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Top six favorites: Moss Mountain Farm

June 21, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 16 Comments

I was fortunate enough to snag an invite to Moss Mountain Farm last week. P. Allen Smith and Arkansas Grown hosted Farm2Home14 at his extraordinaryย farm on the banks of the Arkansas River. Nothing I canย write will possibly do justice toย myย Moss Mountain Farm experience. No way.

I have managed to narrow down my top sixย favorite things about the day in noย particular order because that’sย expectingย too much.

1. Poultry. P. Allen Smith raises heritage breeds and has made it his mission to create interest in poultry farming among Arkansas children. Hisย Poultry Palace is the Ritz-Carlton of chicken coops. Impressive!

P Allen Smith Poultry Palace

 

Poultry Palace - Moss Mountain Farm

Poultry Palace

 

2. Porches.ย When you are blessed with a sweeping view of the Arkansas River, you must create aย spectacular porch, right? The entire back of P. Allen Smith’s home is devoted to porches, a downstairs dining and sitting porch and an upstairs sleeping porch complete with copper bathtub.

P Allen Smith Back Porch with a View

Downstairs Dining Porch

 

sleeping porch at Moss Mountain Farm

Most Perfect Sleeping Porch Ever

 

3. Farmers. Meeting and talking with local Arkansas farmers was a highlight for me. These farmersย are passionate, committed, hard-working and dedicatedย to educating the people of Arkansasย about the benefits of growing and eating local.

Local Arkansas Farmer

Scott Heritage Farms – fashionable farmer:)

 

Take a look at the beautiful baked goods fromย Ethan’s Heirloom Gardens. Ethan’s Heirloom Gardensย is a natural/sustainable grower of both heirloom plants and produce. Even theirย recipes are heirloom, many dating back to the 1800s. If you live in Central Arkansas, be sure to check them out.

Ethan's Heirloom Gardens

 

4. Gardens. Theย flower gardens were as gorgeous as any botanical garden I’ve visited.

Moss Mountain Farm

Gigantic Lilies…

 

And the vegetable garden?ย Iย could only dream of growingย such a bounty. The air smelled fresh and green. It was all I could do not to drop to my knees and begin working in the dirt. Or cry. I almost cried several times. It was one of those experiences. Iย picked warm berriesย fresh from the vine.

Moss Mountain Farm veggie garden

Vegetable Garden at Moss Mountain Farm

 

5. Food. The food providedย was enough for an entire weekend. Maybe a week! It goes without saying that everything was fresh and local and make-your-eyes-roll-back delicious. Lunch included US Foods 2013 Next Top Product Winnerโ€”the black bean burger created by Chef Jerrmy of Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville.ย Love.That.Restaurant. Don’t you? (Chef Jerrmy and his family sat at my table for lunch. I tried to finagle the Greenhouse Grille quinoa recipe from him… I’m still hopeful.)

Black Bean Burger created by Chef Jerrmy, Greenhouse Grille

Award winning Black Bean Burger on Greek Yogurt Bun with Citrus Slaw, Pepper Jack and Avocado Aioli.

 

Following a huge lunch which included the incredible dessert you see below, local farmers brought tasty samples of their goodies (salsa, bread, wine, beer, ice cream, fruit, veggies, cookies, fried pies, everything). And ifย that wasn’tย enough grazing, the day ended with appetizers, cocktails, and live musicย beneathย a 300-year-old Post Oak. Heaven in Arkansas, people.

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Peach Raspberry Sauce

 

6. Friends.ย I loved hanging out with all my Arkansas Women Blogger friends and new friends from Moss Mountain Farm and Arkansas Grown. Such fun! How did I get so lucky?

Farm2Home14 - Moss Mountain Farm

Arkansas Women Bloggers Farm2Home14

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:

Song of Arkansas Official Music Video

Filed Under: Arkansas, Gardening, Travel Tagged With: Arkansas Grown, Arkansas Women Bloggers, Moss Mountain Farm, P. Allen Smith

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Comments

  1. Barbara Tate says

    June 21, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Really enjoyed this. I thought you captured the Farm very well. I enjoyed seeing the “Ritz-Carlton of the chicken coops”.

    Reply
  2. Linda Beason says

    June 21, 2014 at 8:26 am

    Oh my goodness, Talya , it looks so close to heaven, beautiful, delious. I would love to go there! I love Arkansas and you show things I have never seen. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Donna Vincent says

    June 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Reading your blog is always a treat. I always feel like I’m experiencing everything right along with you. Moss Mountain does sound wonderful – happy you were able to go. Would love for you to drop by sometime!

    Reply
  4. dana says

    June 21, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    This was wonderful! I love traveling with you!!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 22, 2014 at 7:29 am

      Thanks! Nice to have a travel partner:)

      Reply
  5. Kathy Maples says

    June 21, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Wonderful blogpost Talya, thanks. Makes you want to be there. Loved the Arkansas UTube song.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 22, 2014 at 7:29 am

      Thanks Kathy. You should visit if you can. It is such a peaceful place nestled in the beauty of Arkansas.

      Reply
  6. Martha Orlando says

    June 21, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    Oh, what an amazing experience, Talya! I love the restaurants in our area which try to buy from local farmers – always fresh and delectable.
    Your photos were great, too, and really brought the story home.
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 22, 2014 at 7:28 am

      I try to support local too Martha. Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Suzy says

    June 21, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    Seems you had a great time and how cool to meet up with fellow bloggers. I love the dining porch and the view from there is amazing. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 22, 2014 at 7:27 am

      Me too Suzy. The porches were amazing!

      Reply
  8. gina says

    June 22, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    It was so lovely to spend some time with you, #palsie. (I’ve come around on that hashtag ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 22, 2014 at 3:42 pm

      I agree #palsie!!

      Reply
  9. LifeAsAConvert says

    June 22, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Loved living vicariously through your post.

    Reply
  10. Dorothy Johnson says

    June 23, 2014 at 5:51 pm

    Beautiful place. I hope to visit it some day. Sounds like a great day all way round.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 24, 2014 at 6:44 am

      you must!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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