Heritage Reclaimed Farm: Stop # 14 on the Arts and Ag Tour of Hickman County

Cows grazing at Heritage Reclaimed Farm

Heritage Reclaimed Farm will be a part of the Hickman County Arts and Ag Tour for the third time this year.  Established in 2012, Heritage Reclaimed Farm has all Middle Tennessee has to offer; rolling hills, open pastures, ponds, creeks and  springs. The Charles and Shona Shough family moved to middle Tennessee for the purpose of being part of a community of faith, establish better food systems, and to help serve their neighbors. Along with their two sons, Isaac and Valor, they are working hard to reclaim the land and the heritage of their homestead.

In their commitment to better health, and good stewards of the Land, they raise and sell Grass-fed Beef & Sheep, Organic Pastured pigs, and organic pastured chickens.

On Saturday of the Hickman County Arts and Ag Tour, they will be featuring a French Market and preparing their signature Organic Pork Stack Fry Bread Plate with slaw and French Beignets topped with Organic Jam.  You can purchase Organic, rustic, artisan bread, organic raw milk grass-fed cheese from an Artisan Cheese maker and purchase their meats directly raised on the farm. When visiting the farm, you will enjoy the scenic beauties of Middle Tennessee, and speak to one of their farm-hands and discuss grass-fed rotational cattle, chicken grazing and low infrastructure farm endeavours.

You can take a self-guided tour of the farm, or we can take you on a hay ride. You will be able to see and meet the animals that are a part of their everyday life. This day is sure to be memorable, and they invite all to come and take a stroll around the farm, and garden and enjoy the beauty of special homestead.

Traditional Hand Quilting, BBQ and Homemade Pies at Stop #26

Situated in the beautiful Pinewood community, off HWY 48, 6794 Piney River Road North (be sure and add that “North” into your GPS!) Piney’s Needle is the private studio of quilter and artist, Deborah Boutwell. Deborah and her daughter, Sally Springer, love creating works of art using various fabrics and materials to create unique pieces. Deborah is more of the traditional artist, while Sally leans more toward alternative works of art, incorporating vintage fabrics and techniques into her design.

Influenced by the talents of Deborah’s mother, the late Frances Lewis, and her grandmothers, she and Sally both learned the arts of needle and thread from expert seamstresses, quilters and artists. Determined to continue to share the techniques their ancestors have used for years to care for their families, Deborah and Sally each work to provide opportunities to share their legacy through selling handmade products and teaching classes.

At stop #26, you’ll find a sampling of quilts (in various sizes), table runners, wall hangings, baby blankets, aprons, paintings, altered books, jewelry, and other various items. Throughout the day, Deborah will be giving demonstrations of traditional hand quilting on her grandmother’s hand-made quilt frame and her favorite method of hand quilting, with a hoop. You will also have the opportunity to try the quilt frame on your own, “quilting a reach”, and making quilt blocks on your own using vintage sewing machines. Deborah uses a domestic sewing machine to do most of her quilting and would be happy to show you how that works also. Come watch Sally work on one of her altered books and see how she turns books headed to the trash, into a piece of art.

Stepping into Deborah’s log house, built by her husband, Ken, and father, James Lewis, you can see a display of quilts created by her mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers (display only, not for sale). Then to top off the stop, try some of Ken’s famous BBQ and have a cool drink of water…and don’t forget the pie! Sally will have pies for sale, by the slice or whole pie. She’s the pie maker of the family and they are delicious and always in high demand!

Deborah and Sally both do custom work upon request. Sally, with a degree in fashion design, does custom gowns, clothes, and alterations. Deborah will work with you to design a new quilt or finish up quilt tops that you’ve had in your trunk, unfinished, for years. Or, sign up for a monthly quilting class and learn to quilt your own work of art! Don’t know how to sew? They can teach you. They both believe in starting early, so they will gladly teach young children eager to learn to sew (ages 8+) or any other type of art they do.

Folks that visit Piney’s Needle have said it’s like visiting a museum. Come on out and see why. Don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter and a chance to win a bag full of goodies!

Learn more about Deborah’s and Sally’s art through their websites.

http://www.PineysNeedle.com

http://www.SallyMarieVintage.etsy.com

Arts & Ag Tour Preview Stop #8

LuLu’s is Stop #8 on the 2014 Arts & Ag Tour. LuLu’s Roadhouse Restaurant is a family friendly, non-smoking venue. It offers a full menu featuring freshly prepared wings, burgers and dinner plates. LuLu’s is located inside an old horse barn that used to house Tennessee walking horses. The building and the surrounding grounds are rich with history. Come visit Stop #8 on the tour, ask LuLu herself for all the stories and about the resident ghost that most of the employees and some of the customers have had an encounter with. LuLu’s will offer some menu specials featuring local items specially for the Arts & Ag Tour! In addition to ice cold beer, refreshing non-alcoholic beverages and great food, you’ll get to enjoy an exhibit of original works by Southern Roots Photography. LuLu also has several special deals for folks taking the Tour so make sure to get your free Tour Guide for all the details! Printed Tour Guides will be available at each stop or you can download the online version here: Arts & AG Tour Guide

2013 Harvest Market was a Topnotch Affair!

The view from the front porch of Grinder’s Switch Winery at last Saturday’s Harvest Market was just what we hoped it would be. Folks of all ages, from near and far, strolled in small clusters down the gravel drive lined on both sides with cars, bumper to bumper. Autumn was in the air and the pale grey sky, which caused a bit of anxiety when it rained, but provided the perfect backdrop for a gorgeous pallet of multicolored leaves on the overhanging branches and surrounding shrubbery. Nestled among the natural features of our county’s award winning winery was a joyful patchwork of festively decorated booths representing the talents of our local artisan and farming community.

