James Farmer's Georgia upbringing has steeped him in a bath of all things Southern, a culture heavily influenced by gardening and the land. Hailing from the peach-laden fields and muddy rivers of Middle Georgia, James Farmer brings a unique blend of passion to cooking, gardening, design and architecture.

James was raised "organic" where "farm to table" was a lifestyle before they became popular notions. He was taught how to pull things from the family farm and garden to provide much of the food, décor, and flavor in his home growing up. As a young boy, James became interested in traditional Southern cooking and heirloom recipes by cooking at the side of his grandmother who always cooked from a kitchen garden. Through the years James has revitalized old recipes to make them relevant and healthier for contemporary tastes and entertaining. As gardening, entertaining, decorating and cooking join hand in hand to create the perfect event, James has been well versed in all categories. Not all gardeners are cooks and not all cooks are gardeners, but both lifestyles can be melded into one, themed by the garden.

After forming his landscape design company in 2005, James was asked to consult on an historic Macon, Georgia garden that needed restoration and updating. News spread quickly about James' work in this important garden, and it was soon featured in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Southern Living Magazine, Traditional Home and ultimately in the book, "Private Gardens of Georgia." James' business soared in the Southeast as a result. At the same time, because of his passion for entertaining from the garden, he began arranging flowers and consulting on food for weddings and private parties held by his growing client list. Local media coverage of these very special events, and word of mouth have made a "James Farmer Party" in demand in the Southeast.

James' greatest aspiration is to combine his farm education and academic education with his love for cooking and entertaining to be THE young spokesperson for the elegant garden life and how to achieve it whether you live in the country, suburbs or city. He wants to pass along the idea of harkening back to simpler times, and how to use what you have (old recipes, family heirlooms, etc) and what is locally available with which to cook and decorate your table. Living the garden life can be done on a grand scale or on a modest budget, whether it's planning a formal dinner for fifty using local foods and flowers, or showing a young couple how to entertain beautifully on a budget using their garden, James feels passionately about a "farm to table" lifestyle.

James is a regular contributor for Southern Living Magazine and this year his first book, A Time to Plant, which takes you from gardening to entertaining, will be available in bookstores this September, published by Gibbs Smith Publishing.