boonies

11/28/2023

Let's party! TODAY is the last day to RSVP for tomorrow’s Boonies Screening Event at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce!!

Please join us TOMORROW, November 29 at 5 pm for a screening of Boonies' newest season. SPACE IS LIMITED!

Come celebrate the boonies featured: The Cheek Dairy Farm, the Junaluska Community, and High Country Yoga.

⭐ Please reserve your spot by emailing [email protected] today! ⭐

📍When: Wednesday, November 29 at 5:00PM
📍Where: Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 579 Greenway Road, Suite 101, Boone, NC 28607

Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine will be served.

Thank you to the Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development & First Security Insurance for sponsoring the series!

Cheek Farmstead Creamery High Country Yoga

11/27/2023

Let's celebrate! You're invited to watch the latest season of Boonies THIS Wednesday @ 5p! The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event and TOMORROW at NOON is the cut off! SPACE IS LIMITED! So RSVP now to [email protected] ! Can't wait to see you! Thank you Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development & First Security Insurance for being amazing sponsors. 😍😍

Cheek Farmstead Creamery High Country Yoga PBS North Carolina

09/27/2023

“Have you eaten? How are you? What are you going to do for yourself today? How is your heart?”
Our hearts are aching for the loss of a true boonie this year, but our spirits are glowing with the honor of having known the incredible Elizabeth Young. This past Saturday was the beautiful service and celebration of the life for Elizabeth who passed Sunday, August 20th. She lived and loved unconditionally, leaving an everlasting mark in High Country hearts through her passionate work with The Hunger and Health Coalition of Boone. Even outside of work, her genuine spirit could not be dimmed, inspiring everyone she met with her powerful and loving energy. In the words of Hunger & Health staff, “may we all continue to live each day just as Elizabeth, full of love, grace, compassion and vivaciousness. Eat that slice of pie, tell your folks you love them, don’t wait. Elizabeth wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

08/25/2023

“Our mission is to encourage others in our community to find confidence and joy in the person they are created to be,” says Lux&Lye founder and luxurious soap artisan Natalie Rodeniser. “We tend to overcomplicate what success and beauty looks like in our society. I believe that when we rest in the simple joys of who we are, we can then be better people to others in our community.” Originally based near Raleigh, Natalie and her husband wanted a small and intentional community to be a part of. “Since moving here, we have been blown away by the amazing community in the High Country. We knew it was special, but didn’t understand the scope of how valuable this community is until we started getting to know more and more people.” Operating Lux&Lye in a town like Boone is no easy feat. Being further away from larger cities that have a larger community of artisan makers… there are fewer resources close by for us to utilize than in larger cities,” says Natalie. She also reflects that Boone is experiencing “pains the locals are trying to navigate. I have unfortunately seen and felt that locals don’t seem to be prioritized over tourists and university students. I would love to see Boone become a better place for long-term residents to be able to support their families and live in the area.” Natalie hopes to positively impact the community, donating 1% of proceeds to local nonprofits and getting Lux&Lye to a point where she can hire other staff. “I want to grow a business that is bigger than myself, pays people a living wage, respects their skills, time and creates a safe environment for people to be their true self!” While she doesn’t consider herself a Boonie, she thinks “Boonies are people with an excitement for life, community, people, and our beautiful environment. They care deeply about others and want to help make the High Country a safe and healthy place for their community.” That sounds like Natalie to us!
Follow Lux&Lye today to learn more or find their skincare lineup (in person or online)! Self-proclaimed soap snob and Boonies founder, Selena Lauterer, promises these heavenly scent combos and silky lather will send one to a magical, euphoric place!
Lux & Lye LLC Downtown Boone, NC Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development

