CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This morning we hit the road on Charlotte Today, to visit the beautiful, serene getaway Juneberry Ridge, located in Norwood NC...a little over an hour away from Charlotte. When you ask how Juneberry Ridge came to be, the reply from Juneberry Ridge is always “nature put out a call, and we answered.”
CEO of Juneberry Ridge, Suzanne Durkee joined the show with more on their amazing location.
“We’d like to say our farm began with a dream, but in fact, it began with a challenge. Judy Carpenter, a national champion in a “man’s sport,” was told to find her own place for competitive clay shooting” says Durkee. So she did.
We learned, while Carpenter was building Lucky Clay's into a renowned Five-Stand destination, the land spoke to her. Her vision was to preserve, deepen, and share its natural abundance. Juneberry Ridge was born: a working farm, a place to retreat into nature, and serve as an ever evolving model for sustainability.
There are many amazing things to do at Juneberry Ridge: unplug, unwind, eat, enjoy music, clay shooting, explore, hike, visit with the animals, and more.
Here is what you can expect:
Lodging
When you sleep at Juneberry Ridge, it’s eye-opening. There’s nothing like waking up to bird song, fresh air, the sun cresting over the ridge. When you wake in nature, you never want to hit snooze. That’s what a cabin stay at Juneberry Ridge is like, but with all the comforts of home including air conditioned cabins complete with comfortable queen beds. They also offer free WiFi, but will do their best to invite you out to browse the forest, the landscape, and the sky during your stay.
The Wooded Cabins include Acorn, Chestnut, Fig, Filbert, Maypop, Longleaf Cottage and Angler Homestead. They also have All-inclusive "Farm Stays." The JR regenerative farm stays, combine everything in one complete and all-inclusive wellness weekend. Arrive on a Friday evening, and leave refreshed on Sunday afternoon, after an immersive farm experience. JR currently offers farm stays, one special weekend each month, however they are always growing.
Standard lodging includes access to their property, trails, and tennis courts, however meals and additional activities must be booked separately. Please give us a call or submit a request online to plan your stay.
Dining - A seat at nature’s table
What’s special about the food there isn’t just the care and craft that goes into it—it’s the commitment to using ingredients just as nature offers them. The menus are seasonal for a reason: they are sourced locally, and put every part of the food to use, so there’s minimal waste. That’s the real flavor of Juneberry Ridge.
Fishing
For the anglers among you, they have a well-stocked pond with bream, bass, crappie and catfish...for whenever the mood strikes you (plus a private pond for guests staying in our Angler cottage).
Guided Hikes
Those 500+ acres we mentioned? Get the real lay of our land with one of our local guides (so you only have to get as “lost in nature” as you want to.)
A Piedmont Gem
Set in the rolling countryside of the Piedmont plateau, the Ridge is scenic as far as the eye can see: to the west, the Blue Ridge Mountains; to the east, the Atlantic coast. And below, the Hardy Creek makes its lazy way—the only lazy thing you’ll see on the farm. The word “sustainability” gets thrown around so much, it’s almost lost meaning. That’s not the cast at Juneberry Ridge. They want to infuse new meaning, to live and grow and explore in ways that feed the land, its' people and our community as one.
Greenhouse Produce & Aquaponics
Since the earliest days of Juneberry Ridge, they asked: is there a way to farm without depleting natural resources? And since that time, JR has been hard at work developing strategies that leave an increasingly smaller footprint. The work is never done, of course, but they're deeply proud of, and committed to, the progress made. Sustainable farming demands that JR not take away anything that won’t be replaced (to oversimplify it.) At JR they've been working on ways to work even more holistically: considering not just what we take from the soil, but what we can add to it, or improve in it, naturally. In 2019, they landed on regenerative agriculture, or permaculture, as a 360º approach to growing planted crops .
