We live in a rural, southern town about an hour south of Nashville. It is unincorporated, which basically means we have no red lights, a K-12 school, a post office, a country store, and a diner. It’s called Santa Fe, and it’s pronounced Santa Fee.
I picked up a sticker from the Kindred Farm store one summer weekend. You’ll see the mural painted on their barn as you drive by or pull up for a weekend cinnamon roll.
Although our corner of Middle Tennessee is a bit off the beaten path, there certainly isn’t anything uninspiring about this place. Our small community is full to the brim with kind-hearted folks, farmers, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and dreamers.
Farmer, Author, and Creative Christine Bailey and I on her front porch at The Kindred Farm.
Christine and I met through mutual friends right as they made their way from Texas to Tennessee and settled down on Snow Creek Road, just a few minutes from our place.
They started their farm growing organic greens for natural grocers alongside incredible farm-to-table suppers. 100+ folks seated together at beautiful, long tables - for the first year or two, my wildflowers graced the tables until Christine’s started blooming.
Promo photos for Kindred Dinner, 2018
I love how Christine and her husband and chef Stephen bring people to the table- a way they are cultivating community.
“Kindred Farm is a place where you can come and be nourished: find connection in the land, in community, and around the table. Slow down, exhale, and then take some “kindred” home with you, wherever you go.” - Kindred
A couple of years later, Christine started writing a book about her experiences and writing down recipes.
Reading Christine's book on my front porch, 5.6 miles up the road from her porch.
For The Kindred Life book
Me, Christine and Stephen’s Korean Kimchi after recording The Kindred Life Podcast Ep. 33
I don’t have to go far from my front porch to be inspired by my community.
-sb