Oral Histories of the Piedmont Foodshed.
Rita Mace grew up in Connelly Springs, North Carolina on a family farm. Situated in Burke County, this small yet reputable farm has had an impact in its community. As the granddaughter of the owners of the farm, Rita grew up surrounded by fields of wheat and corn, cows, pigs and chickens and a table … Read more
Mario Gonzalez has been gardening and growing his own produce and even medicine for over 25 years. Mario grows everything at home in his own garden and property, which includes his own small orchard. Mario was extremely worried by the chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers being used on foods here in America after he immigrated, so … Read more
Katherine “Peanut” Belk, who oversees Business Operations at Wild Hope Farm in Chester, SC, describes her experience converting the family property into a working farm. Peanut grew up in Charlotte, one of five children of Sarah and Tim Belk, the former CEO of Belk department stores. Wild Hope Farm is an organic, regenerative farm that … Read more
Justin Orders was 32 years old at the time of the interview, which took place at Queen’s Orders Honey Apiary in Huntersville, North Carolina. A student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he later honed his beekeeping skills at the Mecklenburg County Beekeepers Association. Justin delved into his experiences as a certified beekeeper in Charlotte, … Read more
excerpt…
Philip Taylor, born in 1944, discusses his life and farming experiences in Burke County, North Carolina. He recalls a time without electricity and running water, raising milk cows, and using horses for farming. Taylor’s family raised and canned their own food to provide for their 18-person family.
Justin Miller of Cherry Hill Farms describes their fifth-generation farm and their journey turning the land from a fifth-generation cattle farm into a diverse…
Curtis Furr, a fifth-generation Albemarle, North Carolina farmer, discussed his background and farming practices. Furr grows white corn for cornmeal, yellow corn for feed, and soybeans for seed, earning his income with cotton. He faces challenges like urban development and wildlife damage.
Matt Watson is a third-generation cattle farmer in Chester, South Carolina. Alongside his wife Kelly and his father Gary, they have a 350 acre farm and rent an additional 80 acres.
Collards, cabbage, kale, pansies are amongst the produce available…