Woodsgift Farm Spreads Good Taste
When O.H. “Pete” and Averil Peters get to talking about their Woodsgift Farm jams and jellies, baking mixes and handcrafted items, their passion and joy are evident. A lot of hard work goes into making, showing and selling their wares, which include a long list of food products, in addition to hats, walking sticks, knives, jewelry boxes and more. But hard work apparently agrees with the couple, whose faith and positivity keep them going strong at 83 and 79 years old, respectively.
“With the Lord’s leading, you can do a lot of different things, and it behooves you to get with it and do it – and to have a lot of fun at it! And we do,” Averil says.
She and Pete were led into jam and jelly making when they branched out from their hog farming operation in West Tennessee into you-pick blueberries.
Jams, Jellies and Memories
“In 1991, the crop was over 5,000 pounds, and we didn’t know how to market all those blueberries,” Averil recalls. “We were getting more berries than we could handle. So we decided to go into commercial sales of just blueberry jam and jelly. But while we were doing this, people asked for other flavors. So we said, ‘Oh yeah, we can do that.’ Our first brochure offered 26 flavors, and we thought, ‘Wow, we are really here.’ Today, we have about 130 items that we sell.”
“Not all jams and jellies, though,” interjects Pete. “We have pancake mixes and cookie mixes, too.”
They also sell biscuit and scone mixes, a variety of fruit butters and curds, ice cream and pancake toppings, and sugar-free versions of many of their products. They call their homemade goodies “memory foods” – reminiscent of a time when made-from-scratch condiments and treats were the norm in many a kitchen.
In 1994, they sold their farm in West Tennessee and bought the place they now call home – a 3.25-acre parcel between Greeneville and Kingsport – in order to be close to their children and grandchildren.
“We’ve been here 20 years now, and we love it,” Averil says.
The couple, who are members of the Greene County Farm Bureau, grow gooseberries, currants, elderberries, apples and pawpaws (their seasonal pawpaw butter is a top seller) on their home place.
“We also try to buy local products as best we can at the time they’re in season,” Pete says. “We buy a surplus and store it in the deep freeze until we need it.”
They have 11 freezers, as well as a walk-in cooler and two refrigerators, in the “jam house” they had custom built for the production of their Woodsgift Farm jams and jellies.
Working Together Works
As to the division of labor in the jam house kitchen, Averil is in charge of recipe development and cooking; Pete puts the lids and labels on the jars and handles the shipping and other heavy work.
“She’s the cook, and I’m the bottle capper,” he says with a laugh.
The system functions quite well. In fact, the couple has worked together at one thing or another throughout their enduring marriage.
“For 56 years, we’ve been working together, and it just gets better all the time,” Averil says. “He’s my hero, and I’m his lady – isn’t that wonderful?”
Indeed it is, as are the beautiful handcrafted items the two make. Averil designs and sews hats and bonnets, both plain and fancy, in sizes from infant to adult. “I’m working on my 19th design now,” she says. “Sewing is a passion for me. And the hats sell very well.”
Pete makes hand-carved crosses, musical jewelry boxes, hardwood canes and walking sticks – also from plain to fancy – and fixed-blade hunting knives with carved wooden handles and handmade leather sheaths.
“I make the blades out of roto-tiller tines,” he says. “They’re real tough, high-carbon steel. I have no formal training; I just picked it up on my own. It’s just something I saw and thought I could do. I’ll try about anything.”
They market their Woodsgift Farm products at about 20 craft shows and festivals each year, mainly in East Tennessee, western North Carolina and southern Virginia. Products are also available at select retailers, on-site at Woodsgift Farm and via mail order.
Get the Gifts
Woodsgift Farm
13705 Horton Highway
Greeneville, TN 37745
(423) 234-5532
woodsgiftfarm@yahoo.com
Woodsgift Farm’s mailing address is Greeneville; however, its physical location is actually closer to Kingsport – three miles north of Interstate 81 at Exit 44. Part of the Appalachian Quilt Trail, its quilt square – hanging on the jam house and bearing the pattern “Bay Leaf” – can be seen from the road.
