 /To Good Health

A message to young invincibles

36 /Farm Bureau Almanac

Member benefits, programs and more

38 /See Tennessee

Win a trip to Sumner County!

42/ Events & Festivals

Things to do, places to see

48 /View From the Back Porch When did rabbits start laying eggs?

ON THE COVER Photo by Antony Boshier Pewter pitcher made by Tennessee Pewter Co. tnhomeandfarm.com

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From Our Readers Tenne sse e

FOOD & RECIPES

online TRAVEL

HOME & GARDEN

TENNESSEE LIVING

tnhomeandfarm.com > SEE TENNESSEE

Sumner County Sparkle Enter to win a trip to Sumner County! Go online to fill out our entry form.

Food & Recipes

Home & Garden

Visit our recipe section to find recipes that are perfect for feeding a crowd, such as Oven-Baked Mini Reubens.

Learn about how to save water in the

Travel

Tennessee Living

Read about the man who opens his castle to visitors throughout the state during the annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival in Triune each May.

Find out why our writer Julie Vaughn

Only Online

garden in Dr. Sue’s article called “Beyond Hoses and Sprinklers.”

thinks brides-to-be should reference The Old Farmer’s Almanac before setting a wedding date.

Watch videos, find recipes, enter contests and more.

Carr’s Ranch In our video gallery, a Cross Plains couple discusses why they’re dedicated to helping wild horses and burros find owners. See the video of the Carr’s Ranch adoption center at www.bit.ly/carrsranch.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tnhomeandfarm Become a fan of us on Facebook at facebook.com/tnhomeandfarm

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

Finding Fans I was doing my laundry in the local laundromat and saw your magazine on the rack. I picked it up and started reading it while the clothes were washing, and I absolutely loved it. I came home and surfed the site and even love it much more because of the videos and recipes and stories you have there. I have lived in Tennessee all my life … it sure is nice to see a Web site and magazine dedicated to our great state of Tennessee. Hope you don’t mind, but I already posted a link to your site on my Facebook page.

Love the pictures, recipes, videos, home and garden – just all of it. I will for sure be posting links from your site to my Facebook profile and visiting you often. Thank you so much for all you offer to read and view!

Larry Jones Spring Hill Editor’s note: Of course we don’t mind you posting links to our site on your Facebook page – in fact, we’ve joined the social networking site, too! Becoming a fan of Tennessee Home & Farm at facebook.com/tnhomeandfarm makes it even easier to share story ideas, recipe tweaks, photos and more!

Correction In our Winter 2010 recipe for biscotti, the measurement for salt was left out of the ingredients list. The recipe calls for ¼ teaspoon salt, and we thank all the readers who let us know about the missing salt!

We’ve updated the recipe, along with some other clarifications, online at www.bit.ly/biscottirecipe. Have you already tackled this recipe? Do you have modifications to suggest?

Let us know in the comments section.

Questions, comments and story ideas can be sent to: Jessy Yancey, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or e-mail us at thaf@jnlcom.com. tnfarmbureau.org

Read All About It

Privacy Please DOCTORS’ OFFICES COULD USE A LITTLE MORE DISCRETION ver the last few weeks, I must have read the words from the 1974 Privacy Act several hundred times, thanks to a bad back and several trips to doctors’ offices.

It seems for every visit I make, there are more forms to fill out and the “opportunity” to keep my privacy to myself. Over my recent visits alone, an entire renewable forest must have been cut down somewhere to create the paper to make the reams of forms just so my records may be secure.

It is a good thing our paperwork is being kept private, because after you turn in that clipboard to the receptionist with the Bic ink pen that every sick person in the world has handled and rubbed on their nose, privacy along with modesty seems to disappear.

Thanks to our federal government, sheets of paper listing our age are kept out of view, but human bodies, which one only has to glance at to remove any doubt about one’s age, are open season in a doctor’s office.

As I said, I am having some problems with my lower back and made a visit to a specialist to check out the problem. After completing all the forms and developing writer’s cramp – which I did not have before I got there – I was taken to another waiting room outside the X-ray area, where several people were sitting, waiting their turns and completing more forms.

I was called into the X-ray room, but after careful examination of what I was wearing, it was determined that I needed to be wearing shorts. Of course, this was mid-winter, and I normally don’t wear shorts that time of the year. To tell the truth, I don’t wear shorts much anytime of the year. I seem to look my best wearing as many clothes as possible when out in public.

They took me to another room, gave me a

O

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pair of paper shorts to put on and told me to come back when I had changed. I gave the shorts the once over and began putting them on as I was told. They were made out of blue paper and could have been used for a parachute if I had decided to jump from a high altitude. Now I was wearing large, bright blue paper shorts pulled up to my chest, a longsleeve dress shirt, black socks and brown lace-up shoes. A more pitiful site you could not imagine, and I now had to leave the safety of the dressing room to walk through a crowd of people to get back to the X-ray room.

Pretending everyone out there was blind, I proceeded to X-ray. I made it there without too much laughter and had the X-rays made.

Hoping that I could now change my clothes, I moved to the door but was told that the shorts needed to be left on. They escorted me back through the people waiting outside and down a long hall to an examining room to meet with the doctor.

Finally, the doctor came in to check me out.

After looking at my back, he decided he wanted to see me walk. He opened the door and told me to go down the hall and come back when he said, “Turn around.” Of course, down the hall meant back through the X-ray waiting room and past a large group of picture windows overlooking the parking lot and highway.

After performing my “runway parade” like a beauty pageant contestant, he called me back to the room and allowed me to get dressed. I trashed the blue shorts and got out of there.

I have reached the age where privacy and pride are only a memory when it comes to going to the doctor, but I know my paperwork is safely out of sight. I wonder if the Privacy Act of 1974 covers paper shorts?

About the Author Pettus L. Read is editor of the Tennessee Farm Bureau News and director of communications for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

Read More About It Read has collected his favorite columns into a book titled Read All About It. Part of the proceeds of the book sales go to Tennessee 4-H and Tennessee FFA programs. Go online to tnhomeandfarm.com for ordering information.

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Short Rows

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Ronnie Phipps

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1/ Toffee Break

2 / Power to the Planet

3 / Thyme for Gardening

Nashville Toffee Co. owner Christina McCoy Cohn developed a passion for baking at young age; the Nashville native grew up close to her grandmother and great-grandmother, enjoying their baked goods and learning their recipes.

Now, she uses those same recipes to create sticky confections for her customers. Each candy is made by hand in small batches, with only the best all-natural ingredients.

Open since 2003, the Nashville Toffee Co. offers almond toffee, chocolate bark and chocolate lover’s packages. Almond toffee crumbles made from chocolate, almonds and toffee left over after the candy is made also are available.

For more info or to place an order, call (615) 232-2410 or go online to www.nashvilletoffeecompany.com.

Earth Day could be considered over the hill this year – the holiday hits the big 4-0. Celebrate on April 22 by taking part in local activities and making a difference in your community.

The Nashville Earth Day Festival at Centennial Park is a great opportunity to get involved and have some fun. The event on Saturday, April 17, 2010, offers family-friendly booths, live entertainment and hands-on activities. Admission is free of charge.

Also honoring the holiday on April 17 is EarthFest at Pellissippi State in Knoxville, which is also free to the public.

The waste-free event features educational activities, exhibits and live music.

Visit www.nashvilleearthday.org or www.knox-earthfest.org to learn more.

Fresh herbs are convenient for cooking and also easy for even the novice of gardeners. But with so many varieties, how does one go about choosing what to plant – and when?

As annuals, basil, dill and coriander bloom just once and are best planted in the spring when the chance of frost has passed. Biennials, such as parsley and caraway, live for two seasons but only bloom during the second season, so plant them in the fall for them to flourish the following spring. Perennials, on the other hand, bloom each season once established and include chives, mint, tarragon and thyme.

Frequent cuttings are required with most herbs to keep the plants fresh and enhance growth. For recipe ideas

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TN FARM FRESH that call for fresh herbs, such as Fresh Fruit With Honey-Lime-Mint Dressing or Mashed Potatoes With Fresh Basil, visit the Recipe section at tnhomeandfarm.com.

4 / Start Snapping!

It’s that time of year again – the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation’s annual photo contest kicks off in this issue! We had such an outpouring of entries with last year’s new categories that we decided to continue with three brand-new categories to inspire our readers to get behind the lens.

For the 15th annual contest, the categories are Tennessee Barns, Rural Living and Childhood Memories.

As always, category winners each receive $100, and the grand-prize winner receives $200.

Tennessee Farm Bureau members can enter one photo in each of the three categories online at tnhomeandfarm.com or through our print entry form on page 47, which also has the official rules. Entries will be accepted through Aug. 1.

5/ Tennessee Tales Where can you see an early 19th-century letter from Aaron Burr to Andrew Jackson alongside a photo taken at the 1920 Tennessee State Fair?

Both are a part of Volunteer Voices, a new online library filled with images and information spanning generations of Tennesseans. The searchable digital collection is targeted as a resource for students from kindergarten through college, but anyone interested in genealogy and the history of their county can benefit from the accumulated content.

More than 100 institutes, including universities, historical societies and traditional libraries, helped compile the collection, which features upwards of 10,000 photos and documents.

The virtual library is located at on the Web at www.volunteervoices.org. tnhomeandfarm.com

Business Is Blooming Backyard vegetable gardens have become more plentiful, but not everyone has the time or means to grow their dinner straight from seeds.

That’s where Myers Greenhouse comes in.

The Bulls Gap farm can help just about anyone start a bountiful garden, from commercial farmers whose personal gardens are a mere afterthought to city dwellers just learning the difference between trowels and cultivators.

The Myers’ operation got its start as a dairy farm three generations ago but has expanded to a popular seller of vegetable plants and flowers in the spring, as well as an agritourism destination come fall. Vera Ann, who runs the enterprise with her husband, Eldon, says after they got their first greenhouse in 1990, “it expanded as we expanded.”

“When we started, I was still teaching school, and the greenhouse was just going to be an alternate for my husband to fall back on,” she says.

“It has now become my full-time job.”

Flowers were the first forte for the Myers, who are regionally renowned for their geraniums, though they also grow marigolds, scarlet sage, hanging baskets and a variety of other floral offerings. One greenhouse quickly expanded to two, and, eventually, the vegetable segment of the Myers’ business proved to be just as profitable as the flowers. “Last spring, we exceeded all expectations,” Vera Ann says. “We had the niche market for the economic downslide.”

