Farming for Remembrance
Zysis Garden is a 1-acre farm located in Antioch, Tennessee. The project is Bridget Bryant’s labor of love that reflects her deep connection to the land, her heritage, and the people she holds dear. The market garden thrives with vegetables, fruits, herbs, cut flowers, and handcrafted essential oils and room sprays, all harvested and created with care by Bridget herself.
After attending Tennessee State University’s New Farmer Academy program, Bridget established Zysis Garden in 2018. Born to a family of farmers and avid gardeners, Bridget’s call to the earth was passed down through generations; she honors their legacy at Zysis Garden.
For Bridget, regenerative farming is an act of healing, reflection, and memory. Many of the diverse plants she grows carry personal significance. Black-eyed peas represent her grandfather, while purple flowers are a tribute to friends who have passed away from breast cancer. Each harvest is a connection to those she’s lost, and the garden serves as a joyful and reverent living memorial.
Farming For the Land and Water
Bridget’s farming philosophy centers on creating a thriving ecosystem that sustains the land and the people it feeds. Bridget tends her garden entirely by hand, foregoes chemical pesticides, and employs crop rotation and companion planting. These ancient practices improve water retention, preserve soil structure, and reduce pest and disease pressure, ensuring bountiful harvests and healthy soil for years to come.
River Friendly Farm Certified
In 2024, Zysis Garden was certified as a River Friendly Farm by the Cumberland River Compact.
“Work with what you have and nature will provide.”
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, Zysis Garden is ensuring cleaner water, healthier soil, and a more resilient climate for the people and creatures living in the surrounding environment.
Best Management Practices at Zysis Garden
The key to Zysis Garden’s success is its regenerative farming approach. Bridget uses cover crops and plant residue to naturally enrich the soil, cardboard mulch to conserve moisture and provide habitats for insects, and compost to boost nutrients. The land is worked with low and no-till methods that hold the soil’s structural integrity, allowing rainwater to soak in like a sponge and stay in place without running off, even during heavy rain events.
Integrated pest management is another cornerstone of Zysis Garden. Instead of using pesticides, Bridget keeps her garden chemical-free by monitoring for pest activity daily and planting crops that attract beneficial predatory insects. A buffer of native plants surrounds the crops, fostering biodiversity and supporting the local ecosystem. Rain barrels collect water for irrigation, highlighting her ethos to work with the tools that nature will provide.
A Growing Community
For Bridget, it’s not just about tending to the land; it’s also about tending to the garden of ourselves. Through wellness events like the “Self Love Fest”–an outdoor event that invites people to the farm for yoga, sound baths, and more– Bridget creates spaces where people can come together to celebrate nature, personal growth, and the power of community. Her dedication to the land and community earned her a feature on FarmHer.
With aspirations of expanding to a larger acreage, Bridget’s journey at Zysis Garden is one of continual exploration and joy. Her work is a testament to the power of low-impact farming methods to regenerate the soil, foster biodiversity, and build a resilient, interconnected ecosystem. In caring for the land, Bridget has also found a path to healing, both for herself and for the wider community she serves.
Shop Zysis Garden at the Growing Together Farmers Market, sign up for Bridget’s CSA, or visit the Community Farm at Mill Ridge to experience a slice of her vision for a greener, more sustainable future. Perhaps you’ll leave with fresh produce and a renewed sense of inspiration. Shop the website, and follow on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram to stay up to date on events.