07/25/2023

“I’ve seen beautiful sunsets and great sunrises and I've seen days I wasn't sure the sun was gonna rise again. But I don’t have to go look for tranquility, for peace and quiet. Around here, I got it.” On May 7th of this year, Randy Lewis’ tranquility was temporarily interrupted by a bull attack on his own dairy farm. As a supporter of independent dairy farms, boonies are no stranger to the daily challenges faced by those brave and determined enough to make a living in dairy. Randy is one of the last dairy farmers in Alamance County, NC and he has been farming his family’s 5th generation dairy farm his entire life - only stopping to boogie down at his famous barn dances, featured in the Reel South documentary “Last Barn Dance”. Now as Randy turns his focus from milking to recovering, he needs all our help. A call already being answered by an astounding 400 warm hearted folks and counting. “All I can do is tell anybody ‘thank you,’” Randy told public radio station WFDD. “And I mean it from the bottom of my heart because it was those people who gave me a life to come back to. And how can you repay that?”
To show your support for Randy, check out http://www.ranlewdairy.com/ to see where you can pick up Ran-Lew dairy products or support him virtually via GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/ranlewdairy
Ran-Lew Dairy Milk Company Reel South Southern Documentary Fund
Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development

07/21/2023

“I want to create something long lasting, with my hands, that will give a feeling of joy and an appreciation for the past. Future Relic Designs comes from a place of appreciation for those who have come before us, and an excitement and hope for our future selves.“ Rachel Whitfield, creative genius and founder of the immaculate handmade jewelry line Future Relic Designs, sharpened (or hammered) her metalworking skills for almost 5 years before officially sharing Future Relic Designs with the boonie world! It’s been a year since FRD emerged and Rachel is still excited and growing as a local artist, “I’m a very hands-on learner and there was a lot of trial and error going on. Through the years I have found some wonderful resources that have become invaluable while navigating this new business. I hope to continue learning through new and ancient metalworking techniques that I may be able to pass on to others in my own brick and mortar someday. Recycling metal and hand sourcing stones is something I am very passionate about and hope to continue.”
Rachel came to Boone as an Archaeology Major at Appalachian State from Roanoke Rapids, NC and was thus born a boonie. “Boone’s incredible community has become home for me.” Afterall, a boonie is “someone who has fallen in love with this town, the people in it, and whether they realize it or not have created value for the community in their own special way.”
Hand-forged in the Blue Ridge Mountains and built with an appreciation of history and hope for the future, owning and operating her business here in Boone, NC is a key part of Rachel’s philosophy, telling us that “the beauty of this place is always inspiring me. The mountains here are ancient and I can’t get enough of the outdoors. Everyone in this town is so encouraging and some have introduced me to people that have made a difference in my business.”
Check out her designs online at futurerelicdesigns.com or at the Boone Maker's Market on Saturdays (held on the corner of Howard and Depot!)
Downtown Boone, NC Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development

07/13/2023

Boonies’ mother company is growing! Artemis Independent is looking for someone with experience in executive support, the ability to dig deep into research and numbers, and a passion for public media and the clients we serve to join our fabulous team as an Executive & Research Assistant. The priority deadline to apply is July 23, however, applications will be considered until the position is filled. This position requires working in North Carolina with a strong preference for Western NC. Visit https://Artemisindependent.com/jobs to find out more. Feel free to share and tag your friends!

06/26/2023

🏆AND THE SOUTHEAST EMMY GOES TO…… !! 🏆Congrats to Scott Carter, Killer Mike & the whole Love&Respect crew (EF Studios, WABEATL, KNME) and of course, our beloved boonies creator and executive producer extraordinaire Selena Lauterer for getting this series off the ground and soaring to new heights! Stream on PBS.org TODAY to watch every episode & stay tuned for more…
Killer Mike GTO WABE Efficiency Studios Artemis Independent New Mexico PBS Selena Lauterer
&RespectWithKillerMike &Respect

06/16/2023

🐮Celebrate dairy month in Cheeky style with boonies-documentary-featured Cheek Farmstead Creamery milk and ice cream! You can find their products all over the high country from the FoodHub, to Wildwood Community Market and even in the milkshakes at Comeback Shack!! Go get yourself some delicious dairy today!🐮
📸Photo by Dream Catcher Photography

