The Family Culture I’m Trying to Build and the Pig Farmers Doing It Right

Reading aloud. Raising happy pigs. Building a family culture that lasts. Plus: what’s happening this week around Serenbe & Chatt Hills.

It was a summer afternoon, four years ago—one of our first times at the pink pool. I was pregnant with Rory, still figuring out our new rhythm in Serenbe, when I saw them.

I didn’t have a photo of myself pregnant at the pool, but here we are with Rory two-ish years later

Annie and Walter Henegar—longtime part-time residents—were stretched out in lounge chairs, reading a book aloud to their two (very grown) children. I don’t remember the book. I just remember the feeling. No phones. No rush. Just quiet, connection, and presence. A ritual so simple, but so full.

That moment, I turned to Greg and said, “I want that.”

I meant the kind of family culture that says: This matters. This is worth making time for.

Later, when I finally met Annie and Walter, I asked them a dozen questions—how did this practice start? And more importantly, how did it last? It’s a ritual I hope to grow into our own family story.

I think about that moment a lot—and it’s been top of mind this week after a conversation with other mamas about family rhythms. We talked about when to start chapter books, how much we read to our kids, and which daily rituals actually shape who they become.

Personally, I think meals together have the biggest long-term impact—but I’ll save that for another day.(In case you’re curious)

This week, I pulled Charlotte’s Web off the shelf and started reading it to Rory. One slow chapter at a time. I do all the silly voices. We pause. We laugh. I answer lots of questions.

There’s something about that story—the tenderness, the care, the pig—that made me think of another one. A real one.

It’s about a couple raising pigs (and a life) with deep intention, right here in Chatt Hills.

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In today’s issue:

• 📖 The Family Ritual I Want to Grow Old With

• 🐖 Saltz & Peppa Pork: A Love Story Told in Acorns, Soil, and Bacon

• 📚 Chapter Books We Love (from some Serenbe mamas)

• 📍 For the Locals – Events This Week + “In Case You Missed It”

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🐖 The Pork Whisperer of Chatt Hills

You might know Chris and Julie from the Serenbe Farmers Market—the ones selling Mangalitsa pork with a quiet confidence and a clear passion for every cut. But what you probably don’t know is that behind the booth is a slow, intentional lifestyle rooted in deep care, community, and a whole lot of acorns.

Pause—Mangalitsa… what? Don’t worry, I hadn’t heard of it either. It sounds fancy (and maybe a little intimidating). But here’s the short version: it’s a heritage breed known as the Kobe beef of pork. Rich, marbled, insanely flavorful. Chris calls it the best pork you’ll ever eat—and after trying it, I believe him.

Happy Saltz & Peppa pigs, doing what pigs are meant to do—roaming the woods, foraging acorns, and living the good (low-stress) life.

And now let’s back up.

Chris didn’t just stumble into farming. He’s a third-generation pork farmer, raised with his hands in the soil and the sound of hogs in the background. But the way he and Julie farm today? It’s nothing like the “mud farming” of his childhood.

After decades in other careers (including firefighting and running a safety company), Chris and Julie sold everything and moved to Chatt Hills, craving a life with more presence and purpose. They bought a piece of land from a local legend (with a shared last name, oddly enough), and slowly started building what would become Saltz & Peppa Pork Community Farms.

Today, their pigs roam in rotational paddocks across nine acres, foraging for white oak acorns and snacking on pumpkins come fall. The land is divided into three-acre sections, and the pigs are moved frequently—giving the soil time to recover, regrow, and regenerate. It's a method Chris began experimenting with as a teenager, and now perfects on a much larger scale. Few farmers take this approach with hogs. Even their USDA processor, who’s been butchering meat for over 70 years, says their pork is the best he's ever worked with.

Chris and Julie and friends at the Serenbe Farmers Market

The pigs are raised without antibiotics or soy. They’re fed non-GMO cereal grains and live cortisol-free lives—which, yes, Chris can explain in detail. (Let him. It’s fascinating.)

This isn’t just about pork. It’s about stewardship.

