The Valley

Our little farm is nestled in a larger valley, ridged by Dug Ridge, Pine Ridge and Chestnut Ridge.

The Poplar Springs Valley was home to many families over the last 250 years.  Those families were drawn to the cool, deep spring, the fertile land, and the rich forested woods.

Across the country, small communities, like Poplar Springs were common.   Names like White Oak, Bradbury, Cedar Grove, and Cedar Valley dot the map.  While the size and proximity to larger areas would cause them to be forgotten, there is no disputing that these communities hold incredible stories of a determined people.

Our home is held together by logs that were milled 70 years ago.   Indeed those timber still hold steady.  Strong Poplar, and Oak, they can be seen around the buildings on the homestead.  And with every timber, you see a wizened face – drawn from years of sun exposure.  What a tale those timbers could tell.

Stories say that the spring has not gone dry as far back as anyone can remember.  Our little farm is fed by a deep water well, which filters ice cold water from near 220 feet down, passing through ages of limestone.

In the heart of this valley is Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church, which was founded in 1826.  The cemetery behind the church shows family names going back three generations.

It’s hard to think of a better center for a community, than the church.  The people, the buildings, the land – they all are placed by God, and in harmony they provide more than wood, water and food.

The land produces community.