For Reggie Marshall, the connection between healthy food and healthy life has always been clear. While the Jackson, TN native grew up tending to his grandparents’ farm before earning a degree in animal science and agriculture, his career largely took place in the medical field. After retiring from his nursing career, Reggie found his roots in farming again – this time with a 2.6-acre farm located in the middle of Antioch.
Reggie’s career as a nurse has driven his vision for the farm, which he calls Reggie’s Veggies. “one of my nursing goals was to make sure I would bring good, healthy produce to my community,” he says. “That’s what’s been driving this…food is medicine.”
After inheriting the land from a friend, Reggie faced challenges in converting the farm to what it is today. The land’s rocky soils and bedrock made it nearly impossible to grow any crops. By following the mantra of making the most out of what you have, however, Reggie has been able to convert the once barren land into a one-third-acre plot that grows abundant and beautiful produce.
This hard work is what motivated Reggie to become a River Friendly Farmer. “I wanted everybody to see how hard I worked to build something from nothing, creating an area where vegetables and fruits can be grown from what most people would consider impossible,” he says.