Call ahead or email if you plan to visit or to order by mail. Woodsgift Farm can ship gift items directly to recipients and include a personalized gift message. No sales are conducted on Sundays, either on site or at shows.
Was trying to find a listing of your jams, jellies, etc. that you have for sale & the pricing. Thank you.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your comment! To get in touch with Woodsgift Farm and learn more about their products, you can call them at (423) 234-5532 or email them at woodsgiftfarm@yahoo.com. Hope this helps!
Rachel Bertone
editor
Tennessee Home and Farm
I’ve been looking for a recipe called cowboy candy It has Jalepeno green peppers onion spices sugar But don’t know what kind of spices I bought this at a Indian PowWow at Noculala Falls last year Very delicious
Love to see a catalog of your products, I know this sounds old fashion, but my wife Carolyn is not a computer person. As i am disabled and use a cane would love to see what you have available and we love sugar free jams/jellies as we are both diabetics.
Frank & Carolyn Hunt
133 Hillcrest RD
Bluff City, TN 37618
Uncle Pete & Averil:
We were so glad to find you. We think about you, and talk about you often.
We would sure like to see you. It was so great to see you are still active and still
have the business going. I remember when it started in Cottage Grove.
Will be in touch before long.
Love,
Dan & Brenda
Hi. their how is the old man getting along these days. I guess the jelly business is good these cold days some hot biscuits would be good with it. As for me I am not getting along very well. I am on my forth leg but it not just right yet. The man that work on it just can’t get it right. I can put it on and just a few steps is all I can walk. Betty is not very well her back is giving her alot of pain. So me and her is just carring on.
Truly enjoyed the article in TENNESSEE HOME & FARM. Would like to have a listing on your jellies and jams, etc. Also would like to see what you have in wooden crosses and canes and walking sticks.
Fred & Judy Ramsey
101 Wamloty Lane
Mountain City, TN 37683
423 727-6713
fred_ramsey@hotmail.com
Please send me a listing of your products available
Thank you
Diana Frazer
Hi Diana,
You can get a listing of Woodsgift Farm’s products by contact them directly:
Woodsgift Farm, 13705 Horton Highway, Greeneville, TN 37745
(423) 234-5532
woodsgiftfarm@yahoo.com
Hope this helps. Thanks for reading our magazine article about this great Tennessee farm business!
Jessy Yancey
editor, Tennessee Home & Farm
i would like a catalog if avaible,i’m interested in bonnets & cane also wooden cross,thanks
Hi Kathy Ann,
You can get a listing of Woodsgift Farm’s products by contact them directly:
Woodsgift Farm, 13705 Horton Highway, Greeneville, TN 37745
(423) 234-5532
woodsgiftfarm@yahoo.com
Hope this helps. Thanks for reading our magazine article about this great Tennessee farm business!
Rachel Bertone
editor, Tennessee Home & Farm
Dr. Peters, I saw your pictures from the reunion this weekend….I graduated in the class of 73 at Sullins….
Do you have a catalog,if so would like one. WILLA MARTIN,5 Holliman Lane, Carthage,Tennessee, 37030
I would like to have a catolog of all your jellies,jams,hat ,bonnetts and the music boxes and all other thing you my wan too sell. My address is Cynthia Faye Owen,162 Springview Drive,Jackson,TN. 38305, My home number is 731-988-5345
We met these wonderful folks at the Mountain Makens Festival in 2014. Not only are they as nice of people you could ever meet, they make darn fine jams amd baked goods. We truly enjoyed visiting with them all the way from Central Oregon. Hope to catch them on our trip in 2016.
We want you to know that we LOVED the fruit cake we received from Lorena Byrd. We would like to see a catalog, as well.
We want you to know that we loved the fruit cake we received from Lorena Byrd. Where do we find a catalog? Thank you so much.
Hi, Aviril & Pete, hope you remember me.I live close to you & helped pick berries with you.Iam happy to see you both are doing well.Get a chance drop me a line.Love ya Gail
Hello
Is this farm website still operable? Will you be at the Burkes Garden Festival this year?