But a lot of hard work goes into growing a business. Each February, the Myers start from scratch all sorts of fruit and vegetable plants, including tomatoes, peppers, okra, squash and melons. By the time their greenhouses open to the public in mid-April, the plants are ready to be transplanted into the soil in backyard gardens throughout the state.

At this family farm, the Myers’ 13-year-old son has also become quite the entrepreneur. Ethan’s Farm Stand has been around for several years and sells heirloom hen-and-chickens plants and other flowers and vegetables.

“He has his own clientele,” Vera Ann says.

To find more information about any of the Myers farm operations, call (423) 235-4796 or visit www.myerspumpkinpatch.com.

SEE MORE ONLINE

Tennessee Farm Fresh helps farmers market directly to consumers. Visit www.tnfarmfresh.com to learn about the program and other local products.

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Home & Garden

Prettyas a

Pitcher TENNESSEE PEWTER CO. HANDCRAFTS JEWELRY, DISHES, GIFTS AND DÉCOR IN SOMERVILLE

STORY BY LAURA HILL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Y

ou never know when – and where – you might find your calling in life.

Kathleen Armour Walker’s came to light, unexpectedly, in 2007, in a small West Tennessee town. Today, her passion has made her a leader in an unusual business rarely undertaken by women.

Walker is the owner, design whiz and driving force behind the Tennessee Pewter Co., one of the only manufacturers of handcrafted pewter in the Southeast and the only female pewterer in the region.

She and a small staff spin, pour, engrave and buff dozens of household articles, tableware, personal accessories and art objects from pewter, sending their coveted wares to clients around the country. But, if you’re envisioning those dull, gray metal plates and cups tucked in your grandma’s breakfront,

think again. While pewter has been around for centuries, Tennessee Pewter Co. has a whole new take on this ancient art form.

“It is definitely not the Colonial look,” Walker says of the pitchers, bowls, spoons, vases and jewelry from her shop. “It’s modern – a totally different look. I want people, when they take our things home, to really use them.”

Walker came by her interest in pewter before her marriage to Dan Hamilton a few years back. Hamilton had long been a fan of TPC’s products, so when it came time to shop for wedding party gifts, pewter bowls from the company, at that time in Grand Junction, Tenn., seemed ideal. Shortly after that, Hamilton gave Walker a pair of pewter candlesticks for an anniversary gift. She was hooked.

In 2008, the couple learned that TPC was

If You Go...

Tennessee Pewter Co. is located at 16030 Highway 64 in Somerville, about 50 miles east of Memphis.

Call the pewter shop at (901) 465-2609 or e-mail the owner at info@tnpewter.com for hours of operation before driving long distances.

Learn more about the pewter company at www.tnpewter.com.

Kathleen Armour Walker, bottom left, is the only female pewterer in the Southeast. tnhomeandfarm.com

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for sale, and after some thought decided to buy it, even though neither one knew the first thing about how to make or market pewter.

“I wanted a career where I could live in a rural area and still be successful at what I did,” says Walker, who has an undergraduate degree from Delta State University and a master’s from Mississippi State University. “When we found out the pewter company was for sale, it was one of those ‘aha’ moments.

I knew I could live in a small town and make a successful living.”

An eager and determined learner who believes “you can learn to do anything you set your mind to,” she studied pewter production with several other artisans, including former owner Byron Black, who stayed with the company through 2008.

The couple lives with their two “furry children,” Golden Pyrenees dogs, in a vintage Craftsman home they restored themselves. Having tackled one huge task, they decided to face another, moving the shop from the Grand Junction building where it had been for 35 years, to Somerville, closer to their Brownsville home.

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Tennessee Pewter’s new home opened in November 2009, bringing a clean, green business to town, Walker says. “We use scraps from the spun pewter to cast pewter,” she says, “so there’s no waste in the manufacturing process at all. It’s non-polluting, nothing goes into the air or anything like that. We only generate about one bag of trash a week, mostly paper, and we don’t even have a dumpster.”

An alloy of tin (92 percent), antimony (6 percent) and copper (2 percent), pewter has been in use since at least the days of the Roman Empire and grew increasingly popular over time as a replacement for utensils and cups made of pottery or wood. England, in particular, had expert pewter craftsmen, many of whom made the voyage to America.

Historically, pewter alloys often contained lead, a potential health hazard, and was a softer metal that dented and wore easily. The modern alloy made for a more durable, attractive metal, but the invention of electroplating in the late 19th century meant silver-plated items surpassed pewter in commercial sales.

Today, pewter is enjoying a rebirth in popularity, says Walker, part of a larger interest in handmade, nondisposable goods in a society growing tired of throw-away gifts and possessions. “My personal thought is that so much today is imported,” Walker says. “People are tired of imported gifts they might use for a year or two. Pewter will pass down through generations – and there are not many things available that you will keep forever.”

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Walker’s shop produces pewter items two ways: spinning and casting. In spinning, which is how most of their products are made, raw pewter in the form of a disc or tube is mounted on a lathe and rotated at high speeds while it is shaped with special metal tools to produce a desired design, such as a pitcher.

Cast pewter is melted metal poured into specially designed rubber molds, yielding a nearly endless variety of shapes, sizes and designs, ranging

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from custom-designed key chain fobs to Christmas ornaments and jewelry.

Walker herself designs Tennessee Pewter’s rubber molds and is an accomplished caster. Her husband also works in the business when he’s not commuting to his job as a CPA in Memphis. And Walker’s father, Jim Armour, a computer programmer, has become the company’s expert spinner.

Walker is proud to have brought a feminine perspective to a business traditionally run by men. “I wanted

to make it a warm and fuzzy company, a pleasant shopping experience,” she says. “When you buy a high-end product, you want to buy it in some place nice. I immediately instituted a bridal registry and a baby registry, and I also immediately started gift wrapping. The biggest change, though, is that customers tell me what they want, and I listen. When you help people and design something they will have for generations, that’s a wonderful feeling.”

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Tennessee Living

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Tennessee Living

Barn Again FFA, CAMPBELL’S HELP RESTORE HISTORIC OLD HICKORY FARM

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

W

ith long blonde hair and a slow Southern drawl, 52-year-old Karen Guy is not your typical cattle farmer. Then again, her 178-acre Davidson County farm isn’t exactly your typical cattle farm.

Located just outside Nashville along Old Hickory Lake, Hunter’s Hill Farm is a country paradise tucked away in an urban area once owned by Andrew Jackson before he became president. Guy is a descendent of Jackson’s wife, Rachel.

“They would have been my fifth-greatgrandparents,” says Guy, whose great-grandfather was raised by Little Rachel, the Jacksons’ granddaughter. “They lived on this land from 1797 until 1804, but their original home burned. When they left this property, they moved to The Hermitage.”

A single mother of one, Guy spends her time farming the land that’s been in her family for ages. Any given day, you might find her tending to the beef cattle, rolling hay, riding her horse or weeding her flower garden.

Guy, a member of the Davidson County Farm Bureau board of directors, has been working on the farm since her college years, when she regularly helped her great-uncle and great-aunt, Aubrey and Louise Maxwell,

Mt. Juliet FFA members Laine Griffin, left, and Raymond Handley, right, helped restore the Old Hickory barn owned by Karen Guy, center. tnhomeandfarm.com

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Tennessee Living

SEE VIDEO

ONLINE

Watch FFA members hard at work on Guy’s barn in the video section of tnhomeandfarm.com.

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who previously owned the property. The childless couple left it to her when they died.

“I love this land, and I couldn’t bear to see it developed. This area is developing so fast,” she says. “And this is such a beautiful old farm.”

For years, Guy was losing sleep over what would become of her beloved farm once she’s gone, but now she’s resting easily. In 2007, she placed the property into a conservation easement with the Land Trust for Tennessee, a legally binding agreement attached to the deed that requires the land stay green and undeveloped forever.

“Neither my daughter or my nephews have interest in farming, so this was a perfect way for me to protect this land,” Guy says.

In 2009, Hunter’s Hill Farm’s unique history caught the eye of Lucy Whitehead and the National FFA Alumni Association, who, along with the Campbell’s Soup Co., are working to restore old barns across the United States.

“Campbell’s Soup has an initiative of educating people about where their food comes from – they’re trying to get rid of the stigma that food comes from a store and soup comes from a can,” says Whitehead, program manager for the National FFA Alumni Association. “FFA is also about educating people about agriculture, so we came together as two organizations with a similar goal. Reviving barns across the nation is one way we can give back to the people who grow our food, and the project provides a service opportunity for our students.”

When FFA contacted the Tennessee Agricultural Museum looking for a barn of historical significance to restore in Tennessee, a centuries-old barn at Hunter’s Hill Farm fit the bill.

“We were interested in the Land Trust aspect of the farm and Karen Guy’s amazing story,” Whitehead says.

Guy was shocked to receive a call from FFA offering to restore her barn at no cost to her. The project is funded completely by Campbell’s. “I was very pleased,” Guy says, still in disbelief.

Roughly 60 volunteers made their way to the farm in March 2009 for three workdays that transformed the barn into a whole new structure. The work crew consisted of students belonging to FFA chapters in

Gallatin, Mt. Juliet and Portland, as well as a chapter from Illinois, about 15 FFA alumni and several volunteers.

Mother Nature didn’t exactly cooperate, but not even rain and sleet could dampen the volunteer spirit in the air.

“We had the worst weather, and there was mud up to your knees, but I didn’t hear any whining from the kids,” Guy recalls. “They got in there and just amazed me.”

Volunteers replaced the barn’s rotted boards, stabilized support beams, rebuilt doors and put on fresh coats of paint. Guy’s barn was one of five barns restored by FFA and Campbell’s during the project’s first year, and five additional barns will be selected for restoration again this year.

Though not familiar with FFA before the barn restoration, Guy is now proud to be a lifetime member of the organization.

“She was so impressed with FFA that she turned in her application for membership immediately,” Whitehead says. “FFA members are always willing to step up and take the lead, and they really take ownership of projects like these.”

Since then, Guy has struck up a friendship with the Portland FFA chapter, and several of its members have come back to her farm to do additional work on the barn. She also plans to hire some of the students to help with farm work in the future.

