In the breathtaking foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, nestled between the serene waters of Lake Watauga and the bustling heart of Johnson City, Tennessee, you’ll find Spade & Spoon Farm. This isn’t just any farm; it’s a vibrant culinary garden and homestead, meticulously cultivated by the incredibly passionate Sarah Long. More than a place where food grows, Spade & Spoon stands as a powerful testament to sustainable agriculture, robust community building, and a deep, abiding respect for the journey of food from the soil to your plate.
Sarah Long, a true triple threat—writer, farmer, and chef—has masterfully sculpted a unique space where her diverse culinary background and love for Appalachian cuisine beautifully converge. Her journey, she shares, began in the comforting embrace of her grandmother’s Southern kitchen, where the traditional flavors of the region first etched themselves into her culinary soul. This rich foundation was then expanded and refined through international adventures and studies, ultimately leading her to establish Spade & Spoon as a dynamic hub for contemporary, sustainable Appalachian fare.
Just two years ago, in August, Sarah and her husband Brett embarked on this incredible adventure, planting the first seeds of their small farm. Then, last March, they expanded their green footprint significantly, adding a contiguous 7 acres with the purchase of the neighboring farm. Sarah has also been successfully running her Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a clear demonstration of her well-established commitment to nurturing local food systems.
A Deep-Rooted Commitment to Organic and Sustainable Farming
Spade & Spoon Farm wholeheartedly embraces organic farming practices, placing the health of the soil and the purity of their produce at the forefront of their operation. This steadfast commitment permeates every aspect of their work, extending to several key sustainable techniques:
CSA Farming: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
At the very heart of Spade & Spoon’s community engagement is their robust CSA program. For the uninitiated, a CSA allows individuals to become “members” of the farm by purchasing a “share” of the harvest upfront, typically at the beginning of the growing season. This model provides farmers like Sarah with crucial capital to invest in seeds, equipment, and labor precisely when expenses are at their peak. In return, members receive a consistent, weekly (or bi-weekly) box brimming with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the entire growing season. It’s a beautiful, direct, and personal relationship between the farmer and the consumer, fostering transparency and building invaluable trust.
For the Farmer, CSA Offers:
- Financial Security: Those upfront payments provide a stable income stream, significantly reducing the inherent financial risks of farming.
- Market Certainty: Knowing the exact number of shares sold allows farmers to plan their planting schedules far more effectively, minimizing waste and maximizing yield.
- Community Support: CSA members are deeply invested in the farm’s success, often understanding and even sharing in the inherent risks of farming, such as unpredictable weather patterns or pest outbreaks.
For the Buyer, CSA Offers:
- Fresh, High-Quality Produce: Food is harvested at its absolute peak ripeness, often mere hours before delivery, resulting in superior flavor, texture, and nutritional value.
- Direct Connection to Food Source: Members gain invaluable insight into exactly where their food comes from and precisely how it’s grown, fostering a deeper appreciation.
- Dietary Diversity: CSA boxes naturally introduce members to a wider, more exciting variety of seasonal vegetables, encouraging culinary exploration and healthy eating habits.
- Support for the Local Economy: By purchasing directly from a local farm, consumers ensure their money remains within the local community, bolstering economic vitality.
Rotational Planting for Peak Soil Health
Spade & Spoon Farm skillfully employs rotational planting, also known as crop rotation, a time-honored technique vital for maintaining optimal soil health and minimizing the pesky issues of pests and diseases. This practice involves strategically planting different types of crops in a specific sequence on the same parcel of land over several growing seasons. For example, a farmer might plant a leafy green one year, followed by a root vegetable, and then a nitrogen-fixing legume.
The Benefits of Rotational Planting Include:
- Nutrient Management: Different crops have varying nutrient requirements. Rotating them prevents the depletion of specific nutrients in the soil. Legumes, for instance, are “nitrogen-fixers,” meaning they naturally add essential nitrogen back into the soil, significantly benefiting subsequent crops.
- Pest and Disease Control: Pests and diseases often specialize in particular plant families. By rotating crops, farmers effectively disrupt the life cycles of these harmful organisms, preventing their buildup in the soil and reducing the need for chemical interventions.
- Weed Suppression: A diverse planting strategy can naturally help suppress weeds by creating varying levels of competition for light, water, and nutrients.
Solar-Powered Irrigation: A Commitment to Green Energy
Demonstrating their unwavering commitment to environmentally sound practices, Spade & Spoon Farm ingeniously utilizes solar power to pump water from a nearby creek for irrigation. This innovative and incredibly forward-thinking approach dramatically reduces their reliance on conventional energy sources, thereby lowering their carbon footprint and contributing significantly to a more sustainable operation. This intelligent system ensures efficient water use, delivering it precisely where it’s needed most—directly to the hungry roots of the plants.
