06/09/2026
Yesterday's lunch was a simple reminder of why I care so much about all things local.
The cucumbers and mint came from our garden. The strawberries came from Hickory Corner Farms. The honey came from right here at The Pine Branch (which if course came from Bill, our most local honey producer 🤗). Nothing fancy. Just good food, grown and produced by people I know and care about.
Long before The Pine Branch existed, I was serving on the board of Slow Food, involved in the Tennessee homesteading community, and involved in Pick TN. Through those experiences, I had the opportunity to meet hundreds of farmers, makers (which often are both simultaneously), beekeepers, artists, and small business owners across our state. What struck me then, and still does today, is how many people are pouring their creativity, skill, and heart into building something meaningful within their own communities.
One of the things I love most about supporting local is that it creates a future for the things we say we value.
This year, our community really showed up for Hickory Corner Farm's strawberry season. Every basket purchased, every visit made, and every photo shared sends a message that locally grown food matters. It tells farmers that their hard work is appreciated and that there is a place for what they're building.
Because when local farms, local makers, and local businesses are supported, they're more likely to be here next year. And the year after that. We get the gift of enjoying more seasons filled with "grown right here" goodness, more handmade products, more family businesses, and more of the things that make a community feel like home.
The Pine Branch was built around that belief. Every jar, bottle, candle, and handcrafted item on our shelves represents someone's dream and someone's commitment to creating something worthwhile right here in Tennessee.
The more we invest in one another, the stronger our communities become. And that's a return worth celebrating.
With that being said, stay tuned for a very important announcement tomorrow! ✨️
