Strawberry picking is a spring tradition in eastern North Carolina. Guests at Big Mill B&B Extended Stay have several great options nearby. For pick-your-own strawberries, visit Griffin’s Farm Market on US 17 in Washington, NC – about 15 miles south of Big Mill – or SouthSide Farms in Chocowinity, roughly 25 miles away.

If you prefer fresh, already picked berries, Ross Farms, 1536 Garrett Road , Williamston, NC, is just 3 miles from Big Mill and offers beautiful, ready to enjoy strawberries.

Discover the best strawberry You-Pick experience while you are here. Pick, weigh, and take home gallons of ripe berries. Then the fun begins? Will it be Strawberry Jam or Strawberry Bread or maybe a great smoothie?

Every year, I try to make sure each of my guests gets a taste of fresh North Carolina strawberries – they’re one of the sweetest parts of spring here on the farm. Strawberry picking is a beloved spring tradition and I, as innkeeper, feel obliged to make sure everyone tastes fresh NC Strawberries.

Folks say berries from different fields have different flavors, and I believe them.

I love making strawberry jam for our Big Mill B&B guests. Don’t think I’m bragging, but my jam is an award-winning Strawberry Jam!  It won best-of-show at our Farm Heritage Fair. And it surely does taste good.

When I was growing up, we would pick the berries, make jam and, on the very same night we ate homemade biscuits with jam and homemade butter. My biscuits aren’t nearly as good as my mother’s were, so I have to buy the frozen ones, but they’re still good.

Growing your own food and buying local is more than a trend in eastern North Carolina – it’s a way of life, and a good one. All around us you’ll find farmer’s markets, roadside vegetable stands, and local folks selling fresh produce straight from their fields. We even have vendors who sell collards right out of the back of a pickup truck. Supporting them keeps our community strong.

Plan to Visit:

• Griffin Farms in Washington, NC 252-721-8277
• Southside Farms in Chocowinity, NC 252-946-2487
• or if you want the berries picked for you, then try Ross Farms in Williamston, NC 252-792-8829 or J&J Farms in Jamesville, NC 252-799-8110

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay – Peaceful Lodging for Traveling Nurses & Professionals 252-799-8787

Settle into a quiet, fully furnished space at Big Mill Extended Stay in Eastern North Carolina. Our rentals are perfect for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests who need a comfortable home base during long assignments. Enjoy privacy, farm views, and the welcoming charm Big Mill is known for. Three RV rental spaces are also available for extended stays.

2026 is the 47th year that the folks of Piney Grove Baptist Church in the Farm Life Community near Williamston, NC, have been performing this 90-minute outdoor drama of the life and death of Jesus Christ.

North Carolina loves its outdoor dramas. Every year, our hometown folks pour their time and talent into this production that feels every bit as grand as a big city show, sharing a powerful story with all who come to listen.

In its first few years, The Message of Easter was performed on the lawn. Now visitors enjoy the performances in a large outdoor theater that seats 3,000 folks with special lighting, surround sound, and ample parking. And all this is offered at no charge.

Big buses often roll in, and on some nights the crowd reaches into the thousands. If you go, remember the bleachers are hard, and they can get chilly as the night wears on. Take a cushion, a blanket, and a flashlight never hurts.

It is more than amazing what this small community has done – all hometown folks, and many of them are my cousins. “Pilot” was my first boyfriend – he was three and I was two. Billy’s wife Betty Jo says she is tired of hearing that story! (Sadly some of these folks are gone)

(A special thanks to Piney Grove Church for use of photographs)

For information call:  252-792-1342

The Message of Easter drama is just a few miles from Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay 252-799-8787. At this time, we are only taking Extended Stay rentals.

PERFORMANCE DATES in 2026:  This year’s 2026 drama is the 47th year.

Spanish Performance is March 27 , beginning at 8 p.m. 

