April 14, 2023

Special Growers, Maryville TN and Chattanooga Bakery's Moonpie

S10:E15. 04/15/2023

Today, Special Growers, Maryville, TN, offers workforce development training and employment for people with learning differences who age out of high school and special education classes. Their story and Chattanooga Bakery’s Moonpie on my latest podcast and radio broadcast. Hope to have the honor of your good company! Thanks! At Special Growers, they grow culinary herbs and cut flowers and are supported by area restaurants, corporate donors, and community members. Kent Davis is our guest, a founding member of Special Growers, and a parent of a child who benefitted from Special Growers. In Fred Sauceman’s Pot-Luck Radio Series, he features the Moonpie, which has been made for over 100 years by the Chattanooga Bakery in Chattanooga, TN.

Special Growers: https://www.specialgrowers.com/

Be sure to find the Special Growers instagram page for the latest events. Their handle is @specialgrowers

April 15th: Special growers plant sale beginning 9:00 A.M. - Amicis, Maryville, TN.
April 22: Maryville Farmers’ Market beginning 8:30 A.M. downtown Maryville, TN.
April 29: Pop-Up, Neighborly Books, downtown Maryville, TN.

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

Chattanooga Bakery, makers of the Moon Pie for over 100 years: https://moonpie.com/about

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

Participants of Special Growers, Maryville, TN.

Participants and staff at Special Growers, Maryville TN.

Pictured Left to Right are Harrison Inman, employee and artist at Special Growers and Director of Operations, Maria Laughlin.

Pictured left to right me (Amy Campbell) with Kent Davis. Kent is one of the founders of Special Growers and a parent of a child who benefitting from this organization.

Pictured left to right are Elise McDaniel, Maggie Gallaher, John Dudok, and Emily Knapp employees and volunteer at Special Growers, Maryville, Tennessee.

May 13, 2022

Little Mountain Flower Farm, Maryville, Tennessee

by Amy Campbell

S9:E18. 05/14/2022

Little Mountain Flower Farm, Maryville, Tennessee.

In this episode, we are setting the table with pretty flowers. Or, as many of us here in Tennessee pronounce it, purty flares. No, it’s not about the eating. It’s about the joy and beauty flowers add to this life. That little touch of grace to the table, the home, or that person in need or celebrating a special event.

Amy’s guest is Susie Kawar, owner and operator of Little Mountain Flower Farm, located in Maryville, TN. A design-centered floral farm and studio. Susie grows her flowers and puts together farm-fresh floral arrangements by hand in her floral studio right on her family’s farm.

She, her husband, and her children grow these flowers with sustainable, regenerative growing practices. In addition, they have a sweet yellow dog named Paris that found them when they lived in Paris, Tennessee. This is an inspirational story of a person who has teamed her creative skills with a firm knowledge base in agriculture and has made a living for herself and her family doing something that she loves to do that brings joy to others. She will also share one of her go-to recipes for a refreshing tabouli salad.

Also, in Fred Sauceman’s Pot Luck Radio series, he features one of Tennessee’s oldest restaurants, Nicks of Kingsport, Tennessee.

Links:
Little Mountain Flower Farm: https://www.littlemountainflowerfarm.com/
Fred Sauceman: https://www.facebook.com/fred.sauceman
Nick’s, Kingsport, TN: https://nicksrestaurantandcatering.com/

Susie Kawar, Owner of Little Mountian Flower Farm, Maryville TN https://www.littlemountainflowerfarm.com/ . Photo: Amy Campbell. 2022.

This is Susie and her family’s dog, Paris. Paris found them when they lived in Paris, Tennessee. She was in horrible condition when they first found her, and Susie and Michael gave her the medical attention she needed and a good home.

Susie in her hoop house with some of her flowers.

Susie holding one of the little yellow flowers she grew.

Broasted chicken from Nick’s of Kingsport, Tennessee. Photo: Fred Sauceman. https://nicksrestaurantandcatering.com/

July 9, 2021

Special Growers, Maryville, Tennessee

by Amy Campbell

Season 8, Episode 26. 07/10/2021

Today, we are setting the table with herbs and cut flowers grown by Special Growers. Special Growers is a non-profit organization located in Blount County, TN. This organization offers workforce development training and employment for people with disabilities who are aging out of high school special education classes. At Special Growers, they grow culinary herbs and cut flowers and are supported by area restaurants, corporate donors, and community members. Kent Davis is our guest, a founding member of Special Growers, and is also a parent of a child that benefitted from Special Growers. In Fred Sauceman’s Pot-Luck Radio Series, he features the Moonpie, which has been made for over 100 years by the Chattanooga Bakery in Chattanooga, TN.

Links:

Special Growers: https://www.specialgrowers.com/

Link to Special Growers Summer Dinner Series: https://www.specialgrowers.com/event-details/summer-garden-dinner-series-with-matt-gallaher-emilia-italian

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

Chattanooga Bakery, makers of the Moon Pie for over 100 years: https://moonpie.com/about

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