Radio Bristol Monthly Farm Report

Food, music, story: exploring what it means to be Appalachian.

This series of interviews takes us to different corners throughout the Southern Appalachian Highlands, and introduces us to some of the farmers and business owners that grow and produce our food. Food is part of our story: not only are we alive thanks to food, but we learn about one another, ourselves, and the world around us through the foods we eat. Every meal is a story about a person, a culture, a life, a place. Farmers are the foundation of these stories.

The Farm Report is produced by Radio Bristol, a Birthplace of Country Music station, and is supported by Appalachian RC&D, Appalachian Sustainable Development, and HVAC Building Solutions Inc.

A Different Chick Farm and Orchard

January 15, 2020

A Different Chick Farm and Orchard is a small 6-acre family run farm and orchard in the heart of Johnson City, Tennessee. Owner Tiffany Stanley focuses on apple tree grafting and farm history in this episode of the Radio Bristol Farm Report. A Different Chick Farm is Certified Naturally Grown farm, specializing in rare breed chickens, heirloom vegetables and starts, and a wide variety of fruit trees. The farm is open for on-site sales seasonally. They offer a Community Supported Agriculture share, and are a mainstay at the Johnson City Farmers Market. For more information about their offerings and to sign up for a CSA share please visit their website.

http://adifferentchickfarm.com/

Rocky Mount State Historic Site

December 18, 2019

Rocky Mount State Historic Site, a popular living history farm, is located in Piney Flats, Tennessee. In this episode Justin White, Education Collections Director, takes us on a walking tour of the farm. Many community events are hosted on site yearly. For more information and an events schedule, and walking tour times please visit our website.

http://www.rockymountmuseum.com/

Foraging for Nuts!

November 21, 2019

Taylor Malone, of Build It Up East Tennessee, has played an integral role in developing educational opportunities and establishing an urban food forest in Johnson City, TN. 

In this segment he takes Kris Truelsen of Radio Bristol on an urban nut foraging adventure in downtown Johnson City. 

http://builditupetn.com/

Buffalo Trail Orchard

October 19, 2019

Buffalo Trail Orchard is a century farm located in Greene County, TN. One of the regions most prolific orchards. Offerings include peaches, plums, blackberries, blueberries, and pumpkins. They may be best known however for their apples. They grow around 20 different varieties of apples, with production running from July through October. Now, with the new addition of a commercial kitchen you can also pick up apple butter, a variety of jams and jellies, and fresh baked goods. Pick your own is a popular seasonal offering as well.

https://buffalotrailorchard.com/

Greene Hemp Co.

August 13, 2019

Greene Hemp Company, a CBD hemp distributor out of Greeneville, is supported by the Ole Appalachian Hemp Farm in Chuckey. Owner, operator Ryan Rowlett highlights the many sustainable uses of industrial hemp and the growing hemp industry in Tennessee. 
https://www.facebook.com/greenehempco/

Beagle Ridge Farm

August 6, 2019

Beagle Ridge Farm is located in Wytheville, Virginia. They specialize in lavender, shipping value-added products nationally. They also have a “Butterfly House,” a hoop house set up to support multiple butterfly varieties. They offer tours, and classes on herb cultivation and butterfly habitat. 
https://beagleridge.org/

Sweet Life Farm

June 20, 2019 

Sweet Life Farm, located in Tazewell, Tennessee is owned and operated by Jay Heselschwerdt. Fondly called the “Beeman” by East Tennesseans, Jay acts as the Tennessee State Apiary Inspector and organizes the Honey Convention in Knoxville in March of each year. More information about the Honey Convention can be found at http://www.honeyconvention.com/

Tala & Thyme Apothecary

May 10, 2019 

Taylor Callahan, founder of Tala & Thyme Apothecary takes Kris on a foraging mission along the Nolichucky Gorge in Erwin. Taylor uses wild and cultivated native mountain medicinal to create Tala & Thyme products. You can learn more about her products, class offerings, and plant walks on Farcebook at https://www.facebook.com/Tala-Thyme-Apothecary-281314102407111/

TNT Farms

April 18, 2019 

TNT Farm, founded in 2012 is located in the Clinchburg community of Washington County, Virginia. Owner and operator, Tamara McNaughton highlights the use of hoop houses to extend growing seasons and offers an overview of farm operations. TNT specializes in heirloom variety vegetable and herb plants. A staple at the Abingdon Farmers Market, you can expect to find both ready to eat veggies and ready to plant seedlings, all grown with organic practices. 
https://www.facebook.com/TNTFarmNGreenhouse/

Clover Creek Farm

March 12, 2019 

Clover Creek Farm, founded in 1990 in Jonesborough, was originally a cattle operation. As owner Chris Wilson grew to love Border Collies, eventually training them to compete, she transitioned the farm to sheep. In this short glimpse into her daily life, you get to meet two of the mainstays of Clover Creek. 

Campbell Farms

February 18, 2019 

The Campbell Family Farm, run by brothers Phillip & Donnie Campbell is located in Lebanon, Virginia. The farm was first established by the brothers’ grandfather. Phillip Campbell explains how the Maple trees are tapped and the “sugar water” collected to produce Maple syrup. He also highlights how the cooking down and processing day has become a community tradition.