English performances:  March 28, 29 and April 2, 3, 4, 5 at 8 p.m.  For information about the Message of Easter call 252-792-1342. Remember, spring can be chilly. If our Big Mill B&B Extended Stay guests attend the Easter drama, we send them off with cushions and blankets.

DISTANCES FROM:
110 miles of Raleigh, NC
114 miles south of Norfolk, VA
54 miles north of New Bern, NC
39 miles east of Greenville, NC
8 miles south of Big Mill Bed &Breakfast in Williamston, NC 252-792-8787

Print

Chicken Mull – What Is It?

Course Dinner

Keyword Bear Grass Chicken Mull, Chicken mull, North Carolina chicken stew, old fashioned chicken stew, southern comfort food

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Author Chloe Tuttle

Ingredients

• 3-4 lb chicken cut into pieces
• 3-4 qts water enough to cover the chicken
• ½-1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper ground
• ½-1 teaspoon cracked red pepper or to taste
• 1 Tbs lard or butter
• 2-3 sleeves Saltine Crackers salted (you will probably use 2-3 sleeves)

Instructions

• Prepare the Broth: In a large stock pot, add several quarts of water, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and a spoonful of lard. Bring to a rolling boil.
• Cook the Chicken: Add the cut-up chicken pieces, making sure there’s enough water to fully cover them. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1–2 hours, until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
• Remove and Shred the Chicken: Take the chicken out of the pot. Strain the broth into a large bowl and set aside. Once the chicken has cooled, remove the skin and bones, then shred the meat by hand - checking carefully for any small bones.
• Reheat the Broth: Wash the stock pot to remove any residue. Pour the reserved broth back in and bring it to a gentle boil.
• Make the Mull: Add the shredded chicken to the boiling broth. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Slowly crush and stir in 2 sleeves of saltine crackers, a handful at a time, stirring constantly until the mull thickens. If it still seems thin, add more crushed crackers until you reach your desired consistency.
• Serve hot with toasted bread or hush puppies. The flavor deepens overnight, so leftovers are even better the next day!
• Yield: 6-7 two-cup servings

Notes

Tips for the Best Chicken Mull:

Use bone-in chicken for a richer flavor.

Adjust the amount of red pepper to your preferred spice level.

For extra creaminess, stir in a splash of milk before serving

How the Bear Grass Chicken Mull Festival Was Born

Q: Who started the Chicken Mull Festival in Bear Grass?

In 2015, Bear Grass locals approached Mayor Charlotte Griffin with an idea: “Let’s create a festival for our town.” Charlotte was intrigued and ready to explore.

Q: Wasn’t there talk of a Moonshine Festival?

Yes! Bear Grass has deep roots in Prohibition-era moonshine—some even call it the Moonshine Capital of the World. But federal red tape made that idea too tricky to pull off.

Q: So why Chicken Mull?

Charlotte shared a story from her grandfather’s tobacco farming days. Back then, farmers had to stay up all night firing the barns to cure the leaf. With little to do, they’d gather around a big iron pot, toss in a chicken and some saltine crackers, and cook up a simple, comforting stew they called Chicken Mull.

I remember my own daddy and Walter Biggs firing the bars right on our farm, but no Chicken Mull. It’s a tradition rooted in hard work, community, and good food – and pure Bear Grass.

It is odd how the tradition didn’t cross Highway 17 into Farm Life where my folks lived. Charlotte did say that her uncle married a Farm Life girl, and he introduced them to Chicken Mull. I don’t remember ever eating Chicken Mull in my youth. In some parts of the south, it is called Chicken Muddle; usually, this has other things in it like tomatoes and peppers. It is difficult to trace the origin of this humble dish.

After the men folks no longer had to fire the barns with wood, they would still cook up a pot of mull at the end of the tobacco season for the “hands” – the folks who worked the fields. Even now, when groups like the Ruritans have a fundraiser, you might see Chicken Mull on the menu.

It seems Chicken Mull is popular in the Carolinas and in parts of Georgia, often popping up in barbecue joints and at church dinners. In some parts of Georgia it is made with milk, but in the Carolinas, it is usually made with water, chicken and saltine crackers. Be on the lookout, or just whip up a batch for yourself.

