<div>Hi everyone! My name is Margaret Barry, and I’m the eldest child of James and Shannon Wilkes. Today, I’m writing to you on behalf of my Dad, James Wilkes, and the place that I called home for the most formative years of my life, Faith Mountain Farm in Creston, NC.
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<div>After Hurricane Helene made its way to the Carolinas on September 27th, flooding from the nearby creek swept away much of the farm’s infrastructure. It occurred rapidly and was unlike anything they’d ever seen in 20 years of living in Creston.
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<div><strong>As a result, the raging floodwaters carried away the bridge across the creek, his beekeeping and farming equipment, the remainder of the barn (which had been damaged previously), and around 60 hives of bees. The floodwaters also destroyed the garden, which had been producing garlic, cabbage, flowers, corn, and many other fall crops. This means no more honey or crops for the duration of the year. We are grateful that it did not flood the farmhouse, as it reached all the way to the pilings of the back porch before receding.</strong>
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<div>Here are a few pictures of the farm in the years before the flood.
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<div><strong>And here are photos of the flood waters over the farm at their highest. This land once contained rows of beehives, a barn, and a lush garden. Everything underneath the water was scrubbed clean.</strong>
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<div>As you may know, my Dad wears many hats in addition to running Faith Mountain Farm. He’s a professor of computer science at Appalachian State University, a software developer and a co-founder of HiveTracks, and father of 8 children and Papa to 5 grandchildren.
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<div>I like to say that he was homesteading and farming before it was “cool”, as we moved to the farm in 2005 when I was 13. Along with my 7 siblings, I was homeschooled through high school. Living on the farm provided us kids the wonderful opportunity to learn lifelong lessons about the value of hard work and responsibility, to begin entrepreneurial ventures, and enjoy a childhood spent in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
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<div>My Dad's own "mission statement" for the farm: <em>"A family farm dedicated to providing good food, fun, and fellowship to anyone who happens by." </em>The fruits of the farm over the years include from-scratch cinnamon rolls and baked goods, bread from freshly milled grain, homemade granola, jars of golden honey, cheery sunflowers, and “better than organic” seasonal produce.
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<div>Faith Mountain Farm has been providing high-quality goods to shoppers at the Watauga County Farmers Market each week, or at their roadside stand. Over the years, he’s hosted many families, homeschool field trips, and college student groups to the farm to give educational tours on sustainable farming practices, and to teach about beekeeping.
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<div>My Dad is a second generation beekeeper and his own father, Papa Bob Wilkes, began keeping bees when James was just a boy. As such, my Dad has a deep understanding of the importance of pollinators for crops and agriculture.
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<div>One thing you should know about my Dad is that he's a very hopeful, optimistic person, and this stems from his deeply-held faith and trust in God. In fact, that’s why I chose the photo for the header of this fundraiser. You can see him holding the vase of dahlias he managed to salvage, even as the floodwaters were rising, which you can see in the background of the photo.
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<div>To me, this is a powerful symbol of hope. My Dad is also known for his generous and giving spirit. He's always ready and willing to extend a helping hand to others in need.
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<div>And the truth is, my Dad would never ask for help. In fact, in the days since the hurricane hit, he has downplayed the losses and damage to the farm. However, I know that many people have been blessed by Faith Mountain Farm and the Wilkes family over the years, and would love the opportunity to show their love and support now, in their time of need.
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<div>And that is why I decided to start this fundraiser. <strong>All of your donations go directly to my Dad, James Wilkes, as he seeks to rebuild the farm’s infrastructure including the bridge across the creek,</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>beehives he maintained, and the farming equipment that was lost.</strong>
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<div><strong>Thank you so much for considering supporting Faith Mountain Farm and my Dad, James Wilkes, in his effort to rebuild after this unprecedented and catastrophic storm.</strong>
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<div><em>To learn more about the farm, check out the facebook page </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/faithmountainfarm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>here</em></a>!
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