Community Highlights: Meet Deborah Corrao of Cedar Crest Family Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Corrao.

Hi Deborah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our back story regarding the development and legacy of Cedar Crest Family Farm from Deborah and John Corrao: Deborah’s interest in herbalism, which included growing herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes began in high school.
Her maternal grandparents owned a farm (Cedar Crest Farm) in Kentucky, giving her the experience of gardening and caring for livestock. John on the other hand, grow up in the suburbs of Long Island, New York! The common thread they shared from their first meeting was an interest in health and a respect for conservation of land. Beginning a small garden was initiated early on for educating the children but it became a serious pursuit as Deborah began to suffer from several health issues by the 1990’s. Modern medicine options were not helping, so she investigated Eastern and Western medicine, Kinesiology and Functional Medicine. Herbs, Diet Changes, Lifestyle Modifications began to turn her life around. The practitioners from these complimentary medical options gave Deborah her life back like never before! Not only did her physical health improve while applying herbalism remedies and clean eating (whole foods) changes into her life, these changes transformed her mental outlook. Deborah began incorporating these standards into her children’s lives and her husband, John with excellent results.
Everyone in the family became fascinated with the healing modalities in herbs, flowers and consuming foods without pesticides-harmful preservatives. Ideas and dreams were tossed about for years within the family of growing organic food, medicine, etc. but it wasn’t until Deborah and John retired from full-time jobs in 2013 that the actual plan of Cedar Crest Farm began to unfold into reality. While Deborah took agriculture classes, joined Herbalism Groups and planned out the gardens and orchard to create the organic dream, John built chicken coops, prepared compost areas, tilled ground for the master plan! Herbs and Edible Flowers were installed and recipes created for health and well being. In the beginning, we shared our products with friends and after much encouragement decided to open up our product line as a business.
All six children (and spouses) although grown now, enjoy helping out as they can on the farm. Our daughters offer their own expertise with specific products we make together and offer on the website. Each family member has their own testimony of the positive changes they have experienced with introducing herbs, flowers and holistic health standards into their lives and it is a blessing to see them thrive with this knowledge. Opportunities to share tips on growing organic herb and edible flowers with groups has been a joy for us as well. Participating in local farmers markets and fairs is another way we share the message of healthy living with herbs and flowers. Our grandchildren are enthusiastic helpers, especially during spring planting days and harvest time. The pride in their faces of learning about the cycle of growing food, herbs and flowers has been wonderful to observe. Our goal with them is to nurture the confidence and knowledge of sustainability with the land. Learning to work with nature, not against it. Growing things is a part of healthy living, even if it is a patio garden!
If this is not possible, it is important to seek out those gardeners or farmers that offer a better standard of foods to support health. For John and I, it has truly been a labor of love and applying our faith (& prayers) in every day activities… has delivered good years of harvesting, and some slightly disappointing years, but the journey is well worth it and our health is better for it!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Locating fellow gardeners that grow organically, has been a challenge. As in any career, it’s important to build a network of like minded people. Helpful techniques shared by others regarding gardening and raising livestock with out use of harmful pesticides, antibiotics and steroids is always welcome.

There is an attitude that organic is just a gimmick, to make more money for the growers. This is so far from the truth, we try to educate people about healthy choices. Which means…..it doesn’t have to be expensive. It does require a person to be informed, educated and well versed in false advertising on products. Translation- the consumer HAS to take responsibility for their selection in foods, medicines and lifestyle options.. Your food & environment will either heal you or hurt you, it’s your choice.

We’ve been impressed with Cedar Crest Family Farm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Although Deborah was exposed to agriculture pursuits as she grew up, her career choices took a detour for many years. She was fortunate to use her winnings in scholarship pageants (in the 70’s and 80’s) to fund college. Following college, she was asked to sign with modeling agencies in Atlanta and worked in the fashion arena and commercial work in television. Her growing family meant leaving the agency and taking time to raise her children. Once the children were in school, Deborah worked as a Young Adult Librarian in the Sequoyah Regional Library System. John, entered the marines after high school and later served as a police officer for Cobb County, eventually moved into a position at Lockheed Martin. Although the life experiences of Deb and John were different, the common thread bringing them together was the belief in setting goals and working toward them, raising children with strong values of faith, family and a desire to to achieve a holistic lifestyle.

****Take a peek into our day to day life on the farm, we post photos and tips on cooking, gardening, and decorating through
the instagram site, also the farm Facebook and the website! Cedar Crest Family Farm !

We grow herbs, edible flowers and fruit! Our first concern with any garden is on soil health. Organic, Biodynamic Methods and Companion Planting Philosophies are the best ways to work with nature not against it. Tossing out the Big Box stores massively produced bags of chemicals, pesticide sprays and artificial means of achieving that beautiful lush look is the first step in the right direction. As a gardener you must develop patience and respect for the wildlife in your area.
It’s a good idea to join a group or make friends with someone who grows (anything) organically, this helps to improve your knowledge of what and how to grow in your zone. Always do your research before planting!
Community gardens are another ideal way to get your feet wet (pardon the pun) as you try out your green thumb.
Our interest in learning and utilizing these growing practices were from our personal health journey….our health excelled dramatically as the health of our soil and food standards improved.

Cedar Crest Family Farm, is indeed a family farm. We call ourselves a boutique type of farm, operating on 4 acres in Cherokee County. Although Deb and John are the primary caretakers of the property, we also have a company (Green Lifescapes,LLC) that assist us with large projects. Our grown children also help with various jobs needed to run the business. From seed to harvest, we appreciate the help from the grandchildren too! Their enthusiasm is contagious as they learn the cycle of growing plants with cooking and medicinal value. Hopefully, the legacy of cultivating, growing, and sharing information with others to elevate health will continue with the next generation. Sustainable living on a small piece of land is possible!

Our products are featured on the website, but we are always adjusting to the seasons and customer desires when making new items. We offer shipping as an option, and we deliver if it is within a specific mile radius (with a small fee). There are classes that are offered as pop up events at the farm on edible flower arranging & herb garden design.
Our daughter, Charlotte, trained and certified as a Holistic Nutritionist and Herbalist assists in recipe and nutrition protocol in our farmhouse kitchen.

If I were to highlight some of our original products, that continue to be in demand with customers, I would point to the “herbal tea blends” . Each tea offers specific health benefits from the herbs – flowers as well as taste delicious! Pairing with these are the amazing local honey’s infused with our herbs to sweeten your tea! Honey is an incredible healing agent to your body! Another front runner in our product line are the Herbal Salt Blends! We have 3 flavors, made with Himalayan Salt, Sea Salt and the herbs from our gardens. Listed here are the Basil-Parsley Blend, Rosemary-Lemon Thyme Blend & lastly we offer the Tuscan Blend (Italian Flavors). I cannot fail to mention our product fit for a queen or king….the lovely, delicate and seasonal product, The Rose Petal Jelly! It’s a little taste of heaven. Every product created with quality ingredients, no harmful dyes, preservatives or fillers!

I am proud of our jellies, especially the flower jellies (violet, honey suckle, lilac, rose), its an unusual treat, a great gift idea and scrumptious for any meal on biscuits, toast, pancakes!

One of the things that stand out for us, as we continue our journey in this gardening- farming venture- we try to educate customers on the products they purchase. The healing properties in the teas, honey’s, salts, jellies, oils, vinegars, extracts, etc. Each herb and flower carries the ability to heal specific areas of the body AND mind.

Herbal Body Products is another area we apply our herbal healing arts! Using dried herbs, flowers and clean ingredients, we have herbal hair spritz, salve for skin issues, infused oil to reduce pain, bath soaks and aromatherapy sprays, just to name a few.

We can’t forget our featherd ladies, the eggs we sell from our small flock of 40 hens, are full of wholesome nutrition. Organic feed, vegetables, fruits and grass land are their buffet choices daily.
In conjunction with the topic of chickens, Deborah’s personal accomplishment was having her childrens book published, “Once Upon A Chicken”! This story celebrates one of our favorite hens, Miss Buttercup, a golden colored orpington buff.
A story with lovely water color illustrations of how a little hen comes to accept the love of family.
Available on Amazon (it’s got great reviews) or it can be purchased from the farm and signed by the author!
Local book stores, schools and libraries have reserved time with Deborah to read her book and she takes Miss Buttercup the hen, too! Buttercup travels in her special carriage….the children love it!

The farm receives calls for orders during normal business hours and on Saturdays. Typically Sundays we are closed.
We welcome questions about our products and we are happy to work with individual needs.

From May through October we offer flower arrangements for reasonable prices (made from herbs and edible flowers!)
Samples of these are seen on our IG, our Facebook site, and the website.

The most important thing to take from this, is continue the conversation about choosing healthier food options, feeling confident in growing your own herbs to enhance your food and medicinal remedies four yourself and family!
We all want to thrive in this life not just survive.
We can do it, let’s learn together!
Be proactive, ask questions, advocate for yourself – grow something!

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
answered this in the previous block

Pricing:

• herbal teas $6 (4 oz)
• herbal tea $10 (8oz)
• herbal Infused Olive Oil $15 (8 oz)
• Herbal Salt Blends ($6-$10)
• products range from $6-$20 per item

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cedarcrestfamilyfarm.com
• Instagram: cedarcrestfamilyfarm (Woodstock, Ga.)
• Facebook: cedarcrestfamilyfarm in Woodstock, Ga.