Our Story
Growing up on Ballew Estates with my grandparents, Bessie and Andrew Johnson, I learned a lot about nature and how we are connected to it.
The picture above was painted by my grandmother. This was produced from a photograph. This was the original Ballew Estate and home. Bessie grew up in this home along with sibilings and both parents. Atrus Ballew, my great- grandfather, purchased parts of Ballew Estates to what it is today. This painting was digitized and made into Ballew Estates LLC brand and logo.
My life, as I remember it, was most spent on the farm. Staying part time with my grandparents we kept busy. Tobacco farming was the bulk of it, but we also had several vegetable gardens and would also so forage for blackberries. I loved to ride on the tractor with PawPaw as he hared the dirt. Acres and Acres, seem to last forever. I would daydream about the day it was mine. Mine in the sense, that I would be the one driving the tractor, going to the bank, pricing seed.
When I wasn’t under my grandfather I was with grandma. Watching her take food and cultivate masterpieces. Pies, cakes, casseroles ready for an event in town or simply for the house. Meddling as she talked on the phone and sewed my dresses, our curtains, and some pillows. Popping up on her at 2 am as she painted historical buildings, flowers, and landscapes. Grandma showed me how to be part of a community and how to manage life. Taking 1 seed and feeding a tribe.
As they aged and transitioned, my mother Kathy and I didn’t know what to do. So many circumstances and challenges came our way. After “Saving the Farm” in 2016 I partnered with our neighbor and cousin Jim to continue to expand a conservation focused on pollinators. From that work I developed Ballew Estates LLC.
We, my daughter Makayla and I, began teaching and installing pollinator gardens and education. As we grew on the farm we added herbs. Mints and fragrant herbs like Basil and Lemon Balm. Folks began to come to the farm for tours to be educated on both conservation and our family history. I had our first Women’s Retreat was 2016. I received my certification in holistic herbal remedies, then began to backyard forage with cousin Obiora. Cultivating blends for myself and friends turned into a herbal tea business. Not only are people enjoying the tea, they are learning about holistic wellness.
Our passion and mission is to encourage and educate our communities about holistic wellness and healing through history, food, engagement. Through our workshops, events. pop-ups, teas, and tours.