Holly Ellege Fulfills Her Dream of Being a Homesteader

By rosa linda fallon

While other young girls may have dreamed of growing up to become a doctor or a ballerina, a young Holly Ellege had another dream in mind. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Holly dreamt of one day owning her own farm. Growing up surrounded by alligators and citrus trees, she didn’t know much about a farmer’s way of life. “I knew nothing about farming, but it has always been my dream to own my own homestead,” she says. Holly spent her free time with her dad hunting and fishing on the St. Johns River. They’d watch late-night cowboy and Indian-themed films together, which initially sparked her interest in having her own homestead. “I always said, ‘when I grow up that’s really what I want to do. I want to have a farm in the Carolinas and hunt and fish.’” However, as Holly grew older, her dreams became overshadowed by a different lifestyle. “Of course, [that’s] not the way everyone else thinks you should live your life. So, I didn’t.” Instead, Holly got married, worked as a professional model, and lived a life of luxury, surrounded by country clubs, yachts and mansions. “I did everything else that was different from my dreams.”

After sadly getting a divorce years later, Holly began to rediscover herself. “Your whole identity when you’ve been married most of your life is that you’re your husband’s wife, or your son’s mother,” she explains. “You are kind of changed from who you are.” Many of her friends and family tried to encourage her to go back to school for psychology or a related field. She says, “I talked to a lot of people – they thought if you just garden or cook or clean, then you’re at the bottom of the food chain. I was told that I needed to go back to school for psychology instead – that I needed a title.” Holly considered their advice, but felt that that path wasn’t for her. Instead, she reconnected with her long-lost dream of becoming a homesteader.

Already in her late 40s, she realized she had nothing to lose. “I was in my late 40s, and I was afraid that if I didn’t do it now, that I would never be able to do it.” After looking for a couple of years, she found a log cabin for sale in the Hot Springs, NC area and bought it completely sight-unseen. “I didn’t even know where it was! It was a big adventure!” After making the move, Holly slowly began building her farm. She started with chickens, which then led to bees, which then led to learning how to create her own medicine, etc. She met a local farmer down the road named Williams James (a.k.a. “Porky” James) who taught her how to hunt. He also helped her get connected with other locals who had other valuable skills she needed to learn. As Holly describes it, one thing led to another. “I just kept seeking people out,” she says. “One thing led to another.”

Now, she has a full-fledged farm with a vegetable garden, orchards, multiple nut trees, and several animals. Each year, Holly has tried to learn something new to add to her farm. “There is always something to learn,” she says.

Photos by Brooke Parker Photography | Hair & Makeup by Fab Flawless Makeup Artistry | Location is The Crest Center and Pavilion

As a homesteader, Holly also makes all the family’s medicine. When seeking tutelage to learn this skill, she wanted to learn more about moonshine in order to make certain tinctures and medicines. That was when she met Blake, who is now her husband. The couple recently got married in July 2022. Together, they also own Mountain Top Spirits, an independent distillery distribution company. Blake is also a traveling musician. Holly says they work to find time to balance the upkeep of the homestead and Blake’s busy life on the road. Most weekends, Blake is out performing at gigs while Holly stays home and runs the homestead. “It’s been a little crazy. It’s been an adventure!”

Looking back on her journey, Holly says she doesn’t regret leaving Florida to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a homesteader. She knows she made the right decision. Now, she is living authentically by doing what she loves. “I’m doing what I love and really living my best life, so I don’t regret it.” Although she admits there is always something new to learn, and sometimes, she doesn’t even know if she is doing things right. But she doesn’t let fear of failure stop her. In fact, shortly before moving to North Carolina, she drove to a tattoo parlor and had the phrase ‘No Fear’ tattooed on her foot as a reminder to stay fearless and keep moving forward. “Every day I'm going to move forward without fear. I’m going to remember not to be scared,” she declares.

Every day, Holly does just that. And she always wakes up with a grateful heart. “There is nothing I could want more of or that I wish was different. Everything has been a blessing.”

You can keep up with Holly and her homesteading adventures on Facebook: www.facebook.com/homesteaderholly

By rosa linda fallon

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