Don’t miss the Chicken Mull Festival in Bear Grass, NC. It happens every year on the 4th Saturday of October – this year in 2025, it is October 25th.  Check out North Carolina Weekend’s story of the Chicken Mull Festival.

Distances From: Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay

Raleigh, NC  –  102 miles
Greenville, NC  –  20 miles
New Bern, NC  –  55 miles

Quiet rentals for traveling nurses & professionals in eastern North Carolina 252-792-8787

Looking for extended stay lodging in Eastern North Carolina? Big Mill Extended Stay offers quiet, fully furnished rentals ideal for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests relocating to the area. Our accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and Southern hospitality, perfect for short-term and long-term stays. We also have three RV rental spaces.

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay Williamston, NC 252-792-8787

Jockey’s Ridge isn’t just for climbing – it’s also one of the best places to try hang gliding. Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching folks to fly there since 1974. And yes, anyone can do it.

You start with Ground School, move on to a tethered flight, and then – if you’re feeling brave – you get to soar solo. It’s thrilling, a little wild, and absolutely unforgettable.

When you’re staying at Big Mill B&B Extended Stay, hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge makes for a pretty unforgettable day – 94 miles from our front porch to the launch site – but the views, the thrill, and the bragging rights? Worth every mile.

Big Mill B&B Extended Stay to Jockey’s Ridge Hang Gliding School, 94 miles

To arrange Hang Gliding lessons and experience the freedom of flight over North Carolina’s sand dunes, contact Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head, NC (252) 441-2426 

Big Mill B&B Extended Stay 252-792-8787

Quiet rentals for traveling nurses & professionals in eastern North Carolina

Looking for extended stay lodging in Eastern North Carolina? Big Mill Extended Stay offers quiet, fully furnished rentals ideal for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests relocating to the area. Our accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and Southern hospitality, perfect for short-term and long-term stays. We also have three RV rental spaces.

Vollis Simpson’s Bicycle Whirligig

A whirligig is a charming contraption frequently used as a decorative garden ornament. It spins when the wind blows, with parts that whiz around, creating a delightful visual and often audible spectacle. Whirligigs are a popular folk art created from rustic hand-carved wood to brightly painted metal designs.

Vollis Simpson’s Whirligigs Always Amuse

The town of Wilson, NC, has created a Whirligig Park to honor these whimsical creations of Vollis Simpson. This place is the heart and soul of Simpson’s legacy, a local legend & folk artist who turned scrap metal and worn-out machinery into works of art – his whirligigs. The New York Times referred to Vollis Simpson as “The Junkyard Poet of whirligigs and windmills.”

My dad told me that at one time Wilson was the largest tobacco market in the world. Even little Williamston had six warehouses. When the tobacco market declined, Wilson embraced a new idea –  a park honoring a local man. The Whirligig Park was born.

As you walk in, you’ll see them – a mighty, colorful forest of metal spinners dancing in the breeze, each one rigged up high to catch the light and the wind. Simpson built these pieces from old machine parts, broken fans, old toasters, and whatever scraps he could get his hands on, piecing them together with an eye for imagination and a whole lot of heart.

He originally had these whirligigs on his farm in Lucama, but as the years went by, he was no longer able to look after them. One day I was peeping in the chain link fence that he had around his shop, thinking he couldn’t see me – well, he did see me, and he invited me to come in. ‘so glad I did.

Whirligigs in Vollis Simpson’s Field in Lucama, NC

He asked me if I had heard the urban legend about why he did this art? Legend was that he built it in honor of his daughter who died. Well, he told me, it just wasn’t true.

When you see the whirligigs, you will see the way they shine with reflective tape when the sun hits or how they glow a little magically under the moon. And let me tell you, in the evening light, this place becomes a sight that sticks with you.

