Tobacco Tales - Foy

All In 4 Health is excited to announce our new video series called Tobacco Tales. Each video will introduce you to a former smoker who has seen a benefit in their lives since quitting smoking. We hope that you will be inspired by these videos and encourage you to share them with friends and family.

Our first interview took place in Person County with Foy. Growing up on a tobacco farm in Oxford, Foy was constantly surrounded by people who smoked and chewed tobacco. At the age of 19 Foy took up the habit herself. For over 40 years Foy smoked until one day she realized that she needed to quit in order to avoid getting sick with pneumonia. 

Foy has been living tobacco-free for over seven years and encourages everyone to quit smoking as well. She believes that people's environment has a large impact on the choices they make and that it's important to keep tobacco out of sight by limiting marketing and passing smoking bans.

Thank you Foy for your time and congratulations on choosing to live a tobacco-free life! 

Enjoy the video by following this link to our YouTube page - http://youtu.be/FJ-IiFzNFu4

A tour of J & B Herb and Plant Farm

John Wrenn, owner and operator of J & B Herb and Plant Farm, spent years working and traveling as a musician until one day he decided he needed a change. John had always loved plants and grew up surrounded by them on his family's tobacco farm in Person County. He decided to go back to his roots and work at a farm. He spent eight years working to revitalize and grow the farm and then decided to go out on his own. He contacted former bandmate, and also plant lover, Burton Edwards and together they began J & B Herb and Plant Farm.

Starting with just one greenhouse in 1994, J & B Farm now has 20 greenhouses and produces organic herbs and plants to sell and distribute wholesale to Whole Foods and to over 200 independently owned garden centers in the Southeast.  J & B Farm was certified organic in 2008 and began growing heirloom plants and herbs.

Each greenhouse on the farm is dedicated to either one or a few different plants. Basil is J & B's top seller and has two greenhouses full of the plants growing and getting readied to shipped. The plants are watered with a special "tea" that is brewed from organic materials that help keep away pests. They have also brought insects that help keep pest populations low. 

The farm has also just started creating herb gardens that are available for sale at the Person County Farmers' Market and other local retailers. 

They are always open to growing new plants and experimenting with different varieties. Recently they have had a lot of luck growing olive trees. 

Free time is hard to find on this farm, but they manage to also grow vegetables in their own side garden and distribute them to the farms' workers. John has also joined a band and has just agreed to play some country and celtic concerts around the area. 

Thank you J & B Farm for the wonderful visit!

For more information on J & B Farm, contact them at jbherbfarms@netzero.com or 336-599-0381

Person County Non-Smoking Ordinance

On Jan. 7, 2013, the Person County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of adopting a non-smoking ordinance at county-owned recreation facilities, buildings and vehicles.

The ordinance will prohibit all smoking, including cigars, cigarettes, pipes and other lighting paraphernalia, in any county-owned building or vehicle and within 50-feet of any recreation, health and wellness amenity. 

All other county buildings will be regulated on an individual basis as determined by the Board of Commissioners. There are 31 county-owned or leased properties listed in the ordinance’s appendix.

Individuals in charge of Person county-owned buildings, grounds and vehicles will post signs in conspicuous areas stating that “smoking is prohibited” and may include the international “No Smoking” symbol. These individuals will also direct a person who is smoking in a prohibited area to extinguish the lighted smoking product.

Exceptions to the ordinance include recreation camp sites, Piedmont Community College buildings and grounds, and designated areas which are 50-feet from any recreation, health and wellness amenity and are approved by the Person County Recreation Advisory Board. 

If a violation occurs, the violator may be punished by a fine of not more than $50. Conviction of an infraction under this ordinance has no consequence other than payment of a penalty. 

The ordinance went into effect immediately at the time of adoption by the Board of Commissioners.