Rising from the Roots: The Story of Franny’s Farm and the Birth of Franny’s Farmacy Botanical Division

🌿 A Life Woven with the Land
For over 25 years, I’ve been a thread in the vibrant tapestry of Asheville, North Carolina. I arrived with a Smithsonian Institute scholarship at Montreat, teaching school while immersing myself in the heartbeat of this community—dancing under the stars at LEAF Festival, coaching sports for 12 years, and planting roots in this Blue Ridge holler. My path twisted from the classroom to a pharmaceutical career, where FOX dubbed me the “hippie in high heels.” But the call of the earth was louder than any boardroom, so I quit my job, bought 18 acres of raw land, and started Franny’s Farm—a sanctuary of service, heart, and connection.

Franny’s Farm blossomed into a national sensation, hosting Farm Camp, Goat Yoga, events, and lodging. It was a place where kids learned to love the soil, where laughter echoed through yoga sessions, and where community gathered under open skies. As North Carolina’s first female hemp farmer and a plant medicine advocate, I poured my soul into this land, growing food, flowers, and, yes, “weed” with a wink and a purpose. But in September 2024, Hurricane Helene tested us in ways I never imagined.

🌊 The Storm That Changed Everything
When the waters rose, they didn’t just flood our fields—they swept away dreams. Franny’s Farm and our flagship Franny’s Farmacy store and distribution center in Leicester were devastated. With zero dollars in flood insurance and only 5% loss coverage for the store, the damage was a gut punch—hundreds of thousands in losses, from ruined crops to destroyed infrastructure. My heart ached, but this community, our “Franny’s Farm Holler,” refused to let us drown.

Neighbors, friends, and strangers turned the farm into a resource hub, serving over 1,000 meals to those in need. Helicopters, organized by friends from the psychedelic association, Florida, and East Coast cannabis growers, delivered first aid and critical supplies to families with kids. We became a beacon in the chaos, proving that love and grit can outshine any storm. But the losses were real, and the path forward demanded change.

🌱 A New Seed Planted
Helene forced me to let go, but in that surrender, I found clarity. I sold half the farm—the event center and cabins—to the next generation of regenerative farmers, a community I’d nurtured since buying that first parcel 12 years ago. Franny’s Farm is now consolidated on our remaining two properties, and from this smaller footprint, a new vision has taken root: Franny’s Farmacy Botanical Division.

This isn’t a pivot—it’s a homecoming. I’ve been “Farmer Franny” for decades, growing, harvesting, drying, and blending botanicals with a reverence for the Earth. Our Botanical Division is the culmination of that passion, focusing on our Chakra Tea line, like the grounding “I AM” Root Chakra Tea. Each blend is crafted with locally grown or sourced herbs, infused with ancient wisdom and modern science. These teas aren’t just beverages—they’re rituals, invitations to reconnect with the land and ourselves.

💚 Franny’s Truth
“I’m humble, grateful, and damn determined,” I say, my voice steady with resolve. “This community carried me when I couldn’t stand, and now I’m fueled by a fierce focus to see us all thrive—rooted, resilient, and whole.”

As Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don’t wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.” At Franny’s Farm, we’re choosing happiness, planting new seeds, and trusting they’ll grow.

🌟 Join Our Journey
Franny’s Farmacy Botanical Division is a woman-led movement, born from the Blue Ridge Mountains and forged in resilience. Visit our three retail locations in the Asheville area, sip our Chakra Teas, and weave your story into our Hurricane Helene survive-and-thrive saga. This is about service, heart, and the power of plants to heal us all.

With dirt under my nails and fire in my soul,
Franny Tacy

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