Balltown Bee Farm is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina
in Bryson City. Nestled on three sides by the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, the farm is beside Lands Creek and within walking
distance of Fontana Lake.
We transitioned from
gardeners and hobby beekeepers to full-fledged farmers after leaving
the Cashiers area in 2005 and moving to Quintin's homeplace in Swain
County. Kelley previously worked as a blacksmith and was
owner/operator of Her Anvil Blacksmith Shop in Glenville. Quintin is
an award-winning editor and investigative reporter who left the
Asheville Citizen-Times three years ago to concentrate on the farm. She continues to
write, on a freelance basis, for area newspapers and other regional
publications.
We focus on chemical-free
beekeeping, mixed vegetable production, spring transplants and
shiitake mushrooms. We use no synthetic chemicals or fertilizers and
farm in a sustainable manner. This year, thanks to a grant from WNC
Agricultural Options, we will be adding a 10-doe commercial meat
rabbitry.