06/09/2023

There’s a work of art down in Boone, they call the Rising Watsons… well maybe they don’t call it that yet! Boone continues to “glow” up as another incredible mural has been spotted on Depot Street! Muralist Scott Nurkin immortalizes two of the most famous musical boonies Doc and Merle Watson in stunning fashion, keeping the Watson’s sitting on top of the world right here in their beloved blue ridge mountains. The unveiling ceremony’s June 17th at 11:30am during the Boonerange Music and Arts Festival – don’t miss it!
The Mural Shop Downtown Boone, NC Boonerang

05/08/2023

“The local food economy here in the High Country is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. The amount of food grown and produced in our region, and the enthusiasm of the community to support local farmers and producers is unmatched,” says Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture Exec. Dir. Liz Whiteman.
The BRWIA is the engine behind the King Street Farmers Market, Winter Market and the High Country Food Hub, providing boonies access to farm fresh produce all year. “As an organization, we work to create new and innovative market channels for producers, to increase food access for our community and to support farmers, producers and small business owners through educational workshops, skill and resource sharing. We aim to build a more resilient and just local food economy here in the mountains.“
“The organization was formed in 2003 by a group of women farmers who were looking for support and mentorship in the field. They started to gather on each others’ farms for potlucks and workshops, and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture was born. Two decades later, our staff are so thankful that our founding mothers had the foresight to create a space for those who haven’t always been included in the traditional definition of a farmer.”
Those 20 years haven’t always been as easy as picking up your weekly Food Hub order, especially because “here, as elsewhere, farmers and prospective farmers are often squeezed out of the real estate market, and farmland is disappearing at an alarming rate. We know that this is a desirable place to live, but it’s also becoming a place that’s prohibitively expensive, particularly for beginning/aspiring farmers.“
However, under Liz’s meticulous guidance, the BRWIA are poised to support and enhance any farmer’s experience here in the High Country. “The only constant in life is change, so I think we need to embrace the fact that change happens, and work to make sure that the changes benefit the community and this landscape we’re fortunate to live in.“
To continue to support Liz, BRWIA, and our local community of farmers, visit the BRWIA website to see their plethora of programs and shop local produce!

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
King Street Market
High Country Food Hub
Downtown Boone, NC
Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development

04/28/2023

What a lovely surprise to see one of our favorite historical Junaluska images forever captured in this amazing mural in the community! Shout out to the collaboration between Dr Chip Thomas, Appalachian State faculty and Staff and the renowned Junaluska Heritage Association that made this work of art possible. The image references a photograph of Junaluska community members gathered at The Chocolate Bar on North Depot Street sometime in the 1950s. For more info check out the Watauga Democrat or watch boonies season 2 episode 2 JUNALUSKA on pbs.org !
WestNC

04/17/2023

“It can be hard to find jobs in Boone, find housing and settle here. I feel like that has led to meaning that the folks that are here, have really CHOSEN Boone very intentionally. It’s built this incredible community that we are overjoyed to be a part of.” says Blue Ridge Tourist Court pair & 14-year-long boonies Mira and Brian Williams.
What is the Blue Ridge Tourist Court you may ask? An artfully and newly restored authentic 1950's roadside motel, nestled in the hills just over a mile, outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown Boone, NC. The BRTC is not your average motel, but a living piece of Boone history. In 1950, Estel Wagner opened the first rooms of the Blue Ridge Tourist Court which would become a multi-building, phased project. By 1955, the Tourist Court had 15 rooms, 3 suites and a garage apartment. By 2020, the property had fallen into disrepair and was eventually condemned. Brian and Mira Williams found the property for sale in 2021 and saw an opportunity to resurrect a piece of Boone’s past while looking to the future.
Mira and Brian are “working hard to keep our motel environmentally friendly – refilling products through Re-Supply, using earth-friendly companies like Mananalu for water, and providing reusable hand towels/dish towels. We’ve used two local artists to add the most beautiful touches to our rooms – Lynn Willis and Andi Gelsthorpe and we are just thrilled with what they’ve done! We see this as another avenue to build awareness for local nonprofits and small businesses. We want to make the BRTC a destination for high country visitors and locals alike as we grow our vision.”
Both Mira and Brian grew up in Birmingham, AL and decided to move to Boone having fallen in love with the community over years of visits. “It is such a gift to live in this area! We came here straight out of college and have absolutely no regrets. Being immersed in such an intentional community that genuinely cares about the people and wild spaces of this area is amazing. Every hike we go on makes us so incredibly grateful for what we have when we step outside of our homes.”
Visit the BRTC website for more and to book your own historic boonies experience today!
Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development Explore Boone

03/13/2023

“I wanted to provide a space where people could come together and leave their drama at the door, and just be able to come breathe and move together. I knew that feeling at home and grounded in the mountains was really the reason that drew me to open a studio here in boone…” says Briana Kidd, founder and guru of High Country Yoga, our final episode short film this season! Briana started her yoga studio at age 23, creating a devoted clientele and thriving business nestled in the sweet hills of Boone with the mission of creating space for folks to ground themselves in the practice of yoga. We can feel our stress leaving our bodies just watching this episode! For more, check out Country Yoga for classes and be sure to watch this relaxing episode on PBS.org or the boonies YouTube channel today!
Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development High Country Yoga PBS

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03/03/2023

Join producer Erica Starke-Knight as she interviews the matriarchs of the little known but mighty Black community established in the late 1800’s in Boone - known to locals as Junaluska. Explore The Hill, the Mountain, and the Boone Brethren Mennonite Church through historical photographs, recordings, and passed-down stories from life-time residents Sandra Hagler and Roberta Jackson in this eye-opening episode that showcases a piece of the history of Black folks in Appalachia. Featured in the BooneDocs 2023 film festival, watch this film today on PBS.org and the boonies YouTube Channel!

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02/24/2023

📣 Calling all boonies! 📣 Boone Docs film festival returns to the beautiful Appalachian Theatre in downtown Boone for its second year THIS SATURDAY from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm ONLY! Get your tickets and popcorn then join us for the Film Festival premiere of JUNALUSKA, episode 2 of season 2 of boonies. We were so honored to be invited to this festival and we are in great company with 11 other beautiful short films. Y’all can’t miss this celebration of life and times in Appalachia!
Boone Docs Film Festival Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development Downtown Boone, NC First Security Insurance Appalachian Theatre Watauga Democrat

02/21/2023

If you’ve ever been driving through the High Country, you’ve driven past hills spotted with cows - but have you ever wondered what a life with cows would be like? 🐮 Well, boonies has the short “moo”vie for you! In episode 1 of boonies season 2, join The Cheek family and see how, despite the difficulties of life as an independent family-owned dairy farm in the mountains of NC isn’t getting any easier… and find out why the latest generations of the Cheek family still keep at it. Watch this film today on PBS.org and the boonies YouTube channel!

02/17/2023

Cows, historical communities, and yoga moves - oh my! These topics are just a taste of what’s to come for boonies in season 2. From a family dairy farm to the vibrant Junaluska community of Boone to a flourishing yoga studio, this season covers our mountains from high and low. For more tidbits, follow us over the next few weeks for details on the three latest exciting short documentaries to join our boonies PBS film family - stay tuned!
Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development Downtown Boone, NC PBS First Security Insurance Cheek Farmstead Creamery High Country Yoga

02/09/2023

Lights, camera, boonies, and ACTION! Come out to the Appalachian Theater in downtown Boone and enjoy Blue Ridge Community Theatre’s presentation of the smash musical comedy - I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! Starting this Friday night (Feb 10th) and followed by two showings Saturday February 11th and one Sunday February 12th, this is one Valentine's special you won’t want to miss.

02/07/2023

📣Calling all bookworm boonies!!📣 ..
📚Small Treasons📚If you’re in the mood for something more suspenseful, check out this devastatingly tender novel from App State’s very own Mark Powell. Three lives intertwine as characters individually come apart in a world of powers great and personal.
📚A Hole In The World📚 When Amanda Held Opelt suffered a season of loss— including three miscarriages and the unexpected death of her sister—she was confronted with sorrow she didn’t know how to face. In this book, Opelt explores the history of human grief practices and how previous generations have journeyed through periods of suffering and how that helped her process her own grief.
📚The Fisher Queen📚Drawing together poems from six award-winning collections, App State’s Dr. Kathryn Kirkpatrick introduces the best of her poetry with the voice of the Fisher Queen, the otherworldly spouse of the Fisher King. Hers is a story of wounding, equal to her husband's, and just as connected to a wasteland, figured here as 20th and 21st century environmental devastation.