The farm focuses on cultivating a diverse array of fresh, organic produce, with a strong emphasis on beloved staples like crisp lettuce, nutrient-rich kale, hearty potatoes, juicy tomatoes, aromatic culinary herbs, and versatile squash. But they don’t stop there; Sarah also cultivates unique, often heirloom varieties not commonly found in conventional grocery stores, gently encouraging guests to embark on an adventure of new textures and flavors. Beyond the bountiful vegetables, Spade & Spoon also offers a popular egg share from their truly happy, free-ranging hens and meticulously cultivates various gourmet mushrooms and nutrient-dense microgreens, celebrated for their concentrated flavors and powerful nutritional profiles.
The Midnight Runner’s Supper Club: An Exclusive Farm-to-Table Experience
A cornerstone of the Spade & Spoon experience is “The Midnight Runner’s Supper Club,” an exclusive, on-farm private club dinner that offers an unparalleled intimate, slow-food-style dining experience. Seating no more than 12 guests, these al fresco dinners are served at charming family-style tables, fostering an immediate sense of camaraderie. Guests are not just encouraged, but truly welcomed, to arrive as strangers and depart as friends, building a genuine sense of community around the shared meal. Before dinner commences, guests are invited to leisurely explore the verdant garden, savor a refreshing glass of wine, or even interact with the farm’s delightfully charming, four-legged residents.
To participate in this coveted supper club, guests must become members, paying a modest annual fee. The menu itself is a highlight, a true showcase of Sarah’s innovative “root-to-frond” cooking philosophy, featuring creative Appalachian-fusion dishes that tantalize the taste buds. Past menus have boasted intriguing and delectable dishes like Wild Boar Devilish Eggs, Bison-Stuffed Crimini Mushroom Caps, Alligator Corn Chowder, hearty Venison Lasagna, and a delightful Bourbon Apple Crisp, each dish thoughtfully highlighting the farm’s unique, hyper-seasonal offerings.
Willy Nelson and Waylon Jennings: The Miniature Donkey Duo
Adding an extra layer of undeniable charm to the farm are two beloved miniature donkeys affectionately named Willy Nelson and Waylon Jennings. These incredibly friendly creatures are often available for guests to snuggle during supper club visits, further enhancing the welcoming and utterly unique atmosphere that defines Spade & Spoon Farm. Beyond their endearing personalities, Sarah also thoughtfully offers Equine Therapy sessions with this charming miniature donkey duo.
When we asked Sarah to elaborate on equine therapy and its benefits, she shared, “Besides the fact that they are incredibly affectionate, sweet, and wonderfully fun to pet, caring for equines—or in this case, miniature donkeys—is profoundly therapeutic. These animals are remarkably attuned to human emotions. This means a person needs to be conscious of their own emotional state and learn to adjust it, as the animal will often reflect those emotions. This process inherently builds significant emotional control.”
She further explains that it helps people become more self-aware, and vastly improves both communication and social skills. Sarah points out that while being around full-sized horses can be quite intimidating for some individuals, particularly those on the Autism Spectrum, miniature donkeys are far less imposing, making the therapeutic experience more accessible and comforting.
One other fascinating tidbit Sarah shared with a beaming sense of pride and palpable enthusiasm is that Willie Nelson is quite the runner! She excitedly explained the sport of Pack Burro Racing, which originated in 1949 in Colorado with the first World Championship Pack Burro Race and gained widespread fame through Christopher McDougall’s inspiring book, Running with Sherman. So, what exactly is it? Simply put, donkeys run alongside humans in races, sometimes covering impressively long distances. The inaugural race, for instance, was 23 miles!
Sarah proudly shares that her husband, Brett, is an internationally ranked Tri-Athlete and has even competed in the demanding Adventure Race in Virginia. With a twinkle in her eye, Sarah recounted telling him, “Here, read this book,” referring to Running with Sherman, “let’s find you a donkey to run with you!” Soon after, they acquired these two incredibly sweet animals from a breeder of mini donkeys in West Jefferson, NC. As it turns out, Willie Nelson is not only ridiculously cute but also surprisingly athletic!
In addition to these fine animals are dogs who are all rescues, and some of the chickens are rescues as well as the late pig named Little Jimmy Dickens. Sarah also rescued a cat which she is training to be the barn kitty/resident rat catcher, and who is appropriately named Slayer.
Sarah Long’s Spade & Spoon Farm is unequivocally more than just a place where food is grown; it’s a powerful testament to the transformative power of sustainable farming, the sheer joy of shared meals, and the profound beauty of truly connecting with the land and with one another. It’s abundantly clear that Sarah pours a tremendous amount of her soul, tireless effort, and unwavering dedication into this remarkable place. She is wholeheartedly committed to providing her customers with good, fresh, and truly unique food that nourishes both body and spirit. Sarah herself is a warm, intelligent, and incredibly passionate individual, whose enthusiasm for what she does is utterly infectious.