“I was so in awe of their hard work and their great attitude,” she says. In the end, the students restored more than just the barn.

“They restored my faith in future generations,” Guy says. “I was very moved.”

And grandfather Andrew Jackson’s old barn, with its classic Americana red and white paint, is a daily reminder of that faith.

“It’s so pretty now,” Guy says. “It looks like a picture-book barn.”

Souped-Up Old Barns To learn more about the Old Hickory barn project, Campbell’s other barn restorations and additional FFA Alumni volunteer activities, check out these Web sites. www.ffa.org/alumni www.helpgrowyoursoup.com www.landtrusttn.org

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Clockwise from top: Four FFA chapters came together to refurbish an old barn at Hunter’s Hill Farm; owner Karen Guy, pictured with her Walking Horse named Traveler, says her experience with FFA members restored her faith in future generations; Guy’s great-uncle, Aubrey O’Dell Maxwell, stands outside the barn in a 1937 family photograph.

Photo Courtesy of Karen Guy

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Food

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

tnfarmbureau.org

H me Plates THE RUSTIC BARN OFFERS SOUTHERN COOKING IN AN UNUSUAL ATMOSPHERE

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

A

hearty, home-cooked meal is the last thing you’d expect to find in an old tobacco barn. That is, unless it happens to be The Rustic Barn in rural Blount County.

Established by husband-and-wife team Tom and Barbara Hatmaker, The Rustic Barn is a 70-year-old structure the couple converted into a restaurant that specializes in down-home Southern cooking.

“People don’t come all the way out here to eat a hamburger,” says Barbara, a seasoned cook who prepares all the food. “They come for chicken and dumplings, real mashed potatoes, pinto beans, meatloaf and Southern fried chicken. We make it all ourselves – our gravies and soups are handmade, and so are our desserts. I make chocolate pie, lemon pie, coconut cream pie, German chocolate cake, pumpkin pie ... whatever I feel like making on any particular day.”

For Hatmaker and the many hungry

Rustic Road Trip Feel like taking a drive to enjoy the scenic mountains and some down-home cooking? The Rustic Barn is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The barn is located at 2828 Ellejoy Road in Walland. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more at (865) 379-4276.

Barbara Hatmaker owns The Rustic Barn in the East Tennessee community of Walland. tnhomeandfarm.com

Home&Farm

17

Food

The Rustic Barn serves seasonal, home-cooked food such as meatloaf with green beans, fresh yellow tomatoes, cornbread, watermelon and sweet tea.

patrons who pass through the restaurant’s doors, The Rustic Barn is a little piece of heaven. It sits on three acres – part of Hatmaker’s farm – and is surrounded by flower gardens and goldfish ponds. Murals of mountain scenes decorate the walls, the handiwork of the restaurant’s one employee, 83-year-old Ruth Sunday.

“It’s just a cute little old place, and there’s an awesome view of the mountains,” Hatmaker says. “There’s nothing quite like it. It’s its own beautiful little paradise out in the middle of nowhere.”

When the Hatmakers started the business eight years ago, however, they were far from living in paradise. “My husband had lost his job and was diagnosed with cancer, and we had just bought this farm,” Hatmaker says. “Cancer turns your world upside down, and fixing up this barn was good therapy. It gave us something to concentrate on other than the seemingly bad things around us.”

Over the years, her husband, Tom, helped to transform the old tobacco barn into a restaurant and saw their dream of opening The Rustic Barn come to fruition – and become established and well loved by locals and tourists alike – before he passed away in September 2009.

The eatery has continued to grow in popularity, despite of – or thanks to – its off-the-beaten-path location.

“We’re out here in the middle of nowhere, 10 miles from Maryville. There’s no Walmart, only churches,” Hatmaker says. “But it’s been amazing – people find us from all over the world and as far as Belgium. We’ve served rich people, poor people, ex-governors, football tnhomeandfarm.com

players and everyday people.”

The Rustic Barn serves food family-style, with a choice of three meats and five side dishes daily. Favorite sides are garlic cheese potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole and Hatmaker’s cornbread salad.

“People tell me I need to do a recipe book, but I can’t because I never measure,” she says. “I just do a pinch of this or that.”

The atmosphere inside The Rustic Barn is warm and friendly. “We play gospel music all the time, and people can sing if they want to,” Hatmaker says with a laugh.

“I tell people, this is a barn. You can speak loudly if you want – just don’t be throwing food back and forth.”

Hatmaker is building another dining room that will be connected to the barn by a covered breezeway so they can accommodate large groups and weddings. When complete, the dining room will bring The Rustic Barn’s capacity to a total of 80, plus outdoor seating in the summertime.

“We’ll have swings and gliders on the porch,” Hatmaker says, “and plan to put a craft and antique shop in the upstairs of the new dining room.” She says she’s not sure when it will be done but adds that she hopes the addition is completed by the end of 2010.

Hatmaker admits the restaurant has been an overwhelming amount of work, but it’s work that she enjoys.

“It’s been an awesome journey that has increased my faith and trust in God,” she says. “I enjoy serving people and making them laugh. I thank God for this barn every day. It’s a labor of love.”

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19

Travel

Their Wildest

DREAM COUPLE HELPS WILD HORSES AND BURROS FIND NEW HOMES

STORY BY LESLIE LACHANCE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

W Adopt an Animal Find Carr’s Wild Horse and Burro Center at 4844 Couts-Carr Road in Cross Plains or on the Web at www.carrranch.com.

Call Paula and Randall at (615) 654-2180 to find out more about upcoming adoption events.

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

hen most people adopt animals, they go to a local shelter to pick out a cuddly dog or cat. But folks who find their way down to Paula and Randall Carr’s ranch are apt to return home with something a bit larger.

For more than 30 years, the couple has operated Carr’s Wild Horse and Burro Center, partnering with both the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to facilitate the adoption of wild horses and burros relocated from out West. Over the years, the Carrs have placed more than 20,000 animals, and with numbers that high, it’s no wonder their work earned them a place in the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Carrs hold annual equine adoption events at their northern Middle Tennessee ranch and manage adoptions at satellite sites throughout the Southeast and Midwest.

The biggest event is held each fall when the FWS brings about 200 animals to the Carrs’ ranch from a Nevada wildlife refuge with an overabundance of wild horses and burros.

In addition, every month the Carrs and their wranglers haul and set up corral panels, chutes and water troughs at satellite locations where they help the BLM sort, halter, handle and place another 150-200 wild equines.

Moving the animals from the West to homes in the East helps prevent overpopulation in areas where resources can get scarce.

All sorts of people, from mom-and-pop homesteaders to musicians Bill Monroe and members of The Oak Ridge Boys, and even famed fashion designer Oleg Cassini, have adopted through the Carrs.

What sort of adoption appeal do these wild equines have? “People feel they’re getting a little piece of the Old West,” Paula says. “And you are really getting a pure animal to train just the way you want.”

American wild horses, also known as mustangs, are crossbred animals descended from horses brought to North America by Spaniards in the 15th century, as well as from domesticated horses brought to the West by settlers in the 1800s. The horses that escaped or were abandoned became feral and still breed prolifically in Western states.

Paula finds the hardy little burros particularly appealing and believes they are tnfarmbureau.org

SEE VIDEO ONLINE

Hear Paula and Randall talk about their horse and burro adoption center in a video at www.bit.ly/carrsranch.

a bit smarter than horses. Clients new to equine adoption and training often prefer them because, she says, “they don’t feel so intimidated with the smaller burro as compared to the bigger horse.” These small donkeys, natives of Africa, were also introduced to North America by the Spaniards, who used them as pack animals. They are comically long-eared, bristly and sure-footed.

Adoptions aren’t the only events on the Carrs’ busy calendar. As chairwoman of the Robertson County Farm Bureau Women, Paula works to educate the public, from adults to schoolchildren, about farm life.

In 2007, Farm Bureau Women named her the top Farm Bureau Woman in Tennessee.

Paula also serves as board of directors president of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, which sponsors Extreme Mustang Makeover events held all over the country. The events match 100 trainers with 100 mustangs and gives them 100 days to train the horses and prepare for a showcase competition and adoption event. “It’s amazing to see how much people learn about the animals and how close they get to them,” Paula says. “You might even see a big old cowboy cry when he sees the horse he trained get adopted.” tnhomeandfarm.com

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Save $10 off your race ticket and also receive an All Access pass when you mention your membership with the Tennessee Farm Bureau* Call 1-866-RACE-TIX R ACE DATES

Save 10% 800.RENT.A.CAR Corporate ID#56MFARM Pin# TEN www.enterprise.com

*Prices will reflect your member-only discount.

Posted Internet rates and 1-800 rates may differ.

Save 20% when you call (800) 258-2847 or go to www.choicehotels.com and provide corporate ID# 00800606.

*Advance reservations required, discount only honored through Web site and number listed. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

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Tennessee Farm Bureau Where Membership Means …

Exclusive Farm Bureau Member Savings Did you know that your membership with the Tennessee Farm Bureau offers you exclusive savings with each of the products and services listed here Activate a new line of service with American Cellular to receive your one time credit of $25 on your monthly bill s 4HIS OFFER IS IN ADDITION TO ANY current in-store promotions FREE security system

$850 savings Plus homeowners insurance savings and

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at no additional charge?

It is our goal to save our members more than the cost of their annual membership by taking advantage of just one of these special discounts.

Farm Bureau values your membership and hopes these benefits will prove to be of value to you!

Looking for information on these benefits? *36-month monitoring agreement required at $31.99 per month ($1,151.64). $99 customer installation charge.

Form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account. Offer applies to homeowners only. Local permit fees may apply. Certain restrictions may apply. Offer valid for new customers only.

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*Offer applies to new activations only. $10 credit on upgrades. See store for details.

Toll-Free: (877) 363-9100 Visit us online at www.tnfarmbureau.org/ valueplus

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

tnfarmbureau.org

Food

Eggs-quisite!

NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST, DELECTABLE DISHES BRING THE EGG OUT OF ITS SHELL

STORY BY CAROL COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO FOOD ST YLING BY KRISTEN WINSTON CATERING

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frequent star of the breakfast table, eggs also appear in appetizers, salads, entrées and desserts. Not only that, but this versatile food plays a supporting role in cooking and baking functions such as thickening, foaming, emulsifying and browning.

