GOODNESS GROWS continued GOODNESS GROWS continued
Knollwood Fairways
1470 Midland Rd
Southern Pines
Private Golf Lessons
Personalized Service
910-692-3572
Largest Ping Dealer in the area
• Play
PGA Pros on Site
• Practice
Pro Shop
• Learn Golf Clinics
Driving Range
All Grass Tees
Club Fittings
Where do you play your golf ?
Try our sister course at Midland Country Club. 295-3241
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unusual finds such as strawberry rhubarb, chow
chow, whole baby beets, hot dill chips, pickled
okra, and jalapeno pepper relish bring a smile.
Customer favorites include the Conrad and
Hinkle pimento cheese from Lexington; Ash
County cheeses from West Jefferson; Phillip
Brothers ham and sausage. Home goods line the
shelves with linens, note cards, tee shirts, bags,
and garden flags. Along with the produce and
preserves, one can package up a little gift for a
friend from the little shop of antique signs and
rooster motifs with the wooden door painted a
rusty red calling you home to the country life.
The year was 1804, when the Blue family
left their homeland of Scotland and set sail
for America. With family in Lakeview, NC, the
family came to the new land with the hope of
uniting with family and farming as they left the
increasing taxation burden of farming in the
Highlands. When one of the ships entered stormy
waters at sea, two brothers were separated and
ended up in New York where they became dairy
farmers. The rest of the family arrived on course
and established the Blue family farm in Carthage
with River Daniel Blue being the first immigrant
Patriarch. Honoring their heritage, the name
Highlanders Farm became established in the
1970s. Registered on the National Registry of
Historic Places, the 400 acre farm continues to
welcome all home for a visit.
“My family came here and started with what
they knew,” tells John, the sixth generation of
Blue family farmers. “They started off raising
sheep, cattle, and corn. Soon enough they began
shipping out turpentine on the train until they
transitioned to planting tobacco which became
the mainstay for generations.” From tobacco to
growing berries and veggies for the farm produce
stand, John assures, “We work hard to keep the
family farm going. I grew up doing tobacco, but
with the market situations changing so much,
we had to go another way. It was a hard decision
to make because we have been growing tobacco
for generations. Our biggest challenge is keeping
the farm alive for another generation.”
As John and Vickie’s son Sam, III, grows into
the seventh generation, the choice to carry on
the farm is completely his decision. No matter
his answer, John recommends that Sam earns
a four year degree in something other than
agriculture—maybe pursue a degree in business
or finance.
Since 2008, Highlanders Farm Produce stand
offers the goodness of the farm. John is most
excited to sell peaches this year; the frost got
his crop last year. John smiles, “We expect a full
crop of Sandhills peaches along with homemade
peach ice cream.”
Locals can expect to find the typical home
garden produce of squash, zucchini, peaches,
cucumbers, and peppers along with specialties
that set Highlanders apart. John enjoys growing
melons boasting names of Oriental, Sprite and
Canary. Known for his tomatoes, John explains,
“We start the seeds in the greenhouse on
Thanksgiving and transplant about December.
In heating the greenhouses with the wood
burning furnace, there’s a lot of cost involved
with the heating, the labor, the plastic, and all
things required, but the end result is a really
a good tomato, low acid and vine ripened.
I’ve gotten to where I like them as much as a
field tomato. We normally carry the tomatoes
through August; when I cleaned out the tomato
plants last year some measured 24 feet long!”
Coming for the tomatoes like they do for
the strawberries and peaches, locals also enjoy
ice cream from Sam’s Creamery established in
2009. Vickie makes the homemade ice cream by
sourcing the cream from a North Carolina dairy
and the strawberries and peaches from the farm.
“Our ice cream machine makes three gallons at
a time, and I normally make six batches once I
get started. Making seven different homemade
flavors, favorites remain the strawberry, peach,
and butter pecan. We also supplement with 8
flavors of the Mayfield ice cream.”
With an outdoor porch and patio area
featuring hanging plants, sweet little tables, and
a place to swing, friends catch up on the news
from around the neighborhood. Vicki invites,
“Bring the family; bring the kids. We have
you-pick and we-pick berries. Come visit for
Saturday afternoon treats enjoyed on the porch
as you relax with family and friends.”
Life on the farm sets its roots deep into the
heart of the farmer whose days revolve around
the tilled earth as the earth around the sun. As
the growing seasons come and go, there’s not
much downtime on the family farm. “There is
always something to do. With the greenhouses,
the growing season becomes extended. However
during the off season, we’re cleaning up and
preparing for the season ahead,” explains John.
The reasons to visit Highlanders Farm are as
varied as the stripes on the watermelons. John
encourages, “We want locals to support local
agriculture in general—not just us, but all of the
family farms and folks around. The food we eat
and the food we sell is grown right here on the
farm; it’s not shipped in from Chili or Guatemala
or wherever.”
Come visit Highlanders Farm where the roots
run deep since 1804, and more than likely you’ll find
a little Sandhills sand sprinkled among the produce,
or maybe a silk worm within the silver queen. No
matter what, you’ll discover a new favorite where
goodness grows with a taste of home.
Getting to know John Blue.
What does a normal day look like for a
farmer? Early mornings to late evenings.
There’s not a routine in any way. We get up fairly
early, and I don’t plan on anything cranking or
any tire being pumped up. I’ve got a lot of old
equipment, and the older I get, I guess I’m just
getting more hard headed in trying to keep my
old equipment running. You never know what to
expect from one day to the next; you have to be
pretty flexible.
Who inspired you? My father Sam inspired
me. I’m Sam II; my son is Sam III.
Favorite thing about farming? Seeing a
finished product; watching things grow and
change. Just being out in nature. As long as the
tractor is running good—it’s like any other job;
some days are tougher than others.
Favorite vegetable? I really love greens!
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Butter pecan.
Moore County favorites? I love the small
town feel, but we also enjoy a good variety of
available things with many opportunities.
Schooling? After graduating from Union Pines,
I earned a degree in Agriculture from NC State.
Family? My two sisters Mary Ruth and Patti
are now both retired teachers. Everyone lives
around here.
Getting to know Vickie Blue.
Did you grow up in Moore County? Yes, I
grew up on a farm between Vass and Cameron
with my three brothers. My mom still lives on
the farm.
How did you meet John? We met on the
basketball court, since we were both involved
in sports in high school at Union Pines. From
Union Pines, I went to Peace in Raleigh, then
Appalachian, and ultimately got my master’s at
Pembroke. We ended up getting married after
college. I’m a retired kindergarten teacher. I
worked at West End for 26 years and finished in
Sanford for a total of 28.5 years.
Does Sam play sports? He plays football at
Union Pines. He’s 18 and is a Senior.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Butter pecan.
Moore County Favorites? The small, friendly
atmosphere where everyone is your neighbor.
Do you like to cook? Yes, and we eat a lot of
vegetables from the farm.
Favorite memory of growing up on a farm?
When you’ve been raised on a farm, farming
just gets in your blood. You love it! You love the
land. Growing up, we had tobacco, cows, hogs,
chicken houses. Farming is hard work, but we
also had a lot of good times playing and getting
dirty.
Least favorite job on the farm? My least
favorite job
was getting up
the hay in the
middle of the
summer—on
the hottest day
of the summer.
Favorite job
on the farm?
We got to drive
the truck out to
the pasture to
feed the cows at
night. Taking the
hay out was my
favorite job.
Highlanders Farm carries Farm Fresh produce.
Originally the Carthage & Pinehurst Railroad
train depot serving the county from 1907 to
1922, the Little Country Store still serves locals.
p.34 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 130