From Seed to Plate
Surrounded by the lush sloping peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montgomery Sky Farm rests in Turkey Creek Valley just outside the city of Asheville.
Taylor Montgomery, alongside his wife Fran, steward the 50-acre farm with the kind of care and attention you might give a newborn—”date night” for them sometimes looks like pulling weeds in the garden bed or shoveling manure together—and you get the sense that caring for the land and animals are at the center of their universe. With a focus on sustainable farming practices, an animal rescue (hello, donkeys!), and preservation breeding, Montgomery Sky Farm is a local gem.
Taylor is the Executive Chef at Montgomery Sky Farm, where he and Fran host private dining experiences in a rustic barn surrounded by their herb garden on one side and their two rescue pigs, Pickles and Snackpack, on the other. Using produce grown right there on the farm, Taylor creates intimate dining experiences that reflect the seasonal flavors the land has to offer.
“I look for inspiration everywhere,” Taylor told us. “I always aim to create a ‘salad’ on my property, with beds full of edible flowers, greens, and garnishes. Don't be afraid to try something new and potentially challenge yourself to find an ingredient you've never worked with, this is what cooking is all about.”
Coining the term, “seed to plate,” everything grown on Montgomery Sky Farm starts from seed and is nurtured into mature plants, with special attention paid to exotic and endangered species of vegetables and fruits. The farm shares food with local communities in Asheville and Greenville, so from a sourcing standpoint, there’s 100% traceability, a rarity in the typical “farm to table” setup. Sustainable farming practices are at the heart of the farm, where a zero-waste mindset underlies everything they do, from using composting systems, chickens, and traditional farming practices to grow the produce.
We were lucky enough to catch up with Taylor and Fran at the farm, where the sweetest pair of Kune Kune pig sisters let us scratch their heads and the chickens flew the coop to run free in the yard while we chatted about Asheville's new food festival, Bite Me AVL. On August 15th, 2024, we partnered with Taylor to host a dinner at Asheville’s beloved 5 Points Restaurant, for a fine dining takeover of a classic diner experience.
“The inspiration for the Bite Me dinner menu stems from understanding the Greek heritage and culture behind Five Points restaurant and our travels abroad,” Taylor said. “My wife and I visited Greece in 2022 and fell in love with the freshness and flavor in the food. I wanted to pay homage to the individuals who have helped make 5 Points a staple in our community,”
At the Bite Me dinner, we designed the space, Taylor plated on our pots, and the menu was truly fabulous (he had us at chocolate torte). Experience Taylor’s hyper-local culinary creations at Montgomery Sky Farm for yourself, or book a visit to the farm to spend some time with their rescue farm animals.