And its list of egg-colades goes on.

Nature’s neat little package is nutritionally complete, delivering high-quality protein, carbohydrates, fats and micronutrients in perfect proportion. Studies show that eating eggs boosts brain health, promotes strength, reduces inflammation and helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Perhaps the best news of all comes from a 2008 study that showed overweight dieters who ate two eggs for breakfast lost about twice as much weight and felt more energetic than those who ate a bagel of tnhomeandfarm.com

equal calories for breakfast.

And at an average cost of 15 cents apiece, eggs are an unbeatable value – as well as an important player among the nation’s agricultural commodities.

According to the USDA Census, U.S. egg production totaled 7.67 billion during January 2009 alone – that’s more than 600 million dozen eggs.

In fact, Tennessee produced a whopping 351 million eggs (or around 30 million dozens) in 2008, valued at around $42.8 million. Eggs rank 11th on the list of the state’s leading commodities.

So support a local farmer by heading to your nearest farmers market or grocery store to pick up some fresh eggs, and get cracking on the egg-cellent recipes we’ve gathered for huevos rancheros, egg salad sandwiches, meringues with fresh berries, and a unique twist on deviled eggs.

TN FARM FRESH By the Dozen Englewood-based Tennessee Valley Eggs sells its all-natural, cage-free brown eggs at restaurants and grocery stores in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas, including Earth Fare, Fresh Market, Greenlife Grocery and Piggly Wiggly, as well as United Grocery Outlets in five states. Contact the farm at (423) 263-3445 or jjjcows@peoplepc.com.

Find other farmers selling fresh eggs in your part of the state at www.tnfarmfresh.com.

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Food

Huevos Rancheros

Best Ever Egg Salad

2

tablespoons olive oil

6

3

cloves garlic, minced

large hardboiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped

½ cup spicy salsa

3

tablespoons celery, finely chopped

1

14.5-ounce can black beans

1

tablespoon red onion, finely chopped

1

red bell pepper, diced

1

tablespoon parsley, chopped

1

teaspoon ground cumin

2

tablespoons pimento-stuffed green olives, chopped (optional)

13

/

cup mayonnaise

1

tablespoon Dijon mustard

¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped green onions 6

eggs

6

corn tortillas, warmed

1

avocado, sliced Fresh cilantro, chopped

Sauté garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Add salsa, beans, red pepper, cumin and salt. Simmer until thickened, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in green onions.

Meanwhile, fry eggs sunny side up in a large skillet. Season with salt and pepper.

Place one warm tortilla on each plate. Top each tortilla with a spoonful of beans, fried egg, salsa, avocado slices and chopped cilantro.

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Combine chopped eggs, celery, onion, parsley and olives in a bowl. Mix in mayonnaise and mustard.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add bacon to your egg salad sandwich for a savory twist.

tnfarmbureau.org

Meringues

Cucumber-Dill Deviled Eggs

½ cup egg whites (about 4 large eggs)

8

eggs

1

4

tablespoons mayonnaise

teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

1½ teaspoons white vinegar

1

cup superfine sugar

¼ teaspoon dried dill

4

cups mixed berries

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1

cup heavy cream

¼ cup powdered sugar Have all ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line cookie sheets with plain parchment paper. Trace two 8- or 9-inch or three 7-inch circles on the parchment, leaving an inch between them, and turn parchment upside down so the tracing shows through but cannot transfer to the meringue.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Very gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed. Beat until the meringue holds very stiff peaks and has a glossy sheen. Shape meringue mixture into bowl-shaped mounds by placing dollops within the circles on the parchment and using the back of a spoon to make a well in the center.

Bake for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Meringues should have a hollow sound when tapped and feel firm to the touch. Turn off heat and leave meringues in the oven to cool for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

To assemble, rinse berries and pat dry. Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Place meringue on dessert plate. Top with berries and whipped cream. tnhomeandfarm.com

Pinch of cayenne pepper 18

/

cup English cucumbers, peeled, seeded and finely diced, plus 8 thin, unpeeled cucumber slices, halved

¼ teaspoon salt 18

/

teaspoon pepper

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat, cover and let sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. Run eggs under cold water and peel under running water.

Halve the hard-boiled eggs lengthwise and gently remove the yolks. Transfer 6 yolks to a medium-sized bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise, vinegar, dill, garlic powder and cayenne. Gently fold in the diced cucumber, and season with salt and pepper.

Arrange the egg halves on a platter and fill the cavities with the yolk mixture. Top each with a cucumber slice and serve.

If the season is right, you can also top the deviled eggs with fresh dill.

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Country Classics

Here’s a Breadwinner BUTTER BRICKLE BREAD IS SIMPLE TO MAKE AND TASTY, TOO he Tennessee Farm Bureau runs deep in Kathy Stockton Williams’ blood.

“My family became members when it first started in Fentress County,” Williams says. Her mother, the late Lela Stockton, canvassed the county looking for farmers to sign up for Farm Bureau insurance and was one of the “lady directors.” Her father, the late Harold Stockton, was Fentress County Farm Bureau president for many years, as was her late brother, Edwin. Her sister Elizabeth Smith’s recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread, published in the Tennessee Farm Bureau Women’s Country Classics II, was highlighted in this magazine, and now Williams’ recipe for Judith’s Butter Brickle Bread is the latest reminder of the Stockton heritage.

When the Farm Bureau Women spawned the idea of a cookbook, “My mother kept on to us until we submitted one or two recipes,” Williams says. “She probably submitted two or three.

She wanted Fentress County to be represented.”

Williams and her siblings grew up in a small community also named Stockton. Obviously, cooking was another family tradition,

although Williams doesn’t cook as much since she lost her husband, Joe, in 2000. Her sister still cooks up a storm, though. “I tell her, ‘When you got something cooked, call me,’” Williams says.

But Williams does make Judith’s Butter Brickle Bread about once a month. The recipe was named for an old high school friend who shared it with her. “I like the taste of it,” Williams says. “It’s so easy.”

In fact, easy does it is Williams’ motto when it comes to cooking for herself. She prefers vegetable meals, although when the occasion arises, she will cook hearty for family, which includes sons Joey, Jonathan and Jeffrey.

She also shares the bread at potlucks and church meals and gives it to shut-ins and friends at Christmas. People have requested it, she says. “So I do know that bread is very tasty.”

– Catherine Darnell

T Want More?

Each issue of Tennessee Home & Farm highlights a selected recipe from Country Classics Volume II. Copies of the cookbook are available for $17 each, including shipping and handling, from county Farm Bureau offices, or by calling the Tennessee Farm Bureau home office at (931) 388-7872, ext. 2217.

Judith’s Butter Brickle Bread 1

box yellow cake mix

1

small box instant vanilla pudding

4

large eggs

34

cup water

/

½ cup oil

Jeffrey S. Otto

½ teaspoon butter flavoring (or vanilla)

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

1

cup almond brickle chips (alternate: toffee chips)

1

cup pecans, toasted at 350 degrees for 5 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix and next five ingredients; beat at medium speed for 5 minutes. Stir in chips. Spray two medium loaf pans with cooking spray and sprinkle toasted pecans in pans. Pour batter evenly over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. tnfarmbureau.org

Restaurant Review

Photos by Jeff Adkins

Brewed Awakenings CUP A DOODLE BREW IS A CAFÉ TO CROW ABOUT up A Doodle Brew in Dover, Tenn., isn’t your typical Southern eatery.

You won’t find any country-fried steak smothered in gravy, and you certainly can’t order any big, greasy hamburgers. But you will find the most delicious Mandarin Chicken Salad, mouthwatering Garlic Herb Breast Chicken and a wide assortment of pastas offering a taste of Italy combined with the fresh, local flavor of Tennessee.

Petrina Compton, owner of the café, takes pride in her recipes. Nothing is fried, and the majority of ingredients come from local farms, Compton says. This restaurant adds variety to the small rural town with a population just shy of 2,000. In fact, Compton describes the 600 -square-foot restaurant as Dover’s best-kept secret.

“Coming to the restaurant is like going to your own home,” Compton says. It’s quaint, comfortable and friendly, she adds.

Cup A Doodle Brew started out as a coffee shop but quickly turned into a restaurant, though it hasn’t strayed from its original purpose, brewing up fresh teas, coffees and espressos – served hot or iced – and blending up batches of natural fruit smoothies. As for its evolving culinary creations, popular items include chef and Greek salads, as well as a

C

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different kind of quiche served every day of the week. Wintertime brings clam and corn chowders, and customers have a hard time passing up the cheesy lasagna with a madefrom-scratch sauce that takes three hours to prepare, Compton says.

She adds that some loyal customers will even call to request their favorite dishes. The menu often changes, but it also keeps getting better. “Everyone always finds something they like,” she says. “And the presentation of the food is gorgeous.”

Compton, a native of Italy, named the restaurant Cup A Doodle Brew not only because of the catchy ring to the title, but also because chicken symbolizes “welcome” in Italy. “It plays on what the rooster says in the morning,” Compton says. “What better to wake you up than a cup of coffee and a good meal?”

Welcoming guests and making customers feel comfortable is crucial to running a successful business, says Compton, adding that patrons from as far away as Chicago have enjoyed a meal at Cup A Doodle Brew.

“I always have time to sit down and talk to the customers,” she says. “The biggest thing is that we believe in customer service.

My customers are my family.”

– Brooke Rawlins

The Dish on Cup A Doodle Brew Throughout the year, our team searches the state for good food and friendly service. In each issue, we feature one of Tennessee’s top eateries, and in our opinion, the best dishes to try.

Cup A Doodle Brew is located at 620 Donelson Parkway in Dover, around 35 miles west of Clarksville. The café is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesdays through Saturdays from August to May. During June and July, its hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call the café at (931) 232-0011 or visit www.cupadoodlebrew. wetpaint.com.

Visit the Food section of tnhomeandfarm.com for more Tennessee restaurants worth visiting.

Home&Farm

29

Gardening

Bug Off!

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

tnfarmbureau.org

NATURAL REMEDIES PREVENT GARDEN PESTS

E

ach spring I look forward to growing bright, colorful flowers; big, juicy tomatoes; and a lush, green lawn. If you are like me, you want to keep your plants free of unwanted pests and diseases but don’t want to use toxic chemicals to do the trick.