Roan Valley Tree Farm

December 23, 2018

Roan Valley Tree Farm has been growing Christmas Trees for around 55 years according to second generation owner, Wayne Ayers. The farm began offering a cut-your-own option in 2004 on location in Johnson City, Tennessee. The cut-your-own has become a popular Christmas family tradition. 
https://www.facebook.com/Roan-Valley-Tree-Farm-338654326167400/

Cave Ridge Farm

November 9, 2018

Cave Ridge Farm, in Blountville, Tennessee, was founded in 2008 by Megan Cadwalader and Erek Napora. Their goal was to provide their family with naturally grown, pasture raised poultry. Demand from friends and neighbors pushed the family to begin producing on a larger scale. They now offer pasture=raised meat chickens, turkeys, pork, and beef. For more information on where you can pick up a Thanksgiving turkey contact Erek Napora by email at ereknapora@hotmail.com or by calling (423) 367-9660
https://www.facebook.com/Cave-Ridge-Farm-705904283132022/

Ridge & Valley Farms

October 26, 2018

Ridge & Valley Farms, located in Lebanon, Virginia, is owned and operated by Andrew Gilmer. Andrew runs an all natural Black Angus beef operation offering beef shares for individuals, and selling wholesale to area restaurants. 
https://www.facebook.com/ridgeandvalleyfarms/

Hope Farms & Studio

August 15, 2018

Hope Farm & Studio is operated by farmer, Steve Mallory and textile artist Becky Hope Mallory of Greene County, Tennessee. The farm specializes in heirloom tomatoes, and cut flowers. Best known for their many heirloom tomato varieties, Steve will tell you, “These came from my grandfather’s seeds.” You can find them at the Greeneville Depot St, Jonesborough, and Elizabethton Farmers Markets.
https://www.facebook.com/Hopefarmsgreenevilletn/

Bales Farm

May 14, 2018

The Bales Family Farm was established in 1882 in Mosheim,Tennessee. Sixth generation farmer Marshall Bales sells eggs from the farm’s pasture raised poultry operation. The Bales currently specialize in grass fed beef, and pasture raised pork and poultry. 
https://www.balesfarmstn.com/

Opossum Bottom Farm

April 20, 2018

Opossum Bottom Farm, located in Gate City, Virginia, and operated by Jack Woodworth and his family, is the home of Ziegenwald Dairy. The dairy goat operation started as a way to provide goats milk and cheese for the family. They did so well, they became a USDA certified dairy in 2008. You can find a wide variety of their cheeses at Boone Street Market and at the Jonesborough Farmers Market in downtown Jonesborough, Tennessee. 
https://www.facebook.com/ziegenwalddairy/

David Lay Farms

March 12, 2018

David Lay is the 4th generation farmer in his family in Goshen Valley, Tennessee. He specializes in year round tomato production, heating his greenhouses with wood. He describes managing a year round tomato operation like “having a new born baby; you always have to take care of it.” 

Erwin National Fish Hatchery

February 12, 2018

The Erwin National Fish Hatchery, located in Erwin Tennessee, provides Rainbow and Brook Trout eggs to trout hatcheries across the country. The Erwin National Fish Hatchery, operated by the US Fish and Wildlife Services, is open to the public Monday – Friday until 4pm for tours. 
https://www.fws.gov/erwin/

Miller Hill Farm

January 19, 2018

The Miller Hill Farm, located in Bristol, Virginia, has been in Jonathan McCroskey’s family for multiple generations. The family originally ran a mill on the land. Today, the mill is closed but the family still runs a cattle operation, and tends their antique tractor collection.

Ratliff Candy

December 12, 2017

While Ratliff Candy Company is obviously not a farm or agricultural based business, it has been a staple in Northeast Tennessee for almost 50 years. The Ratliff family produces variety of holiday favorites, their most known being the peppermint stick basket. 
https://www.facebook.com/ratliffcandy

Myers Pumpkin Patch

November 17, 2017

Myers Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze is located in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. The Myers Family started out carrying on a family dairy and tobacco operation. They transitioned from tobacco into agri-tourism. They host one of the largest and oldest corn mazes in Northeast Tennessee every fall. They also have green houses, and a cattle operation. 
http://www.myerspumpkinpatch.com/

King Dairy

June 14, 2017

Located in Piney Flats, Tennessee, the King Dairy Farm produces around 13,000 pounds of milk daily. Steve King is the seventh generation on the farm, originally purchased through a land grant in 1778. In 2010 King Dairy Farm received a Governor’s Award for Conservation. Their milk is sold at Ingles. John King, the eighth generation to run the farm was interviewed in 2018 by WCYB, highlighting the difficulties the dairy industry has faced and the resilience of what is now a 200 year old legacy of King Dairy, and the King family. 
https://wcyb.com/news/local/despite-market-challenges-young-sullivan-county-farmer-excited-to-carry-on-family-legacy

Laughing Water Farm

August 10, 2016

Laughing Waters Farm, located in Marion, Virginia. is operated by the Goodrich family. Sustainability is important to the day to day operations of the farm. They raise cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. 
https://www.facebook.com/laughingwaterfarm/