VIDEO: Community Matters featuring Abby J
Abby Jackson is a woman of determination and when she sets her mind to something, great things happen. When Jackson decided to turn an old family farm on the Soque River into a flyfishing haven, Blackhawk Fly Fishing was born. Since 1996, Jackson has worked to protect and work the special part of the Soque River where trout love to swim. As a result of her work, Blackhawk has been featured on numerous TV shows like “O’Neil Outside” and “Georgia Traveler” as well as national magazines such as Southern Living. From corporate outings to families, Blackhawk has hosted hundreds of fishers looking for the Soque River’s beautiful trout.
Dave Zelski of “Georgia Traveler” was actually the impetus for Jackson’s next project. On a visit, Zelski remarked that Jackson had the best chili he had ever tasted and he had caught the biggest trout of his life. In 2011, Jackson introduced the first salsa in her line of “Farm to table” gourmet products. Today, there are 5 products in the line. The salsas are sold in Ingle’s Grocery stores in 4 states, as well as Kroger in Georgia and specialty shops throughout the South. A finalist in the “Georgia Grown” taste awards in 2013 and 2015, Jackson’s salsas and hot sauce are in her words, “smoking hot.”
Last year, Jackson decided to add Farmer’s Market to her list of businesses. For a number of years, Jackson had been selling the produce and herbs grown on the farm to restaurants in Atlanta. The Soque River Farmer’s market features vegetables and herbs grown on her farm as well as other products from local farmers. In true Jackson style, the market is a visual treat as well as a delicious one. This year, the market opens on Saturday, June 27th. Jackson’s next projects are a special treat that will be debuted on Saturday.
After developing recipes and studying in France and Italy, Jackson has written a cookbook. “Abby J’s Farmstyle Living” is the culmination of living, fishing and farming on the Soque River. With 100 recipes and lush photography, the cookbook is sure to give readers delicious new inspiration and make great gifts. Be sure to stop in the Soque River Farmer’s market and meet Jackson. An autographed copy of the cookbook is sure to be a special treat and a great gift.
While working at a “Georgia Grown” event and developing the cookbook, Jackson met her partner who shared her passion for “farmstyle” living, Nancy Suttles. Suttles, a Decatur native, currently designs and guides the “Big Green Egg” special interest publications. The publications are seen in over 40 countries. Suttles opened her eponymous design firm in 1996, specializing in photography, media, and publishing. Together, Suttles and Jackson have combined their talents and passions into a new publication, Southern Farm and Garden. The magazine features the best of the “farmstyle” life with interviews with farmers, recipes and celebrates the best of the South’s unique character of story-telling, music and wine. Jackson is passionate about the farm movement and wants to educate others about the farmers and farm-style life, as well as supporting an
d encouraging the best of the South’s farms and products. The magazine is a bi-annual publication celebrating the summer and winter harvest. The magazine debuted last week to high praise. It is a gorgeous magazine filled with stunning photography. The magazine is available in several local outlets such as A to Zinc in Clarkesville as well as via subscription. Another publication, Homegrown South, a catalog, will debut this fall.
Stop by the market tomorrow, June 27, 2015. Like Abby J’s products on facebook and visit her websites: southernfarmandgarden.com, blackhawkflyfishing.com and abbyjsgourmet.com. Be inspired.
