Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to show your friends, family, and partners a little extra love. The best way to do that is by shopping local and supporting small business! 

 

The Apple Hill Farm Outpost is home to a wide selection of local gifts, foods, and crafting supplies. We’ve stocked up on all your favorites, and even have a selection of Valentine’s themed items we know you’ll love! Check out our gift guide below to see our top picks! 

 

The Apple Hill Farm Outpost is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm for all your shopping needs. 

 

We also offer shipping and in-store pick up! 

Curated Gift Boxes

Are you looking for a unique gift for someone in your life? No matter the occasion, we’ve got you covered!

Our Serenity Box is inspired by quiet mornings in the mountains. Featuring cozy alpaca socks, luxurious skin care products, a soothing lavender candle, and two sweet treats, this box is sure to transport you to your happy place instantly.

 

The Serentiy Box contents:

• Small or Medium Alpaquita Boot Socks
• 2 oz jar of local unscented tallow face and body salve
• Naked Bee chapstick and mini lotion in Orange Blossom Honey
• Thistle Farms Mini Lavender Candle
• 2 oz local honey bear
• 1 box of Pistachio Liar’s Table Chocolate Mendiants
• 1 box of Raspberry Chocolate Liar’s Table Chocolate Mendiants

Serenity box, SMall Sock

Serenity box, Medium sock

Our Farm Family Box features everything Apple Hill Farm! This is perfect your the Farm Fan or reader in your life!

• Farm Family: A Solo Mom’s Memoir of Finding Home, Happiness, and Alpacas | Hardcover edition
• Felted Alpaca Ornament
• Apple Hill Farm Heart Logo Magnet
• 1 pair of Survival Socks

Available with size Medium or Large Survival Socks. Most women wear a size Medium, and most men wear a size Large. 

Farm Family Box, Medium Sock

farm family box, large sock

Our Man Cave Box was designed for the snack lover in your life. With all NC products, they are in for a savory treat!

This box features:

• Brocmar Pretzels: Salt, Pepper, Garlic Butter flavor
• Spicy Cheese Straws
• Hickory Nut Gap Sweet Sopresseta
• Man Snack Jerky & Nuts trail mix

. 

Man cave box

Other Gift Ideas

Our Downtown Banner Elk store is brimming with amazing alpaca products, local foods, and craft supplies! Here are a few of our favorites that we think make fabulous gifts. 

Looking for something simple and sweet? We’ve got you covered!

 

• Locally made glass “pocket hearts” with sweet messages
• Hot Chocolate
• NC Made toffee and candies
• Valentine’s Day cards
• Magnets, keychains, ornaments,  earrings, and stickers
• Cozy alpaca socks, scarves, and winter accessories

In addtion to our regular line up of alpaca yarns, crochet needles, knitting needles, and notions, we’ve added 3 new Needle Felting kits just for Valentine’s Day!

 

Our Felt Hearts, Felted Candy Hearts, and Felted Butterfly kits are beginner friendly and come with everything you need to get started! 

 

Felting needles, colorful wool, pre-cut bases, and even stencils! Needle felting is a fun and easy way to get creative and play with natural fibers. 

 

We have a limited supply of our Valentine’s Day kits, so don’t miss out! 

Everyone needs a little self care this time of year. Short days, cold temperatures, and winter precipitation take a toll on your body! 

 

Getting your loved one (or yourself!) one of our self care essentials is just what they deserve! 

 

We carry: 

• Locally produced beef tallow Skin & Face balm
• Thistle Farms Candles (which support women survivors of trafficking, addiction, and abuse)
• Locally made Highland Croft Candles, soaps, and teas
• Naturally scented bath bombs and shower steamers
• Naked Bee skincare and perfume
• Local Honey & Bee Pollen

The Apple Hill Farm Outpost is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm at 

 

414 Shawneehaw Ave

Banner Elk NC 28604

 

Shop online

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Putting together a thoughtful gift for your loved ones can be really challenging. What do they like? Do all these things go together? How do I find unique treasures to include? Don’t worry – we’ve got you!

 

Introducing our Holiday Boxes! Carefully curated to feature farm favorites, hidden gems, and local products.

 

Our Holiday Gift Boxes are available for purchase in person at the Apple Hill Farm Outpost in downtown Banner Elk, or online! 

