Nestled among the piney woods is a farmstead and general store open for business. See where

Editor's Note: This is the first in an occasional series of small-town destinations in Mississippi.

Along U.S. 98 about 13 miles east of U.S. 49 near Hattiesburg, there's a small brown sign in New Augusta that says "Fulmer's Farmstead and General Store" with an arrow pointing left. Follow the tree-lined road another 5 or 6 miles and there you are.

While that might not sound like the best of directions, it is the way to Fulmer's Farmstead, if you don't go through the town of Richton. Either way, the drive is a little more than half an hour from the Hub City, but it is worlds apart.

Fulmer's Farmstead is a rustic collection of handmade cabins and barns full of hay and horses surrounded by lush green fields. Roosters and hens peck for feed and insects or cluck and crow if they get in each other's way.

The horses are used for pulling the farm's wagons that are used during farming season.

Goats graze on clover and grass on one side of the farmstead, while horses nibble on hay and swat flies with their tails on the other.

Central to the farmstead is the Fulmer's General Store, which is filled with fresh-baked bread, canned vegetables, homemade jams and jellies in glass jars or a number of other items from dried herbs to rocking chairs to hunting knives and horse-riding equipment.

The General Store also is home to a small restaurant, where lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Local families and business people fill the tables in a home-like setting. Most of them are regulars, but visitors are always welcomed as if they are part of the family.

Each day's menu is posted in the mornings on Facebook, so guests can plan their meals ahead of time and choose from dishes like chicken and dumplings or country-fried steak with sides that might include lima beans, turnips, rice and gravy or potato salad. Dessert is included.

Fulmer's Farmstead has been around for decades. Thousands of people attend the annual Pecan Festival or Christmas in the Orchard events but don't realize they can go there just about any day for a visit or a meal and pick up a few groceries while they are at it.

Baked sweets and casseroles can be ordered ahead of time, or customers can take their chances on what the store will have in stock each day.

"People call in and leave orders and pick up their food," said Dianne Kitchens, who works at the general store. "A lot of people don't realize we cater, too."

The farmstead also is part of a Community Supported Agriculture program, where subscribers get a box of locally produced food for approximately $30 per box for 10 weeks during the season, which begins in mid-April. Boxes may be picked up at Fulmer's or the downtown Hattiesburg farmers market. Subscribers can have the boxes delivered for an added fee each week.

The boxes include vegetables only, meat lovers, a combination of the two or combinations with homemade casseroles. Other items can be added to the package for an additional charge.

For people who are looking to experience rustic farm life, Fulmer's offers overnight stays in the Sheepherders Wagon or the cabin-like Tiny House. Breakfast is included. School and church groups also are welcome to visit and get a feel for what farming used to be like before motor vehicles were invented.

This year's pecan festival will be Sept. 27-29 on the farmstead grounds. The 36th annual event will feature demonstrations by local artisans, baking competitions, food and craft vendors and live music.

"We started out the pecan festival before the general store," Kitchens said. "Every year it has gotten bigger and bigger."

Christmas in the Orchard features carriage and hay rides, strolling carolers, fire pits for roasting marshmallows and plenty of other family-friendly activities.

If you go

Fulmer's Farmstead and General Store is at 510 Wingate Road, New Augusta.

It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

For more information, visit fulmersfarmstead.com.

Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Fulmer's Farmstead and General Store offers glimpse of early farm life