The Plant: There’s Always Something Going On
Spread across 17 acres on the east side of Pittsboro, The Plant is part food hall, part arts district, part community gathering space, and entirely unlike anything else in Chatham County. From craft spirits and mead to Jamaican cuisine, Latin street food and locally roasted coffee, there’s something for every palate. Browse handmade goods, pick up fresh flowers, throw an axe, rent an e-bike or simply settle in and catch some live music. With roots stretching back to the 1940s as the largest flower farm in the U.S., The Plant carries a rich history while continuing to grow into something truly special.
Let’s take a walk and explore some of what is going on behind the scenes!
Start your visit at Fair Game Beverage Company; their tasting room is the perfect first stop, pouring house-made spirits, wine and kombucha alongside locally made snacks. From there, wander over to Starrlight Mead to dive into the surprisingly diverse world of honey wine, or pull up a stool at bmc brewing for a cold pint. Feeling adventurous? Koshu Sake Bar offers curated sake flights you won’t find just anywhere.
When hunger hits, you’re spoiled for choice. Kingston 99 Kitchen brings the bold flavors of Jamaica and Ta Contento serves up authentic Mexican street food. Need a coffee to keep going? Vortex Roasters’ ethically sourced beans are served throughout the property, and Metal Brixx Café has you covered on weekends with a full continental breakfast.
Between bites, pop into Hempsmith Clothing Co. for sustainable hemp fashion, browse tinctures and topicals at Oak City Hemp or pick up a handcrafted candle from Essence Candle Boutique. Fleurish Bloom Bar & Boutique is your spot for fresh seasonal flowers, and the Smelt Art Gallery, curated by the Chatham Artists Guild, showcases fine art from professional local artists. If you’ve got a green thumb, don’t miss Rachel’s Native Plants, a southeastern native plant nursery right on the grounds.
Still have energy? Throw an axe at Chatham Axes, sign up for a printmaking workshop at Roam Paint Press or check out what Carolina Hemp Tours has going on behind the scenes. There’s always one more thing to discover.
- May 22: Murder Mystery: The Witch – A fun, interactive whodunit. Grab your crew and your drinks.
- May 23: Red Clay Ramblers – A North Carolina roots music institution takes the stage.
- May 27: Improv Theatre @ The Plant – Spontaneous, laugh-out-loud fun on a Wednesday night.
- May 30: Climate Solutions Fair – A community afternoon focused on local environmental action.
- May 31: Meet the Maker: Darë Vegan Cheese – Hosted by Fair Game Pantry, a great excuse to taste something new.
See the full calendar at theplantnc.com/events.
Inspired by the famous Joni Mitchell lyric — “they took all the trees, put ’em in a tree museum” — The Plant did exactly that, and it’s worth a wander. Spread across the property, the Tree Museum is a living collection of native and edible trees, from pecan and chestnut to persimmon, tulip poplar and a majestic Black Jack Oak that survived years of earth-moving and fence-clearing. Each tree has a story, and the folks at The Plant love to tell them. It’s part nature trail, part love letter to the land, and a reminder that paying attention to what grows around us is always worth the time.
Wander the grounds of The Plant and you’ll quickly realize the art is everywhere. With about 30 pieces scattered across the property, the Art Walk is a mix of sculpture, folk art and found-object creativity. There’s a giant kinetic Wonder Beast, a pair of copper frogs that greet you at the entrance, praying mantids on both sides of the street, a cog-and-wire lizard and stainless steel solar turbines that look like they belong in a modern art museum. Much of it was made by the owners themselves or by longtime Chatham County artists and friends.
From intimate to festival-sized, The Plant has you covered. Little Pond Gardens offers an open field, stage, and working garden backdrop, perfect for large outdoor events. The Gazebo is a charming, tucked-away spot ideal for weddings and celebrations. The Wheelhouse inside Fair Game is cozy and great for small meetings or private tastings. And the newly opened Tree Museum is a one-of-a-kind setting you simply have to see for yourself.
Become a Card-Carrying Member
Love The Plant? Make it official … for just $20 a year! A Plant membership gets you more than bragging rights; think early access to Fair Game’s limited seasonal releases, priority tickets to Wheelhouse shows, front-row seats at Hempsmith Runway and first dibs on the popular Tree Museum nature walks. Members also enjoy discounts at Kingston 99 Kitchen, Oak City Hemp and Roam Paint Press, plus special perks on event rentals and an invite to the annual member gala. It’s the best way to go deeper into everything Pittsboro’s favorite gathering place has to offer.
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