By limiting the use of harsh chemicals in your own backyard, you can reduce the amount of poisons that can potentially end up in streams, soil, food chains, and on children’s hands and pets’ paws. Here are my techniques for minimizing the effects of garden pests and reducing the need for hazardous chemicals: Above all, choose disease- and insectresistant plants. These plants won’t require pesticides. One of the chief roles of the research in the University of Tennessee Gardens in Knoxville and Jackson is the identification of the best-performing insect and disease resistant plants. (Go online to http://utgardens.tennessee.edu and click on Annual Trials.) We’ve taken the guesswork out of selecting the best plants so you can purchase high-quality, proven-performance plants with confidence. Consider using native plants as well since they are typically more resistant to pests and are adapted to our region.

Before contemplating pest control, make sure you have a pest problem. Learn your enemies. Equally important, learn your natural allies and welcome these beneficial organisms such as ladybugs, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs and lacewings into your garden. Some of the best plants for attracting beneficial insects include sunflowers, daisies, parsley, mint, peony, foxglove, cosmos, dill and fennel. For assistance in diagnosing insect and disease problems, check out the UT Entomology and Plant Pathology Distance Diagnostic Web site.

Pest control begins with prevention. Learn the cultural requirements for the plants you tnhomeandfarm.com

want in your garden, and plant them in the ideal site. Plants in the wrong location will become stressed, weakening the plant and making it more susceptible to insects and diseases. Keep ahead of pests by building healthy garden soil, controlling weeds, providing just enough water, and making sure your plants have the nutrients and organic matter they need. Keeping your garden clean of weeds, old fruit, fallen diseased-leaves and failing plants goes a long way toward warding-off pests.

If prevention and proper plant selection fail, I recommend using a natural insecticide or fungicide. Every gardener should have neem oil in their arsenal, as it can repel and control many pests as well as fungal diseases such as leaf spots and powdery mildew. Horticultural oils also work well on controlling pests. Make sure you follow label directions when using these oils because they can easily burn plant foliage.

For safe slug control, try iron phosphate.

When applied as bait and eaten by slugs, this simple compound inhibits their ability to feed.

Insecticidal soaps are always a safe and pretty effective way to spray and kill insects.

A variety of different brands are on the market and readily available.

Baking soda and its close relative, potassium bicarbonate, have been known to be effective against powdery mildew.

The most effective formulations of these chemicals include oils and soaps that enhance their distribution on the foliage when sprayed. Commercial formulations are readily available.

Along with these simple, natural remedies, similar ones can be found in a variety of gardening books and Web sites. Two books in particular that impress me are The Truth About Organic Gardening: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Bottom Line and The Truth About Garden Remedies: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why, both by Jeff Gillman.

About the Author Dr. Sue Hamilton is an associate professor in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences and director of the UT Gardens. The gardens are a project of the University of Tennessee AgResearch program, with locations in Knoxville and Jackson: http://utgardens. tennessee.edu.

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When you buy from local farmers you: support local economy, enjoy a fresh product and keep local agriculture viable!

(931) 388-7872 ext. 2763 www.tnfarmfresh.com

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

tnfarmbureau.org

Farmside Chat

Meet Catherine Via FOURTH-GENERATION WEST TENNESSEE FARMER hen Catherine Via and her husband, Ross, began farming in the Bells community of Crockett County, they were pioneers in no-till farming technology.

Today, the Vias still use scientific practices on their 1,300-acre cotton, soybean, grain and hay farm with a cow/calf operation – along with a little tender loving care, according to Via. “We don’t want any part of our operation abused – the land, animals or resources available,” she says. “We treat them how we would our children or grandchildren.”

Via, who also serves as director of adult and continuing education for the Crockett County Board of Education and at-large director for the Tennessee Farm Bureau board, says the main issue to address today is educating the public about the importance of agriculture.

W

Q

How did you get involved with farming?

I was born in a log cabin on our small, 262-acre farm in Savannah, Tenn., where my family grew timber, cotton, corn, cattle and hogs. We still have that place, and it holds a real special place in my heart. When I married Ross, I transitioned from the hills of Hardin County to the flatlands of Crockett County.

Our daughter, Candi, is now involved in our operation, and the sixth generation already loves coming out and helping on the farm!

A

Q

Why do you share your farm knowledge with those not involved in the industry?

It’s important! In 1930, 65 percent of the population lived on a farm, in 1960 that went down to 35 percent and today only 2 percent live on a farm, yet we still manage to feed the world. Each farmer feeds around 149 people, and that’s awesome when you think about it. Here in the United States we only spend 10 percent of our annual income on food; other countries spend much more than

A

tnhomeandfarm.com

J. Kyle Keener

SEE MORE ONLINE

Read more about Catherine Via’s farm and her efforts to teach others about agriculture in an extended interview online at tnhomeandfarm.com.

that, up to 50 percent in some countries.

We have a lot to be grateful for in this country, and a lot of that is because of farmers.

I think it is very important to be proactive, not reactive. I’m on the board of trustees at Union University, and that has given me the opportunity to share some scientifically based farming practices with those in liberal arts who don’t understand crop or animal production – the real story of agriculture.

Q

What do you want readers to know about farming?

American agriculture is fundamentally necessary for the American economy, even the world economy. It’s viable, based on best practices and scientific principles in both crop and animal production, and the goal is simple: to feed the world safe, affordable, abundant food. Each farm and farm family is unique and different, but we all share the common bond of agriculture. When an individual voice can’t be heard, we need to gather together and speak as one voice for agriculture. Organizations like Farm Bureau can help educate, but we, the 2 percent, have to let the world know what we do, how and why we do it.

– Melissa Burniston

A

BY THE NUMBERS

8 Tennessee’s national rank among cottonproducing states

500 acres of cotton on the Vias’ West Tennessee farm during an average year

1,300 acreage of the Vias’ entire farm

5 generations of Vias who have worked on the farm in Bells

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avel eltr trav

SEE TENNESSEE

Win a Getaway to Sumner County!

S

Entry Form: Address:

Daytime phone number: (

State:

County of Farm Bureau membership:

Mail to: See Tennessee Giveaway c/o Tennessee Home & Farm 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400 Franklin, TN 37067

Home&Farm |Spring 2010

ZIP:

)

E-mail address:

34

NEIGHBORS

Enter online at tnhomeandfarm.com or complete the official entry form and mail. Must be received by May 9, 2010. One entry per household – open to Tennessee Farm Bureau members only.

Name:

City:

The Tennessee Farm Bureau and Tennessee Home & Farm want to send one lucky family to Sumner County. The prize package features a two-night stay in a beautiful cabin at Gallatin’s Bull Creek Resort, which overlooks Old Hickory Lake and offers a variety of amenities.

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Contest is open to all members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation age 18 or older. Entrants must use the official entry form printed in the magazine or submitted online at tnhomeandfarm.com. The winner will be selected by random drawing at Journal Communications, and all decisions are final. Winners are responsible for their own transportation to/from Sumner County.

Sponsors are not liable for any incidents (including injury/death or lost, stolen or damaged property) that may occur at any time during the trip.

Employees and immediate family members of Journal Communications Inc., Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the Sumner County sponsors, or their subsidiaries, affiliates or agencies are not eligible to enter.

tnfarmbureau.org

To Good Health

Young Invincibles THE RISKS OUTWEIGH THE COSTS OF BEING UNINSURED mart aleck that he is, he offered this gem under the guise of ‘just being your friend’: “Well, Anthony, you’re at that age now when things just aren’t always going to feel good all the time. Stuff’s going to go wrong with your body.”

Thank you very much, I told him while mentally scratching his name off my short list of best friends. But truth of the matter, he was right. I’m way past that point in my life when you hop out of bed every day and the farthest thought from your mind is how you feel. To be honest, I can barely remember those days when how the shoes looked was more important than how my feet felt after wearing them. And I can better understand now why Mother always told me to wear clean underwear, because you just didn’t know what might happen – you could end up in the hospital before the day’s out.

But at age 19 and even a decade later, clean underwear wasn’t at the top of the list. Sorry, Mom, but that hospital/emergency room threat just didn’t work for me at that young age. And obviously, it doesn’t work today for many of our nation’s “young invincibles,” those adults ages 19 to 29 who are the most likely of any age category to not have health insurance. In fact, most research indicates anywhere from 30-40 percent of all individuals in that age group are uninsured.

Those kinds of numbers mean that, during all the talk of health-care reform and insuring the uninsured, more than one-fourth of the total number of uninsureds in America is made up of 19- to 29-year-olds. Many have left home and are no longer covered on a family policy, and many are beginning their careers in

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low-wage or entry level-jobs where employerprovided coverage is not offered.

So we need a government plan to make them do the right thing, right? Because health-care coverage is just not available or affordable for them, right? Wrong.

Though there are exceptions, for most of these young invincibles, health-care coverage is more available and affordable than it is for anyone else. At TRH Health Plans, we have plans – with health, dental and vision benefits – for less than $100 a month for individuals in this age category.

It’s kind of like something I read a while back comparing health insurance for young adults to broccoli: “They know it’s good for them, but they just haven’t developed a taste for it yet.” It’s all about priorities. Young invincibles don’t think about getting sick. They don’t expect to have a major health concern any time soon – so they spend their disposable income on a motorcycle, on concert tickets, on a new or better vehicle.

And the result is a costly gamble when the young invincible, actually not so invincible as he or she thought before their car accident or sickness, ends up at the emergency room. Now he/she must try to get back on their feet while medical bills begin showing up in the mailbox along with the car note and cell phone bill. And it’s costly for the rest of us, too, who – through higher medical bills and, therefore, higher premiums – must subsidize much of the bill for the young invincible.

So, you young invincibles, do the rest of us a favor: Hop out of bed, put on clean underwear, and contact your local Farm Bureau office to talk about taking care of first things first.

About the Author Anthony Kimbrough is vice president of marketing and government relations for TRH Health Plans. His e-mail is akimbrough@trh.com.

For more information about TRH Health Plans, call (877) 874-8323 or visit www.trh.com.

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ß Farm Bureau almanac How does the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation work for you? By offering a variety of programs and services exclusively benefiting you, its members. Learn about even more Farm Bureau programs at www.tnfarmbureau.org.

