Copeland Springs Farm, NC

Copeland Springs Farm is a one-woman farm in Pitsboro, NC raising amazing plants, flowers, and mushrooms. Farmer Kristin Bulpitt was one of our 2016 giveback recipients; we were honored to help fund her farm's new walk-in cooler. 

How did you get into this business? What introduced you to and made you passionate about what you do?

I worked in the medical field for a long time--originally, I moved to NC for nursing school. At the same time, I always had a garden and loved feeding people. Eventually, in an attempt to provide an alternative to western medicine, I turned to farming as a career. I realized that by providing organically grown food and teaching/sharing how to prepare it, I could provide healing care without medications or “diets.” Farming is soulful work, healing work, and the agriculture community around here is really amazing.

What are you most excited about right now? What are some of your future goals?

Right now, I’m excited to learn about different propagating techniques and seed saving: free locally adapted plants! We’ve been on this property for exactly three years now and have grown from a barren, weed and tick ridden property to a productive, lush, slightly-less-weedy space of healing. There is still much to be done, but the invasive plant count is down, food is growing, and native plants are up and gaining! I feel like the earth is healing around us. 

What frustrates you most about your work or the current food culture at large? What do you wish to change the most?

Most frustrating: Truly nutrient dense, healthy food is not cheap to produce, and yet it’s too expensive for many people to afford. Wish to change: Access to healthy food, and the perception that healthy food is too expensive. Wait, I just contradicted myself... food is a tricky issue; we're all trying our best to understand it, fix it, and heal from it.

Any recent moments of optimism? Things you see changing for the better?

I see awareness that maybe all of our agricultural “progress” might have strayed a bit too far. I see more money (even federal money) put into research and development regarding food access and more sustainable practices. This gives me hope!

Favorite vegetable to eat, grow or wear?

Any kind of greens, yum! Oh, and mushrooms! Do I have to pick one?

Anything else you want us to know? Anything you want us to help you spread the word about?

Thank you for all you're doing; every little bit helps! Raising awareness helps. Every dollar that goes back to small, local sustainable farm goes to help more than just grow food. It helps to heal the land, feed the community, teach awareness and encourage commitment. You all know all that. Thank you!