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The best reason to live here is the life here.
Serenbe Stories
Flipping The Script
Holistically Well
Shelf Awareness
Modern, Sophisticated Farmhouse
Leading A Balanced Life
Serenbe’s Recommended Reads
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Photo by Patrick Heagney
Podcast Chronicling Life In Serenbe
CONNECT WITH NATURE & EACH OTHER A 15th Anniversary Letter from Steve Nygren
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hen the first residents moved in 15 years ago, we had a master community design on paper and only a few houses built, yet I could already see what Serenbe would look like once completed. I could see how the winding country roads would connect our family’s first home in Chatt Hills – now The Inn and Farmhouse restaurant – to all the neighborhoods. I could see the varied styles of homes with welcoming porches clustered closely together among the woods and how we would preserve as much of the land as possible. I could imagine the restaurants and retailers connected by those trails, all coexisting as if they’d been here as long as the trees themselves. I realize now that my years in hospitality running the Pleasant Peasant Group – where I brought people together over good food in beautiful spaces - informs my current work and
what many now call community placemaking. Food and hospitality have always been at the forefront of everything I do – our country home became a bed and breakfast then an Inn, and we offered guests dinner then fried chicken lunches that turned into The Farmhouse restaurant. We built The Blue Eyed Daisy in the middle of the woods to give Serenbe’s residents and our guests a place to gather for coffee, a communal meal, or catching up with neighbors. Growing fresh local food is an integral part of the vision. “Agrihood” wasn’t a term when we planned an organic farm in the community, but we believed in farmers and connecting people to the natural food systems. We even integrated edible and medicinal landscapes into the neighborhoods so you’ll find blueberry bushes at the crosswalks. The
ways. They have established artist collectives and spiritual and intellectual groups. They have opened businesses, formed partnerships and published books.They support each other when in need with meal trains for every new baby or sickness of any kind. They pursue hobbies and vacation together, and are forging lifelong friendships. The buildings and the sidewalks, the sustainable practices, the preserved nature trails are all important features that form the foundation for this place we call Serenbe. The people and personal connections energize those spaces making this is a special place where waving to neighbors and strangers alike is commonplace. People tell me ‘to be touched by Serenbe is to be changed forever,’ but I know it’s the collective spirt of the people who live here that make Serenbe a true community. You, our residents and visitors, inspire me to do more. Thank you,
Photo by Mia Yakel
Photo by Ali Harper
Urban Land Institute (ULI) noted Serenbe as an early example when presenting a study of the now 600+ communities with farms. The James Beard Foundation brought chefs to Serenbe the last three years for their Chef ’s Bootcamp to educate and develop advocacy for sustainable food initiatives. The Rodale Institute is opening an agricultural research facility in Chattahoochee Hills that will focus on supporting farmers with organic and regenerative research and practices.Today we know regenerative agriculture is one of the top solutions to solve the climate crisis, and growing more local food and increasing small farms is an issue of both national security and economic sustainability. It has always been important to our family to support the arts and to protect the environment, so we established the Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture & Environment and made it an integral part of Serenbe’s legacy and metro Atlanta’s future. With donations from every homebuyer, grants, foundation support, and ticket sales, the Serenbe Institute boasts a multi-million-dollar budget with seven divisions and programs, and its creative culture has taken on a life beyond our family’s initial dreams.We now have a nationally recognized artist residency program, AIR Serenbe, Serenbe Playhouse, one of the top 20 regional theatres in the country, and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, comprised of former principals of The Atlanta Ballet. These critically acclaimed programs perform under the stars in nature and enrich us beyond what I could have ever imagined. You may know us for these cultural events dining at one of our restaurants or maybe you’ve read about us in Martha Stewart Living, New York Times, Oprah Magazine, The Today Show, Men’s Health, TIME, Marie Claire, Smithsonian and many more. The fifteen years we’ve spent in this beautiful community we call home have flown by, but underneath the beauty of Serenbe there is deep substance and larger purpose. We built this community out of a fear of the threat of pervasive sprawl degrading the rural and agrarian 40,000 acres of land that is now the city of Chattahoochee Hills. That fear turned into a passion for the environment and a belief and dogged curiosity that there must be a better way to protect the land. We took action to create a model of how to build with nature rather than against it. Our purpose is to develop in balance with the planet by connecting people with nature and each other. We do that in many ways but it starts with our respect for the land, the climate, and our neighbors. Becoming a developer has led me to the realization that conventional housing development is single-handedly responsible for creating many negative side effects of how we’ve been living over the last 75+ years. I was inspired by environmental leaders like Ray C. Anderson, Paul Hawken, Dennis Creech, David Orr, Prince Charles, and Richard Louv to build a sustainable future for Tomorrow’s Child. I have come to think of it as radical common sense. I was urged to require rigorous environmental standards. Our homes and commercial buildings have Southface’s Earthcraft certification and are now required to have geothermal heating and cooling. We found a way to reduce energy demand and build nature into our lives by only building on 30% of the land, saving 70% for more farms, parks, trails, and forests. I am compelled to share solutions to foster healthier and more sustainable places for people to live and in turn to reduce our carbon footprint. My hope is that Serenbe will be an agent for change encouraging balanced development that results in wellbeing. I knew what the community would look like fully built because I could see it completed in my mind. What I could never have imagined was all of the incredible people who have shown up. Serenbe residents have enriched each other and the community in a variety of
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Photo by Jessica Ashley
Photo by Jessica Ashley Photo by Stevie Seay
(Cover Photo) Steve Nygren feeds sheep at The Inn. For his vision and his ability to turn that vision into a reality, Steve Nygren was named the 2019 Most Respected Business Leader by Georgia Trend Magazine. Residents and guests enjoy catching up at the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. Serenbe’s homes are pulled close to the curb to encourage conversations with neighbors walking by. Children chase bubbles through the Wildflower Meadow at the May Day Festival. Residents gather for a party at the Nygren’s townhome. Aerial view of the Grange neighborhood, with Swann Ridge in the foreground and Mado in the distance. Grange homes back up to Serenbe Farms.