Whirligig Repair in Warehouse

You’ll hear the sounds too—a creak here, a whir there—the hum of these giants as they dance with the breeze. Each whirligig has its own tune, like a metal symphony carried on the Carolina wind. It’s more than just folk art; it’s a whole experience that brings folks together. And if you close your eyes, it’s almost like you can feel Simpson’s spirit in the air – a craftsman who didn’t follow the rule book, but poured himself into each piece.

Restoration of the Whirligigs

So, don’t wait until you happen to be in Wilson – just go to this whirling patch of wonder and color. Snap a few photos, breathe in that Carolina air, and let the whirligigs work their charm. And don’t forget to visit the Whirligig Station, a converted tobacco warehouse that now serves as a visitor center and event space.  And sometimes they are repainting and repairing the whirligigs, so you get to see them close-up.

Vollis Simpson, The Junkyard Poet, in his Shop

BTW – I bought a whirligig that I couldn’t really afford, but I am so glad I did. I bought the helicopter that Vollis Simpson is signing.

You’re not just seeing some sculptures; you’re stepping into the story of a man who saw the beauty in the worn-out and the cast-off. Whirligig Park is a reminder that sometimes the most dazzling things come from the humblest beginnings.

Located at 301 Goldsboro Street South, Wilson, NC, the park is open daily and free to the public.

A  great day-trip from:
Big Mill B&B Extended Stay in Williamston, NC  55 miles
     Raleigh, NC – 49 miles
     Greenville, NC – 36 miles
     Outer Banks – 172 miles

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay 

Quiet rentals for traveling nurses & professionals in eastern North Carolina 252-792-8787

Looking for extended stay lodging in Eastern North Carolina? Big Mill Extended Stay offers quiet, fully furnished rentals ideal for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests relocating to the area. Our accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and Southern hospitality, perfect for short-term and long-term stays. We also have three RV rental spaces.

The Senator Bob Martin Ag Center is named after the late Senator Bob Martin, who was a champion of rural development and agriculture.

It is located in eastern North Carolina in the small town of Williamston.  It has 100,000 square feet of space with a 150′ x 300′ arena.

It’s heated, ventilated, and pulsing with energy. The center hosts rodeos, horse shows, concerts (Willie Nelson was here), farm shows, tractor pulls, and Monster Truck Jams. And Grave Digger was here at Big Mill to take some photos.

Monte Roberts, the real Horse Whisperer, stayed here at Big Mill B&B while he was doing a show at our Equestrian Center. As a teenager, he spent time in the wild with mustangs and learned their “language.” He can be in an arena with a horse that has never been ridden and by the end of the show, someone rides the horse.

Monte’s book “The Man Who Listens to Horses,” talks about his method. “NO violence, why would you want to break a horse’s spirit,” he asked me? A side note – he did all the riding in the movie National Velvet. Monte wore a cap with braided pigtails. Elizabeth Taylor didn’t get on the horse.

The permanent seating for 2286 is quite the grandstand. I saw the Lipizzaner here in this arena – what a show.

Adjacent to the arena, is a fully enclosed paddock for warmups and practice. There are barns that have 465 permanent horse stalls.

The barns have climate-controlled bathrooms for the horses, improved ventilation, and 18 heated wash bays—they’ve thought of everything.

Many of the “horse people” don’t like to leave their horses, so they can stay at one of the Ag Center’s 100 RV sites that have water, electricity, and a 4-station waste disposal site.

There is also a Meeting Center Exposition Hall where banquets, meetings, and trade shows happen. It is climate-controlled, of course. Ten thousand three hundred eighty square feet of possibility.

Whether you’re a seasoned horse whisperer, a curious first-timer, or someone who simply appreciates the magic of equines, the Senator Bob Martin Ag Center invites you to witness these captivating horse shows for free. Grab your hat and dust off your boots.

Distances From:
Raleigh, NC – 100 miles
Greenville, NC – 25 miles
Norfolk, VA – 110 miles
Big Mill Bed and Breakfast in Williamston, NC – 5 miles(252) 799-8787