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1. Tennessee Livestock Producers Tennessee Livestock Producers is the marketing affiliate of the Tennessee Farm Bureau and is recognized as its oldest service company. Started in 1932, their purpose was to establish a competitive bid for all livestock in the Nashville market, which in turn was used as a benchmark price throughout the state.

Today, Tennessee Livestock Producers is wholly owned by Farm Bureau and continues in its purpose to help maintain a competitive bid for livestock throughout the state. The locations and methods have changed but the purpose remains strong.

Inquiries? Call (931) 388-7872

ext. 2235 or visit www.tennessee livestockproducers.com.

2. New $1,000 Reward Sign

almanac

A new aluminum $1,000 reward sign is now available at your county office. The new metal sign replaces the vinyl signs that have been distributed for the last dozen years.

The property protection program, which was introduced in the 1960s, provides a reward to individuals providing information to law enforcement that leads to the arrest and conviction of theft, arson or vandalism on Farm Bureau members’ property.

3. Food for Thought Nourish your stomach and your soul with a trio of titles available from the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

Country Classics Volumes I and II feature some of the best recipes in the state from members of the Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, including many recipes featured in this magazine over the years (see page 28). When you’re ready for after-dinner reading, enjoy Tennessee Country, an impressive coffee-table book filled with stunning photography and moving essays. All three books are available through your local Farm Bureau office or by calling (931) 388-7872 ext. 2217.

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Water, Water Everywhere One of our family traditions is our annual trip to the beach. After a great week and a long drive home last summer, I was looking forward to hitting my recliner to get a little peace and quiet away from two boys fighting in the back seat for nine straight hours. As I entered my home, I was met by a stream of water running out the front door coming from the supply line that had popped off my ice maker.

After the initial shock and the mad dash to cut off the water, it became obvious that the damage was significant. The hardwood floors had swelled, water had wicked into the cabinets, the sheetrock was wet and the duct work had fallen down from the

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weight of the water. The mess was unbelievable. After several thousand dollars spent by Farm Bureau Insurance and a lot of headaches, our house is back in order. The mess is gone, but the loss of family photos and other irreplaceable family heirlooms remains.

Through this process I learned that homeowners are three times more likely to have a water claim than a fire claim. The most common areas causing water damage are the ice maker supply line on refrigerators, washing machine hoses, hot water heaters and dishwashers. To help alleviate this problem, components can be added to a traditional home

security system. Here’s how it works: An actuated valve is installed on the main water supply line coming into the home, and water sensors are installed next to the refrigerator, washing machine, hot water heater, and dishwasher.

If at any time water hits any one of the sensors, a signal is sent to the actuated valve, shutting off the water immediately. The homeowner then gets a call from the security monitoring center letting them know that a discharge of water has occurred and the water has been shut off. Once the water is cleaned up, a simple press of a button turns the water back on. It’s a simple and affordable concept for homeowners.

While next year’s ride home from vacation is almost certain to involve two boys fighting in the back seat, I can rest assured knowing that the installation of the water shield will protect my belongings from water damage, and the security system will protect my family from fire and burglary.

– Bryan Wright For more information, contact the Farm Bureau-endorsed provider of home security systems, PowerLink LLC, at (800) 598-9662.

See Tennessee

Sumner County Sparkle

GET AWAY TO WHERE THE FISH ARE JUMPING AND THE LIVING IS EASY

STORY BY CAROL COWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

l ave eltr trav

SEE TENNESSEE S

Win a Getaway!

Enter to win a trip to Sumner County online at tnhomeandfarm.com or in the print entry form on page 34, which also has the prize package details and official rules.

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ith its captivating historic sites, fun family activities, recreation opportunities, and exciting shopping and delectable dining, Sumner County is the place to come for a NEIGHBORS vacation that’s truly unforgettable.

1/ CLAIM-TO-FAME ATTRACTIONS One of the first things visitors to Sumner County notice is the sparkling water of Old Hickory Lake. The lake – and the trophy fish that swim in it – lures fishermen by the boatload. But fishermen aren’t the only ones reeling in the good times from this Middle Tennessee jewel. Old Hickory Lake spawns memorable moments from romantic moonlit cruises to camping with the kids.

Located just north of Nashville, this area also is home to some of country music’s brightest stars. You never know when you might run into Taylor Swift, Ricky Skaggs or one of the Oak Ridge Boys – all current Sumner County residents.

In Hendersonville, free tours of Trinity Music City USA, home of the Trinity Broadcast Network, include a stop at the estate and gardens of country music superstar Conway Twitty.

2 / HISTORIC CONNECTIONS For history buffs, Sumner County’s many historic landmarks are popular destinations.

Historic Mansker’s Station in Goodlettsville features the reconstructed Mansker’s Fort, which was originally built in 1779, and the Bowen Plantation House, the oldest standing brick structure in Middle Tennessee, built in 1787. Costumed interpreters are on hand to demonstrate the lifestyle of 18th-century settlers.

Visitors to Cragfont in Castalian Springs can stand where Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston and other historic figures dined and danced at the home of their host, Gen. James Winchester.

Built in 1802, Cragfont was considered the finest house on the Tennessee frontier.

The 22-inch thick walls of Rock Castle,

Sailboat and speedboat owners enjoy a day on the water at Old Hickory Lake near Hendersonville.

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See Tennessee

3 / FUN FOR THE FAMILY

4 / SHOP & DINE

The whole family will enjoy the old-time music, games and period goods at Bledsoe’s Fort Colonial Fair, held in May at Bledsoe’s Fort Historic Park in Castalian Springs.

From there, it’s just a few miles to Bledsoe Creek State Park, located on the banks of Old Hickory Lake. The park offers roomy, level campsites with 50-amp electric hookups, fire rings and picnic tables. It also has boat launches, fishing, hiking trails and a day use area.

Everyone loves to get out on the water aboard one of Captain Jesse’s Cumberland River Cruises on Old Hickory Lake. Whether he’s piloting a kids’ cruise, sunset or moonlight cruise, or hosting a family reunion or private party, Captain Jesse knows how to show off the lake.

Hayrides, corn mazes and farmrelated fun at area agritourism destinations are also popular with the family set. There’s nothing quite like picking your own fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs and flowers at local farms, including the 30-acre Red Chief Orchard near Gallatin, Bradley Kountry Acres in Cottontown and Bottom View Farm in Portland.

Portland is also home to the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival, which draws hundreds of visitors to celebrate each May. For a change of pace, check out

Shoppers can pay a visit to Gallatin’s town square to browse antique shops and trendy boutiques.

In Hendersonville, try Patricia Jane & Co. for gifts and fashion accessories, and shop till you drop at the Streets of Indian Lake outdoor shopping center, with retailers such as J. Jill, Coldwater Creek and more.

In May, a unique shopping event draws bargain hunters from all over: The Tennessee Highway 52 Yard Sale stretches for more than 80 miles and spans the width of the county.

At The Gossett House in Portland, guests can shop and dine under one roof – at Occasions boutique and 5 Chefs restaurant, whose signature strawberry cake is to die for.

In fact, palate-pleasing restaurant selections that range from downhome Southern cooking to upscale elegance insure visitors to Sumner County won’t leave hungry.

Meat-and-three accompanied by live music and dancing is on the menu at Long Hollow Jamboree in Goodlettsville. In Hendersonville, Barefoot Charlie’s offers lakeside patio dining, and September’s serves American cuisine with an eclectic flair. Ladies – and gentlemen – love to take high tea at Gallatin’s English Garden Tea Room.

Visit www.sumnercvb.com to learn even more about Sumner County.

Clockwise from top left: Dustin Bumbalough picks apples at his grandfather’s Red Chief Orchard in Castalian Springs; desserts at 5 Chefs restaurant in Portland; fishing on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville; Rose Mont in Gallatin

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J. Kyle Keener

the disc golf course at Sanders Ferry Park or Drakes Creek Activity Center in Hendersonville; it offers mini golf, outdoor laser tag, a climbing wall, and hot air balloon rides. Score bowling and a whole lot more at Strike & Spare Family Fun Centers in Hendersonville and Gallatin.

Walking and biking trails and top-notch golf courses are scattered throughout Sumner County.

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circa 1794, were built from limestone blocks quarried near Daniel Smith’s Hendersonville home. Rock Castle contains authentic period furnishings and Smith’s letters and library.

Must-see historic sites in Gallatin include the mid-1800s mansion Rose Mont – a stunning example of Greek Revival architecture, the beautifully restored Palace Theater and the artifact-rich Sumner County Museum.

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Events & Festivals

Mule Day, which dates back to 1840, takes place in Columbia on April 8-11, 2010, and features a parade, competitions and more.

Tennessee Events & Festivals This listing includes a selection of events of statewide interest scheduled in March, April and May as provided to Tennessee Home & Farm by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Events are subject to date change or cancellation; please call the contact listed before traveling long distances to attend.

To include your local events in our listing, please call the Tennessee Department of Tourism at (615) 741-7994. Due to space constraints, we are unable to include all of the events provided, but additional information and events can be found online through the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com.

March 20

48TH ANNUAL WEARING OF THE GREEN IRISH DAY CELEBRATION Erin Event features parades, live entertainment and Civil War re-enactors, carnival rides and food. Pony rides, petting zoo and inflatable jumps for the young children will be in the Betsy Ligon Park. CONTACT: (931) 289-5100, irish@peoplestel.net, www.houstoncochamber.com

MARCH

March 12-14

March 20

CHURCH OF GOD WINTERFEST

March 6 -7

Knoxville Church of God Winterfest is a worship festival for youth, students, and leaders characterized by outstanding speakers, authentic worship, fun and life changing experiences. CONTACT: Tena Welborn (865) 428-5787, www.mywinterfest.com

LEGACY OF STONES RIVER SYMPOSIUM: WHY THEY FOUGHT

GUN AND KNIFE SHOW White County Mid-State Gun & Knife Show will be at the White County Agricultural Complex.

Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m CONTACT: (931) 738-8675

March 13

Rutherford County Courthouse and Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro The sixth in a series on the Civil War and Reconstruction coordinated by the battlefield and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. CONTACT: (615) 893-9501, (615) 898-2947, www.tncivilwar.org March 26

LIONESS VARIETY SHOW

HOLLY AND SHAMROCK PARADE (ST. NICHOLAS MEETS ST. PATRICK)

Lafayette Showcase event of the local talent at the Macon County Junior High School.

