A career in economic development trains you to lean into data. Yet when it comes to describing the value of rural life, one writer finds more meaning in memories than metrics.
farming
Farm to Table: A Guide to Agritourism in Duplin County
From strawberries to muscadines to swine, discover five farms where you can enjoy the bounty of eastern North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Bicentennial Farms
For more than 200 years, these farms have been passed down from generation to generation, preserved through hard work, innovation, and commitment. Today, they’re part of a select group with a coveted title: Bicentennial Farm.
McConnell Farms Grows the Cream of the Crop
In Henderson County, a third-generation farmer whose family once grew produce for making baby food now creates fanciful flavors of homemade ice cream.
The Growing Game
A friendly competition between two Columbus County farmers inspired a festival where massive melons earn top honors.
Ripe Revival Presents a Farm-Fresh Idea
Inspired by his early years on his friends’ family farm, a Rocky Mount native started an organization that supports farmers — including those same childhood friends — while making fresh food more accessible in eastern North Carolina.
New Ground, Old Ways
In Robeson County, the couple behind New Ground Farm draws on traditional methods to tend their family’s land and feed their community.
Talking Turkey in Fairview
A Thanksgiving bird from Hickory Nut Gap Farm tells the story of a family that farms with love and intention. For generations, they’ve chosen methods that are good for their livestock, their land, and their community.
The Power of Love in Denton
Over five days in Davidson County, ag enthusiasts show off antique tractors, combines, and mowers with pride. At the Southeast Old Threshers’ Reunion, memories of the farming life — and the beloved engines that have powered it — endure.
