The Vision of Baxter Hollow
Hi! We're Michelle and Shannon, and we're so glad you're here.
In 2013, we discovered a special piece of land tucked between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest. At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than untouched mountain acreage. It wasn't until we studied Google Maps that we realized we'd found a hidden gem—a breathtaking property overlooking Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains.
A year later, after selling our home and fine art printing business near Asheville, North Carolina, we moved to Bryson City to begin building our dream. Shannon grew up here, and I quickly fell in love with this charming mountain town known as the Gateway to the Smokies.
We purchased a 400-square-foot tiny house and lived there for seven years while slowly bringing our vision to life. Together, with our own hands, we cleared land, built gardens, constructed two vacation homes, and eventually built the home we live in today. What visitors see now was not created overnight—it was shaped board by board, stone by stone, season by season, through years of dedication, faith, and hard work.
The vacation homes welcomed hundreds of wonderful guests over the next eleven years before we sold them in 2025. The friendships, stories, and memories created here will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Our farming journey began in 2018, but the inspiration started a year earlier when Michelle experienced a sudden health crisis that left her struggling with severe and unexplained symptoms. After discovering the Medical Medium lifestyle and making significant dietary changes, her health improved dramatically. That experience transformed the way we viewed food, wellness, and the connection between the two. It also inspired our commitment to growing the cleanest, healthiest food possible.
Today, Baxter Hollow Farm is a Certified Appalachian Grown family farm nestled on 10 acres in Bryson City, North Carolina. We grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers using natural methods without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. We also care for honey bees that produce our raw, unpasteurized wildflower honey.
For a brief and magical season each year, our bees forage on the native Sourwood trees that bloom throughout the mountains of Western North Carolina. The result is the rare, highly sought-after Sourwood honey—a regional treasure celebrated for its delicate, buttery flavor and smooth finish.
The farm is named in honor of Shannon's father, Baxter. He never met a stranger and was known for his warm smile, generous spirit, and deep love of bluegrass gospel music. Whether playing guitar at home, gathering with friends, or performing with The Redemption Quartet, Baxter brought joy wherever he went. Though he was called home in 2003, his kindness, faith, and love continue to inspire everything we do.
What began as a dream on an undeveloped mountainside has become a life centered around stewardship, wellness, community, and gratitude. We are honored to share a small piece of this beautiful place with you and hope that Baxter Hollow Farm brings a little more goodness, beauty, and connection into your life.
Welcome to the farm.
Rooted in Appalachian Excellence
Guided by stewardship and a legacy of pure artisan craftsmanship, every jar of Baxter Hollow honey tells a story of mountain integrity.
Natural Growing Methods
We honor the wild purity of the Smoky Mountains by avoiding pesticides and chemical shortcuts, ensuring our honey remains raw and full of life.
Mountain Stewardship
Treating our land as a sacred trust, we preserve the Fontana Lake ecosystem to protect the pollinators that define our Appalachian heritage.
Built on Family Legacy
Michelle and Shannon honor their heritage through community-focused farming, building a dream rooted in integrity and the memory of Baxter.