CONTACT: Monica Gann (615) 666-3709

Gatlinburg Gathering of more than 750 Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, elves and even reindeer, along with the 2nd annual parade in the

Red Boiling Springs Learn ways to stay healthy from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. CONTACT: Glenda Browning (615) 655-4274

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early evening and features floats, carriages, decorated wagons, bands and singers.

CONTACT: www.hollyandshamrock.com

Home&Farm |Spring 2010

THE PALACE COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

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March 27

April 10

April 22

18TH ANNUAL SGT. ALVIN C. YORK BLACK POWDER SHOOT

PEDALMANIA BIKE RACE

RIBFEST & WINGS

Sparta Critical Road and TBRA official event.

Bicycle rodeo for children. Special events in historic downtown Sparta. CONTACT: (931) 836-3552, www.sparta-chamber.net

Gatlinburg Enjoy the area’s best ribs and wings as well as free entertainment. One admission allows sampling until the ribs and wings run out as the parkway transforms into a street fair. CONTACT: (800) 568-4748

Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf River, Pall Mall Event includes one-shot matches, X-center, over-the-log, 60 paces and traditional muzzle loading rifles. Everyone is encouraged to wear early 20th-century clothing styles to help set the mood. CONTACT: 888-WW1-HERO, www.sgtyork.org March 27

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA Jonesborough Egg hunt, games, food and the Easter Bunny at the Storytelling Park behind the International Storytelling Center.

CONTACT: (866) 401-4223, www.historicjonesborough.com March 28

COVENANT HEALTH KNOXVILLE MARATHON

April 14

THEATRE EXPRESS

April 23-24

Chattanooga The Memorial Auditorium will be hosting a play of Junie B. Jones. CONTACT: (800) 267-4232, www.artsedcouncil.org

SPRING HERITAGE DAYS FOLK FESTIVAL

April 15-17

RIVERS & SPIRES FESTIVAL Clarksville This free three-day festival includes over 100 entertainers, a kids’ area, teen area, international exhibits, car shows, food, jazz and so much more. CONTACT: Doug Barber, (866) 557-9006 ext. 233, www.riversandspires.com April 15-18

Union City Annual folk festival demonstration of the skills and crafts of yesterday. Also enjoy music and Southern vittles! CONTACT: Randall Pitts, (731) 536-5171 April 23-25

17TH ANNUAL APPALACHIAN FARM SHOW & FARMER’S REUNION Grey This Gathering of the Orange event features all makes and models of antique tractors and engines, quilt show, arts, crafts, toys, antiques, entertainment, new and used farm equipment, kiddie tractor pull and race, parade, auction and more.

CONTACT: Scott Rutledge, (423) 345-3909, www.tsapa.com

Thompson Boling Arena, Knoxville Offers four different events for runners to participate in: marathon, 4-person relay, half marathon and kids run. Entertainment, music and a post party with food, drinks, entertainment and awards. CONTACT: (865) 684-4294, www.knoxvillemarathon.com

AFRICA IN APRIL CULTURAL AWARENESS FESTIVAL

March 31-April 3

April 15-22

April 23-25

GREAT SMOKY EASTER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW

NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

ARTS IN BLOOM

Gatlinburg Convention Center, Gatlinburg Unique handcrafted gifts made by members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community are placed on display. CONTACT: (800) 568-4748, www.gatlinburgcrafts.com

APRIL April 2-24

DOGWOOD ARTS FESTIVAL Knoxville Walk along more than 60 miles of trails featuring some of the most spectacular dogwood trees of all kinds and colors. This monthlong event offers a chance to visit the beautiful gardens, an arts and crafts fair, downtown parade and outdoor concerts by local musicians. CONTACT: Lisa Duncan, (865) 637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com April 8-11

MULE DAY Columbia Mule sale, mule pull, log loading competition, mule driving, parade, pancake breakfast and more! CONTACT: (931) 381-9557, www.muleday.com

Memphis Celebration featuring education, economics, fashion, arts and crafts, music and cuisine.

CONTACT: (901) 947-2133, www.africainapril.org

Nashville The Regal Green Hills Cinema is hosting 8 days of over 200 independent films from over 45 countries. CONTACT: Ted Crockett, (615) 742-2500, www.nashvillefilmfestival.org

Lafayette An exhibition of local art will be on display at the Main Branch of Macon Bank & Trust.

CONTACT: Shirley Anderson, (615) 699-2340

April 17

SPRING NATURE FESTIVAL

EARTH DAY CHILDREN’S CELEBRATION

Kingsport Each year, we bring in some of the best nature guides and teacher/naturalists from across Tennessee. These experts donate their time and their nature guiding skills to help us delve deeper into the natural wonders of an East Tennessee springtime.

CONTACT: Marty Silver, (423) 239-6786

Jonesborough Outdoor event where children ages 2-12 can learn about taking care of our planet earth, fire safety, check out police cars, go to a tea party, listen to stories, play in corn and sand pits, enjoy an ice cream social and classes on photography, painting, puppet-making, origami and storytelling. CONTACT: (866) 401-4223, www.historicjonesborough.com April 21-25

60TH ANNUAL WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE Gatlinburg Celebrate and enjoy the beauty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park with over 150 different programs, including hiking tours, motorcades, demonstrations and classroom lectures centered on the flowers, plants and wildlife in the great outdoors.

CONTACT: (865) 436-7318 ext. 222, www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org

Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call ahead.

April 23-25

April 24

CATFISH RACES Courthouse Lawn, Paris Let the races begin! Come downtown and listen to some catchy fish tales. You may even get reeled in to race your very own catfish. This event is a fundraiser for the Literacy Council. CONTACT: Mike Key, (731) 642-9271 April 24

WOMEN’S SHOW White County Agricultural Complex, Sparta Doors open at 9 a.m. Grand-prize drawing at 4 p.m. CONTACT: (931) 836-3284 Home&Farm

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April 24 April 24

EARTH DAY

STORYTELLING AND DUMPLIN DAYS

Murfreesboro Civic Plaza, Murfreesboro Free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., this annual event offers a wide variety of activities for young and old. Free hot dogs! CONTACT: (615) 893-5514

James E. Ward Agricultural Center, Fiddlers Grove The day-long event will feature a dumpling cook-off, storytelling by world-renowned story spinners, a 5K run, corn hole tournament, marble shooting tournament, puppet shows, gospel music, bluegrass music, a Hee Haw show, a checker tournament, quilt show and much much more. CONTACT: (615) 444-5503

April 24

KNOXVILLE’S OPERA ROSSINI FESTIVAL Knoxville This downtown festival has food, beverages, entertainment, and a wide range of art vendors. Enjoy world-class opera performances, wine tastings and the vibrance of this Italian street fair.

CONTACT: (865) 524-0795, www.rossinifestival.com April 24

SMALL FRY PARADE Paris Enjoy watching these small fry floats parade around the court square. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and is sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Jaycees. CONTACT: Mike Key, (731) 642-9271 April 24-25

FRANKLIN MAIN STREET FESTIVAL Franklin Free street festival with 220 arts/crafts booths, four stages, two carnivals, three food courts and more. CONTACT: Nancy Williams, (615) 591-8500, www.historicfranklin.com April 24-25

NATIONAL CORNBREAD FESTIVAL South Pittsburg Live entertainment, juried arts, crafts and food. This festival honors cornbread with the National Cornbread Cook-Off. Sample cornbreads and main dish recipes. Don’t miss “Cornbread Alley” and old-time downtown shops open to the public.

CONTACT: (423) 837-0022, www.nationalcornbread.com April 30

FIFTH FRIDAY FISH FRY Red Boiling Springs Volunteers come together to offer bluegrass and gospel entertainment while the best fried catfish and all the fixings are served.

All proceeds benefit the Goodwill Committee. CONTACT: (800) 799-1705, www.donohohotel.com April 30 –May 2

BEALE STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL Memphis

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Three magical days and four big stages on 33 acres overlooking the Mighty Mississippi, right on the heels of historic Beale Street. More than 60 top artists.

Blues, rock, gospel, R&B, alternative, and soul. CONTACT: (901) 525-4611, www.memphisinmay.org

White County Fairgrounds, Sparta Annual fundraiser for American Cancer Society. CONTACT: Kathy Farley, (931) 273-8470

May 8

May 7-8

Harriman Enjoy a day filled with bluegrass music, antique cars, crafts vendors, Miss Polk Salad Pageant and other contests, and of course, plenty of poke sallet to taste.

CONTACT: 800-FUN-IN-TN, www.roanetourism.com

BRUCETON IN MAY FESTIVAL

MAY

Bruceton Street dancing, vendors, barbecue competitions, fun and games for adults and children alike, such as live entertainment on the stage. CONTACT: (731) 586-2401

May 1

May 8

3 STATE 3 MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

25TH ANNUAL FLAG POND RURITAN RAMP FESTIVAL

Chattanooga Come experience one of the Southeast’s most scenic and challenging bicycle centuries. The rigorous 100-mile option will take you through three states.

CONTACT: (423) 643-6887, www.chattbike.com

Flag Pond From a small, local gathering of good cooks and bluegrass and gospel musicians, the festival has grown to a yearly festival attended by more than 1,000 people from all over East Tennessee and beyond. 2010 marks the 25th annual festival and promises to be the best one yet, with more music, more crafts, more children’s activities, and yes, even more delicious, pungent dishes featuring Allium tricoccum, the mountain ramp. CONTACT: Edgar Rice, (423) 743-6185

May 1-2

STITCH & SHARE QUILT SHOW Sparta Civic Center, Sparta Old and new quilts, wall hangings, wearable art, a quilt turning merchants market, door prizes and demonstrations all day.

CONTACT: Bev and Bob Loitz, (931) 935-5657

TENNESSEE POLK SALAD FESTIVAL

May 13-15

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARBECUE COOKING CONTEST Tom Lee Park, Memphis Hundreds of teams compete for over $90,000 in prizes and supreme bragging rights. While grilling is the main theme, the contest wouldn’t be complete without the Ms. Piggy Idol competition where grown men dress in tutus and snouts and women kick their heels (hooves) up.

There is also a T-shirt competition and even a best booth contest.