It’s about bringing the land back to life—starting with the soil. When Chris and Julie first arrived, the property had been depleted by cotton farming. So they started from scratch, growing their own microorganisms, rebuilding the ecosystem below ground as much as above it. They believe in respecting the whole animal, using as much as possible (even rendering their own lard), and pricing fairly so regular families can enjoy food that’s actually good for them.

They eat what they grow. They swap pork for milk and eggs with friends. They drive to Alabama to pick up special organic feed every other week and bring back beef for neighbors.

They’re not trying to scale big. They’re trying to stay local.

“We like our regular customers,” Chris told me. “We like being affordable. We like being here.”

Most of their pork is sold at the Serenbe Farmers Market (and a few local restaurants like Radical Dough and The Farmhouse). But if you’re lucky enough to stop by their stand, you might also get a cooking lesson, a recipe tip, or a conversation that makes you think differently about what it means to farm.

They’re not flashy. But they are quietly extraordinary.

And they’re exactly the kind of people that make Chatt Hills so special.

Mama pig and her littles.

Pork Tips from Chris & Julie:

• Best beginner cut: Pork chops — Salt & pepper, let sit in fridge 4 hours, rest 30 min at room temp, then grill low and slow. Score the fat for extra crisp.

• For pulled pork: Cook a Boston butt at 250°F for 8–10 hours until internal temp hits 188–192°F. That’s when the magic happens.

• My tip: Save the fat. Cook your eggs in it. You won’t go back.

Find Them: Every Saturday at the Serenbe Farmers Market or online here.
Their farm isn’t open to the public, but they’re dreaming up a front-yard farm stand. And YouTube cooking videos are coming soon!

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📖 A Few Great First Chapter Books (from local mamas)

If you’re in the read-aloud chapter of parenting (or thinking about starting), here are some favorite early reads from my conversations with a handful of other Serenbe mamas this week.

Magic Treehouse, Frog and Toad, Junie B. Jones, The Little Prince, Captain Underpants, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Princess in Black, Geronimo Stilton, Zoey and Sassafras, Dragon Masters, Mercy Watson

Got more to add? Hit reply or comment—I’ll keep building the list.

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📍 For the Locals: Events This Week

May 2–11 | Serenbe + Chatt Hills

FRIDAY, MAY 2

• Farmhouse Fridays | 5:30–8:30pm | Live porch music at The Farmhouse

• Art of Possible Showhouse Open House 2–6 PM | Wine, apps & | 284 Mado Lane

SATURDAY, MAY 3

• Serenbe Farmers Market | 9am–1pm | Grange Green

• Coffee Talk for Serenbe Residents | 9–10 AM | Gainey Hall

• Hydrosols Workshop | 2–3pm | Serenbe Farms

• South Fulton Plant Sale at Fairburn | 2–6pm | 320 NW Broad St, Fairburn

• Serenbe Farms Tour | 3–4pm | Serenbe Farms

• Group Reiki with Alex Bravo | 6:15–7:30pm| Soul Barn

• Old World Wine Dinner Tour | 6:30pm | The Farmhouse

• [CANCELLED] Bee Movie Night Under the Stars | 7pm–10pm | Wildflower Meadow

• Jazz Night | 9pm - 11pm | Live music with Allen Cook | Austin’s

SUNDAY, MAY 4

• Serenbe Spring Resident Party | 3–5 PM | Grange Green

• Wear Your Celebration (tattoos for your clothes) | 1–4PM | Birdhouse Market

MONDAY, MAY 5

• [NEW DATE] Cinco De Mado for Serenbe Residents | 4–7 PM | Mado

• Cosmic Conversations | 6:30–8pm | Soul Barn Loft, Palmetto

TUESDAY, MAY 6

• Serenbe Softball Playoffs | 5:30pm | Serenbe Athletic Fields

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

• Chatt Hills AI Meetup | 9:30am | Jeff Smith’s home

THURSDAY, MAY 8

• Mean Girls Jr | 6 PM | Catch this hilarious youth musical comedy live on stage | Gainey Hall

FRIDAY, MAY 9

• Mean Girls Jr Musical | 7pm | Catch this hilarious youth musical comedy live | Gainey Hall

