Meet Becky and Cale Kimmons of Pleasant Union Farm in Canton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky and Cale Kimmons.

Becky and Cale, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My husband, Cale, had shared his dream of farming with me when we first met. His grandfather had farmed for a living, and Cale had developed a love for it through watching his grandfather. Soon after we were married, we began the journey of finding a place for our farm and knew we wanted to include a wedding venue to share the space with others.

In 2013, we found the perfect spot for our farm and began the work of building the farm from the ground up. We are a family owned and operated farm, so we have learned how to do everything from planting blueberry bushes to installing fencing for our dairy goats.

The property was used for logging long before we purchased it and there was an existing logging road on one side. This is now the gravel road leading back to the wedding barn.

That road allowed us to set the wedding barn back on the property and provide a beautiful, private space for weddings. The barn has heat and AC to provide guest comfort year-round and is surrounded by woods and gardens.

We are constantly learning and growing the farm and weddings. Currently the farm provides all-natural blueberries, blackberries, seasonal vegetables, free range eggs and goats milk soap and lotion. The wedding focus is on our all-inclusive packages which help us provide a beautiful wedding to our couples and simplify the wedding planning process.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Building a farm and a business at the same time has definitely been challenging at times.

The first year the blueberries produced, the birds got to almost all of the berries before we did. Cale and I have also worked full time while we are building the farm, so that means long nights and weekends. Cale would often come home from work during the summer and then work on the farm until 10pm that night trying to keep up with everything.

When we first started planning for the wedding barn, they were in high demand without many options. In the time, it took to get permits and build the barn, several other venues also opened in the area. We worked with some wonderful couples and families that first year though and learned a lot along the way. It has been a great opportunity to really establish what makes our farm unique and find the couples that really fit with our venue.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Pleasant Union Farm – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our goal is to really incorporate the local community into the farm and weddings. We worked with some wonderful North GA vendors to create packages that cover everything from catering to floral. Once our couples book with us, we send them a welcome package that provides referrals on local spas for the bridal party, activities for the grooms (local golf courses, clay sport shooting, guided fishing) and more. Canton is a really charming town with some great restaurants for bridal luncheons or rehearsal dinners.

We also host Farm-to-Table dinners during the summer that feature local chefs and farm fresh produce. Guests are seated at communal tables and meals are often served family style. The early summer and fall dinners are our favorite because the weather often allows us to open the barn doors for the dessert course and enjoy the garden view as guests finish with dessert.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are excited to include the Farm-to-Table option in our weddings starting in 2018!

One of our new wedding packages features a Farm-to-Table menu focusing on local, in season ingredients and floral styles using locally grown flowers. It gives couples a unique experience that truly ties the wedding into the farm.

Cale is constantly planning on ways to expand the farm. We are hoping to grow our fruit offerings in 2018 by adding strawberries and a small orchard. Our plans tend to be long term (fruit trees take 3 – 5 years to produce), but it helps us learn patience!

We are also entering the cut flower market in 2018. The main focus will be to provide flowers for our Farm-to-Table weddings, but we hope to expand and provide local flowers for Farmer’s Market and florists, also.

Pricing:

• Our wedding packages range from $11,745 – $16,695.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1994 Pleasant Union Rd.,
  Canton, GA 30114
• Website: www.pleasantunionfarm.com
• Phone: 404-277-7685
• Email: pleasantunionfarm@outlook.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasantunionfarm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PleasantUnionFarm/

Image Credit:
Anchors Aweigh Photography
Cynthia Sparks Photography
Kaptured Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.