CONTACT: (901) 525-4611, www.memphisinmay.org

May 1-22

TENNESSEE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Dayton A celebration of small-town life and strawberries. Events include strawberry rodeo, parade, pageant show, hayrides, ice cream, exhibits, food vendors and delicious strawberries, of course. CONTACT: (423) 775-0361, www.rheacountyetc.com May 2

15TH ANNUAL COAL MINERS REUNION Bon DeCroft Elementary School, Sparta Community History project for the School includes mining photographs, memorabilia, slide show, auto tour, videotaping along with history of the Bon DeCroft Elementary School. Proceeds go to the school.

CONTACT: Tony Lawson, (931) 935-2359 May 2-8

WEST TENNESSEE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Humboldt Family entertainment, fireworks, parades, revues, carnival, food vendors, musical presentations, recipe contest and more!

CONTACT: (731) 784-1842, www.wtsf.org May 7

RELAY FOR LIFE Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call ahead.

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May 14-15 May 14-16

29TH ANNUAL SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & GAMES Mills Park, Gatlinburg Featuring Highland athletics, bagpipe competitions, Highland dancing, border collie demonstrations, haggis hurling, entertainment and whiskey tasting, along with food & merchandise vendors. Kicks off with a parade on May 14 at 6 p.m.; games on May 15-16.

CONTACT: www.gsfg.org

BLOOMIN’ BARBEQUE & BLUEGRASS Sevierville A family-oriented event celebrating the beauty of spring, championship barbecue and world-class bluegrass music. CONTACT: (888) 889-7415, www.BloominBBQ.com May 15

FREE DAY IN MAY Murfreesboro Sponsored by the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Cannonsburgh Village, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, The Heritage Center, Oakland’s Historic House Museum, Sam Davis Home and Museum and Stones River National Battlefield will be open free of charge. CONTACT: (615) 893-6565, www.rutherfordchamber.org May 15-16

GATLINBURG FINE ARTS FESTIVAL Ripley’s Plaza and River Road, Gatlinburg This sixth annual family-oriented fine arts festival features juried artists from around the country, delicious cuisine and music.

Proceeds benefit Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts and Sevier County Arts Council.

CONTACT: (888) 240-1358, www.gfaf.net May 15-16

36TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF BRITISH & APPALACHIAN CULTURE Rugby With continuous British Isles and Appalachian music and dancing, traditional arts and crafts, storytelling stage, historic building tours and delicious food. CONTACT: (888) 214-3400, www.historicrugby.org May 21-22

HIGHWAY 52 YARD SALE Highway 52, from Portland to Celina Starting at Highway 52 from Interstate 65 in Portland to Celina, this is one huge multicounty yard sale! CONTACT: (615) 666-5885 May 26-29

SHERIFF BUFORD PUSSER FESTIVAL Adamsville Held in the hometown of the legendary Sheriff Buford Pusser of “Walking Tall” fame. People from all over the country come together to enjoy good music, food, and family fun. CONTACT: Renee Moss, (731) 632-4080, www.bufordpussermuseum.com May 28-30

WHITE KNUCKLE EVENT 2010 Huntsville

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May 29

GARDEN GALA Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, Jonesborough Tours of elegant gardens throughout historic Jonesborough. Includes seminars, plant clinics, demonstrating artists in the gardens, gardening products and tea.

CONTACT: (866) 401-4223, www.historicjonesborough.com May 29

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA SHOW/DANCE Chattanooga Glenn Miller Orchestra performs from 8-11 p.m. Reserved and premier seating available. Overnight packages available.

Dancing, cash bars and snacks. CONTACT: 800-TRACK29, www.choochoo.com

Willie Dills

Sarah Beane

A family-friendly event featuring guided trail rides, mud bogs, sled pulls, mud dives, and bubba runs. Enjoy the vast trails and stunning scenery of the Appalachian Mountains. There will be concessions all weekend. There will also be live nightly entertainment on the mountain by country music stars such as John Anderson, Daryle Singletary or Ricochet.

Features events such as: guided rides, drag races, sled pull, bubba run, demo rides, pole bending, mud bog and over 200 miles of trails.

CONTACT: 800-BRIMSTONE, www.brimstonerecreation.com

It’s Time to Enter the 15th Annual Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest Pull out your camera and start snapping! Submit your best photos in our annual contest, and you could be named the grand-prize winner.

To enter, fill out the form below and mail your prints to us. Or, visit tnhomeandfarm.com to upload your digital photos and enter online.

Winners will be announced in the winter issue of Tennessee Home & Farm. First-place winners in each of three categories will be awarded $100 cash prizes; the grand-prize winner receives $200. Entries must be postmarked (or submitted online) by Aug. 1.

Name ___________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________

May 29

City __________________________ State _______ ZIP ________

STATEHOOD DAY

Phone ___________________________________________________

Sequoyah Museum, Vonore As we celebrate Tennessee Statehood Day, join us as Cherokee demonstrators and arts will be talking to the museum visitors about their art or craft. Blacksmithing, storytelling, pottery, basket-making and flute music are some of the arts or trades that will be demonstrated during the day. CONTACT: Charlie Rhodarmer, (423) 884-6246, www.sequoyahmuseum.org May 29

ROCKIN’ THE DOCKS Lenoir City Live bands, food, children’s play area and FIREWORKS – all on the banks of beautiful Fort Loudoun Lake. CONTACT: (888) 568-3662, www.visitloudoncounty.com May 29

NATIONAL MOOFEST Athens A day of historical and educational activities that highlight the important role the dairy industry plays in this community, including crafts, food, homemade ice cream and various types of live entertainment, in addition to free shuttle rides to Mayfield Dairy Farms Visitor Center for free tours. CONTACT: (800) 629-3435, www.nationalmoofest.com

County of FB Membership _________________________________ Category: ❒ Tennessee Barns

❒ Rural Living

❒ Childhood Memories

Mail entry to:

Tennessee Farm Bureau Photo Contest P.O. Box 313, Columbia, TN 38402-0313 OFFICIAL RULES: Only original photos or high-quality reprints will be accepted via mailed entries. Color or black-and-white photos are acceptable in any size. Attach this entry form to the back of the photo (copies may be made of entry form if more than one is needed). No CD-ROMS (or other digital media storage) will be accepted via the mailed entry option.

To submit a digital photo, visit tnhomeandfarm.com and click on the photo contest entry form.

Digital files must be high quality – minimum of 5x7 size at 300 dpi resolution. An online tutorial for testing file size can be found at tnhomeandfarm.com. To avoid legal entanglements, make sure permission has been given for use of photos.

We offer three categories: Tennessee Barns, Rural Living and Childhood Memories. Only one entry per person per category. Only Tennessee Farm Bureau members and their immediate family (parents, children, siblings) are eligible to enter. Employees of Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Insurance Cos., county Farm Bureaus or their families are not eligible to win. This is an amateur photo contest. Professional photographers are not eligible. Entries must be postmarked by Aug. 1, 2010. Photos will not be returned and will become property of Tennessee Farm Bureau and Journal. Images may be used in TFBF publications with photo credit given. For additional information, call Tennessee Farm Bureau, (931) 388-7872, Misty McNeese, ext. 2211. For questions about the online entry form, call Jessy Yancey at (800) 333-8842, ext. 217.

Events are subject to date change or cancellation. Please call ahead.

Home&Farm

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View From the Back Porch

Bunnies Lay Eggs?

MUSINGS ON RABBIT EGGS AND OTHER EASTER TRADITIONS About the Author Jessica Mozo is a freelance writer and regular Tennessee Home & Farm contributor who lives in Nashville with her husband, Manuel.

She is enjoying passing on silly – yet fun – Easter traditions to her own children, Bryce, 2, and Brett, 8 months.

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Home&Farm |Spring 2010

can remember waking up early on Easter Sunday to find colorful foil-wrapped chocolate eggs hidden all over my childhood home – on stairs, tucked in window sills, peeking out from underneath furniture – virtually everywhere. In the living room, my sisters and I would always find baskets filled with presents and more candy eggs – a gift, we were told, left by the Easter Bunny in the night.

I never gave it much thought back then, but now that I’m passing the tradition on to my own children, the whole Easter Bunny concept seems, well … odd. Whoever came up with the idea that rabbits could lay eggs should have consulted a farmer. Sure, chickens lay eggs.

And birds lay eggs. Even ducks lay eggs.

But rabbits? Not the last time I checked.

So I Googled the origin of the Easter Bunny, and here’s what I found. Apparently, the first written mentions came from Germany in the 15th century. The Germans also started the tradition of making chocolate bunnies sometime during the 1800s.

The bunny made his way into American culture with the arrival of German settlers in Pennsylvania during the 1700s. They called him Osterhase, and he would lay brightly colored eggs for well-behaved children who made special nests in their caps and bonnets the night before Easter.

Now back to the original question – why does the Easter Bunny lay eggs? It seems the rabbit is an ancient symbol of fertility, long known for its reproductive prowess. (Ever heard the expression “multiplying like rabbits”?) Centuries before Christianity and Easter were born in the Mediterranean, people were already celebrating springtime with festivals centering around renewal, rebirth and fertility following the bitterness of winter.

Those pagan celebrations focused on the goddess of fertility, Eostre, which is where we get the word Easter. And Eostre, legend has it, was always seen

I

with her pet rabbit, which laid the first colored eggs. Some sources claim the goddess cast the hare into the heavens, creating the constellation Lepus the Hare and giving the rabbit the ability to lay eggs once a year.

Technical definitions aside, I’m content to chalk the Easter Bunny tradition up to a secular spin on a religious holiday. (After all, it’s probably not as far-fetched as Santa’s flying reindeer.) There’s no denying it’s a lot of fun, too. Boy, did I enjoy seeing my barely walking, 15-month-old son toddle around our yard picking up Easter eggs of every color for the first time last spring. Talk about a Kodak moment.

Besides, an egg-laying rabbit isn’t the only peculiar thing about springtime and Easter.

I’ve also pondered over why they call Good Friday “good,” when it centers around the crucifixion of Jesus. I’ve marveled at how spring daffodils and tulips magically poke their pretty heads out of the soil after enduring winter’s bitter chill. And I’ve wondered why kids love to eat those spongy excuses for candy called Peeps.

Oh, well. There are some questions I may never find the answers to on Google.

Happy Easter and happy spring! I hope the Easter Bunny treats you well this year.

tnfarmbureau.org