Starting Over...as Farmers or Zoo Keepers?

As we close in on living on the farm for 1 year, our expedition to flip our land into a thriving farm has molded us into the proud shepherds of almost 80 animals, 77 to be exact: 55 chickens and 13 ducks roaming the pasture looked over by 3 incredible dire wolves otherwise known as Great Pyrenees, 1 full-grown "barn" cat and 2 kittens who keep the mice at bay inside the barn, 2 of the sweetest Cavaliers to ever exist, and a chocolate furred hamster who hoards his bedding and food in his tube like a proper doomsday prepper. But how on Earth did we get here? Let me preface by stating that despite having a family tree ranging of actual farmers to farmer enthusiasts, the farming gene remained mostly dormant in my life only expressed in my obsession to dead-head flowers and keep the yard as bright and colorful for as long as possible. Now for that I could most certainly be relied upon, and combined with my husband's creative watering systems, obsessive placement of shrubs, trees, and a small garden filled with various produce, our yard in the Village of Pinehurst was absolutely exquisite and likely pushed our sale over the edge. After living in our idyllic neighborhood for almost 10 years and creating the home and garden of our dreams, we packed our bags one last time (approximately my 33rd and husband's 34th) and headed home.

They say home is where the heart is and I believe that's true. As an Army brat turned Army wife, your home becomes what you make of it regardless of location. Although Hawaii was one of the most beautiful, Kansas the most fun, and Pinehurst was like living in a Hallmark movie surrounded by the best of friends, community, and amazing food, home to me was always the slice of heaven tucked away along the Southern Outer Banks. Living close to four hours away from my hometown of Beaufort only grew harder as relatives became older and the distance to the other side of I-95 felt like driving to the ends of Earth. Dramatic, yes, but if you're not familiar with the impossibility of navigating effortlessly around Fort Bragg, then you may not fully understand doing so in the thick of Friday's rush hour and Sunday slow drivers. Moving closer to the coast was an absolute shift in our otherwise comfortable life built in Moore County, but despite the heartache of leaving that life to start anew, the light on the other side grows brighter by the day.

On our farm, lovingly named Savvy B's of NC, we will be embarking on restoring our 30 acres starting with the soil and providing enrichment to Eastern North Carolina for years to come. We're not exactly sure what this will look like in its entirety or how we'll get there, but our faith that God has put us on this path is unshakable. We hope to be good stewards of the land and to bring people to Jesus through healthier food options, sustainable living practices that nourishes one's body, and returning to our roots to living more simply and aligned with our Christian values. Once the veil has been lifted, you cannot unsee what you now know and we are committed to standing for the truth and to walk alongside others in navigating new, yet very old, ways of living.

As the farm continues to expand into more life, which will hopefully include cows and a donkey one day, this new adventure grows each day with intensified curiosity, hopefulness, and affirmed dedication to stay on course.