02/03/2023

📣Calling all little bookworm boonies!!📣 Looking for a new family read and don’t know where to start? Where better to begin than our own neck of the woods - Checkout this collection of six fantastic Boone authors whose work will inspire, educate, and keep you warm in the remaining Winter months & stay tuned for part 2 The Grown-Up Edition!
📚Junaluska ABC Book📚 Dedicated to the the Junaluska community, this book shares the memories from four lifetime community residents according to the alphabet. Written by Betty Grimes, Carolyn Grimes, Peggy Horton and Roberta Jackson, the letters are displayed on alcohol ink art done by the authors and additional images are illustrated by Anitra Ball.
📚The Best Type of Friend: What you need to know about your friend with Type 1 Diabetes 📚 Written by our very own boonie’s bookkeeper, Connie Carringer with art by Desiree Vargas. This beautifully illustrated book features Connie’s daughter Jane Marie, her journey with Type 1 Diabetes and answers all the questions your kids (and you!) might have about loved ones with Type 1 diabetes.
📚In This Book You Will Find…📚Add some magic to your little one’s bedtime stories with this fantastical journey through poetry and illustration from boonie Katie Hagaman. Plus she leaves space to fill in your own story on the blank pages!

01/20/2023

We are honored to announce that by special invitation one of our new episodes of boonies is being featured in Boone’s very own BOONE DOCS - a film festival celebrating life in Appalachia that takes place right in the heart of downtown Boone! Get your tickets now and come to the Appalachian Theater Saturday February 25th to see JUNALUSKA from boonies plus 11 other fantastic short films. Junaluska tells the story of this little known but mighty Black community established in the late 1800’s through historical images, audio clips and interviews with matriarchs and community pillars Roberta Jackson and Sandy Hagler. Follow the Boone Docs page for more info and get your tickets from AppTheatre.org (Pssst and stay tuned for more information & sneak peeks into boonies season 2!)
Boone Docs Film Festival Appalachian Theatre Downtown Boone, NC Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development First Security Insurance

01/03/2023

Dang, it’s cold outside! What a perfect time to snuggle up in your favorite sweater or turtleneck. If you’ve lived in Boone long enough, chances are you picked up that comfy, favorite garment at none other than Anna Banana’s on King Street! Anna Roseman, owner of Anna Banana’s Consignment Store, tells us about how the process of consignment for the High Country is both art and science in episode 3 of boonies season 1. Watch this episode now on PBS.Org or on our very own boonies YouTube channel and tell us what you think! Happy watching boonies! ❄️❄️❄️
Anna Banana's Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development Downtown Boone, NC PBS

12/19/2022

Fred Rogers mother, Nancy, once told him "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” In Boone, if you start looking for the helpers this Holiday season, chances are you’ll find Jesse Miller. Insurance man by day, auctioneer for the greater good by night, Jesse has raised over $1 million for his community as a volunteer auctioneer. Episode 2 of boonies Season 1 follows how Jesse uses his talents to benefit his community. Watch this episode now on PBS.Org or on our very own boonies YouTube channel and tell us what you think! Happy watching boonies!
First Security Insurance Downtown Boone, NC Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development PBS

12/13/2022

‘Tis the season of warm fuzzies, cozy cuddles, and easy watching. Did you know there is a Danish word that describes this toasty and relaxed feeling? It’s HYGGE (pronounced hue-gah) known as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” If you want to experience the feeling yourself, make yourself some hot cocoa and settle down with boonies season 1 episode 1 featuring Proper’s own Angela Kelly. There is nothing more comforting than comfort food, friendly faces, and touching story-telling. Watch this episode now on PBS.Org or on our very own boonies YouTube channel and tell us what you think! Happy watching boonies!
Proper Resturant Boone, Nc Downtown Boone, NC Boone / Blowing Rock - Watauga County Economic Development