Trish Lingo of Beaverdam Creek Farm greeting two young customers

The quality, craftsmanship, variety, creativity and bounty of handcrafted, homegrown items on display at the Harvest Market was topnotch, and not just, “for around here,” either. In fact, that’s a phrase Arts & Ag is on a mission to see eliminated from the thinking and speech of our county’s citizenry! This region, which has long been a haven for farmers, artists and musicians, is on the cutting edge of the sustainable farming movement and has simultaneously created a niche for other cottage industries and crafts such as soap making, quilting, blacksmithing, pottery, woodworking and many others that were on display at the Harvest Market and that often go hand in hand with agriculture. ALL of this (the arts, crafts and abundance of small, sustainable farms) is fast becoming a source of pride for our locals and we at Arts & Ag couldn’t be happier about it!

Gabriel New of New Eden Farms selling his famous homemade pickles.

A gigantic THANK YOU to everyone involved with the Harvest Market, including the fine folks at Grinder’s Switch Winery for being such gracious hosts and for supporting our marketing efforts. Over 800 people (according to our closest estimate) came out to shop, to enjoy the tasting room, have a bite to eat and listen to some fantastic local, live music– while spending in the ballpark of $15,000. We couldn’t have been as successful without our dedicated, thoughtful, enthusiastic volunteers!  We are deeply grateful to our Bakery Team for keeping the coffee flowing and selling all the home baked goodies that were donated to the Arts & Ag Bakery. Thanks to you and all who contributed baked items (and those who purchased them), we were able to generate funds to jump start our PR budget for the 2014 Arts & Ag Tour. Our thanks also goes out to our amazing Street Team, all who helped us spread the word about the Harvest Market, emailed their contacts, passed out rack cards and hung posters. We also want to thank our fabulous Loading and Layout Team who staked out booth spaces Friday night and helped load and haul items throughout the Market. Thanks to all the musicians that entertained at the Harvest Market: Gloria McCord, Billie Joe Sawyer, and Mark Meadors with Martin, Trei and Miranda Louise, and many thanks to County Mayor Steve Gregory for doing a very fine job DJing and MCing!

We look forward to many more events like this year’s Harvest Market.

Sincerely the Arts & Ag Trio,

Antonia, Nicole and Vanessa

COUPONS are HERE! Great savings for this Saturday only during the Harvest Market!

TWO pages of coupons from some of our vendors that will be at this Saturday’s Arts & Ag Harvest Market. PRINT these pages and bring with you this Saturday, the 19th for some great deals! Scroll down the home page for previous posts about details regarding the event.

The Arts & Ag Harvest Market Vendor Map is here!

Costumery and Face Painting at the Harvest Market

Stop by Shop ‘til It Stop’s booth at the Harvest Market for a great selection of Halloween costumes, the proceeds of which will benefit our local domestic violence program, Women Are Safe. Volunteer costume designers will be on sight to assist you in creating a look that is sure to be a winner in the evening’s costume contest which will take place on the Centerville Town Square at 8:00 pm.

Need make-up to complete your Halloween makeover? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with Paint My Face, a mother-daughter face painting duo from Centerville. Check out their cute flyer!

Browns Giftshop Revival to Play at the Harvest Market

Mark Meadors of Browns Giftshop Revival

Browns Giftshop Revival is a loose knit group of  musicians whose main goal is to have a little fun. As we all know music is a good place to start. A few of us have been playing together for a few years and other players come and go like kids and jobs.  We draw inspiration and are influenced by all genres of  music but mostly agree that live music is best. We do play mostly original songs but also like to delve into some classics, otherwise known as “songs we like”. We hope you do too.

Browns Giftshop Revival will be playing two sets at the Arts & Ag Harvest Market this Saturday October 27th at Grinder’s Switch Winery. We’ll be performing at 1:00PM and again at 3:00PM. Come boogie with us!

Only five days away…

 

Ghost Stories, Bluegrass, Hay Rides and More

The gates of the Grinder’s Switch Winery will open the Harvest Market at 10:00 am Saturday, October 27th, 2012. Early shoppers will enjoy delicious treats from the Harvest Market Bakery, the proceeds of which will benefit the 2013 Arts & Ag Tour. You’ll be able to stock up on freezable breads and sweet pastries as well as purchase individual treats for immediate snacking. While at the Harvest Market booth be sure to check out information about the Arts & Ag Tour and meet our volunteer team.

At 11:00 am local story teller and Librarian, Mary Beth Pruett (grand-niece of country music legend Minnie Pearl) will begin an hour of creepy tales and ghost stories to usher in the Halloween spirit(s). Musical entertainment will follow, including local talent Gloria McCord and live bluegrass by the Grinder’s Switch Skillet Lickers, all of which will be emceed by County Mayor, Steve Gregory.

Shoppers can expect to find the highest quality hand made, homegrown, local crafts and farm goods ranging from vintage wallpaper creations, barn wood signs, goats milk soaps and lotions, pottery, and paintings to textile crafts, jewelry, herbal teas, fall produce and local raw honey! Costumery and a photo booth will accompany our Harvest celebration as well.

Barbeque, wine tastings and a hay ride tour of the vineyard capped off by more musical entertainment from Browns Giftshop Revival round out this fun-filled day of shopping and fall festivities.

Please stay tuned for more information including photos and bios submitted by our fabulous vendor team!