Southern Living August 2022

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I got an email from a guy named Scott Rider, a former All-American in track at Ohio State University who now lives in Habersham, South Carolina, with his wife, Kelly. Scott has Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that affects almost a million Americans, and he’d had an idea at about three o’clock one morning to do something to make a difference. Leaning on his friendships in the community, he had assembled a team to build a one-story cottage that would address some of the mobility challenges that come with the disease. By the time I got the email, he had a developer, builder, architect, and designer willing to donate time and resources, and when the cottage sold, net proceeds would go to support the Parkinson’s…

Bill Smith WRITER North Carolina native Bill Smith is a chef, writer, and community activist who resides in Chapel Hill. In “Berry Picking with Bill” (page 88), he talks about the art of harvesting blackberries in the wild and shares three summery dessert recipes that showcase the seasonal fruit. Jennifer Stewart Kornegay WRITER Freelance writer Jennifer Stewart Kornegay lives in Montgomery, Alabama, and covers a variety of lifestyle topics, such as “The Magic Carousel” (page 73), but she’s happiest telling stories that highlight the ways we’re all connected.…

WHAT WE’RE LOVING, SHARING, AND CELEBRATING “WHAT’S GOING TO make someone’s day? Sunflowers,” says Carolyn Chen, owner and lead florist at Birmingham’s Wild Things. And while they’re just about the happiest blooms you can gift, they’re not particularly easygoing when it comes to designing with them, she warns. “Sunflowers are some of the hardest to work with in arrangements,” notes Chen. “They’re so top-heavy and can fall over really easily if they don’t have enough support.” Here, the floral pro spills her secrets for crafting a clever centerpiece with the beautiful but finicky blooms. Fake It Till You Make It “I fudged this arrangement,” confesses Chen about the bouquet on the previous page. The stems in the vase aren’t connected to the flowers; they’re just placed there to give the appearance of fresh-cut…

FOLLOWING CAREERS in health care and education, business-minded brothers Trent (below left) and Heath Potter (below right) started a shoeshine company, and their father, Norman (middle), joined soon after. Trent made a deal with a local cobbler to handle customers’ repairs, and when the owner retired, the whole family invested in the 30-year-old shop in Brentwood, Tennessee. The rest, you could say, is history. The trio realized that the shoe-repair industry is challenged during the spring and summer months, when people grab their flip-flops instead of dress shoes and boots. That’s when it dawned on them that designing their own line of sandals could solve both the problems of the industry’s low season and the poor craftsmanship they saw in popular brands. “When I was in college, I studied in Italy,” says…

Marinated Field Pea Relish Bring 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar; 1 tsp. granulated sugar; and ¼ tsp. each kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium. Stir in 2 cups cooked, cooled field peas; 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes; 2 Tbsp. thinly sliced shallot; 2 Tbsp. finely chopped dill; and 1 Tbsp. chopped drained capers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warm, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Serve warm, or cool completely (about 30 minutes) and serve at room temperature. ACTIVE 5 MIN. - TOTAL 5 MIN. SERVES 6 RECIPES: MELISSA GRAY; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: CLAIRE SPOLLEN…

Making Waves Three Southerners who are bettering their communities through surfing Warrior Surf Foundation ANDY MANZI Folly Beach, South Carolina Shortly after returning home from overseas tours with the United States Marine Corps, Andy Manzi tried surfing for the first time. “I think it’s what gave me a chance to push through the stuff I was going through,” he recalls, referencing his struggles with a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. “I saw the power in the ocean and the community that surfing brought into my life.” He wanted other veterans to experience this as well and cofounded Warrior Surf Foundation in 2015. The 12-week program approaches healing in a well-rounded way, combining time on the water with yoga classes and individualized wellness sessions. warriorsurf.org SurfearNEGRA GIGI LUCAS Jacksonville, Florida GiGi Lucas grew up loving the ocean,…