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As a journalist, I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews with people from all walks of life: a tarot card reader in a college town, a Republican party chairman in the Midwest who refuses to fly, and a small town tour guide with a fascination in Greek mythology and ancient architecture.
I’m very privileged to have an occupation that not only allows me the opportunity to expand my worldview, but also encourages me to explore how different people’s values manifest themselves in the homes they build, the jobs they do, the groups they belong to, and the ways they interact with others—especially me, an outsider with more questions than answers and a member of the media, which is always one of the least trustworthy institutions. This month, I sat down with Steve and Wanda Turner whom I’m coining as the “hosts of Hickman County.” As I mentioned earlier, I’ve interviewed a lot of people in my nearly 30 years on earth, but never have I had an interview end in an exchange of peach cobbler for an azalea until this one. Wanda told me, “it’s just how we do things around here.” After spending the better part of an afternoon with Wanda and her husband, Steve, I can tell you that her quote just about sums up the couple’s life mission and legacy—to expose everyone they come into contact with to everything good in life including a connection with nature, a caring and kindly teacher, and the gift of hearing song performed passionately. I’m so excited to be able to share a sneak peek of their story with you today (the next issue doesn’t release until May 1st!). In the following audio clip, you’ll hear about Steve’s many run-ins with the beloved Minnie Pearl. You’ll discover how Steve’s uncle discovered Minnie even though he had no ties to the music industry; he was vice president of a local branch of a national bank.
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Photos submitted by Glen Miracle of Laughing Frog Farm.
Permaculture is a land design philosophy that emphasizes incorporating natural surroundings and processes as well as growing an abundance for both individuals and groups.
The objectives of any permaculture project are to make something out of what looks, to most people, like nothing. Through permaculture, rural tourism providers are able to use the natural resources at their fingertips to build a business that will support them and their community for decades to come. Any rural tourism effort with a permaculture bend will continue providing for the community even after a business shuts down. It will be like food insurance for your community, creating a spot designed for hands-off growing and public consumption. In rural areas it will always be difficult to get investment from large companies or the state—let alone federal—government. When rural communities do get funding for projects, there are rules attached that inevitably change the nature of the community and slowly kill the unique aspects of it that made it a tourism destination in the first place. By combining rural tourism with permaculture projects, communities can take back control of their financial health from distant interest groups, and place success within reach of those who make a rural community what it is. This type of tourism also encourages the health and well-being of area residents who take on these self-sufficient projects and pass on good food, unique experiences, and economic prosperity to their peers. Nationwide Examples of Permaculture Tourism Rural areas across the country are benefiting from a reorientation of their economics from agriculture and manufacturing to tourism. The Finding Country team talked with three permaculture tourism businesses in various regions of the country: Tennessee, Texas, and California. We wanted to get an idea of how this hybrid of rural tourism and permaculture - what we conclude is “permatourism” - plays out in different parts of the country where knowledge of sustainable agriculture practices and the acceptance of tourism as an economic factor varies.
Overnight stays range from a weekend to a couple of months at a time. A construction worker drove from Summertown to Spring Hill, Tennessee every day for two months because he enjoyed the ambience of Kathleen’s facility so much.
The main “product” Kathleen is selling isn’t necessarily commercial. Many companies say they're selling peace of mind; Kathleen is actually creating it and inviting others to experience it. Want to read more? Get the rest of the story FREE by signing up for the full April edition of Finding Country Magazine!
Bucksnort Fire & Rescue President Jamie Denson takes the steering wheel of one of the volunteer department's vehicles. | Photo by Gabrielle Reed
I put the finishing touches on my hair - a dash of hairspray to add volume - and shut the door to our A frame home.
Twenty steps across the street and I was at the Denson house. Jamie Denson was my neighbor I’d known for more than a year. When I moved into the A frame, he and his sons helped me squeeze the nicest piece of furniture I own - a faux leather couch - through our narrow doorway. As I approached his backyard, Jamie slid out from underneath his truck. The engine blew out on it the week before, and his hands were covered in grease from performing a diagnostic assessment. His whole face had an ashy tinge too, which was unrelated to the truck. The day before, he spent six hours helping fight a brush fire. A Bobcat exploded engulfing 20 acres of wooded land into flames.
Want to read more? Get the rest of the story FREE by signing up for the full April edition of Finding Country Magazine! |
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