DESCRIBE ANY UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT:

In light of the success of the workshops, including interest and learning displayed by producers and buyers, I was surprised by the apparent low degree of follow-through to the ultimate project goals. I suspect that the timeline of the project was unrealistic to expect producers to change their marketing methods so quickly and easily.

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE PROJECT IF YOU WERE TO DO IT AGAIN?

I would work more closely with the community partners before the launch of the project to achieve one or more of these three things: 1) Design the project with a longer timeline, to allow more step-by-step follow-up with the producers, helping them through a decision making and implementation process; 2) Define the project goals in such a way that the community partner can provide follow-up with the producers as a part of another project; 3) Define the project goals more conservatively, narrowing them to something that could be accomplished in the scope of this project.

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR YOUR PARTICIPANTS?

Having good information presented within the context of a solid community-based organization that will continue to provide support.

INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES

CASE STUDIES
Heather Youngblood
Summerfield Farms
Afton, Tennessee

Heather Youngblood and her husband and family previously lived in central North Carolina, where they were members of Carolina Farm Stewardship. They farmed goats for meat production and had a USDA-inspected poultry processing plant on their farm. For the past two and a half years, they have lived in a rural area of Greene County, Tennessee and own 30 acres of land, half of which is suitable for agriculture. Summerfield Farms babies

They currently have a dozen sheep, about 75 hens, and a good-sized vegetable garden. They currently sell eggs and vegetables at a weekly farmer’s market operated by Rural Resources, a rural-support non-profit organization, and Main Street Greeneville, a community-based downtown development non-profit organization. Their primary crops are: lettuce (several varieties), tomato (several varieties), and smaller quantities of other vegetables. Family members work the farm.

Although she grows organically, she has chosen not to certify. At this point in time, her customers know her and are confident that her methods are organic and meet their needs. She would consider organic certification (which she had previously in North Carolina) if her farm operations grow to a point where she would need it for sales purposes.

Heather had been contemplating expanding commercial opportunities for her farm products. The farmer’s market in Greeneville is open one day a week from May to October. She recently attended two workshops sponsored by Jubilee Project: Expanding Season, and Farm to School Production.

Although Heather had been pondering expansion, the information gathered at both workshops motivated her to move forward. The Expanding Season workshop provided her with information to see the possibilities and benefits of a hoop house, with its opportunities to extend growing months. The Farm to School workshop enabled her to see commercial opportunities available that would make sense in terms of information received in regards to season extension. She considered incubating chicks on Summerfields Farm

As a result, Heather has applied for a grant from Jubilee’s Farm to School cost share program to build a hoop house and purchase irrigation supplies for it. She is joining in with other farmers in the Farm to School program to purchase seeds together, to save dollars on cost of seed, and grow a large number of similar crop varieties to allow consistency for selling to area schools.

Upon receipt of cost share funds, Heather will immediately begin construction of the hoop house. She intends to utilize it for shade in the summer. She will grow lettuce all year round with the house.

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Butch Larkin
Land o Larkin Farms
Mosheim, Tennessee
“If you’re small, you can be adaptable”

Butch Larkin lives in rural Greene County. He has about an acre of arable land, and he farms about half that acre. He grows a variety of vegetables for sale, including lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, peas, onions, and eggplant.

He sells his produce primarily at the farmer’s market in downtown Greeneville. This market operates weekly during the May-October period. (Specifics are listed in Heather Youngblood case study.) Butch has regular customers who are confident of his organic farming techniques and abilities. As a result, he has not pursued certification as an organic farmer.

Butch attended two of Jubilee Project’s workshops: Expanding the Season and Farm to School. He reported learning valuable information in both workshops.

After attending the “Expanding the Season” workshop in September, Butch applied for and was awarded a grant through a cost share program for a drip irrigation kit with extra couplings and a water timer. These supporting funds were available through a 35% cost sharing opportunity provided through the state of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. It was only at the workshop that Butch learned of this cost share program, which is administered by one of the three speakers at the workshop. Butch will purchase these items at the beginning of the spring planting season and will then be reimbursed the 35% share.

