Welcome to Whopping Crane Farm, the most beautiful place I visited while living in Nashville and home to our newest Dinner Party Spotlight, Christie Craig, the founder of The Farmers Florist. As a florist, Christie uses what’s local and in-season from Nashville and Middle Tennessee flower farmers to create the most stunning arrangements for events, bridal showers, dinner parties, and for everyday pleasure. In addition to arranging flowers, she has a flower shop {see detail on her website} and has opened a bed and breakfast right on her farm. Christie was kind enough to host us for lunch overlooking the stunning farm fields – a seriously magical experience! Read on to learn more about Christie and how she likes to entertain at home!
Q & A:
FH: Tell me a quick bio of how you came to start Whooping Crane Farm / Farmer’s Florist? Any fun details, awards, stories?
Christie: Growing up I lived on a horse farm, not quite a working farm but none the less, hard work outdoors was involved. Through a series of events moving back and forth from NYC after studying Interior Design at Parsons – I was introduced to a family farm in Nashville raising livestock who was looking for some help. I was thrown into a whirl wind of learning and farming challenges which included a lot of heavy machinery and learning how to drive a tractor (insert flexing arm emoji). From there – I was offered an apprenticeship at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture (more well known for the farm to table restaurant Blue Hill), 30 minutes outside of NYC – where I met the flower and herb team. Although I had worked in flowers for a handful of years (one shop being Flower Girl NYC) I never found my passion for flowers until it became interlaced with farming. Whooping Crane and The Farmer’s Florist were created from a passion for my community of farmers (we live in an area named Bells Bend just 15 minutes outside of Nashville, with quite a handful of young farmers) I wanted to support local flower growers – to be able to consistently purchase from them to help them continue their passion of growing. Whooping Crane Farm is the dream of Ellen Jacobson – the home’s 4th generation owner – who graciously allows me to curate the experience of staying at Whooping Crane. We wanted to share the beauty of Bells Bend and its agricultural land – to give Nashvillians a place to escape to and appreciate for its rural character – but still being so close to downtown. All while allowing them to experience good farming practices – both hands on and with the food we share.
FH: What is your entertaining style? Traditional, Contemporary, Seasonal?
Christie: I’d say its a balance of all three. I like to use the traditional furnishings of the farmhouse, as nothing represents tradition better than heirloom pieces in a table setting. Seasonal – in the menu and with the flowers (as we grow and love to utilize whats best in that particular season) and – a table setting in a palate of modern colors.
FH: How often do you entertain and for how many guests?
Christie: It’s not often that we entertain, especially in the height of vegetable and flower growing season – but I’d say we remind ourselves to slow down every now and then to enjoy the fruits of our labor, and what better way to do that than to savor the current season with a dinner party.
FH: Do you have a go-to recipe or dish {or do you avoid cooking at all costs}?
Christie: I love cooking – and I particularly like to challenge myself to utilize whats in season on the farm. Since it’s early spring (I’m a lover of wild edibles) our farm is over flowing with arugula thats made it over winter – which blossoms edible flowers – chickweed and spring onions. My go to is a large abundant salad that focuses whats on the farm that day – best way to get some veggies in too.
FH: Do you have a go-to cocktail?
Christie: My all time favorite is a drink my friend Jane Lopes (a woman with an exquisite passion for wine and cocktails) introduced to me Cocchi Americano, a wine aperitif – when mixed simply with soda water and lemon is the perfect balance of crisp and bitter. Cocchi is mostly hard to come by – so when in doubt… Rosé.
FH: Did something inspire you for today’s table? A certain color, flower, plate?
Christie: The spring flowers – first and foremost – my passion is for flowers. It’s early spring and we’re surrounded by daffodils, budding branches, hellebore and the like. I take que from the scenery around me to set the table, so it feels like its supposed to have been there all along.
FH: Table top… Share all the deets!!
- Plates: Crate and Barrel
- Napkins: World Market
- Water glasses: Crate and Barrel
- Champagne Flutes: the farmhouse’s personal stock
- Silverware: Crate and Barrel
- Centerpieces, Vases, Candle sticks: My fiance’s grandmother’s silver – a collection I use oh so often.
- Chairs & Dining Table: Antique pieces you’ll find in the farmhouse at Whooping Crane
- Home location: Nashville, TN
Be sure to follow Christie on The Farmers Florist website as well as her Instagram and Facebook.