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SERENBE IN THE NEWS Domino
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Start a balanced life together in the dreamy forests and fields of Serenbe, a holistic resort outside of Atlanta.Wellness is the focus in all areas – food, the arts, and fitness.
Atlantans ventured past the city’s borders to the idyllic Serenbe community. The occasion? The neighborhood has launched the Serenbe Showhouse, bringing work by some of Atlanta’s top design talent to one 3,380-square-foot home.
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House Beautiful/ The Oprah Magazine
Nygren considers balanced growth to be Serenbe’s legacy. “There is a perception that to do something that helps the environment or saves land has a cost premium and, in reality, it’s the reverse,” he says. “That’s why we were able to bring developers and preservationists together – because economically, it’s more sustainable.”
The beauty of this urban town is that it’s located in the middle of rural country and is full of farm-to-table restaurants, shopping and miles of trails. More than anything, the community of 400 prioritizes living a slower, happier pace of life.
Modern Luxury JEZEBEL Tucked away in Chattahoochee Hills, Serenbe shines a spotlight on self-care, with nature at the forefront of its method, in addition to organic bites, fitness classes, and of course, retail therapy.
American Conservative Steve Nygren grew up on a farm outside Denver, on land that had been in his family since 1860. That land is now gone, subsumed into the suburban growth that has transformed Denver over the past several decades. Much like Boise today, Denver was once a small urban area surrounded by farmland, but the city’s boom has wiped out many of its agricultural operators.
Men’s Health UK Nestled in the rural outskirts of Atlanta is Serenbe: a quietly revolutionary wellness utopia, designed to keep its residents fit, thriving and happy. Could life in the bubble hold a cure for the maladies of an urban existence? Or should its promises be taken with a healthy pinch of Himalayan sea salt? MH Sampled a slice of the good life to find out.
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Lonny There’s a community garden ripe for the picking, a stone’s throw away from the cobblestoned main strip, where you can find all the cosmopolitan home comforts like espresso, croissants, small-batch chutney, and gourmet popsicles. This is Serenbe, where the clock is dialed back just enough so that it’s still attractive to city folk.
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Photo by Jessica Ashley
TELLING SERENBE STORIES Podcast Chronicles The Life In Serenbe
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amilies in the 1920s gathered around their home radios in the evenings to tune into favorite shows. Individuals in 2020 can listen to “broadcasts” of the over 750,000 podcasts available on their mobile phones or in their car during their commute. Media has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, and podcasts are just the latest way we’re able to consume and share stories, interviews, and news. Every niche audience out there can find a podcast that fits their interests. Want to listen to people talk about the latest television show you’ve binged? There’s probably a podcast for every single one. Fascinated by pens (that’s right, we said pens)? Then you’ll be happy to learn that seven (SEVEN!) years’ worth of episodes exist detailing everything you didn’t know you needed to know about pens and pen-adjacent accessories. And for anyone who is passionate about wellness, community building, hospitality, biophilia, or all of the above? They can tune into Serenbe Stories and hear how an afternoon drive changed Steve Nygren’s and his family’s life when he stepped into nature and took control of his destiny. The team behind Serenbe Stories started planning the podcast in early 2019 with just two microphones and a bulky, overly complicated sound mixer. They didn’t have any podcasting experience but were determined to share Steve Nygren’s story through the popular broadcast medium. “When our marketing team told me they wanted to do a podcast, I thought ‘well, maybe a few residents will listen to this. Either way it will be fun.’ I’ve been amazed to see the first season’s success and it’s reach. People are really enjoying it,” said Steve Nygren, Serenbe Founder and CEO. They definitely are. Enjoying it, that is. Serenbe Stories has skyrocketed to the top 25% of podcasts (based on downloads). The first season – made up of 12 episodes with Steve Nygren as the guest – takes an in-depth look at Serenbe’s vision, planning and history, and the measures Steve took to protect rural Chattahoochee Hills from traditional development (i.e. taking down trees for strip malls and big box stores). He and host Monica Olsen talk about why it’s important to build our communities thoughtfully, and how Steve’s hospitality background provided a unique perspective in how Serenbe operates. Season 2, co-hosted by Steve and Monica together, served to validate Steve’s journey by featuring some of the people he mentioned in the first season – those who inspired and encouraged him to create Serenbe. “It has been wonderful to look back and relive what I
now know were pivotal moments in both my life and in Serenbe’s development.” Seasons 1 and 2 are available on iTunes, Spotify and anywhere you can listen to podcasts. For more information about guests, episodes, and the Serenbe community, visit serenbestories. com. Subscribe today.
SEASON 2 GUESTS Richard Louv John Lanier Phill Tabb Nic Bour Mark Mykleby Alfie Vick John Graham
Dennis Creech Robert Rausch Chad Epple Tom Swanston Peek Family Tom Reed
(Top) Serenbe is a place where people live, work, learn, and play in celebration of life’s beauty. (Left to Right) The podcast chronicles their stories and why the best reason to live here is the life here.The Serenbe Stories team includes Caleb Britt, Stevie Seay, Steve Nygren, Janet Marie Gunnels, and Monica Olsen.