As a result of a Power Point presentation at this same workshop, Butch decided to purchase materials to construct his own hoop house. This house covered an area of about 250 square feet. He grew several lettuce varieties through mid-December. Butch’s decision to move forward enabled him to sell $350 worth of produce raised under the hoop house. He extended his growing season in a way that would have been impossible otherwise.

Butch also learned from this initial experience. He realized that his hoop house operation could easily be expanded in size to produce more vegetables for an even longer period of time. Demand for fresh vegetables over the winter season is strong and commands a premium price. He also learned where to make improvements in the use of sheet plastic and row cover, as well as irrigation techniques.

At the Farm to School workshop, Butch received additional information about the value of extending his season and planting specific crop varieties. The county school systems in the region need a large volume of specific produce items to satisfy the needs of feeding several thousand students and teachers. Butch has joined with a number of area farmers to bulk purchase seeds of crop varieties suggested by the school systems represented at the workshop. This cooperative effort results in a cost savings on seeds and will enable consistent production and supply for the end user.

Butch also searched out more information from websites such as the National Center for Appropriate Technology (www.ncat.org) and specifically the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas. He purchased several books, including Elliott Coleman’s "Four Seasons Harvest", which provided a philosophical underpinning for his experiments. The literature also provided nuts and bolts information concerning methods and techniques.

Butch attended the 2008 SSAWG conference. This was his first conference, and he learned a lot of valuable information, especially concerning permaculture.


Bill Davidson Jr.
Davidson Farms
Rogersville, TN
www.thedavidsonfarm.com The Davidson Farm, A family farm for over a century

Bill Davidson, Jr. is a fourth generation farmer in rural Hawkins County, Tennessee. The Davidson farm is 280 acres, and the family often leases an additional amount that size, then farming nearly 600 acres. On land formerly devoted only to beef cattle and tobacco, the family now produces grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, beans, corn, watermelons, and cantaloupes. Bill and Debbie Davidson of The Davidson Farm

Bill and his wife Debbie have been open to changes in agriculture and have initiated major efforts in value-added production, agritourism, and the re-opening of a family store six years ago. The store had been non-operational and in use for hay storage for decades. With a grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the Davidsons created an attractive commercial building. The Davidson Farm Store is open seasonally and sells fresh produce, Davidson’s value-added products, some “souvenir” products, and farm-related items. The store has proven to be a gathering place for the community. Last year the Davidsons organized a Christmas wreath contest at the store. Davidson Farms is an active participant in the state’s Pick Tennessee agricultural promotion.

Produce that isn’t sold fresh in the store is made into jams, jellies, sauces and soup mixes at the Clinch-Powell Community Kitchens at a state-approved commercial kitchen in nearby Hancock County. Working with Jubilee Project staff (a partner in this SSAWG project), Bill is exploring marketing his products through supermarket chains such as Food City. Recently, the Davidsons bought a revolving frozen drink dispenser from Italy. They are turning strawberries and raspberries into refreshing, icy ciders, another way, Bill says, of adding value to the crop.

Bill is also working with Jubilee Project in a Farm to School program. He has provided strawberries, tomatoes, and grapes to the Hawkins County School System. He is participating in the regional Farm to School’s program to sell lettuce/spinach and grape tomatoes to area school systems in the 2008-09 school year. Recently the state legislature of Tennessee passed a bill - SB3341 (see http://www.legislature.state.tn.us) - encouraging all school systems in the state to consider purchases of locally grown food, and requiring they keep track of such purchases.

Bill attended two of the three workshops presented by Jubilee Project. As a result of information received and discussion at the “Sales and Marketing Skills-Building Workshop for Farmers and Rural Entrepreneurs”, Bill stated this workshop helped give him the motivation and confidence to seek publicity for his farm and store through pursuing features in local newspapers and magazines. As a result of pursuing publicity, the Kingsport Times News did a feature article on his farm and country store. According to Bill, “There was marked increase in visits to the store and farm after that article.”

Bill also attended the “Building Productive Understanding between Food Producers and Food Buyers/Roundtable Workshop”. Discussion among farmers and school system and hospital food purchasers encouraged Bill to seriously investigate growing cold weather crops in his greenhouse to extend his season and generate income during an otherwise “quiet” time of the year.’ His awareness of the most cost efficient and timely crops to grow and sell to schools was significantly increased.