greenfarms
Sweet Providence Farm
by rives Elliot
Is it the rustic wooden
seasonal produce, along with fresh,
pasture-raised chicken, eggs, turkey,
benches and porch swings
beef and pork, all raised on the 75-
acre property, practically all of Floyd
leading into the store?
is represented here. Handcrafted cut-
Maybe it’s the inviting aroma
ting boards from Phoenix Hardwoods;
freshly-roasted, organic coffee from
of freshly-baked bread and
Dark Hollow Roasters; Biodynamic
freshly-brewed coffee when
produce from Waterbear Farm and
various raw “superfood” products of-
first entering; or the old- fered by Floyd-based Blue Mountain
timey signs on the wall, such
Organics. The few non-local products
for sale are generally organic or other-
as the one in the bathroom
wise “green”.
With as much as it offers and tending to twenty acres of
that reminds patrons not to let the chickens
Christmas trees, Sweet Providence Farm requires the collec-
inside. A memory and picture from simpler
tive effort of both John Paul and Rainey Houston, their 8 chil-
dren and the help of a handful of appreciated employees to
more wholesome times is waiting to greet make it all happen. At any given moment, sons John William
all who enter the Sweet Providence Farm
and Thomas can be found outside moving the Cornish Cross
chickens to fresh pasture, while daughter Ann is baking fresh
Market & Bakery.
cinnamon rolls for sale that day. Fifteen year-old Cora may be
breaking a chicken down into individual parts for retail sale,
More than a country store, Sweet Providence offers a skill for which she is noted. Both parents are in charge of
visitors an invitation to participate in community. Any given this daily choreography, along with mother Rainey tending
Saturday one can find exceptional food, good music and to the home-schooling and John Paul acting as partner at his
a conversation awaiting their arrival. Rife with local and socially-progressive investment firm, Avellar, Stone, Houston
24
Southwestern Virginia
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32