 

We suggest placing a ‘pick up order’ using the links below if you’d like to shop in person so we can have your box ready when you arrive. 

 

The Apple Hill Farm Outpost is located at:

414 Shawneehaw Ave

Banner Elk, NC 28604

 

828-898-2200

Farm Family Box: $84.99

This box features everything Apple Hill Farm! This is perfect your the Farm Fan or reader in your life!

This box features:

• Farm Family: A Solo Mom’s Memoir of Finding Home, Happiness, and Alpacas | Hardcover edition
• Felted Alpaca Ornament
• Metal “believe” Christmas bell ornament
• 1 pair of Survivals Socks

Available with size Medium or Large Survival Socks. Most women wear a size Medium, and most men wear a size Large. 

Farm Family Box, medium sock

Farm Family Box, Large sock

Man Cave Box: $42.00

This box was designed for the snack lover in your life. With all NC products, they are in for a savory treat!

This box features:

• Brocmar Pretzels: Salt, Pepper, Garlic Butter flavor
• Spicy Cheese Straws
• Hickory Nut Gap Sweet Sopresseta
• Man Snack Jerky & Nuts trail mix

man cave box

Mom Box: $99.99

Treat the special woman in your life with this truly indulgent box!

This box features:

• Cozy Teal Boot socks in Size Small or Medium
• A 2 oz jar of our unscented Tallow Skincare Balm
• 6 oz of delicious chocolates
• Naked Bee Pocket Pack: lip balm and mini lotion
• Love Heals Lavender mini candle
• 2 oz of local honey in a bear bottle

Mom Box, small sock

Mom Box, Medium sock

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We are pleased to say that Apple Hill Farm is OPEN and ACCESSIBLE!

 

We were fortunate to be just outside the worst of the storm to our west

 

Crews have been working tirelessly throughout the High Country to get our beautiful area put back together, and doing an amazing job! ALL roads to Apple Hill Farm from Banner Elk and Boone are open and easy to drive. Well, as easy as our curvy roads can be

 

GETTING TO APPLE HILL FARM:

From Boone: 105, Broadstone, and 194 are all fully paved! With the exception of unplanned traffic, there are no delays from Boone to Apple Hill Farm along this route.

 

Directions From Boone (30 minutes)

• From the 105/321 intersection (Wendy’s) in Boone, NC, follow NC105S towards Linville/Banner Elk.
• Go 4.8m to light at Broadstone Rd. Turn right, towards Valle Crucis.
• Go 2.9m to NC194S. Turn Left.
• Go 3.9m to Oliver Hill Rd. Turn right.
• Go 0.8m to Bladen Rd. Turn right.
• Go 0.2m to Apple Hill Road. Turn left.
• Go 0.3m to farm. Follow traffic signs.

 

From Tynecastle/Banner Elk: 184 and 194 through Banner Elk are both OPEN and EASY to travel. There are two sections of unpaved road, but they are filled with gravel and easy to drive over with any car.

 

Directions From Banner Elk (15 minutes)

• From NC184 & NC194 in Banner Elk, follow NC194N towards Valle Crucis.
• Go 3.7m to Oliver Hill Rd. Turn left.
• Go 0.8m to Bladen Rd. Turn right.
• Go 0.2m to Apple Hill Road. Turn left.
• Go 0.3m to farm. Follow traffic signs.

 

GENERAL REMINDERS:

– Plan ahead and leave extra time to travel to our farm.

– Check the NCDOT map for any closures ahead of time! Their map is very accurate and up to date! https://bit.ly/2SQKXZU.

– Please stick to the main roads and towns. Only visit places welcoming visitors.

-Work is ongoing throughout Western North Carolina. There may be unexpected delays and closures.

-Remember to take your time and enjoy the drive! We’re on mountain time – no need to hurry!

 

 

WANT TO SUPPORT WNC?:

Support Apple Hill Farm directly by purchasing gift cards, shopping online or in person, Sponsorships, or booking a tour!

 

Supporting WNC is a great hub for donating money, donating supplies, or donating your time! : https://www.supportingwnc.com/

 

Support WNC Farms through WNC Communities:

https://wnccommunities.org/

 

Visit NC High Country has an extensive list of openings and closures for local businesses: 

https://highcountryhost.com/High-Country-NC-hurricane-helene-tourism-openings-closures

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We are excited to share that on August 9, 2024, Jane Lee Rankin was inducted into the Western North Carolina Agriculture Hall of Fame!

