Blackberry Farm Spring Newsletter 2014

seasonal news & notes ~ SPRING 2014

LOOKING AHEAD. LIVING WELL. As I watch the farm come to life again this Spring, I am reminded that life is a journey—and so is wellness. Wellness is on my mind all the time lately, with our nearly-completed wellness and spa center rising in the distance. I’m proud to announce that the Wellhouse will open June 1, after a busy year of building. I am so eager to share this monumental opportunity with you! For years, I’ve been urging friends and guests to get closer to nature—from cracking open a window at night to enjoy the fresh, life-giving air of the Smoky Mountains to filling your plate with nature’s abundance, picked right from our gardens. In fact, embracing nature—and nature’s balance—is the foundation of Blackberry’s wellness philosophy. We’ve invested years of consideration and careful planning into developing our new wellness approach. And that same thoughtfulness is reflected in the Wellhouse. It’s not just a new spa. Instead, we’ve created a place of renewal and transformation where you can change your lifestyle and improve your health.

At Blackberry Farm, we define wellness as making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life, toward a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Here, we don’t advocate harsh regimens like detoxing, fasting, or “dramatic cleanses” where change falls apart when you return to regular life. That’s not wellness. Instead, our philosophy emphasizes a balanced, sustainable lifestyle that lasts beyond the borders of Blackberry Farm. True wellness is a whole-life pursuit, with room to embrace both the pleasure of fine living and the exhilaration of physical activity.

Read about Sam’s own personal journey to wellness, and the transformative spa experience that started it all, at blackberryfarm.com/wellness.

You’ll experience this lifestyle in every corner of the farm—from massage tables that help you recover and relax to cooking classes that teach you how to nourish your body with real food to challenging yoga classes that teach strength and focus. This is the Blackberry way of wellness. And every step is a step closer to your own health and vitality. Nestled at the foot of the beautiful Smoky Mountains, our Wellhouse marks a new chapter for Blackberry.

And when you come experience it on your next visit, we hope it will inspire a new chapter for your life too. Come see for yourself this Summer when we open the doors to the Wellhouse.

Sam Beall, Proprietor

THE WELLHOUSE NEARS COMPLETION ELEVEN MONTHS AGO, we broke ground on our remarkable new Wellhouse. This exciting journey, however, has been in the making for years. Our new wellness and spa center reflects our unique Smoky Mountain perspective and a deep commitment to natural balance. The culmination of careful study and skill, it will be an inspiring place for renewal and rebuilding designed to encourage the lasting pursuit of a healthy, fulfilling life. And we’re right on schedule for our June grand opening! Right now, our teams are finishing the serene landscaping and beginning

to install and decorate the interiors. We are thrilled to welcome everyone to the Wellhouse throughout June for a Summer wellness celebration. All month long, we’ll offer all day spa passes, weekly lectures, classes and demonstrations with wellness experts and master healers who will share wisdom on beauty, fitness and wellness. Beyond the Wellhouse, we’ll also open the doors to the Barn for healthy cooking demonstrations and Wellness Walks through the garden—all to motivate and inspire those eager to achieve wellness from the inside out.

Wellness and skincare expert Tata Harper will make the journey from her farm in Vermont to our farm in Tennessee for a special event. Join us as Tata shares her philosophy and wisdom on body and skin. Call our Reservations Team to learn more about Tata’s visit and exclusive offerings on all Healthy Living Stays booked by April 1st.

JUNE 1–2

Barbara Close, the founder and CEO of Naturopathica, will share her unique perspective on the latest scientific advances in skincare and her passion for healthy skin during this informative session.

Call the Reservations Team for details.

JUNE 8–10

rest, relax & rejuvenate When you step into the Wellhouse, we want you to be immediately surrounded by the peace of the Smoky Mountains. It’s why we’ve spent an entire year thoughtfully developing the new spa and wellness menus. Inspired by the region’s mountains, gardens and forests, our Wellness Director Amanda Anderson and her team refreshed the offerings to include signature treatments like our new Blackberry Time Experiences, as well as spa-goer favorites like Reiki and deep tissue massage. The Wellhouse spa menu will also include classic beauty services, like a shampoo and blow dry, styling and nail care. With new, distinctive menus created for all guests and all interests, there’s something for everyone to experience at the spa.

RHYTHMS OF THE FARM Blackberry Farm’s bucolic setting offers a treasure trove of natural resources to create one-of-a-kind spa treatments found nowhere else, so we created new Blackberry Time Experiences. Inspired by the natural rhythms of the farm, we draw on seasonal plants, flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables and other healing ingredients to develop distinctive face and body treatments for different times of the year.

