When Lori and Jim Birckhead bought their 97-acre farm in Joelton, TN, they had to start the restoration of their property from the ground up. They were drawn to the land’s immense beauty, including the quiet tributary to Long Creek that meanders through the farm’s woods.
When they bought the property, the land was fallow and overrun by 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 water resources. With no prior experience farming, Lori was faced with a mountain of challenges that oftentimes felt like learning a new language. Still, her calling to start a farm and her vision that it would be “abundantly fruitful and helpful to many” drove her to face these challenges with curiosity and faith.
Since buying the property 10 years ago, Lori and Jim have worked toward this vision of abundance and fruitfulness by building a strong community around the farm and installing conservation practices that give back to the land, the wildlife, and the people the farm benefits through its donation gardens.
By Faith operates according to a simple but extremely powerful mission: to grow healthy food and give it away. Everything they grow is donated to people in need via partners all over Middle Tennessee, such as Second Harvest Food Bank and the Nashville Food Project. And thanks to By Faith’s commitment to using farming practices that restore soil health and protect the land’s native ecosystems, the food they grow and donate is sustainably-grown and highly nutritious!
River Friendly Farm Certified
In the summer of 2021, By Faith Farm became one of the first farms to become certified River Friendly with the Cumberland River Compact. The certification followed the well-deserved accolade of Conservation Farmer of the Year from the Davidson County Soil Conservation District.
The decision to become a certified River Friendly Farm was an easy one; it fit in naturally with the conservation efforts By Faith Farm had already been practicing.
“I guess it’s just an extension of everything else that we’re doing,” Lori says. “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.”
The River Friendly Farm certification program with Cumberland River Compact recognizes farmers who are good stewards of land and water resources, connecting them with consumers who value a healthy environment. By becoming a River Friendly Farm, By Faith Farm is ensuring cleaner water, healthier soil, and a more resilient climate for the people and creatures living in the surrounding environment.\
Conservation in Action
Both Lori and Jim feel strongly that healthy soil is key to healthy food. Because of the degraded condition the land was in when they first purchased it, regenerating the soil was a top priority in the early years – and thanks to their hard work and dedication to regenerative practices, they’ve been able to do just that.
Practices like cover crops, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and grass buffers help the Birckheads build healthy soils without relying on synthetic inputs. These practices keep nutrients where they’re supposed to be– in the soil rather than in our waterways. Another practice Lori implemented early on is “compost tea”– a mix of on-farm compost and water from the creek. Every season, Lori “baptizes” her fields with this mixture in order to restore the soil by replenishing it naturally with nutrients.
Other farm practices support biodiversity and protect the habitats of wildlife. From pollinator-friendly flower gardens to a crop rotation schedule that promotes biodiversity, By Faith Farm is doing everything it can to create a natural, chemical-free environment where life thrives– from the tiny microorganisms in the soil to the cattle that are rotated around the farm’s pastures.
Building A Stronger Community
By Faith’s commitment to building community is just as strong as their commitment to the wild critters and plant life on the farm. Community members can get involved on the farm in a number of different ways– from volunteering to attending educational events to picking flowers in the u-pick pollinator gardens.
Lori believes that when people combine their individual gifts and talents and work together, amazing things can happen.When thinking of the community that has formed around her farm, Lori recalls a scripture: “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
How to Support the Farm
The best ways to support By Faith Farm are volunteering and donating. The farm offers weekly volunteering opportunities, which are a fun way to get your hands dirty with some real farm work. Donations are also a huge help, and the link to donate can be found here. The farm also utilizes grid-tied solar power on the main barn, which includes a community space on the ground level and a modern loft apartment on top where visitors can enjoy a beautiful and relaxing Farm Stay retreat. Click here to book your stay on the farm!
To keep up with events, volunteer opportunities, and anything else happening on the farm, you can also follow By Faith on Instagram and Facebook.