 

The WNC Ag Hall of Fame was started in 1991 by the Western North Carolina Community Development Association, which is now WNC Communities. The Ag Hall of Fame is located at the WNC Agricultural Center fairgrounds in Fletcher, NC, in the Davis Events Center.

 

The Ag Hall of Fame was founded to identify and honor significant contributions in agriculture, to recognize individuals who have been responsible for agricultural advancement, and to improve and promote agriculture as a result of the honorees’ work within the agricultural community in any phase of agriculture and related endeavors.

 

Lee joins 78 other members in being recognized for this incredible honor! She was inducted alongside fellow 2024 recipient, James Ferguson; a pioneer and lifetime advocate for Soil and Water Conservation. Lee was joined by her son, Will Rankin, brother, Tom Rankin, and team members Brianne Harris and Karen Maj to celebrate.

 

We are so thankful for the large group of supporters from the High Country who made the trip to Asheville to celebrate! We had representatives from the Mayor of the Town of Banner Elk (Brenda Lyerly), Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, BRWIA, Watauga County Farm Bureau, Watauga County Cooperative Extension, Shipley Farms Beef and more.

 

Lee’s plaque is also displayed here at the farm.

We can’t thank Jim Hamilton and Carol Coulter enough for their incredible words. Here are their full speeches honoring Jane Lee Rankin at her WNC Ag Hall of Fame induction, as well as her acceptance speech.

 

We hope you find them as moving as we did!

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We’re going on tour! Apple Farm Hill owner and author of “Farm Family”, Jane Lee Rankin, will be making stops starting this month around the country!

 

If you’re in the area and attending any of these events be sure to stop by, say hello and get your copy of “Farm Family” signed by the author.

---

 

Farm Family is the story of a single mom’s pursuit of a dream to start an alpaca farm in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina.

At thirty-seven, Jane Lee Rankin receives news that upends her life: she’s pregnant. Lee is a cancer survivor eighteen months in remission. Her boyfriend won’t commit, and her father is unsupportive. When she decides to raise the baby by herself, Lee feels the scornful glances and judgmental whispers of her conservative hometown.

Armed only with a dream and a toddler, Lee marches into Banner Elk, North Carolina, a place where she knows no one, to start an alpaca farm. As a novice first-generation farmer, Lee faces nature’s most potent setbacks, from disastrous weather events to attacks from predators. And yet, she forges on. With vivid storytelling, Farm Family features a cast of memorable animal characters—including alpacas, Millie, Celeste, Frosty, and Wildcard—and immerses readers into the not-always-pretty world of farming. At Apple Hill Farm, Lee trades fear for freedom. She trades disdain for dignity. She learns that her connection to animals is more vital than she knew, and with bravery and persistence, she creates a home—a farm family.

 

Available everywhere books are sold! 

 

 

Purchase now!

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You DO need to join us for a tour to see the animals. We do not offer ‘self-guided’ tours and you cannot walk around the farm on your own. We offer guided educational tours of our farm all year round! They are a fun and educational experience for all ages. Advance tickets are required to join the tour.

Public Tour

You do not need reservations for the farm store. We are open 7 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm for the month of July!

Tours:

Tours of the farm are by Reservation ONLY. Call or click “Book a Tour” to make your reservation.

We are a real working fiber farm! Your tour will be an educational tour where you learn about the animals who live and play at Apple Hill Farm. Most of our animals are very friendly, but we are not a petting zoo and we let the animals choose if they will come over to interact with the tour or not.

• Advanced tickets are required. We cannot accommodate drive-up tours at this time.
• At this time, we are limiting tours to groups of 10 people or less, including infants.
• Private Family Tours are private comprised of just you and your group. The tour is the exact same length as the public tour. Public Tours are mixed groups of people from various families.
• Face masks are required for all people ages 4 and up.

Store:

10 to 4: 7 days a week for the month of July. Check the Visit Our Farm page for our current hours.

• No appointment necessary during open hours.
• Masks are required at all times.
• We are limiting shoppers to no more than 4 at a time in the store. We thank you for your patience if your group has to wait to enter the store.

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