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Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
Photo by Tomas Espinoza
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT Modern, Sophisticated Design
Ken and Alec discovered Serenbe when searching for a place with a diverse set of people and age groups yet still had a cohesive sense of community. They also thought they wanted somewhere quiet but have pleasantly found themselves more outgoing and sociable in Serenbe. Alec is now on the DRB himself, helping guide the future of Serenbe’s aesthetic.
ABOUT THEIR HOME Size: 2400 sqft. Bedroom/Bathrooms: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms Year Built: 2012 Renovation Builder: Ricky Matthews, South Haven Builders Renovation Designers: Ken Lemm & Alec Michaelides Alec’s Favorite Spot: The screened in side porch. “It’s the best place to hide.” Ken’s Favorite Spot: Their glassed-in office, which was the original screened-in porch. Both Love: Sitting on the front porch with their rescue boxers Cody and Roxy, and saying hello to neighbors walking by.
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Photo by Tomas Espinoza
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iverse architecture is a key ingredient in building an authentic town, so it’s not an accident that each home in Serenbe is unique. The Nygrens set a clear vision with high design standards, upheld by a Design Review Board (DRB) that oversees all building projects. Ken Lemm and Alec Michaelides’ home had already been through the DRB process when it was built in 2012, but they wanted to make it their own by doing an extensive renovation in 2018. Their original plans included painting the exterior white, yet the DRB felt there were ample white farmhouses in the community. Since the couple had envisioned a black and white theme for the inside and outside of the home, rather than find a new palette they decided to just flip the color scheme. This seemingly simple choice made all the difference. Their Grange farmhouse is now a dramatic Onyx Black with White Dove trim that stands out beautifully as you drive down Serenbe Lane. Alec and Ken, partners in the well-known landscape architecture firm Land Plus Associates, have worked with many architects and interior designers over the years. They “knew just enough to be dangerous,” according to Ken, and decided to take on designing the interiors themselves. The inside turned out just as gorgeous as the exterior. Kitchen cabinets painted the same Onyx Black by Benjamin Moore are set against white subway tiles with contrasting black grout and white and grey quartz marble countertops. The open dining area has a large farm table surrounded by white upholstered chairs ready to host dinner party guests. Black railings on the staircase add a modern, eclectic touch, and multiple textures and patterns combine perfectly to make for a warm and inviting living room. The master bedroom deviates from the black and white theme and features white shiplap walls, white bedding, and white furniture, with sophisticated splashes of navy. The whole home is full of artwork, mostly by family members and friends. “We buy art not only because we like it, but because it means something,” said Alec. The works of several Serenbe artists can be found as well as watercolors by Alec’s father. Ken and Alec always wanted an art wall, so many of the pieces are in the stairwell landing salon style, making that a special spot. They also made some structural changes to the home, including sizing-down an extralarge laundry room to increase the master closet space. “This actually opened up the kitchen quite a bit as well,” said Ken. The carport was converted into a covered porch at the back of the house that now connects the home with their charming garden, making it ideal for outdoor entertaining.The garden design doesn’t stop in the backyard, the couple completely redesigned every aspect of the exterior landscaping from plantings to stonework and even the home’s front walkway.
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HILLSIDE HAVEN
Mado Steps Up With 12 New Cottages
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ach of Serenbe’s three neighborhoods – Selborne, Grange, and Mado – have distinct personalities that have led residents to jokingly yet lovingly bestow them with representative monikers. They refer to Selborne – the original hamlet where the arts are the focus and there’s buzz of activity and maybe an air of sophistication – as “Manhattan.” In keeping with the New York theme, Grange is dubbed “Brooklyn” because of its focus on agriculture and laid-back vibe, where families flock to the in-ground trampoline at Grange Green. Mado – though in its early years – seems to be establishing itself as a somewhat “Hamptons-esque” spot. Is it because we go to “get away” and relax at The Spa and Serenbe Swim Club? Or enjoy extensive wellness offerings like Yoga and a gym where you can sweat a little before having a smoothie at Halsa restaurant? Or because Mado residents seem to host more parties? Joining the party are the new Mado Hillside homes, twelve modern and elegant multi-story townhouses. Each one was thoughtfully designed by Serenbe Planning & Design
and will be built by 1023 Construction with top-of-the-line materials and custom touches. Some units feature studio apartments or garages on the terrace level, and the southern-most unit will have an observatory tower. Homes will have balconies overlooking Mado Pond and beautiful outdoor courtyards perfect for your morning coffee, al fresco dining, or entertaining around an outdoor firepit. And the environment around Mado Hillside will be just as beautiful, with dramatic granite steps outside each front door leading from Serenbe Lane down the entire hill to a path that circles the Pond and leads to One Mado. The centrally located homes don’t just connect to Mado’s wellness businesses, but also to a path that quickly leads up over the hill to Grange, connecting the two neighborhoods by trail. Email realestate@serenbe.com, call 770-463-9997, or stop by Serenbe Real Estate in Selborne to learn more about all available homes at Serenbe.You can also find full listings at SerenbeRealEstate.com.
