From Pasture to Purpose – Part Two: JBW Farms Homestead Brings Food, Faith, and Community Together

In Part One of our series, we introduced the heart behind JBW Farms—the story of how Jonathan and JoDee Watkins faced a series of what felt like setbacks and disappointments. But instead of giving in to discouragement, they listened for what God wanted them to do next. The answer was clear: build something that would not only support their family but also serve their community. Thus, JBW Farms Homestead was born—a new chapter rooted in regenerative agriculture, rural hospitality, and local impact.

If the heart of JBW Farms is family and faith, the soul is surely found at JBW Farms Homestead on Greenpond Road. Here’s how the Watkins family is blending purpose and pasture in real-time.

From the beginning, Jody Watkins, Jonathan’s brother, has been a committed partner in this new venture. Drawing on a shared family vision and a deep love for their community, Jody has joined Jonathan and JoDee in building JBW Farms Homestead into something greater than a business—it’s a mission grounded in service, stewardship, and sustainability.

The Market: A Taste of the Farm
Once the Watkins’ personal home, The Market now offers a warm, welcoming space where customers can get a true taste of the farm. It’s here that pasture-raised poultry, raised from day-old chicks in brooders and finished on pasture in mobile chicken tractors, becomes the star of the table. Fed a non-GMO, soy-free diet, these birds are quickly gaining a local following. “Just last week at the farmers market,” Jonathan shared, “someone told us it was the best chicken they’d ever had.”
While pork isn’t raised directly on the farm, JBW Farms Homestead sources it from other regenerative farms following the same principles—ensuring every product reflects their high standards. Local partnerships extend beyond meat: The Market carries honey, handmade soaps and lotions from goat and sheep milk, fresh breads, raw milk, and Happy Cow Creamery products, as well as local roasted coffee.

The newly converted farmhouse now houses JBW Farms Market, where customers can purchase pasture-raised meats, fresh eggs, and locally sourced honey and produce. Carefully curated handmade goods from nearby artisans line the shelves, adding a personal touch to every visit. Everything in the Market reflects the same commitment that drives the farm—clean, honest food raised the right way. This is farm-to-table at its most authentic: no middlemen, no mystery—just food with a story you can taste.

“People don’t just want to eat well—they want to know where their food comes from,” Jody said. “Our goal is to make that connection possible.”
More than just a storefront, The Market is a gathering place, a conversation starter, and a reflection of a growing movement toward food with integrity.

 

Events with Authentic Charm

“Food and faith may be at the heart of JBW Farms Homestead,” says JoDee, “but community is its spirit.” And nowhere is that more evident than during the events and gatherings hosted at the farm.

From baby showers and game nights to wedding receptions and family reunions, the Homestead is a backdrop for life’s most meaningful celebrations. Guests have access to a cozy back porch outfitted with long tables—each handcrafted from original bedroom and living room doors salvaged during the farmhouse’s renovation. “We believe community is healing,” Jonathan says. “And sometimes the best kind of nourishment isn’t just food—it’s connection.”

Even casual visits leave an impact. Just this weekend, an Airbnb guest brought her mother from Fountain Inn to shoot hoops in the driveway and relax in rockers on the porch—a simple yet beautiful moment of shared time and peace.

Farmhouse Stay: Peace and Perspective
The lovingly restored Watkins family farmhouse—once filled with everyday life—is now a quiet retreat for visitors seeking something more meaningful. Available as an Airbnb, the home offers an upstairs suite complete with a king bedroom, en suite bathroom, kitchenette, and living room with a big-screen TV. Downstairs, an optional second bedroom with twin beds and a clawfoot tub completes the space.

But it’s not just a place to sleep—it’s a place to reset. Visitors are encouraged to walk the pastures, watch the sunset, sip coffee on the porch, or visit with the farm animals. Whether it’s a couple escaping the noise of everyday life or a family reconnecting over breakfast on the porch, guests leave with more than just rest—they leave with renewed clarity.

“People come for the quiet,” JoDee says. “But they often leave with a deeper appreciation for what really matters—faith, family, health, and time.”

Farm Tours: Learn, Engage, Connect

One of the most meaningful ways JBW Farms connects with the community is through guided farm tours—open to families, schools, homeschool groups, and anyone curious about where real food comes from. These hands-on experiences invite visitors to walk the pastures, see the animals up close, and learn how pasture-raised poultry and grass-fed beef are grown with care and intention.

Tours are intentionally interactive. Guests might take a selfie with a Highland cow, gather eggs from the coop, watch a lamb bounce across the field, observe the bee hives from a safe distance, or hold a chick straight from the brooders. Each activity is a chance to engage with the land, connect with the animals, and leave inspired by a different way of thinking about food and farming.

“We want people to ask questions, get their hands dirty, and walk away understanding why how we farm matters,” Jonathan explains. “It’s about transparency, trust, and changing how people think about where their food comes from.”

The farm’s approach is deeply rooted in the belief that education is empowerment—and the more people know, the more they care.

A Legacy in the Making
Jonathan and his brother, Jody, didn’t decide to build JBW Farms Homestead because they thought it would be easy—or fun. They chose this path because they wanted to make a real difference in the community they call home. Their goal has always been to serve Greenpond residents, the Gray Court community, and Laurens County with something lasting and life-giving.

What Jonathan, JoDee and Jody are building is more than a farm business—it’s a living legacy. One rooted in family history, shaped by faith, and designed to serve future generations with health, connection, and purpose.

Every pasture rotation, every farm tour, every family gathering held on the land is part of something bigger—a vision that began with deep roots and now stretches forward with intention.

“We’re not just growing food,” JoDee says. “We’re building something that will outlast us—something our daughter SaDee can be proud of one day.”
Jonathan knows this kind of legacy isn’t built overnight. Before returning to South Carolina, he worked and lived on the King Ranch and the 6666 Ranch in Texas—experiences that shaped his understanding of land stewardship, hard work, and purpose. That deeper story—and how it connects to another venture on the property—comes next.

Coming Soon: Part Three
We’ll take a closer look at the heart behind Pet Commander Kennels, the luxury dog boarding facility at JBW Farms, and why for Jonathan and JoDee, caring for animals is more than a business—it’s a calling.

Missed Part One? Click here to read From Pasture to Purpose – Part One.

Click on the images in the photo gallery to get a glimpse of the farm, the store and the Air bnb.