Farm Profile: A Different Chick stays different

In celebration of National Farmers Market Week

A Different Chick Farm and Orchard is a small family-run urban farm in the heart of Johnson City, Tennessee. The farm is only 6 acres in size, but you would never know that by looking at the huge variety and quantity of goods the Stanleys offer for sale. When you visit A Different Chick’s booth at the Johnson City Farmers Market or Elizabethton Farmers Market you’ll be amazed at the options: hot pepper varieties you’ve never heard of,  salsas, seasonings, and salsas, specialty melons, quirky squash, tomatoes, vegetable garden plants, and a whole host of gorgeous staple produce grown in the field and under the hoophouse.

They also propagate fruit trees for sale and raise rare breed chickens.  They were the first farm to become USDA Certified Organic in Washington County. 

“The original plan was to plant a small apple orchard,” recalls Steven. “So a dozen trees turned into 250 trees. Tiffany wanted a few chickens and she how has 300.“

As their love for the farm life has grown, other plans changed as well.  The COVID-19 pandemic motivated them to end their “day jobs” and go to full time farming.

“Going from nurse practitioner to farmer is completely different,” laughs Tiffany. “When we started the farm, I was the last one who wanted it, but now I’m the one who loves it the most out of everyone.”

A Different Chick Farm and Orchard is a Community Supported Agriculture farm as well – meaning they sell shares of their harvest at the beginning of the season, and allow customers to use their credit like a gift card at the farmers market booths all season.  Selling shares in this way allows the farm to have cash flow at the beginning when they are planting, propagating, purchasing new equipment, etc., and it secures the consumer’s share of the harvest.

Check out A Different Chick’s options on their website. 

Thank you WJHL DayTime Tricities for producing a video farmer spotlight on the Stanleys in 2025! View below: