Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle ( The Blue Hen Farm) Cook.
Hi Danielle ( The Blue Hen Farm), we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all began in 1998 when my husband and I, newly married with two daughters purchased a small plot of land nestled along the Etowah River in Cherokee County. My husband grew up farming, and I grew up loving the outdoors, so it was a pretty easy decision. We started with a few chickens and a small garden. We both had full time jobs at the time, and honestly, I look back and wonder how we did it. It was a ton of work. We spent weekends building fences, barns, and just trying to keep our heads above water, It wasn’t until a few years ago that I stepped away from teaching and made the decision to manage the farm full time and officially start The Blue Hen Farm. Of course, I work harder now, physically, than I ever have. The “just a few chickens and small garden” expanded into a small apiary (12 bee hives), cut flowers, produce, and honey. We did our first farmer’s market last year, and it was so rewarding, sharing the fruits of our labor with the community. The conversations about gardening, the importance of pollinators, and nature, the fresh produce and flowers grown locally without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. It’s a passion of mine, and being able to share that with the community is priceless. The farm is more than a business; it’s dedication to the land, and a promise to care for our animals, crops, and nature with respect and responsibility.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Enjoyable and rewarding, yes! Smooth? Not at all. Farming is expensive, intensely laborious, and it never stops. There are no weekends off. Every few months, when the exhaustion really sets in, we find ourselves joking about selling it all and moving into a quiet neighborhood. But somehow in that same conversation, we quickly shift to trying to figure out if we can fit a few more gardening beds into a space. Lol. At the end of the day, when we step back and see everything we’ve built, almost 30 years, it’s worth it. Especially, when the sun sets over the farm. Yeah, those sunsets get us every time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in local honey, cut flowers for bouquets and small arrangements, and fresh produce. Everything we sell, comes from our farm. What I am most proud of is our commitment to keeping the farm completely spray-free. We don’t use any pesticides or chemicals on anything we grow. Protecting the health of the soil, our crops, and the surrounding environment is a priority. We’ve also dedicated part of the farm to native perennials to create a natural space to support butterflies and other important pollinators. In many ways, our farm has become a sanctuary for wildlife. As green spaces become fewer and farther between, we feel a strong responsibility to preserve these habitats on our land and to inspire others to do the same and/or support those who do .
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I would tell anyone wanting to buy a farm or get into bee keeping or large-scale gardening to find a mentor or connect with people already doing it successfully, Knowledge is acquired through experience and having someone you can shadow, ask questions of, observe and volunteer for can make all the difference and will save you a lot of time and mistakes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thebluehen_
Image Credits
Danielle Cook The Blue Hen Farm
