By Faith Farm: Field of Dreams
In the beginning, there was neither earth nor water, plants nor produce, but only a dream, an insistent dream, one that recurred to Lori Birckhead again and again during the years of 2007 to 2010. The...
By Faith Farm Receives River Friendly Farm Certification with Cumberland River Compact
Community-focused, river-friendly farming
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.
Lori was amazed at the resources available to farmers through sources like the USDA, the local UT Ag Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and new partners like the Cumberland River Compact. The various programs available through these sources helped her to pioneer conservation efforts to enhance soil health and protect water quality. These efforts include practices such as reduced tillage, planting cover crops, rotational cattle grazing, fencing cattle out of the ponds and streams on the land, and the installation of a high tunnel. Additionally, the farm utilizes grid-tied solar power from the main barn (which also hosts a Farm Stay Accredited loft for visitors).
The Birckheads take great pride in their conservation efforts, and their diligence is earning recognition. In the summer of 2021, By Faith Farm received the Davidson County Soil Conservation District Conservation Farmer of the Year. They later became one of the first River Friendly Farms certified through the Cumberland River Compact, ensuring cleaner water, healthier soil, and a more resilient climate for the people and creatures around them.
When speaking about the certification, Lori explains it was a natural fit. “It's an extension of everything else that we're doing. Becoming a River Friendly Farm opens up people’s minds to conservation in general, and how we all can be better conservators of what we have here to take care of others. Lori hopes their work will inspire others to value conservation as well. “It's a love that's shared here,” says Lori.
About River Friendly Farms
In 2020, the Cumberland River Compact launched a new initiative called the River Friendly Farm Certification. The program aims to foster a community of farmers who utilize methods that improve the health of the soil and our waterways.
How do you become River Friendly Certified?
To find more information about the River Friendly Farm program and certification process, visit cumberlandrivercompact.org.
About By Faith Farm
To learn more about By Faith Farm or to become a “Farm Angel,” visit ByFaithFarm.com.
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