* You want to get my attention, run a headline like The New York Times did today that says A Decorated Shed; A Farm Goes from Crops to Candelabras. It’s about this woman who bought an old farm, got practically a whole petting zoo full of animals, grew crops to donate to an area food bank so that her kids could get that experience, and then, after her kids became teens and were pretty much over this, she converted the farm into a very cool and eclectic space for entertaining. Just look at the greenhouse and the “fire element.” You can keep your ocean, lake, and mountain homes. I’ll take this farm!
* If the farm life calls to you, but you want the upscale, designer-friendly version, thank you very much, you may want to consider moving to what’s called a conservation community, where an organic farm is a community amenity. Sounds crazy? It’s not. It’s happening all over the country. There is one about an hour from where I live named Serenbe, and a number of home owners there use that home as a weekend getaway. The newest “hamlet” being built there right now is named The Nest. Homes in this neigborhood are small-footprint cottages that are right next to the organic farm and stables and are within walking distance to restaurants, shops, art galleries and a spa. Each home is certified to EarthCraft Homes “green” standards, and they are beautiful. I’d move there in a heartbeat.
* For a farm vacation that doesn’t scrimp on white-glove service, you may want to check out Blackberry Farm in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. This luxury hotel and resort on 4,200 acres is one of the top-rated properties in the world. The farm’s heirloom produce, wild flower honey, farm-fresh eggs, and artisan cheeses from East Friesian sheep show up on your fork that night at dinner.
* Bring a little feeling of the farm to your home by putting in a raised-bed vegetable garden, a flower cutting garden, a small orchard (I have figs, blackberries, blueberries, and pomegranates), or even just some herbs in pots. Cut a bouquet in the early morning dew, arrange loosely in a recycled jar, serve some nice homemade jelly and bread, and consider your home your own personal B & B. If your city allows backyard chickens, even better. If you can’t find a sunny spot in the back, try a mailbox garden or front yard garden.
Want help making your farm fantasy an everyday reality? Let service pros on Kudzu help you build a potting shed, greenhouse, or chicken coop. Hire gardening experts to finally help you put in those raised beds. Add a cute cottage fence around your garden to keep deer and critters out. And update your kitchen to make it as efficient as possible for preparing all that good, fresh food. Find more urban homesteading tips here. Now, how about we light that fire?
