interview by Jess McCuan . photo by Matt Rose

Name: Jen Nathan Orris

Age: 30

Lives in: Enka

Occupation: calendar editor, Mountain Xpress

Where do you live in Enka? It’s a funny little pocket of farmland that’s technically Asheville.

On a farm? Yes. It’s a farmhouse. My husband [Rich Orris] and I are trying our hand at things like hops. We found it’s very difficult to grow hops. We’ll be getting our chickens once it gets warmer.

Have you ever raised chickens? I think it’s really hard. No. But we took a class at A-B Tech from Ashley English, and we’ve done a good bit of research.

What will you do with the chickens? We’ll eat the eggs. My husband believes we should raise them for meat. I’m not necessarily in favor of that. He thinks we shouldn’t name them, but I’m hell bent on naming them.

Like what names? Gloria, and Cynthia. I’m thinking of old lady names. Like if you walked through a nursing home to visit the people, these are the names our chickens will have.