Cultura Garden Club members tour 1818 Farm
Russellville’s Cultura Garden Club members deviated from the usual end-of-the year banquet and program to tour the 1818 Farm in Mooresville.
Natasha McCrary started the farm. It’s named for the year Mooresville was incorporated, which was one year before Alabama became a state.
McCrary said the idea originated with her middle child, who fell in love with the Babydoll Southdown Sheep he met on a petting farm visit.
“Once I committed to raising sheep and chickens, I carefully researched a plan to ensure a successful farm project for the family,” McCrary said. “The 1818 Farm opened in March 2012.”
The 1818 Farm Mission is based on the way life used to be. Through it, McCrary seeks to preserve history and honor tradition by working a sustainable farm, producing handmade products, and educating the public on the value of self-sufficiency, craftsmanship and a strong sense of community.
The animals include Babydoll Southdown sheep, a Nubian goat, hens, minipigs and Great Pyrenees guardian dogs.
In an adjacent field, more than 14,000 flowers of multiple colors and blooms are carefully tended to, bringing beauty today and providing seeds for future seasons.
Events of all types are hosted in the garden, under the pavilions, and in the adjacent Garden House. Children’s birthday parties, supper and garden club gatherings, and “Farm to Table” dinners hosted by some of the area’s top chefs all take place on the farm.
The Garden House is also home to a series of classes, including raised bed gardening, food preservation, seed starting, raising backyard chickens, knitting, wreath making, flower preparation and flower arranging.
The landscape of the historic farm makes a beautiful backdrop for weddings and special event photo shoots.
Natasha McCrary shows a silk scarf made from flowers.
Cultura Garden Club members tour 1818 Farm
The 1818 Farm’s bath and beauty products have grown from the family’s commitment to the farm. Featured on the labels are some of the more popular farm animals from Farrah Fawcett’s Bath Tea and Clover’s Lip Smack to Sweet Pea and her scented Shea Crème. These products are all handmade, hand-packaged, and include therapeutic grade ingredients. You can find the products in stores throughout the United States and online.
In 2019, McCrary’s hard work was recognized with 1818 Farm winning Amazon’s United States Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year. In 2022, she was named to the 2022 Class of Women Who Shape the State by Alcorn’s “This is Alabama.”
Also in 2022,1818 Farm celebrated its 10-year anniversary and joined the Bloom TV Network. In 2023,1818 Farm was selected as one of the prestigious Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Beauty Award winners.
Our members learned many different ways to use flowers by using them to dye fabrics to make silk scarves. A demonstration showed how to dry flowers to make beautiful pictures. They also learned about growing loafer plants and what plants to plant that will help with insects.
A speaker talked about shearing sheep and growing chickens.
All members loved the 1818 Farm gift shop — especially the silk scarves. This was a very interesting and fun trip for everyone. Later, the group enjoyed a luncheon at “The Brick” in Decatur.