DO E A M LSID L HI
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Photo by Mia Yakel
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Photo by Jessica Ashley
HOLISTICALLY WELL
Finding Your “Why” & Leading A Balanced Life
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olistic” is a word that tends to intimidate people according to registered dietitian Jennifer Felice. In medicine, it means “to take all aspects of a person’s life into account when treating them,” yet many infer the word to mean something unattainable or unrealistic. With her new nutrition practice at Serenbe, Jennifer is hoping to change that perception and help people find internal motivation to become happier and healthier. She started her career as the lead food nutritionist with Wegmans, where she taught people how to become more aware of what they were eating and the impact it has on things like energy, sleep, and mood. Jennifer saw food and nutrition as the entryway to her clients’ health, and this continues to be her approach in private practice. Diet culture tends to be all or nothing, so it’s not always easy to convince people how powerful it can be to implement basic health-supporting behaviors like consuming more whole fruits and vegetables. Why have an apple when the most recent fad diet promises to make your weight-loss dreams come true without focusing on real behavioral changes for long-term health? “Looking at the bigger picture, if diets worked there wouldn’t always be a new thing. People are becoming more curious about how food impacts our health and wellness,” she said. “We’re moving away from fad diets and from shaming isolated components of food.” That’s why Jennifer uses a holistic, incremental approach that looks at all lifestyle factors that will affect her clients’ health. We all eat food every day that impacts our body’s nourishment, “but if you’re not sleeping, or not drinking enough water, you won’t feel balanced or ‘well,’ said Jennifer. “Our bodies are literally 70% water, so if you’re walking around dehydrated, essential processes in the body can’t function as efficiently. All the small things you do matter and help make those changes. It’s not as sexy as the headline ‘lose 20lbs in two weeks,’ but it’s more approachable and sustainable.” She also wants her clients to understand how their bodies work and to find their “why” in improving their health. For one person that could mean gaining strength to chase their children around without getting tired, while another person wants to be able to train for a marathon. “People become attached to the feeling of vibrancy and presence when they start to make healthier choices, and it becomes a deeper source of motivation to maintain lifestyle changes. There is nothing better than seeing clients become happier, healthier, and more engaged in their lives.” Jennifer Felice’s Serenbe practice is in the One Mado Building. You can learn more about her offerings and make an appointment at jenniferfelice.com.
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bre akfas t, lun ch , d in ner , bowl s c o ck t ail s , j u ic e s , s mo o th ie s D A I LY 8 A M - 9 P M
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Accommodations at the Inn at Serenbe Includes a Full Country Breakfast Sunday - Friday: $189/night
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SHELF AWARENESS What We’re Reading
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o you have a favorite spot to curl up with a good book? If not, the residents at Serenbe could probably offer a few recommendations. It’s not hard to find trees or fallen logs in the woods that offer a respite (or a well-placed bench, if you’d like your nature with a side of clean clothes). Any of our restaurants or The Wine Shop would also welcome a bibliophile. Curl up on a porch swing or lounge by the pool at The Inn. Once you have the perfect spot, your next step is a great book. With one of the top
independent bookstores, Hills & Hamlets Bookshop, down the street, it’s easy to find a book or two (or 20!). They’ve hand-selected the best fiction and non-fiction titles about art, architecture, and nature, and you’ll even find bestselling books written by Serenbe residents. Here are some of our current favorite reads. You can find Hills & Hamlets Bookshop on the street level of the Textile Lofts in Grange. Hours can vary by season, but they are usually open Thursday-Sunday, 11am-6pm.
Our Wild Calling by Richard Louv
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane
Among the Maasai: A Memoir by Juliet Cutler
Algonquin Books, $28
House of Anansi Press, $35
She Writes Press, $17
Richard Louv, the author who coined “nature deficit disorder,” wrote Last Child in the Woods, he was able to find 60 research studies that helped support his hypothesis about getting kids back into nature. There wasn’t much information about wild animals and their impact on our psyche, though. Our Wild Calling looks at that influence through stories about life-changing encounters and ongoing relationships with animals. Richard references Martin Buber’s “I and Thou,” an essay that posits we as individuals don’t exist, but rather the relationships between and among us are what exists. Buber spoke about human relationships, but Richard believes we’re experiencing species loneliness and applies it to our relationship with animals. He discusses the “place” between a person and an animal when they have an encounter, coined the “Habitat of the Heart,” and writes that if you’re there and intensely aware of it, you won’t feel lonely.
Other than being words that describe something of nature, “acorn,” “otter,” “dandelion,” “heron,” and “willow don’t have much in common. One significant and saddening quality they do share is that they’ve all been removed from a widely used children’s dictionary due to disuse (No, this is not a joke and we were dismayed by this news). Macfarlane, with the aid of illustrator Jackie Morris, brings these lost words to life through “spells,” named as such rather than “poems” because they’re meant to be spoken out loud in hopes that the words may be summoned back into our children’s – and our own – hearts. The Lost Words was honored as winner of the BAMB Beautiful Book Award and Hay Festival Book of the Year in 2017, the Children’s Book of the Year 2018, and is a The New York Times Sunday Edition Top 10 Bestseller.
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The Maasai people were once the dominating Kenyan tribe in the Great Rift Valley, located in the East African foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. In the nearly 100 years before Juliet Cutler traveled there in 1999, their people lost significant acreage to British colonialism and didn’t adapt to modernity as readily as other tribes. One of the consequences of not adapting is that Maasai girls are not educated and must navigate oppression and violence throughout their lives. Cutler taught at one of few schools for Maasai girls, and her memoir offers a profoundly rich, introspective look into the journey of both students and teachers, and what matters most to us as people. She emerged transformed not only by the community she found in Tanzania, but also having witnessed the life-changing impact of education on her students. Proceeds from the sale of her book supports education for at-risk Maasai girls.
