The Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival -Loving on people through food

by Amy Campbell


S10:E37. 9/23/2023

The Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival

Today, we are setting the table with loving people through food, loving on the honey bee, and news of an old-fashioned fall festival taking place Friday and Saturday, September 29, and 30th at the Townsend Visitor Center in Townsend, TN. This festival includes lots of Bluegrass music, old-fashioned southern food, vendors with honey, and a church group out of Morristown making and selling apple butter.

My guests are Jill Hepperley and her Mother Cheryl Free of Townsend, TN - Cheryl is an incredible Southern cook who opens her home every Sunday to the community for a good home-cooked meal. She and Jill reach people in dark places with biscuits and unconditional love. They will be serving up Beans and Hoe-Cakes (Pinto Beans and fried Cornbread) Fried Bologna, and Fried Apple Pies at the Townsend Fall Festival all for the greater good and I can’t wait for them to tell you about how they love on people through food.

We also visit with apiarists and owners of Smoky Ridge Apiaries, Judy and Coly O’Dell of Maryville TN. They are passionate about helping honey bees, and protecting honey bees, and freely give their time and expertise to help people set up hives and raise bees. They will also be set up at the Townsend Fall festival with their honey, Muddy Pond Sorghum, pollen, skincare, crafts, and more, and most importantly, a happy smile for everyone.

The Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival takes place Sept. 29-30, 2023 from 10-11, both days. The festival provides an atmosphere where family and friends of all ages can partake in time-honored Appalachian traditions at a free community event. This event takes place in Townsend TN. at the Townsend Visitor’s Center. Crafts & Demonstrations: from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Food: from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and bluegrass Music: 11 a.m. With a play area for children, ax throwing, music pickers jamming, Fowler’s Country Ground Cornmeal, and a huge on list of vendors. Also the Bible Aires Baptist Church will be there making and selling Apple Butter, and Cheryl and Jill who you just heard from will be cooking Beans and Hoe-Cakes , Fried Bologna, and Fried Apple Pies. There is a shuttle service from multiple locations in Townsend on both days to alleviate parking congestion. More information: Smokymountains.org/townsend fall festival.

Links:

Townsend Fall Festival: https://www.smokymountains.org/townsendfallfestival/

RIO Townsend Links:

The Church where Amy recorded Cheryl Free and Jill Hepperly is Rio Townsend: https://riotownsend.com/

Rio Restore is the name of the particular fundraiser that the funds from the foods that they are cooking at the Fall Festival will be directly going to. They have a facebook page describing this particular mission: https://www.facebook.com/events/851391833018828/?ref=newsfeed

or by email: info@riorestore.org Or visit a local Rio Church in Blount Knox, Louden County

Smoky Ridge Apiaries: https://smokeyridgeapiaries.com/

Apple Butter, Bible Aires Baptist Church, Morristown TN: https://www.facebook.com/people/Bible-Aires-Baptist-Church/100064721914706/

Jay Tipton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0q8mXYAIk8

Blue Ribbon Country Fair: www.gsmheritagecenter.org

Emi Sunshine (sang our theme song at the age of 9!) https://theemisunshine.com/

Cheryl Free, her daughter Jill Hepperly and Daisy at Rio Townsned. They will be serving beans, hoe cakes, fried bologna, and friend apple pies at the Townsend in the Smokys Fall Festival September 29, and 30 as a fundraiser for their mission https://www.facebook.com/events/851391833018828/?ref=newsfeed . Photo: Amy Campbell.

Judy and Coley O’Dell, owners of Smoky Ridge Apiaries: https://smokeyridgeapiaries.com/ They will be selling honey, Muddy Pond Sorghum, and all of their related skin care and craft products at the Townsend in the Smokys Fall Festival. Photo: Amy Campbell.

The self-serve honey stand at Smoky Ridge Apiaries: https://smokeyridgeapiaries.com/

The Bible Aires Baptist Church from Morristown TN will be cooking and selling apple butter at the Townsend Fall Festival. https://www.facebook.com/people/Bible-Aires-Baptist-Church/100064721914706/

Jars of apple butter from Bible Aires Baptist Church, Morristown, TN. They will have this apple butter for sale at the Townsend Fall Festival. https://www.facebook.com/people/Bible-Aires-Baptist-Church/100064721914706/


Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

by Amy Campbell


S10:E10. 3/11/2023

Helping the Honey Bees with D and Jim Brown of Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN

Helping the Honeybee with D & Jim Brown, Honey Rock Herb Farm owners, Louisville, Tennessee. This is their 36th year of growing the good life at Honey Rock Herb Farm, and they have raised bees for over 40 years. They share with us how important bees and pollinators are to all of us, how to attract them, and steps we can take to protect them. Also, in Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series, he features Hot Slaw from Polk County, TN.

Honey Rock Herb Farm http://www.honeyrockherbfarm.com/

Fred Sauceman https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi Sunshine (sings the theme song) https://theemisunshine.com/

D and Jim sit at their farm table in the Herb House at their Honey Rock Herb Farm, Louisville, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell 2014.


Flora De Mel, Meadery, Rossville, Georgia

by Amy Campbell


S9:E5. 02/12/2022

Today, we are setting the table with Mead. My guest is Jay Martin, Co-Owner of Flora De Mel, a Meadery and full-service restaurant located in Rossville, GA, just over the state line of TN from downtown Chattanooga. Jay is a proponent of urban beekeeping. This business sprang out of he and his business partner and wife Stephanie’s beekeeping. And in this show, Jay will answer the question of …What is a demijohn. In Fred Sauceman’s Potluck Radio Series, he features the last surviving Blue Circle restaurant in Bristol, Tennessee.

Links:

Flora De Mel, Meadery https://www.florademel.com/

Fred Sauceman https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman

Emi sunshine (sings our theme song) https://theemisunshine.com/

Jay Martin, co-owner of Flora De Mel poses with demijohns at Flora De Mel, Rossville, Georgia. Photographed by Amy Campbell, October, 2021.

Flora De Mel, Rossville, Georgia. Photographed by Amy Campbell, October, 2021.

Bar stools in Flora De Mel made by chair maker Tyler Rogers, Chattanooga, Tennessee.