• Farmhouse Fridays | 5:30–8:30pm | Live porch music at The Farmhouse

SATURDAY, MAY 10

• Sustainability Saturday | 8am–10am | Amplify Your Ride

• Serenbe Farmers Market | 9am–1pm | Grange Green

• Mother’s Day Pop-Up Market | 12pm-5pm | Mother’s Day gifts | Mado Courtyard in front of Soberish

• SerenBEE Day | Pollinator plant sale, demo hive, Chatt Hills honey, and kids' activities | Serenbe Farmers Market

• Mean Girls Jr Musical | 2pm & 7pm | Catch this hilarious youth musical comedy live | Gainey Hall

• Serenbe Farms Tour | 3–4pm | Serenbe Farms

• Terminus Ballet, "Spring!" | 7:30 pm | Wildflower Meadow

SUNDAY, MAY 11

• Terminus Ballet, "Spring!" | 7:30pm | Wildflower Meadow

• Mother’s Day at Austin’s | 12pm–4pm | Austin’s at Serenbe

• Mom & Me Yoga for the Horses | 2pm | Zorro’s Crossing, 8655 Sardis Rd, Palmetto, GA

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Soberish Serenbe Mother’s Day Pop-Up Market Explore handcrafted jewelry, fresh flowers, cupcakes, artwork, and more from local vendors including Native Bloom, Pure Chilean, The Bonded Bar Co, Gregory W. Blount, and Mash Bakes. Mado courtyard in front of Soberish on May 10, 12-5pm

• Art of Possible Showhouse Open House Rebecca Cartwright has staged the space with incredible one-of-a-kind pieces —plus a showcase of Serenbe-style home tech, including a whole-home battery backup system. Friday, May 2 | 2–6 PM | 284 Mado Lane. More info.

• New RiverLands Park Just Opened in Chatt Hills! A new 260-acre access point to the Chattahoochee River is now open at 8661 Campbellton Redwine Rd—with accessible trails, a kayak launch, fire pit, picnic areas, and dreamy riverside views. Just down the road, Campbellton Park (8655 Cochran Rd) also got a glow-up with new firepits, picnic spots, restrooms, and a 24/7 ADA-accessible boat ramp. Both are part of the Chattahoochee RiverLands vision to connect 20+ metro Atlanta cities and 7 counties through a network of trails, parks, and river access.

• Yard Sale: Designer Furniture, Art + Accessories Swing by for wine, small bites, and beautiful finds. Friday, May 2 | 🕑 2:00–6:00 PM at 284 Mado Lane, Serenbe.

• Serenbe Turns 20! Residents are invited to a special spring party with live music from Grateful to Be, free drinks, and bites from Yumbii and Mini Donut food trucks. RSVP by April 30.

• Radical Dough Launches Take & Bake Dinners Fresh, homemade meals—ready to reheat at home—are now available after 3 PM in the grab-and-go case. Just pick one up, pop it in the oven, and dinner’s done.

• Mother’s Day Glow-Up at The Skin Addikt May is serving glow, glam, and good vibes. Local esthetician Sammy Yassin is offering May promos including the “Mama Makeover” package ($199, reg. $320), gift card deals, and $50 off Botox or filler with any facial. Treat yourself—or your favorite mama. Book here.

• New Podcast: We Chatt The City of Chatt Hills launched a podcast! We Chatt shares local stories and topics like conservation, agri-urbanism, art, and things to do in the area. Listen here.

• Fun Fact: The word “Chattahoochee” comes from Creek Indian words meaning “painted rock.”

• Celebrating the Life & Art of Gail Foster Join the remembrance gathering for beloved Serenbe artist Gail Foster on Saturday, May 31 from 3–5 PM at Studio Swan in Chatt Hills. Register + Details

Know someone who loves good pork or slow family rituals? Forward this to them.

I hope this week invites you to slow down, notice the rituals forming around you, and maybe even read something aloud.

P.S. Keep an eye out—next week I’m hoping to launch something I’ve been dreaming up for a while: The Life at Play website with a simple, centralized event calendar for the Serenbe + Chatt Hills area. No more digging through WhatsApp chains, HOA emails, or scattered Facebook posts. Or if you are a visitor having no idea what to do. Just one easy spot to see what’s happening around here, all in one place.

Rain or shine, I’ll be wandering the market with a coffee in hand—hope to see you there.

—Gina xx