We had the good fortune of connecting with Kasie Oliver and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kasie, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Our business provides a local outdoor attraction for the community and surrounding areas. Jason and I both have full time service jobs within the community, and our farm is just another way that we are able to give back. We love that our farm provides an opportunity for fun and fellowship in a relaxed, outdoor setting. The greatest compliment that we receive is when people tell us that they feel at peace when they’re visiting our farm. Connecting with animals and nature has that effect on us, as well, so we love when visitors also feel that.
Just this summer we had the opportunity to team up with Concrete Jungle, a non profit organization out of Athens, to provide over 100 pounds of blueberries to local folks who needed assistance. It was a great feeling to know that our berries were being used for such a great cause.
What should our readers know about your business?
My husband, Jason, and I were married in 2015, which was the year we established O5 Farms. Our name is a result of our last names beginning with the letter “O” and there are 5 of us, including our 3 kids. Being a blended family, it was important to us that the kids felt included and a part of the farm, as well.
Jason had already planted 100 blueberry bushes before I arrived so they were good and established. We have added an additional 150 over the years, as well as raspberries and blackberries. Each year it seems that we add something new, as we strive to become a little more efficient and effective. Two years ago, we added a refreshment stand, where we sell shaved ice, cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs, and cold drinks during blueberry season. Last year, we planted a field of sunflowers which led to becoming a year round photography venue. This year, we added the produce wagon, which provided locals with fresh produce all summer and has given us the idea to open up a pumpkin patch this October. We have more ideas, like movies with goats, picnic with goats, etc, there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for everything we want to do! We also have a 4 bedroom, 1 bath livable barn space on the farm, called the Rustic Retreat, that we rent out on Airbnb and VRBO to those who want a more intimate farm experience.
We enjoy doing what we do here on the farm, and as anyone who runs a farm knows, it is definitely a labor of love. We listen to our loyal O5 Farm friends and will keep on keeping on until we hear otherwise! I don’t, however, anticipate that visiting with farm animals or picking your own chemical free blueberries will go out of style anytime soon!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Jefferson is a fun place to shop, eat, and hang out. Some great breakfast eateries are Diesel Donuts and Cream & Suga. Lunch favs include Warrens Snack Shack, Iron Pig BBQ, and Sugar ‘n Spice. Dinner options are Friends and Beef O’Brady’s. Revival Hall Taproom provides a great atmosphere for a night cap and depending on the night, may offer a food truck option that strikes your fancy. Shopping in town can be a good place to start. Kay’s Vintage Pantry and Priss Ellie’s are both excellent options, as well as Picky Peach Consignment and Black Barn Antiques. Other attractions include O5 Farms, of course!, Hurricane Shoals State Park and Crawford W. Long museum. Jackson county just launched a Geo Cache Trail, which includes 14 agricultural sites that have agreed to house caches. We were honored to be one of the host farms for this exciting Geo Trail event!
There are many attractions in nearby locations such as Tanger Outlet Mall at Banks Crossing, shopping and eating in Braselton, Hoschton, Athens, and Gainesville just to name a few.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout goes to my dad, Paul Jackson, who instilled a love of the land, farming, and hard work in me at an early age. He is a farm owner and entrepreneur who built his dump truck business, Jackson Hauling, from the ground up. He has always encouraged me to dream big and taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to. Thanks, dad! Love you lots.
Website: www.O5farms.com
Instagram: www.Instagram/o5farms
Facebook: Facebook.com/o5farms
Yelp: https://yelp.to/V9Fr4ONbqjb
Youtube: https://youtu.be/wc1FGQET61Y