F E AT U R E D T R E AT M E N T

MAKE YOUR MOVE The Wellhouse is also home to our inspiring new fitness facility, yoga studio and workout room. Here, we will host daily yoga and barre, and faster-paced activities like Zumba. With personal trainers on staff, guests can take advantage of individual consultations and training sessions anytime during their stay. Reservations for classes begin April 30th. Contact our Reservations Team today to learn more about the Wellhouse, and enjoy exclusive offerings when you make reservations by April 1st for a Healthy Living Stay this June.

For Lay–by Time available June 1 As the sun hangs high, take respite from the heat of Summer. The body is drenched in a cooling cucumber mask to infuse the skin with much-needed moisture. While the body soaks up all the goodness, the face is treated to a hydrating facial using Tata Harper’s farm-fresh products. A scalp, neck and shoulder massage with fresh lemon verbena essential oils perk up the senses. The finishing touch is a Sheep’s Milk and Wild Flower Honey pedicure to ensure your legs and feet look and feel their best.

New Paths in Wellness At Blackberry Farm, we’ve been known to blaze new trails—so it’s no surprise that we are doing it again this year as we expand and deepen our nature-focused philosophy of wellness. Join us at the farm as we celebrate the beauty and bounty of nature in every part of the Blackberry experience, from our dinner tables to our hiking trails.

Active and Engaged From flowers returning to bloom to fish waking up the waters again, the energy that fills our corner of Tennessee in the Spring is an experience you can’t miss. That “alive-ness” inspires us to get outside and start new adventures. Two of our Spring favorites? Hiking in the Smokies and water sports, like paddleboarding or kayaking.

We’ll see you out there!

Deep in the woods, we find enhanced fitness, accelerated healing, increased mental focus and improved biological responses to reducing stress and disease. Groundbreaking scientific studies have demonstrated the powerful health benefits of a Japanese practice called shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing.’ Research found that trees and plants emit airborne compounds called phytoncides. These compounds have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, and when inhaled, they stimulate white blood cells to produce cells that fight against diseases. Recognizing this healing power of nature, Blackberry is proud to announce our new Deep Healing Woods experiences, a range of innovative wellness activities that impart the remarkable benefits of ‘forest bathing’ to our guests.

D E E P H E A LI N G WO O DS E XP E R I E N C E S • Earth Fit–Endurance Hike

• Deep Healing Woods Mind Focus

• Earth Fit–Forest Run

• Shinrin-Yoku Meditative Walk

• Deep Healing Woods Yoga

Foraged and Found July 20–23 Discover the bounty of nature for yourself with this rare Summer foraging event, featuring legendary forager Connie Green, special Vintner Robert Mondavi, Jr. and our own foragers. A trip to Tennessee’s forests, special dinners and hand-selected wine pairings are included in this fascinating workshop.

TO LEARN MORE OR BOOK YOUR STAY, CALL

800.557.8864

Smoky Mountain Table: A Hands-On Workshop August 3–6 Take a behind-the-scenes journey through the farm with our Master Gardener John Coykendall, Garden Manager Jeff Ross, Cheesemaker Ryan Burger, Butcher David Rule and Preservationist Shannon Walker.

Chefs Joseph Lenn and Josh Feathers will also help you create—and eat!— an iconic Southern meal, paired with stunning wine and wine tips from Sommelier Andy Chabot.

The Long View on Food Our whole-life approach to healthy eating equips us to properly nourish our bodies without denying the pleasure of fine food and drink. We look to nature for guidance, combining the benefits of farm-fresh, seasonal food with the wisdom of a colorful diet to ensure a balanced blend of vitamins, enzymes and nutrients—and we can teach you to do the same in our new cooking and nutrition classes. Our aim is to fuel the body and satisfy the spirit.

ADVENTUR & WELLN E SS Advent ureE & Wellness at Blackberry Farm 2014

ADVENTURE TO U R D E S M O KI E S S PR I N G

PA I N T BA L L C H A L L E N G E

March 30–April 2

July 11–13

Our exhilarating Tour de Smokies cycling event returns with a plethora of rare personalities, including former pro and top Cycling Coach Robbie Ventura, former professional Cyclist Bob Roll, Wine Importer Todd Mathis and Dr. Allen Lim from Skratch Labs. Open to riders of all levels.

This year’s Team Paintball Tournament promises to be an exhilarating challenge for groups of family, friends and even co-workers.

The Beall family will join the challenge to play with guests in a beautiful mountain setting.

B L A C K B E R RY FA R M B I K E TO U R W I T H T R E K T R AV E L

August 10–13

May 11–16, May 18–23, November 16–21 See Blackberry Farm by bicycle with an exclusive five-day cycling getaway from a world leader in luxury bicycle tours. Enjoy beautiful rides in the Smokies, canoeing, kayaking, a farm tour, private yoga and spa sessions, a farm-to-table cooking demonstration and wine-paired dinner.

