When Lori Birckhead and her husband Jim bought their 96-acre farm in Joelton, TN, they were drawn to the land’s immense beauty, including the quiet tributary to Long Creek that meanders through the farm’s woods. Lori had a vision of a farm that would be “abundantly fruitful and helpful to many,” but in the beginning, the farm’s fallow land was abundant with sagebrush, clay, and enough rocks to build a house with. Old ponds were in need of repair and cattle had unlimited access to the farm’s valuable water sources. The Birckheads knew regenerating the soil health would be By Faith Farm’s first priority.
With no prior experience in farming, they faced a mountain of challenges, but relying on their faith and building a strong community of friends and volunteers (their “farm angels”) around the farm to guide their work, they persevered. Lori recalls a scripture when she thinks of her farm community: “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalms 1:3
Both Lori and Jim feel strongly that healthy soil is key to healthier food. They’ve dedicated the gardens and greenhouses to organic and restorative practices. Lori even “baptizes” her fields with a compost tea made from the farm’s existing compost and water from the creek. Today, the River Friendly Farm and its volunteers help provide nutrient-rich produce that gets donated to people experiencing food insecurity in the Middle Tennessee area.