Take a tour of the Aquaponics Greenhouse says Ashton Thompson, COO of Juneberry Ridge. He adds “get an up-close look at our state-of-the-art facility: 40,000 square feet of aquaponic raised tilapia, Bibb lettuce, fresh herbs and more.” It’s an hour-long insight into sustainable growing. The JR well water and aquaponic water is tested for e. coli at least once a month. Their aquaponics system uses several types of mechanical filtration for our fish water, along a UV sterilizer to eliminate possible pathogens, before it is taken from the fish tanks to irrigate our plant beds. “We are all about preserving and protecting our natural resources” says Thompson.
Farm Camp
Take a deep dive into agriculture during this half day, week long camp. Farm camp will 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and begin in the Saskatoon, each day. Students will have an hour of classroom instruction before going outside for hands-on opportunities in our living classroom. Students can expect to learn how to start seeds, care for plants, harvest, and cook with food they’ve grown. They will also learn about soil and water management practices and regenerative agriculture that utilizes livestock in a food production system. Students will get to experience our living classroom through activities outdoors and in the greenhouse throughout the week. A snack will be provided each day. Participants will also receive a t-shirt.
Lucky Clays Five Stand
“Five Stand Clay shooting is one of our most popular and best attractions" says JR's Booth Braswell. Traditional clay shooting is their legacy. It’s where their story began, champions were made, and enthusiasts continue to flock. For groups of 5, at any experience level, it simulates an authentic afternoon of team building. “Safety first: all our shooting activities include safety instruction and are supervised by trained shooting captains” says Andrew Huneycutt, the Director of Lucky Clay's Five Stand. The Lucky Clay's Five Stand is renowned among competitors, features 14 solar-powered clay throwers that create endless combinations of patterns, posing the perfect challenge to more seasoned shooters. Both Shooters and non-shooters alike will love this activity, but that’s not all Juneberry has to offer.
2024 Juneberry Jams: Summer Concert Series.
“Get ready to jam. Kick back relax and listen to some great summer concert music” says Braswell. She adds “the line up for this summer will have you dancing and snapping your finger or tapping your foot to the sounds of musical artist.” Here is the schedule:.
June 1st , 2024 – unplugged fireside chat
5:15 PM
In this fireside chat, learn how Jack Algiere of Stone Barns Center built a regenerative farming operation that’s also training the next generation of farmers.
6:30 PM
With influences from Taylor Swift to Colbie Caillat, get swept up in Ellie’s acoustic soulful pop sound, whose version of “Make You Feel My Love” is sure to transport you.
7:30 PM
A favorite from Jams 2023 is back! A trio of folk singers who found inspiration when they found each other, this unique band from Asheville, NC is always a crowd pleaser.
JUNE 8th, 2024 - Community, charisma, and classics
5:15 PM
In this fireside chat we’ll invite you to a discussion about how farming is the future, and the important role our community plays in shaping a healthy food system for all.
6:30 PM
What do you get when you combine jazzy acoustic guitar with splashes of rap, hip-hop, and singer-songwriter vibes? You get the effervescent Chelsea Locklear.
7:30 PM
Twist and shout to all your favorite hits from the Beatles and their influences with this energetic tribute band based in Nashville, TN.
JUNE 22nd, 2024 - Stewardship, style, and spice
5:15 PM
Join author and educator Daniel Firth Griffith as he shares the meaning of rewilding and relational conservationism and what “being human” means to him.
6:30 PM
Since his big break on The Voice as a member of Team Gwen, Jake HaldenVang continues to impress crowds with his unique blend of rock, soul, and blues.
7:30 PM
Called “as close as it gets to the real thing,” this Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band grabs audiences with its ability to replicate three decades worth of funk rock hits.
Make the most of your festival experience! Arrive early (gates open at 4:15 pm) and explore our new community village, where you can connect with local artisans and makers. Grab a refreshing drink before grabbing a seat for our highly anticipated speaker series.
Come and explore everything Juneberry has to offer. "Nature is our first love but hospitality comes a close second” says Durkee.
She adds “We’ve seen ourselves, just how transformative Juneberry Ridge can be...for teams, for individuals, even for those of us who work and live here. And we can’t wait to share.” For more information visit Juneberry.com. You can also follow them on Instagram @juneberryridgenc and on Facebook @Juneberry Ridge
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