Our Farmers

DUANE GIBSON JR. – GIBSON BERRY FARM, GREENE COUNTY

https://www.facebook.com/GibsonBerryFarm/
The Gibson Farm has been family owned and operated since 1991. The farm consisted of chickens, goats, fruit orchards and vegetable garden. In 1998 the blueberry orchard was planted as a family project. In 2011 a tornado came through Camp Creek and wiped out the old orchard, both barns, and removed the roofs off the outbuildings. The main blueberry patch was spared, but an expansion patch was destroyed. The farm became Certified Organic by the USDA National Organic Program in 2016.

Ford and Amanda Waterstrat – Sustainable Harvest Farm, LAUREL COUNTY, KY.

sustainableharvestfarm.com
Sustainable Harvest Farm is a USDA Certified Organic farm producing organic vegetables, pastured beef, pork products, and items such as tomato juice, salsa, dried peas and cornmeal vegetable farm in Laurel County, KY. This farm was grown out of a dream formed by a West Coast man and his Kentucky native wife and their mutual love of the outdoors, wholesome food, environmental stewardship and rural community life. They began selling their produce in 2010 and in just a year they became the first USDA-Certified Organic Farm in their area.

Jerry Baird – Lakeview Organic Farm, Grainger county

Jerry started growing naturally nearly 20 years ago after seeing how many synthetic pesticides and fertilizers were going into tomato cultivation. In 2010 his farm was Certified Organic. Additionally Jerry made a tremendous gift to the future when he committed his estate to the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture for the benefit of the Jerry Baird Organic Horticulture Research and Education Program.  If you run into Jerry Baird in our store and you’ve got a minute, ask him about his days as a drag racer in Campbell County.

BRIANA YABLONSKI – UNDER FOOT FARM, KNOX COUNTY

underfootfarm.com
We cultivate plants by focusing on soil and ecosystem health. By adding amendments such as compost and seaweed extracts, we help develop healthy soil which translates into healthy plants. Briana Yablonski began working on produce farms in 2014. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to work and learn on farms in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Minnesota, and Tennessee. Briana began Under Foot Farm in the fall of 2019.

CENTURY HARVEST FARMS/KNOX city farm, knox county

centuryharvest.org
Knox City Farm is an urban farm project dedicated to the rebuilding of living spaces and the creation of local food systems, as well as providing community anchor points to foster relationships while working, learning, and celebrating together. Knox City Farm was created by Brenna Wright, who experienced her first taste of farming in her time with the United States Peace Corps when she lived in a rural farming village in Ghana. She came to Tennessee to do graduate work in soil science and conservation and apprenticed at two local farms, Care of the Earth CSA and UT’s Organic Farm. In 2021 Knox City Farm partnered with Century Harvest Farms. Century Harvest Farms Foundation is focused on empowering training, and helping folks who are in recovery to become employed and create sustainable futures for their lives. Since March 13, 2018, Century Harvest Farms Foundation has helped to empower and employ over 100 people through our From the Ground Up Program and expanded their non-profit programming into Knoxville, TN with Knox City Farm in 2021.

hillary and paul doucet – Broken Shovel Farm, knox county

We’re a small, family farm. We grow healthy food with sustainable practices. Broken Shovel is a lovely small farm located in the rolling hills of South Knoxville. Farming is done using no-till practices, no plastic and all produce is watered and harvested by hand. The farm also functions as a wonderful homeschool learning environment as there is always an opportunity to learn something new. Broken Shovel farm also has goats and chickens who assist with the weed control and bees to help pollinate. A wide variety of herbs is offered as well as fresh garlic, onions, cucumbers and more.

JEFF AND TRISH DEAN – ECO-RICH, LOUDON COunty

Eco-Rich Farms is a producer of superior whole foods including fish and vegetables. Our produce is available locally through retailers and directly through our ordering system. Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines a traditional aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. We are excited to bring forth high quality foods through systems that have minimal impact on our environment. Eco-Rich Farms is your source for superior quality beef, fish, poultry and greens. Our aquaponic growing process provides nutrient rich, toxin-free fish and vegetables year-round as well as the highest quality alfalfa for our farm raised beef.

Jeff Poppen – Long Hungry Creek Farm, macon county

barefootfarmer.com
Established in 1974, Long Hungry Creek Farm is one of the oldest and largest (300 acres) organic farms in Tennessee. Jeff Poppen—more commonly known as the Barefoot Farmer—is a righteous advocate of biodynamic farming, a method that “incorporates an understanding of ‘dynamic’ forces in nature.” In addition to publishing a popular book of essays on biodynamic and organic farming (The Barefoot Farmer: The Best of the Barefoot Farmer ) Poppen hosts an annual conference on biodynamic farming that draws attendees from all over the world to Long Hungry Creek.  You can also watch Jeff in segments of “Volunteer Gardener” on Nashville Public Television.

Riverdale Nursery, knox county

riverdalenursery.com
Riverdale Nursery, LLC is an 18 acre wholesale nursery located just east of downtown Knoxville Tennessee on the beautiful French Broad River. The nursery is owned by Mark Burch and Debra Taylor who have operated the nursery for over 25 years. They grow select annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, and vines. The plant varieties grown are chosen carefully, selected for interest, historical significance, beauty, and reliability. Their attention to detail and personal involvement in every aspect of their nursery sets them apart as growers of some of the finest quality plants available.

Sarah Brudecki – Sarah’s Spice & Posies, knox county

sarahsspice.posies
Urban farm located at the Center for Urban Agriculture in Knoxville’s Botanical Gardens. Sarah’s Spice & Posies supplies fresh cut flowers, peppers with extra kick, herbs, and more.

Spencer Mountain mennonite farms, Van Buren County

A large set of Mennonite families make up Spencer Mountain Mennonite Farms in Van Buren County. Moved here from Kentucky, they once grew for our co-op neighbors, Good Foods Co-op in Lexington. Now located on the plateau near Fall Creek Falls, they’ve got a lifetime of natural growing practices with which to provide our store with winter squash, sweet potatoes, melons and more.

Steve Todd – Neubert Springs Gardens, knox county

Steve Todd is a world traveler and brings his experience with global food flavors to his farming. Since 1988 he, his wife Kate and their family have been sustainably farming in South Knoxville – just ten miles from our store. They focus on standard and more eclectic varieties of greens, like tatsoi, komatsuna, and all manner and color of lettuces. They also provide the store with a variety of beautiful vegetables like radishes, broccoli, Hakurai turnips, and uncommon potato varieties such as red gold, purple majesty, and garnet.

Susie Kawar – Little Mountain Flower Farm, blount county

littlemountainflowerfarm.com
Little Mountain Flower Farm is just under 3 acres, located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Maryville, Tennessee. Only a portion is currently under cultivation. The Kawar family lives on site, which provides the opportunity for careful management and care. A wide variety of flowers are sustainably grown, such as zinnias, dahlias, and celosias, as well as hard-to-find heirloom varieties like chrysanthemums. The flowers are all chemical-free, with a focus on sound cultural practices, beneficial insects, and healthy soil. The Kawars believe caring for the land and the nature around them is important, not only for their family, but for their neighbors, the environment, and for the future of healthy ecosystems. Therefore, they focus on sustainable and organic farming practices at the farm. Little Mountain Flower Farm’s main season is May to October with a limited selection in April and November as well.