Bordwine’s journey started when he went to Emory University in Atlanta, GA During the summers, the college student worked in Yellowstone National Park, where he did everything from slinging burgers to selling souvenirs to tourists. He later attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for his graduate degree during the day and fried donuts at night at Atkin’s Farms County Market. Bordwine worked at the Wildflour Bakery in Abingdon until it closed in 2016. He said his greatest mentor was Donna McIntyre, the owner of the bakery shop. “She took time and a chance on me.” She’s an excellent baker to learn from and emulate. He last joined the team at Harvest Table until that closed when he migrated to the Martha Washington Inn. Bordwine brings a touch of his Appalachian roots to the restaurant with his homemade biscuits, using a recipe that originates from his grandmother. “I used to make the biscuits without measuring. Now I measure for a more consistent product,” Bordwine said. Credit Carolyn R Wilson

As a 5th generation Southwest Virginian, Lori Briscoe is passionate about deepening the connections between plants, people and place. As a Certified Herbalist she is driven to help individuals explore the value of bioregional plants as food and medicine. For the past 20 years she has been educating and inspiring adults and children to value and conserve Southern Appalachia's biological diversity and rich cultural heritage.

Lori holds a B.A. in Anthropology, an M.A. in Appalachian Studies and Sustainable Development, and is a certified herbalist of the Appalachian School of Natural Health.

In 2020 Lori founded Appalachian Teas & Botanicals bringing full circle her academic and deeply experiential approach to the wonder of the region. Her largely regionally gathered and grown teas and botanical products lift the body and spirit not only in Appalachia, but across the country

A local entrepreneur has built her business around the idea that people have an innate desire to be creative. Jenny Carlisle, just celebrated the 4 year anniversary of opening My Little Fabric Shop (formally Crafts on Main), in Abingdon, and noted “it’s really a good time to be in the creativity business”.

“Do-it-yourself is a huge industry these days. What I’m finding is people want the do-it-yourself crafting experience, but they don’t always know how,” said the owner. Having a neighbor and community member available to help with those projects that we all have stashed away, in person is an enormous asset. Interestingly, there is a thirst nationally for high quality, reasonably priced fabric for sewing clothes and other projects as the online business has boomed as the local business has grown. Credit Carolyn Wilson

Meet Pastry Chef David Collier! The Girl and the Raven was thrilled to welcome David to the area and enjoy all the delicious scratch made pastries he creates! David was born and raised in Northern Virginia with summers spent in the rural Tidewater region of southern Virginia, in his grandmother’s garden and kitchen. Chef Collier has, over the past 25 plus years in the kitchen, enjoyed a career that has included time as Pastry Chef for Ritz Carlton, the Michelin starred Blue Duck Tavern as well as The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas. He has also worked in the independent restaurant scene with the late Bob Kinkead in DC, in Dallas at the landmark Spoon Bar & Kitchen and Knife Modern Steak as well as the iconic 1789 in DC. Chef Collier has been fortunate enough to appear on television nationally several times and was even chosen by The James Beard Foundation as one of the top 12 Pastry Chefs in the Nation in 2009.

Chef Collier’s style blends classic flavor combinations with modern presentations and reimaginings. He enjoys spending his spare time with his wife, an Elementary School teacher, and two sons. Chef Collier also is an avid basketball player and knife maker, specializing in bespoke kitchen cutlery.

Elizabeth Hill Gardner is the owner of Full Bloom Farm House in Abingdon, Virginia with her 6 year old daughter, Ava Jean. They offer weddings, classes, live music & photography on their 12 acre farm, which was built in 1900.

Both ladies moved from Point Reyes, California in 2018, following their best friend, who grew up in Damascus. Full Bloom is Elizabeth’s fourth business and the culmination of her passion for hospitality, education, gardening & good food! She is a Stanford graduate with a Masters degree in Education, as well as a Master Gardener & Certified Natural Chef.

Mohsin is ethnically Pakistani; his parents immigrated to New Jersey in the 1980s. He is a conservation photographer and co-owner of Tamandua Expeditions, with a Masters in Environmental Science and Policy. Katlin roots from a community of tomato vines and Sunday dinners in the heart of Southwest Virginia, Castlewood. Katlin is an educator with an EdS in Educational Policy and Administration. Their combined passion of education and the environment, coupled with their love for the Appalachian Mountains, has motivated them to give back to the area. Mohsin and Katlin direct a portion of their profits to Southwest Virginia in the form of meaningful, local projects related to their fields.

Cassie Rowe and Kitzi Manuel opened Shaked in May 2023 and the dessert shop has already become a favorite. Cassie also owns Abingdon Gifting Company just doors down from Shaked.

Stormbrew Farm is a cut flower and vegetable operation in Abingdon, VA, run by mother & daughter, Jenny Martin and Daisy Sturgill. They have been life-long gardening buddies, turning hobby to business in 2020 and then moving the operation from Smyth to Washington County in 2021. From floristry to farming to agritourism events to restaurant supply, Stormbrew Farm does a little bit of everything. Visit their website to learn more and join Jenny & Daisy at the farm stand on Watauga Road every Saturday (10am-2pm) beginning in May.

A Likely Yarn, a locally owned business, founded in 2008 by Abingdon resident Janet Woolwine, is located on historic Pecan Street across from the Creeper Trail. As the new owner, Lucy has continued on the tradition of quarterly Yarn Camps, weekly Sit and Stitch gatherings and has added several new trunk shows, pop-up shops and a range of new classes. Lucy is from Kingsport, raising 2 daughters and loves to travel with her family.

Triplett, who is from Abingdon, started working in restaurants when he was attending Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, TN. He continued to work in restaurants and high-end bars throughout Tennessee.

“This is just something I’ve always enjoyed doing, he says. He owes his return to Abingdon to another restaurateur, Josh Fuller of The Tavern. He said, ‘You’ve got to come home. Morgan’s building is available.’ Two days later I was here. One month later, the lease was signed. Three months later, my house in Nashville was sold. The restaurant life is what I know, and it’s what I enjoy despite the horrors and the pain it sometimes inflicts. There’s a lot of good in seeing someone’s face light up with something they’ve never had before or serving their favorite dish or cocktail,” he says.

His cocktails at Foresta are beautiful – some with gold flakes floating in them – and some are playful, such as a sake cocktail served over cereal.