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Photo by Judy Walker
INSPIRED SPACE Artists Creating Community
The larger artist community has also found a partner in Chatt Hills Gallery. Art Farm Director Megan Schaeffer leases a studio on the terrace level of Chatt Hills Gallery. The two groups are able to support each other by sharing the rent and utilities while also fostering each other creatively. In fact, many of the classes and workshops at the Art Farm Studio are led by Gallery artists. There’s also a place for artists to work and teach called Paint Space, and several resident artists have built out home studios. More and more energy surrounds Chatt Hills Gallery as Serenbe and the Chattahoochee Hills’ creative community grows, encouraging the larger art ecosystem to grow and flourish. Stop by their Selborne gallery to see available works, or learn more at ChattHillsGallerySerenbe.com. Information about classes at the Art Farm and Paint Space can be found at artfarmatserenbe.com and chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com.
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Art Farm Studio provides space for art classes at all skill levels, while Paint Space gives artists shared studio space to create. Chatt Hills Gallery showcases the works of Serenbe and surrounding artists.
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Photo by Judy Walker
What started three years ago as a small artist cooperative with a mission of supporting and promoting each other’s work has grown into a group of more than 20 artists from Serenbe and greater Chattahoochee Hills. Their work includes oil painting, mixed media, photography, watercolor, jewelry, ceramics and more. The artists help each other in their artistic endeavors and provide guidance on the business of being a professional artist from framing and presentation to managing the gallery and its e-commerce site. “It has been a great opportunity to surround myself with support and encouragement from fellow creatives,” said Jessica Ashley West, a photographer turned painter whose work is displayed at the Gallery and who was an early member of the co-op. “Whether sharing techniques, developing process, or getting much-needed feedback, each member brings a unique approach and perspective that helps me explore and push my work farther.”
Photo by Malinda Lively
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erenbe naturally attracts art and artists. Maybe it’s the gorgeous natural surroundings providing inspiration. Maybe it’s the Nygrens’ commitment to providing recurring funding to the arts through the Serenbe Institute. Whatever the inspiration, Serenbe overflows with creative talent. As any artist knows, it can be difficult to find peer encouragement, studio space or a place to showcase your work. The Serenbe community continues to inspire and create, and local artists in this community have found both a village and a space of their own at Chatt Hills Gallery. “When my husband and I moved here in 2016, we were inspired by the [Serenbe Institute] and the wealth of cultural phenomena that goes on here,” said Judy Walker, an artist who helped found the Chatt Hills Artist Co-op and was integral in opening the Chatt Hills Gallery. “As I met other resident artists, I felt we should gather and inspire one another to express in our art what living here means to us.”
WEDDINGS
The historic Inn at Serenbe has been a memorable wedding backdrop for more than 19 years, and we are sharing a few of our favorite images of those priceless moments. Our first wedding was even featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.
Photo credits: Sarah Joy Photography 6 of Four Photography Wisdom & Stature Photography
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Wisdom & Stature Photography Hannah Michelle Photography
6 of Four Photography Sarah Joy Photography
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Photo by Lauren Carnes
Photo by Stevie Seay
SEASONAL FAVORITES Farm-to-Farmhouse Classics
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alads are a year-round staple, but there’s just something extra tasty about refreshing greens on a hot afternoon whether they’re spinach, Romaine, or a delectable mix. Luckily for Serenbe’s restaurants and residents, Serenbe Farms is right down the road and grows a wide variety. They start planning their offerings in September for the following year, taking into account not only what worked last season, but also what executive chef Nicolas Bour wants to use in future seasonal recipes at Serenbe’s restaurants. Vegetables start losing nutritional value 24 hours after harvest, so there’s nothing like having local salad greens that are at their peak of flavor and freshness. A Farmhouse Restaurant favorite with Serenbe Farms greens is the Green Salad with Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette, and the perfect complement to wash it down is the refreshing Farmhouse Mint Tea.When the Nygrens moved to “the farm” in 1994, spearmint was one of the first things planted. Marie Nygren grew up drinking her grandmother’s mint tea in the summer, so she experimented until their tea matched her memories of Granny Lupo’s and it does not disappoint!
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Visit serenbefarmhouse.com to make a reservation at The Farmhouse Restaurant.You can also get fresh, organic vegetables straight from Serenbe Farms. Join their Farm Share program at serenbefarms.com/csa, or find them at the Serenbe Farmers Market Saturdays, 9am-1pm beginning April 4th.
Mustard & Shallet Vinaigrette Yields 8 Cups 1 cup champagne vinegar 3 cups grapeseed oil 2 cloves fresh garlic 1½ shallots minced ½ cup strong Dijon mustard ¼ cup fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves ¼ cup elderflower cordial 1 tablespoon sugar Cold water to adjust consistency Salt and pepper to taste
Blend all ingredients together with a mixer, adjusting the consistency with cold water. Season to taste using sugar to balance acidity. Then pour over greens mixture and serve.
Farmhouse Mint Tea 2 quarts water ¹/³ cup sugar 8 black tea bags, preferably Lipton 4 cups fresh mint Bring water to a boil, then stir in sugar until dissolved. In a half
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gallon pitcher or container, place mint and tea bags and pour the hot water over. Let cool to room temperature then strain the liquid, squeezing the liquid from the tea bags to achieve maximum flavor. Add more water if needed to make a full half gallon.
