Farm Table: The General Farm, 101 Church Street, Bluffton, Georgia.
Over in rural Bluffton, Georgia (population 107), the Harris family has worked tirelessly to revitalize both their farm and community. A sixth-generation, 152-year-old family farm, they focus on what they call radically traditional farming.
“We’re a working farm and have been since the beginning,” says Jodi Harris Benoit, director of farm experience. “Our hospitality happened purely organically—we didn’t set out to do this.”
Starting in 1995, Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures, began to transition the farm away from industrial agriculture techniques and back to its origins. Today, they raise cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, and rabbits using the same methods Harris’ great-grandfather used. They rotate animals systematically through their pastures, allowing the cows to graze the grass, the sheep and goats to eat the weeds and shrubs, and the chickens to peck at the grubs and insects.
Benoit says their focus is now on revitalizing their hometown of Bluffton, including restoring the local General Store, originally built in the mid-1800s. The store offers everything from locally-produced goods to everyday necessities—and happens to be the only place within 15 minutes of Bluffton that you can purchase a cold drink.
“Within 10 years, we’ve made this desolate town a destination,” says Benoit.
The Farmer’s Table, a restaurant inside the General Store, originated from their need to provide 21 meals a week to their 165 employees and features fresh farm food. The General Store and Farmer’s Table is open seven days a week and located at 101 Church Street, in downtown Bluffton.
Written By: Kathryn Murray