Sustainable Agriculture & Culinary Arts
Farm-to-Table With Greenbrier Farms
Experiencing a day-in-the-life as a farmer, and chef
The Experience
Greenbrier Farms is a family-owned, fully working farm in Easley, SC that specializes in USDA Certified organic produce, and pastured/grass-fed meats. It is the go-to venue for farm weddings and rustic events in the Upstate.
Husband-and-wife team, Chad and Amy Bishop, are passionate about educating the next generation of farmers—and consumers—who value food from humane and sustainable sources. They provide hands-on demonstrations in the A-Z process of growing, raising, and cooking organic food.
Chad and Amy discuss the meat and produce they sell to Whole Foods and local farmer’s markets. They also describe how they sell directly to consumers through a subscription model where customers pay seasonally for fresh produce and/or meats, delivered weekly.
Students learn that Greenbrier is the heart of a unique, eco-conscious community that values healthful, vitamin-packed food. They deeply value the sustainable practices that protect the health of the environment for generations. With every insight shared, Chad and Amy reveal their deep-belief and passion for a healthful, thoughtful lifestyle that enriches not only the land, but everyone around them.
Discovering Culinary Arts
After students collect onions, cucumbers, mild soshito and spicy jalapeno peppers, cherry tomatoes, zephyr squashes, yellow zucchini, and basil, they create a sumptuous, organic meal. Chef Josh Sweat’s extensive culinary knowledge would intimidate if it not for his engaging humor and patience.
He instructs students in culinary knife-work technique, revealing how to julienne, jardiniere, and chiffonade. The harvest is washed, chopped, and baked into a delicious veggie salad or hand-tossed pizza. Students express surprise over the significant contrast between what they harvest on the farm and what they buy from the grocery store.
