Tucked away in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley of southeast Tennessee, Sequatchie Cove Farm showcases regenerative agriculture at its best. Started by Bill and Miriam Keener in the 1990s, the farm sits on 100 acres of lush pasture and pristine forest, surrounded on all sides by the ancient, green hills of the Cumberland Plateau.
For over 30 years, the Keeners have been dedicated to producing organic vegetables, pasture-raised livestock, cheese, honey, and other products on their land. Their dedication to regenerative agriculture extends beyond their own farm, as the Keeners are also deeply invested in building a local network of farms that collaborate and support each other to promote local food and regenerative farming practices.
A Holistic Farm System
Bill and Miriam Keener became interested in biodynamic agriculture, a precursor to the modern organic farming movement, in the early 90s. Since then, Bill, Miriam, and their son Kelsey and his family have dedicated themselves to using farming practices that protect waterways, promote soil health, and replenish the land. For them, regenerative agriculture is not just about preserving what they have: it’s about leaving their plot of land “healthier, cleaner and more beautiful than when [they] found it.”
Over the last 30 years, the Keeners have raised cattle, sheep, chickens, and pigs using rotational grazing, a practice where livestock are rotated through small paddocks on a regular basis in order to give the grass and soil time to recover after periods of use.
But this isn’t your ordinary rotational grazing system: the Keeners have gone a step further and integrated their livestock into their crop rotation schedule. They use chickens, sheep, and cover crops to regenerate the soil after cash crops (such as corn or wheat) are grown in a given field, creating a holistic, self-regulating system. The livestock and cover crops enrich the soil with natural fertilizer in the form of manure or biomass, leading to better crop yields in the next growing season.
Traditional agriculture “monocropping” can contribute to soil and nutrient loss over time, as it depletes soil nutrients and creates opportunities for erosion when the fields are fallow (unplanted). For livestock farms, overgrazing can lead to soil erosion– or soil compaction, which prevents rainwater absorption and generates runoff.
The Keeners’ system, on the other hand, keeps soils covered at all times– whether it’s by cash crops, cover crops, or grass for grazing– and adds nutrients back into the soil with diverse land use that mimics a natural ecosystem. These practices prevent erosion and runoff, keeping pollution out of nearby streams and rivers.
Protecting the Little Sequatchie River
The Little Sequatchie River winds its way through Sequatchie Cove Farm, and caring for that waterway has always been a priority for the Keeners. One way they have safeguarded the river is by keeping livestock out. The Keeners installed exclusionary fencing and even built a bridge to allow animals to cross the river without disturbing its banks and jeopardizing the vulnerable riparian plant community there.
Their livestock operation’s focus on chickens and sheep has also had some unexpected benefits for the river. Since sheep will naturally avoid entering waterways, the Keeners don’t have to worry about them impairing the river with manure or damaging banks with their hooves.
In fact, the Keeners have put this attribute to good use, “flash grazing” their sheep for a day along the filter strip between the riparian buffer and the exclusion fence. Acting as a natural invasive removal team, the sheep graze on invasive plants like privet without disturbing the waterway.
Thanks to this thoughtful flash-grazing routine (and sheep’s voracious appetites for invasive plants), the Keeners have seen a reduction in invasives on the farm and the return of native grasses such as gamagrass, bluestem, and purple top.
This commitment to protecting the river also carries over to crop production at Sequatchie Cove. In over 30 years of farming, they have chosen not to use chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Instead, they rely on manure produced by their animals as a natural fertilizer, and on the rare occasion that they have a problem with pests in their vegetable gardens, they use natural solutions instead of chemicals that can run off into streams. All these practices work together to support the Keeners’ philosophy of stewarding a healthy and productive ecosystem on their land.
River Friendly Farm Certified
In 2025, Sequatchie Cove Farm was certified as a River Friendly Farm by the Cumberland River Compact.
“Our farm has the Little Sequatchie River flowing right through it, and we have a spring that flows right out of the mountain and through our pastures, so we have always been very mindful of how our management affects the water quality and stream banks. We love clean water and want to promote a healthy ecosystem right here on our farm!”
The River Friendly Farm certification program with Cumberland River Compact recognizes farmers who are good stewards of water and land resources, connecting them with consumers who value a healthy environment. As a River Friendly Farm, Sequatchie Cove Farm is ensuring cleaner water, healthier soil, and a more resilient climate for the people and creatures living in the surrounding environment.
Building a Community of Local, Sustainable Farms
For Kelsey Keener, a big-picture goal is to build a community network of local farmers who can support each other in their efforts to use regenerative practices– and to get more farmers on board with using those practices.
Promoting sustainable agriculture can be a challenge, but one that Kelsey views as worthwhile. After all, waterways don’t recognize property lines – and the health of the river that runs through their land depends not only on the choices the Keeners make, but also the choices made by farmers throughout the Sequatchie Valley.
The Keeners believe in cooperation, not competition. At their farm store, the Trading Post, they sell not only their own products but also goods from neighboring farms who share their commitment to regenerative farming. They sell beef from nearby Manderley Farms and provide whey (the by-product of the Keeners’ creamery) to another neighboring farmer who uses it as feed for his pigs.
These kinds of exchanges strengthen local relationships, bring business to local farms, and reflect Kelsey’s belief that collaborative community networks are essential for protecting waterways and making regenerative farming sustainable in the long term.
How to Support Sequatchie Cove Farm
You can support Sequatchie Cove Farm by ordering from their online store or by visiting them in person at their Trading Post on Saturdays from 9 am-12 pm. Products are seasonal, but at various points in the year, you can find lamb, pork, beef, eggs, vegetables, and cheese. You can also find them on Instagram and Youtube, where they share thoughtful content about regenerative agriculture and food systems.
