Billy Joe Tatum was instrumental in the formation of the Heritage Herb Gardens.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is in memory of Billy Joe Tatum and in honor of Tina Marie Wilcox.
From Rae McKimm, Herb Chair of the Committee of One Hundred.
It’s not often that I know exactly what I was doing decades ago on a specific date but, on May 5, 1987, it was my first visit to the Ozark Folk Center. Attending an herbal lecture, I met Billy Joe Tatum and Tina Marie Wilcox and it was a major event for me, a recent transplant to the Ozarks.
I remember buying a lot of plants that day (and Billy Joe's book!) and driving back to Batesville with great excitement as I envisioned the lovely herb garden to come. Getting all of them planted while heavily pregnant was no small achievement but I had moved to a small farm in Arkansas with herb gardening in mind—gardening, chickens, the whole back-to-the-land dream!
Two weeks after that herbal event, I gave birth to baby Catherine and Billy Joe’s book dedication “Have a happy baby” came true! After a bit of time, I finally had a chance to look in on the herb garden. To my horror, not a green leaf remained. The entire garden had been consumed by the chickens. You hillfolk and savvy gardeners already knew what I learned the hard way—there is a lot more to keeping chickens than letting them roam. Owls and other beasts took the last of the fowl and I have never been tempted to keep chickens again!
To my delight, though, the oregano did emerge triumphant from the chicken carnage and to this day, hearty descendants of that original plant live on in Mountain View! To my further delight, the Ozark Folk Center and those wonderful herb gardens are a big part of my life thanks, in no small part, to Billy Joe and Tina Marie!
Entry by Lenore Shoults
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
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