While thistles will always exist in this world, there's still Eden to be found.
We set out in the creation of EdenThistle with grand vision and dreams—and quite honestly fear and trepidation too. It felt so incredibly risky to move back to our hometown of Lookout Mountain to pursue our new dream of creating a land stewardship company—specifically one that revolved around raising livestock sustainably with aims of selling quality meat—something we’d never done.
My sidekick, AnnCarter, helping me with chores our first year farming, 2013.
Oh my goodness, thinking back to our first six months: we eagerly visited established farms to observe the pros; we acquired the skill of processing chickens with our own hands; we created odd jobs to support ourselves so we could use the rest of our meager savings to start the business. Those months involved praying a lot and worrying a lot—were we doing the right thing? So much risk?!
Other people our ages were buying houses and having more babies. We were living the nomad life style and learning how to parent baby chicks with our 18-month (human) daughter in tow. Was this a sane decision?
AnnCarter at 16 months old helping us watch over our 1st batch of broiler chicks.
But here we are eight years later. We’ve grown our family and established our business—we not only have a meat company but now a dog company too.
And this year we’ve built a sweet bridge between the two through the launch of our new dog treats created from nutrient-dense by-product off the farm. Our business is constantly evolving, we’re constantly pivoting, and today we find our mission aligns more with our business goals than ever.
Marshall with Farmer - our hound and inspiration for dog treats.
At the core of it all is our desire to hunt after “Eden” within the thistles.
We cannot solve the world’s problems, but we can be a part of making things better. There’s a restorative story to be uncovered as we search for Eden in the midst of thistles—one that diminishes the fears of taking on something risky. One that isn’t necessarily easy but is always good. It’s the story that compels us to continue in our work and brings us deep gratitude as we join together with others on like paths.
"Eating with the fullest pleasure – pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance – is perhaps the profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In this pleasure we experience our dependence and our gratitude, for we are living in a mystery, from creatures we did not make and powers we cannot comprehend.”
The tension of good and hard is always present, but by these winding 'Streams that Flow,' I have found more life, love and kindness than I ever knew was possible. This blog is a stream-of-consciousness style record of the people, places, and even animals that have imprinted goodness and love on my life. Stories that I hope will inspire rituals of beauty, rest and belonging for you too within the flow of everyday life.
Meaningful stories of ritual, practical ideas to dig in deeper and our favorite cozy, slow-living inspiration.
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