T H E G R E AT E ST R I D E Led by Proprietor Sam Beall and retired Pro Cyclist George Hincapie, this rare cycling adventure features daily 80-mile plus rides punctuated by overnight stays at some of the Southeast’s finest private inns. Open to ten avid cyclists.

WELLNESS TO U R D E S M O KI E S FA L L

BA L A N C E D L I F E & B O DY

September 21–24

May 4–7, July 6–9, October 26–29

Join top Cycling Coach Robbie Ventura, Tour de France Veterans George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde, Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey and Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson for a cycling adventure through the Smoky Mountains, featuring remarkable food and wine. Open to avid cyclists.

These retreats are devoted to helping our guests find balance. Join a special team of guest nutritionists and yoga teachers—including experts Laura Bailey and Tammy Stokes—for a refreshing experience that will arm you with secrets for balancing fitness, nutrition and, yes, indulgence.

B O DY A N D S O U L December 4–7 Yoga Instructor Laura Bailey will lead guests in quiet, reflective and healing yoga sessions designed to restore balance to body and mind, while Jenifer Kuntz of Raw and Juicy will coach guests on juicing, raw foods and nutrition.

H E A LT H Y P R O D U C T S

here & at home

After a long, diligent search, we are proud to have discovered—and even more excited to share—the world’s very best natural body and face products, including Tata Harper, Naturopathica, Tosha and Co., Lucrece and more. From small-batch skincare blended on an organic farm in Vermont to the industry’s most scientifically-advanced skincare formulas, every product we will use in the Wellhouse (and offer for sale to our guests) will deliver unparalleled results and experiences—all while supporting our Foothills farm ethic, environmental values and high standards.

Be sure to call the Reservations Team for information about our exclusive events in June featuring special guest personalities and skincare experts from these esteemed brands.

mindfulness in action

Working together, mind, body and soul all play an essential role in healthy balance. We learn to understand and appreciate each one when we take the time to be still, listening to the rhythms of our thoughts, our body and our environment.

DEEP ROOTS IN EDUCATION Because we want to empower guests to make choices for a long and healthy life, we’ve rooted our wellness program in education. Instead of cycling through millions of diet books, weight loss claims and strict programs, we want to shed light on a lifestyle that is more balanced—and more sustainable. So visit us at blackberryfarm.com/wellness to find healthy recipes, exercises, juicing ideas, reading suggestions and more to help you on your path to personal wellness.

FINDING YOUR CENTER Over the last fifty years, mind-body research has demonstrated the vast health benefits of meditation, including lower blood pressure, reduced muscular tension, and enhanced focus. At Blackberry Farm, we are not strangers to this powerful practice and its restorative powers. We teach moment-to-moment mindfulness techniques that help guests develop awareness, understanding and ultimately, self-acceptance as you focus and relax. As you breathe deeply and meditate, your body mends the internal wear and tear of stress and fatigue.

horizons

EXPANDING HORIZONS

In addition to nourishing body and soul, we’re committed to feeding minds at Blackberry Farm. Each year, we develop a series of enrichment events that encourage you to dive into a new art or further develop your skills in some of your favorites.

BEHIND THE LENS April 6–9 Step behind the lens and find a new perspective in photography with this inspiring workshop from Photographers Heather-Anne Thomas of beall + thomas photography and David Marx of the Rocky Mountain School of Photography. You’ll learn about lighting, capturing an image, editing and cataloging images and framing the best shots.

A L A BA M A C H A N I N ’ S W E E K E N D AWAY W O R K S H O P June 27–29 Experience the joy of craftsmanship at this unique, hands-on workshop from Natalie Chanin, the owner of Alabama Chanin. The weekend includes materials and personal instruction for a custom, do-it-yourself garment, incredible meals and special gifts from the nationally-acclaimed studio.

A RT I ST S I N R E S I D E N C E call for date Enjoy and reflect on the renowned work of Multimedia Artist Red Grooms and Southern Painter and Sculptor Andrew Saftel at Blackberry Farm this summer. Red Grooms is known for his colorful, pop-art style multimedia constructions that comment on the human condition, while Andrew Saftel explores the passage of humanity in modern civilization through his own mixed media constructions on wood panel.

1471 WEST MILLERS COVE ROAD WALLAND, TENNESSEE 37886 WWW.BLACKBERRYFARM.COM

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HOTEL FOR FOOD LOVERS

#1 RESORT IN CONTINENTAL U.S. & CANADA

#1 FOR SERVICE IN NORTH AMERICA

2013 JAMES BEARD AWARD BEST CHEF SOUTHEAST

IN AMERICA 2013 • BY BON APPÉTIT MAGAZINE

SPRING AWAY! Call for details about our March & April weekday rates.

800.557.8864

THE WELLHOUSE opens JUNE 1ST Book by April 1st to enjoy exclusive offerings for Healthy Living Stays! Call our Reservations Team to learn more.