CULTIVATE A LIFE OF BEAUTY, NOURISHMENT & COMMUNITY

PHOTO BY SARAH B. GILLIAM

Even though technology makes us more “connected” than ever, we still hunger for authentic relationships — with the natural world, our Creator, and one another. But how do we find them, especially when we’ve lost touch with many of the foundational rhythms that draw us together?

We find connection again in the rhythms and practices that have united us since the beginning of time, and still do: we get our hands dirty, we invest in authentic community, and we open up our tables.

The Kindred Life: Stories and Recipes to Cultivate a Life of Organic Connection is a rallying cry for real connection in a time when we need to recapture what's been lost in the chaos of busyness, distraction, and isolation. In this collection of stories, photos, journaling prompts, and recipes from my home on Kindred Farm in Santa Fe, Tennessee (right here in Maury County!), I’m sharing both the beautiful and gritty moments as I’ve grown from a hopeful urban gardener to co-owner of a regenerative farm full of produce, bees, chickens, and flowers that provides meaningful experiences for friends, family, and hundreds of guests each year.

I actually started this project in 2019, but what’s happened in all of our lives the last few years has made it clear that we need this now more than ever. If you're hungering to be nourished on a soul level, to reclaim the gifts you have to offer the world, and to connect to a deep sense of community, this book is for you.

When I first met my chef husband, Steven, I basically lived on grilled chicken, apples, peanut butter, broccoli, and frozen chicken tenders. Thank God he swept in and showed me the whole big, beautiful world of food that was out there and helped me venture beyond bland snack food. A basic, yet perfectly balanced, chicken salad is one of the first recipes I learned from him, and whenever I think about it, it reminds me of our early married days, when we made this often as an easy lunch or to take on a picnic.

CURRY CHICKEN SALAD

PHOTO BY SARAH B. GILLIAM

FROM: The Kindred Life: Stories and Recipes to Cultivate a Life of Organic Connection

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast 2 cups Duke’s mayonnaise or your preferred brand 1/2 cup mango chutney or peach jam 3 tablespoons curry powder 2 large celery stalks, diced small 1 1/2 cups roasted cashew halves 1/4 cup golden raisins or regular raisins 2 green onions, chopped (both the white and green parts) 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a large pot with water. Put the chicken in the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Once bubbles form, reduce to a simmer, put a lid on the pot, and leave the chicken alone for 1 hour while it poaches.

While the chicken poaches, use a medium-size bowl to combine the mayonnaise, mango chutney, curry powder, celery, cashews, raisins, green onions, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.

Take the chicken out of the pot, and it will be fall-apart tender. Dice it into cubes, and add it to the mixture in the bowl.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Garnish the chicken salad with fresh cilantro and serve it on a bed of butter lettuce or spinach. n Stuff the chicken salad inside lettuce wraps. n Serve the chicken salad in a bowl and use crackers or dried roasted seaweed to scoop it up. n Spread the chicken salad on bread as an open-face sandwich. I’ve always loved the word “kindred” — it means “tribe” or “family,” and at the center of The Kindred Life is an invitation for you to join me in pursuing the experiences that unite us, like spending time in the dirt, slowing down, and joining in a simple meal under the stars.

Part memoir, part inspiration guide, this is a story of growth, born through struggle. A return to wonder, adventure, and discovery. A celebration of the table, the dirt, and the precious people in our midst.

I believe we were all created with the ability to carve out a life of connection, and it's worth every bit of sweat it takes to get there. We can slow down. We can step forward in bravery to do hard things well. And we can be intentional about gathering with and investing in others. Discover the beauty of community, the magic of coming together around the table, and the lessons the land can teach you as you unearth your very own Kindred Life —right where you are.

The Kindred Life will be released by HarperCollins (Harper Horizon) in mid May 2022. It will be available for purchase online at thekindredlifebook.com, in bookstores, or find it wherever books are sold. n

PHOTO BY JEREMY COWART

Christine Marie Bailey is a grateful farmer, writer, and dreamer. A former music industry gal turned social entrepreneur turned sustainable produce and flower farmer, Christine is growing deep roots with her chef husband on their 17-acre Kindred Farm in Santa Fe, Tennessee, where they raise sustainable produce and gather the community around long tables under the stars several times a year at unique farm-totable events called Kindred Dinners.

Christine is passionate about homeschooling her two wild and free daughters and will always say yes to waterfall-chasing, campfiresitting, and eating ice cream on the roof under a country sky.