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Photo by Jessica Ashley
Photo by Jessica Ashley
DRINK YOUR VEGGIES Cold-Pressed Juices Provide Dense Nutrition
Photo by Stevie Seay
Photo by Jessica Ashley
retaining nutrients. Determined to feel better, she started her own cold pressed juice company, Bamboo Juices. Why is cold-pressed and raw juicing better than other methods? Modern juicers use fast blades to chop up produce and separate the juice from pulp, and this combination of oxygen and heat can rid some produce of nutrients. Coldpressed juicing is a slower process, leaving the juice closer to its raw, natural form and retaining more vitamins and minerals essential for nutritional value.The process is similar to what you would make at home with a hand-crank juicer, in fact your grandparents would probably call cold-pressed juice just “juice.” Another reason cold-pressed juice is better than other juices is that it isn’t pasteurized. We’ve been trained to hear that as a bad thing because the pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and extends shelf life, but fruits and vegetables aren’t meant to have a long shelf life. They are alive, which is why you wouldn’t buy a banana and eat it 2 weeks later. Pasteurization also removes the flavonoids and phytonutrients that protect our bodies from cell damage, inflammation, and other harms. If the sell by date is more
than 4-5 days from when the juice was made, or if it has HPP on the label, it is pasteurized. Bamboo Juices’ kitchen recently moved its operations to the Mado neighborhood of Serenbe. It is the first tenant in the centrally located live-works – right next to the One Mado Building – that is full of other health and wellness services and practitioners. Serenbe residents have been able to take a short walk through the trails to pick up their Serenbe Farms’ share since the neighborhood began, and now current (and future) residents can do the same with Bamboo Juices. And Bamboo Juices is closing the agriculture circle. Since they only use organic ingredients, they are able to provide 30% of the compost Serenbe Farms needs to become compost self-sufficient. Bamboo Juices only serves raw, organic, cold-pressed juice. Buy at their new juice bar on Serenbe Lane in the Mado Live-Works, which include 2nd- and 3rd-floor apartments. You can stop by 7 days a week or order online for home delivery at bamboojuices.com. For more information about becoming their retail neighbor, visit serenberealestate.com or email michael@serenbe.com.
Photo by Jessica Ashley
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our parents have been telling you to EAT YOUR VEGETABLES since you were a kid turning your nose up at brussels sprouts. Now that you’re all grown up and happy to eat the “stinky” – and now so trendy – sprouts, you may be surprised to learn that modern farming practices deplete most of the nutrition you would have gotten 60 years ago from those veggies. Kelley Sibley was certainly surprised to learn about this agricultural trend when researching why she felt sick and weak despite having a clean, plant-based diet. She realized she wasn’t focused on where the plants were coming from, the farming practices of the growers, or how she consumed her vegetables. Kelley studied the world’s healthiest people and cultures and found out there are plenty of ways to make sure your body is properly nourished. Feed yourself with local, fresh, organic produce from regenerative farms, because those farmers know they need to rotate crops and varieties for healthy soil and they don’t use chemical fertilizers to expedite plant growth. She also learned of the benefits of raw coldpressed juicing, a method of pressing fruits and vegetables without spinning blades or heat that is more effective in
Kelley Sibley’s life and health changed for the better after creating Bamboo Juices. Bamboo’s new Serenbe location is on the street level of a Mado live work. Bamboo Juices has fruit and vegetable juices as well as milks and health elixirs.
SPRING/SUMMER 2020
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Things To Do When You Stay at The Inn at Serenbe serenbeinn.com
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AFTERNOON TEA Included in your stay as an Inn guest is an afternoon Southern-style tea, set in the Main House daily, 4 – 5pm.
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YOGA CLASSES Choose from a range of yoga practices and floor pilates at the studio located in the community. Outdoor yoga options, including goat yoga. serenbeyoga.com
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S E R E N B E FA R M S Take a 1 hour tour of Serenbe Farms on Saturdays at 2:00pm for $10 per person. For reservations or to schedule private group tours, please contact tour@serenbefarms.com
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LABYRINTH The labyrinth is located by the lake and available any time to enjoy its energy, grace and meditation.
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TRAIL RIDES Experience Serenbe on Horseback. Our skilled staff and gentle horses ensures you to have a comfortable and relaxed ride, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery at Serenbe. serenbetrailriding.com
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H AY R I D E
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Hayrides are offered Saturday and Sunday at 10am for Inn guests upon request.
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S PA S E R V I C E S The Spa at Serenbe offers a range of services including massages, facials, peels, reflexology and an infared sauna. The spa specializes in offering a comprehensive whole person approach to care. 770.463.0880 | spaatserenbe.com
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G O L F C A R T R E N TA L S Golf carts are available to rent per day at Guest Services. Rentals are based on a first come, first serve basis.
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BONFIRE Our fully stocked bonfire is located near the Lake Pavilion, complimentary for Inn guests. S’more packets are available for purchase at Guest Services.
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Join us for lunch or dinner at the critically acclaimed Farmhouse Restaurant and enjoy seasonal cuisine of locally grown ingredients. Plus enjoy Happy Hour from 4 – 6 Daily. 770.463.2622 | serenbefarmhouse.com
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D I N E AT T H E FA R M H O U S E
FEEDING THE ANIMALS From sun up to sun down, you can feed our friends in the Animal Village. Animal Feed is available in Guest Services and complimentary for all Inn Guests.
