The Seeds That Planted a Community of Friends
Mary Margaret Flook, Contributing Writer
The orchard store was covered in dust, mold and cat fur from Mr. Peaches. There were no customers, and the shelves were bare. The peach tree’s branches flowed in the wind. The place was lifeless. Harvest had not yet come.
Macgregor’s Orchard is a farm that grows more than crops. It fertilizes a community. Yet 30 years ago what is now MacGregor’s Orchard used to be nothing more than forest. There had to be someone to plant the first seed. His name was Richard Russell Perdue.
According to Dignity Memorial Obituaries, Purdue grew up in upstate New York in a low-income family where he graduated from a one room schoolhouse. He then went to the University of Georgia where he would become a life-long Bulldogs fan and meet the love of his life, Betty. Together they had their daughter, Deborah.
Two of Purdue’s friends, Fred Kisling and Russel Pittman explained how Purdue and his wife moved to South Carolina where he worked for over 30 years at a packaging company, Cryovac. Although Purdue was successful with this company, even holding several patents with them, he had a dream to start an orchard. When he retired, his dream started unfolding.
Acres of forest lay on the rough, hilly land of the soon-to-be farm. “You can’t make nothin’ off of that land,” said T. P. Wood, a former deputy and owner of the town’s general store. Yet, Purdue proved him wrong and bought the land. He began to clear the trees. Over several years peach and apple trees began to produce fruit and Perdeaux’s Fruit Farm was born.
The farm became a place for more than fruit to be grown, rather, it became a place for community to flourish. Customers would buy fruit from Purdue, yet they were more interested in socializing. “They might buy something, but mostly just go up and talk to him,” said Pittman. “Mr. Purdue was a good man. He loved meeting people. He was a people person.”
In addition to his friendly spirit, Perdue knew how to farm. Kisling said, “The man was very intelligent.” Kisling said, “He liked the science behind it.” Perdeaux’s Fruit Farm grew multiple varieties of apples, peaches, pears, figs, muscadines, prunes and nectarines. In addition, he sold preserves and jellies in the store from which he had his own recipes.
Purdue ran the orchard for roughly 25 years before he eventually had to let it go. “He would have gone till he died, but between his wife’s health declining and his health declining he had to get out,” said Kisling.
Purdue sold the farm to Stephens Gregory and Perdeaux’s Fruit Farm became Macgregor’s Orchard. Despite the name change, the orchard looks the same as it did when Purdue had it, according to Pittman.
Stephens Gregory, born and raised in South Carolina, continues to foster a welcoming atmosphere at the orchard. “Mr. Stephens truly has a gift for his trade and is a bigger-than-life personality. He shows patience and compassion to everyone that comes on the property, and
always takes the time to explain and teach,” said John Whittaker, former manager of Macgregor’s Orchard.
Just like Purdue, Gregory grows multiple varieties of fruits. He grows 11 different types of fruit some of which include peaches, apples and pears. Gregory, along with his wife, Julia Seabolt have owned the orchard for five years now.
When asked about what motivates Gregory in farming he said, “The best motivation for this is just being able to grow something that others can consume and sustain life. You know you’re helping people.” His mission behind the orchard is, “To serve the public and use what God has given us so that the orchard can be therapeutic for more than just us. The orchard is a place of peace. It is a very peaceful sanctuary,” said Gregory.
In addition to the fruit that he grows on the farm, Gregory also sells local vegetables from farmers around him, including locally grown tomatoes, okra, squash and corn. “I definitely feel like the orchard fostered a community not only between the customers and employees but also local farmers who work together for the same goal,” said Jenna Wilkens, a seasonal employee.
Whether it be travelers on a road trip stopping in to grab a brown paper bag of fresh fruit, or locals from surrounding communities, Macgregor’s Orchard remains a place of peace. Customers may go home with an 8 oz. jar of strawberry preserves or a jug of fresh squeezed apple cider, or they may just go home with a smile on their face. “Whether they buy something or come by and say hey it’s a place people can come and hangout with each other,” said Gregory.
Macgregor’s Orchard produces fruit, but only after hours of long hard toil in the sun. From pruning, to fertilizing, to planting, farming requires long hours of hard work sometimes from sunup to sundown. Late winter cold fronts bring the possibility of freezes that could harm the crops, and much of the work is done by Gregory himself. Despite all the work, harvest still comes. “After you spend months and months laboring by yourself then when harvest comes you get to share it with others,” said Gregory.
The shelves inside the store were filled with baskets of peaches. Mr. Peaches, the cat, was wining for food and Gregory was on the tractor finishing up spraying the trees. Blackberry and Strawberry preserves were sitting on the table waiting for labels to be placed on them. An old Chevrolet red truck pulled onto the gravel parking lot. An old man and his wife stepped out of the truck and walked towards the store. Gregory bellowed from the tractor, “Welcome to Macgregor’s Orchard.” Harvest had just arrived.
