Georgia Magazine - March 2023 - 26

fresh, farm-to-table cuisine,
The Farmers Table restaurant (directly
behind the General Store) offers breakfast,
lunch and dinner and features
seasonal farm specials.
" A lot of folks don't realize that
we sell our meats and products to
everyone, not just grocery stores, "
Jenni Harris says. " You don't have to
come here to try our grass-fed beef and
lamb or tallow moisturizer. You can
order it any time from our website. "
The Harrises also offer in-depth
White Oak Pastures is a zero-waste operation. At the Makerspace, cattle hides are turned into
leather products and pet chews, and tallow is transformed into soaps and candles.
The unintended consequences of these farming practices troubled
Harris, so in 1995 he made the bold decision to return to the farming
methods of his great-grandfather. He gave up hormones, antibiotics and
grain feed. In 2003, he stopped applying chemical fertilizers to the pastures.
A couple of years later, he introduced sheep to the farm with the idea that
raising different species on a single parcel of land benefits both the soil
and the animals. He established multi-species rotational grazing practices
and built on-site abattoirs designed by famed animal scientist and animal
welfare proponent Temple Grandin.
Today, White Oak Pastures raises cattle, sheep, goats, swine and
poultry using regenerative, holistic production practices. The conversion-
and its eventual success-made Harris a leader in the world of organics,
food sustainability and humane animal husbandry. He's been showered
with awards and accolades and has been spotlighted in dozens of podcasts
and articles.
Old-style agriculture meets modern tourism
For visitors who want to stay awhile, White Oak Pastures offers four
one-bedroom cabins nestled beneath towering longleaf pines, a twobedroom
Pond House situated on the peninsula of a 15-acre pond, two
houses in Bluffton and an RV park with full hookups.
" We are proud of what we do here, and we invite guests to come, spend
the night in one of our cabins, dine with us, tour our farm, learn about what
we do and how we do it and take that knowledge home with them, " Jenni
Harris says. " Everyone should know how their food is produced. "
It's common to see guides walking small groups of visitors to the farm's
classroom, where they learn about the history of White Oak Pastures and
the basics of regenerative agriculture. Guests learn about the leather
workshop, the tallow kitchen and the hide-barn pet-chew operations at
the Makerspace. These hourlong private tours are held on weekday
mornings and require reservations. The Saturday walking tours do not
require reservations.
The General Store's shelves are filled with locally produced artisan
goods, along with a wide selection of White Oak Pastures products, such as
fresh meats and poultry, pet chews, honey, leather and tallow goods, home
goods and apparel, such as T-shirts and ball caps. For visitors who want
26 Georgia Magazine March 2023
workshops and classes on topics such
as soap-making, hide-tanning,
beekeeping, mushroom cultivation,
and canning and preserving.
White Oak Pastures is more
than a farm. It's a living, breathing
classroom demonstrating how
farms large and small can support
nature's food chain by using only sun, soil, rain
and animal-rotation schedules to produce nutritious
foods. Together, the animals help sustain a
stronger ecosystem, and the livestock and pastures
are healthier for it.
" Stewardship of the land and respect for our
livestock are among the most important lessons we
pass down from parent to child, " Will Harris says. " It's
hard work, but it's worthwhile. "
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer living in
Adairsville.
For more information
White Oak Pastures, 101 Church St., Bluffton.
(229) 641-2081. whiteoakpastures.com.
Upcoming classes and events
at White Oak Pastures
Check whiteoakpastures.com for information
about times and prices for these and other classes,
workshops and events.
* Herbs: Foraging and Concoctions, March 18
* Immersive Introduction to Regenerative
Agriculture, March 20-21
* Spring Celebration on the Farm, March 25
* Fundamentals of Agricultural Resilience
(Climate Focus), March 27-29
* Understanding Agriculture with Gabe Brown,
April 9-15
* Strawberry U-Pick and Preserves Workshop,
April 22
* Beginner Beekeeping, May 6
* Flower and Leather Jewelry for Mom
Workshop, May 12
* Fundamentals of Agricultural Resilience
(Soil Focus), May 22

http://www.whiteoakpastures.com http://www.whiteoakpastures.com

Georgia Magazine - March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - March 2023