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W E E K E N D WA L K I N G TO U R O F THE COMMUNIT Y Check Serenbe Events Calendar for details and to register. serenbe.com/events
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SPRING/SUMMER 2020
LOOKING AHEAD
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Can’t Miss 2020 Events
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here’s always something happening at Serenbe, whether it’s community tours led by Steve Nygren or his daughter Garnie, cooking classes with organic produce straight off Serenbe Farms, or weekly wine tastings. Every few months, we like to really kick up our heels and create something bigger. Here are five events you can’t miss in 2020. Art Over Dinner: March 1st, April 26th, May 31st + More To Come Not only do guests have the opportunity to meet and learn about Atlanta and regional artists’ work, they get to do so over an intimate dinner with the artists at the Gainey Hall Gallery. Artists in 2020 include Cynthia Knapp, Caroline Bullock, and Heather Lancaster (all three with Spalding Nix Fine Art); Miya Bailey; and Sid and Ann Mashburn. Each dinner also features custom cocktails courtesy of Diageo International. Details + Art Over Dinner Reservations: artfarmatserenbe.com/artover-dinner.
Photo by Jessica Ashley
5K/15K Trail Races: March 28th & November 7th Trail Race runners get to run (or walk) through Serenbe’s preserved woods that are beloved by residents and Inn at Serenbe guests. Discover the beautiful Georgia countryside as you run past horse pastures and waterfalls, around lakes and streams, and over the rolling hills that gave Chattahoochee Hills its name. Details + Register: serenbetrailrace.com. May Day Festival: May 3rd Celebrate the beauty of spring and the magical whimsy of Serenbe during this annual street festival. Shop artists and makers across the marketplace, grab bites from local food trucks and drinks from the Biergarten, and listen to live music all day at the Trellis ATL stage. The Kids Area includes an Acton Children’s Business Fair, classic carnival games for all ages, face painting and balloon animals and more. And of course, May Day wouldn’t be complete without a Maypole dance. Details + Tickets: serenbemaydayfestival.com.
SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Holiday Bazaar: December 5th Find something truly unique for your friends, family, and even yourself during the season of giving. Shop local artisans and makers, take a picture with Santa Claus, and make s’mores by the bonfire while you enjoy a hot beverage from The Farmhouse Bar. Kids, and kids at heart, can even decorate gingerbread cookies with The Art Farm! Details: serenbeholidaybazaar.com.
Photo by Jessica Ashley
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Designer Showhouse: September/October This year’s Serenbe Showhouse is a multi-story modern design that will sit above the Grange neighborhood on Rausch Ridge with expansive treetop views. The home will be open for four weeks and feature top interior designers. Tour and shop at the Art Farm Pop-up Shop, and join us for the Showhouse Preview Party to meet the designers and magazine editors. Details + Tickets: serenbeshowhouse.com.
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UPCOMING EVENTS 28
12
Spring Trail Race 5k/15k 9:00am, Mado, $
Easter Lunch 11:00am-3:00pm, The Farmhouse & The Hill, $
Grayson Capps & Molly Thomas Concert, Chatt Hills Music 7:30pm, Selborne, $
MARCH
March 28
Weekly Events
Blockprinting Intensive with Audrey Hynes 2:00pm, Art Farm Studio, $
Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $
March 29
Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Ceramics: Hand Built Coiled Vessels 12:00pm, Art Farm Studio, $
Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $
APRIL
Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
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Weekly Events Farmers Market 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green
Art Over Dinner: Spalding Nix Fine Art + Featured Artists 6:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
18 Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 10:30am, Selborne Green
15th Annual May Day Festival 12:00 - 5:00pm, Selborne, $
25
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History of Serenbe Tour 10:30am, The Inn Guest Services
Trails Tour 10:30am, Selborne Green
Botanical Watercolor Illustration with Courtney Khail 2:00pm, Art Farm Studio, $
Kane Gellert Concert, Chatt Hills Music 8:00pm, Grange, $
Rodney Jordan Concert, Chatt Hills Music 8:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
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Art Over Dinner: Miya Bailey 6:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 10:30am, Halsa Restaurant
26-29
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Biophilic Leadership Summit The Inn, $
Soundwalk & Field Recording with Lady Eve 1:00pm, Art Farm Studio
Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $
Trails Tour 10:30am, Blue Eyed Daisy
Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Mushrooms & Mimosas Workshop 10:30am, Serenbe Farms, $
Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $
18-22, 25-29 Spring Awakening, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, Mado Woods, $
21 Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 10:30am, Halsa Restaurant
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M AY
Farmers Market 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green
Spring Awakening, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, Mado Woods, $
Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $
Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 10:30am, Selborne Green
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Freestyle Embroidery Workshop with Morgan Lindsey 2:00pm, Art Farm Studio, $
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1-5, 8-12
Plant Sale 10:00am-3:00pm, Serenbe Farms
16 Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 10:30am, Selborne Green
20-24, 27-31
Weekly Events
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Mother’s Day Lunch 11:00am-3:00pm, The Farmhouse & The Hill, $
Steel Magnolias, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, Selborne Way, $
Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $
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Gary Motley Trio Concert, Atlanta Jazz Fest 8:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
14 Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $
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Eliot Bronson Band Concert, Chatt Hills Music 8:00pm, Grange, $
History of Serenbe Tour 10:30am, The Inn at Serenbe Guest Services
30 Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $ Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 10:30am, Selborne Green
Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
31
Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $
Atlanta Design Festival Satellite Home Tour 10am-4pm, $
Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
1-3, 8-10
Ceramics: Hand Built Coiled Vessels 12:00pm, Art Farm Studio, $
World Premiere by Ana Maria Lucaciu, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre 8:00pm, Deer Hollow, $
Wine Dinner: Booker Wines 6:00pm, The Inn Oak Room, $
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Trails Tour 10:30am, Selborne Green
Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $
The Other Night School: Enslaved Youth in Jamaica 6:00pm, The Inn Hawthorne Room
Saturday Art Session for Kids 11:00am, Art Farm Studio, $
Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 10:30am, Selborne Green
SPRING/SUMMER 2020
Art Over Dinner: Sid + Ann Mashburn 6:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE
June 22-26
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Weekly Events
Art Camp Ages 5-8 Art Farm Studio, $
Farmers Market: Red, White, and Blueberry Fest 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green
Farmers Market 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green
Trails Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $
4th of July Parade 10:00am, Selborne
Camp Serenbe 9:00am-3:00pm, The Inn, $ Alice in Wonderland, Serenbe Playhouse 11am Th-Sa & 2pm Su, Selborne Woods, $
8-12
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Kinky Boots Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, Inn Field, $
Trails Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
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Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Movie Night 7:30pm Serenbe Farms, $
Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $ Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
11 27 Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $ History of Serenbe Tour 9:30am, The Inn at Serenbe Guest Services
Weekly Events 3-7, 10-14
Farmers Market 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green
15-19 Kinky Boots Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, The Inn Field, $
Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $ Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 9:30am, Selborne Green
Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $
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22-26 Kinky Boots, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, The Inn Field, $
15
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Nature Therapy Walk 9:30am, Halsa Restaurant, $
Trails Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
History of Serenbe Tour 9:30am, The Inn Guest Services
Nikki Talley Concert, Chatt Hills Music 8:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
29-31
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Kinky Boots, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, The Inn Field, $
Global Wellness Day Events + Activities All Day, Mado
AUGUST
Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
13-14 Biophilia Poster Exhibition All Day, Mado
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8 Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
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J U LY
Steel Magnolias, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, Selborne Way, $
Architecture & Thoughtful Design Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
5-9 Kinky Boots, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, The Inn Field, $
Camp Serenbe 9:00am-3:00pm, The Inn, $ Alice in Wonderland, Serenbe Playhouse 11am Th-Sa & 2pm Su, Selborne Woods, $ Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 9:30am, Selborne Green
Weekly Events Farmers Market 9:00am-1:00pm, Selborne Green Goat Yoga 10:00am, The Inn Animal Village, $ Alice in Wonderland, Serenbe Playhouse 11am Th-Sa & 2pm Su, Selborne Woods, $ Right Off The Farm Cooking Class 12:00pm, Gainey Hall, $
Low Country Boil 7:00pm, Serenbe Farms $ Dave Meder Concert, Chatt Hills Music 8:00pm, Location TBA, $
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Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $
Father’s Day Lunch 11:00am-3:00pm, The Farmhouse & The Hill, $
Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
Wellbeing Tour: Future of Serenbe 9:30am, Selborne Green
22 History of Serenbe Tour 9:30am, The Inn at Serenbe Guest Services
29 Trails Tour 9:30am, Selborne Green
$ = Ticketed Event Event listings accurate as of printing. For up-to-date listings, tickets or to RSVP, visit serenbe.com/events
Sign up at serenbe.com for weekly Serenbe e-newsletters featuring Events, Inn Specials, Serenbe Farms and Serenbe Real Estate, and never miss an issue of The Serenbe Hamlet!
Serenbe Farm Tour 2:00pm, Serenbe Farms, $
Get social with @Serenbe on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Facebook to stay up to date on all happenings at Serenbe.
Wine Tasting 4:00pm, General Store, $
The Hamlet, Serenbe Publishing, Editor-in-Chief: Monica Olsen; Managing Editor: Janet Marie Gunnels, Photography Editor: Quinn Nygren, Editorial Contributor: Dylan Clark; Art Director: Judy Walker. Advertising Inquires: Quinn Nygren. Contact The Hamlet at thehamlet@serenbe.com
1-2 Kinky Boots, Serenbe Playhouse 8:00pm, The Inn Field, $
SPRING/SUMMER 2020
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SERENBE REAL ESTATE
Serenbe Lane $650,000, L458
11291 Serenbe Lane $579,900, L320
11323 Serenbe Lane $739,900 L323
Cozy outdoor living with a balcony overlooking Mado Pond and a courtyard for al fresco dining in this Mado Hillside home with 3 bedrooms.
The 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home is a modern take on the traditional farmhouse with the upper level loft bedroom open to the main level.
Enjoy life in Mado from the open front porch or screenedin back porch. This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, one-story home is a short walk from One Mado.
120 Gainey Lane $569,900, L255
216 Mado Lane $549,900, L362
11315 Serenbe Lane, $829,900 L322
This 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home is tucked away from the main road. Gorgeous views of the Swann Ridge woods out your back door.
Picturesque 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom cottage with fully covered front porch, studding kitchen, and wooded views.
A beautiful modern farmhouse with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, plus more than 600 square feet of porches.
Make Your Dream of Living at Serenbe a Reality Whether you are in the market for a weekend retreat or year-round home, Serenbe offers single-family homes, townhouses, live-works, condos and apartments. Or choose a wooded lot and build your dream home. Explore architectural floor plans and pick your finishes or choose a move-in-ready home today. All homes are EarthCraft certified for sustainability with geothermal technology for heating and cooling. For a complete listing of all Serenbe properties visit SerenbeRealEstate.com, call 770.463.9997 or stop in the office located at 9055 Selborne Lane, just up the street from the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. *All prices and plans are subject to change.