S10:E12. 03/25/2023 Bluestem Hollow, Greenback, Tennessee

Today we are setting the table with a farm visit. We visit with a farmer, garden manager, farm manager, and Chef from Bluestem Hollow, located in Greenback, TN. They also operate a downtown Knoxville urban farm - The Old City Gardens on Depot Ave. On the Greenback farm, they raise grassland beef, chickens for pastured eggs, and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, along with a lovely event venue. Chef Robert Allen (formerly of Citico’s) is on property. He creates elevated farm-to-table meals on the farm for baby showers, weddings, and corporate events, and he also heads the catering program. Today, we focus on their CSA program that they are signing people up for now and hope to have all shares sold by early April.

We also hear from Lois Caughron, known as the last woman out of the cove, meaning Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This used to be her and her late husband Kermit Cughron’s home. Lois and her daughter reminisce about Kermit, his love for honey bees, honey, and saving cucumber seed.

Links:

Bluestem Hollow: https://www.bluestemhollow.com/aboutcsa

For more information on Lois and Kermit Caughron: http://www.cadescovepreservation.com/

Emi Sunshine (sang our theme song when she was 9 years old): https://www.instagram.com/theemisunshine/reels/

Chris Burger, Karri Garvey and Brenna Wright of Bluestem Hollow, Greenback, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell.

Chef Robert Allen of Bluestem Hollow, Greenback, TN. Photo: Amy Campbell.

S6:E11. 03/26/2022

Tennessee Morel Hunt with Chris Burger

Today we are setting the table with a good ole fashioned morel mushroom foraging in search of a wild food that delivers the umami taste. My guests are Chris Burger Farmer, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Century Harvest Farms Foundation in Greenback, TN. Chris was kind enough to invite me on a morel hunt for this mushroom that only appears from late March through the first few weeks of April annually in Tennessee. We also will be joined in the kitchen at Century Harvest Farms Foundation by Chef Robert Allen. He will share how he cooks morel mushrooms and what he pairs them with.

Chris Burger, Century Harvest Farms Foundation: https://centuryharvest.org/

Chef Robert Allen: https://www.robertallenculinary.com/a-destination