Join us for our quarterly Chattanooga Urban Ag roundtable meeting in collaboration with Death Farm Permaculture, the Chattanooga Food Forest Coalition, and Wild Violet Permaculture.

Connect with folks involved in ag and gardening projects across Chattanooga and be part of the development of a collaborative support structure for urban ag. This event includes a potluck dinner to celebrate the harvest, games, resource sharing opportunities, and fall fun! Children are welcome.

Learn about the connections between soil, seeds, and the microorganisms and vibrations that support them.

Obiora and Irucka Embry of Getting Back to Nature will join us alongside Krisi Olivero of Alter Eco Farms and Taylor MacDonald of Death Farm Permaculture. This event will include an informational tour of Death Farm, field-based learning session, a potluck lunch, and a classroom-style learning session.

Learn about the Love Equals Farm operation during this informational tour and knowledge sharing session with the farmers.

This workshop will cover a variety of topics related to market gardening and local distribution:

• small acreage and limited resource garden set-up

• natural vs. conventional and till vs. no till growing practices

• crop planning

• sales and marketing for on-farm, online, and wholesale channels

• and more!

A farm-fresh lunch will be provided at the start of the event. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions using the sign-up form.

About the farmers: Cyndi and Savannah Whitman founded Love Equals Farm in 2023 to provide themselves with a way to work with their disabilities. They started with informational posts on social media and gradually moved into selling produce to friends, family, and neighbors before launching the business. The mission of Love Equals Farm is to provide premium quality, local, naturally grown food for our community. 

This event was made possible through funding from the South Cumberland Community Fund.

Questions? Please reach out to SeTNYF Coordinator Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com or (516)279-8871

This gathering will include an educational discussion on farmland preservation and access, a potluck lunch, and then we will all cool down in the Little Sequatchie River! The discussion will focus on farmland loss in Tennessee, conservation, alternative land arrangements, and inter-generationally managed land. All are welcome to come and learn and we especially encourage those who are seeking land or those who have land available to attend.

This event is being hosted in partnership with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, so if you are interested in learning more about the Rivers to Ridges project and how it might support you in implementing land management practices that conserve natural resources and protect aquatic habitats, this is a great opportunity to connect with the team.

The Southeast TN CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) program highlights farmers in the region and helps to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning. There are many ways to approach the topics covered in the workshops. The information shared at each CRAFT workshop reflects the philosophy of the farmer-educator(s) and their findings/ways of doing things that work for them in their operation. There will always be an opportunity to learn more, dive deeper into the topics, and approach them from different angles. 

* This event is free to attend. Through support from The CLIF Family Foundation through the National Young Farmers Coalition and the South Cumberland Community Fund, Southeast TN CRAFT is able to offer quality programming at no cost to participants. 

Join us for an inside look at how culinary herbs move from the farm to the marketplace. This workshop includes a guided tour of Healthy Flavors, Inc herb production farm and packing house, followed by an educational session on their wholesale business model. Participants will learn about production requirements, aggregation and distribution processes, and opportunities to grow and market culinary herbs through the Healthy Flavors brand.

This event is ideal for farmers interested in diversifying their operations, expanding market access, and exploring value-added opportunities in herb production.

This workshop is free, but registration is required. Lunch included!

ABOUT HEALTHY FLAVORS

Healthy Flavors, Inc. is a family business in middle Tennessee specializing in growing and packaging fresh culinary herbs.

Dan and Nadia Spatz are business partners infusing Healthy Flavors with passion and persistence. They see our food and agriculture systems changing, and desire to accelerate that change with intentionality and incentives that deliver more generative and sustainable outcomes for communities and for society.

In Eagleville, TN, Nadia and Dan operate a scaled, culinary herb farm supplying Walmart, McCartney Produce, Sysco, Performance Food Group and other wholesale customers with fresh, cleaned and packed culinary herbs.  They grow 12 varieties of herbs in three growing “systems” and across four seasons.

This event was made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and organized in partnership with TN Local Food.

Southeast TN Young Farmers Coalition is over the moon excited to partner with Hamilton County's McDonald Farm in Sale Creek for the Fourth Ever Farm Olympics on Saturday, June 6th 2026! We will celebrate our community, compete for the Farm Olympics Cup, spread awareness about the serious challenges that young farmers face, and raise money to help our chapter address those issues.

Learn more about Farm Olympics and sign up at our Farm Olympics page!

With Death Farm Permaculture, the Chattanooga Food Forest Coalition, Wild Violet Permaculture, Southeast TN CRAFT and the Southeast TN Young Farmers

Join us as we build upon the momentum from previous roundtable discussion where we developed working groups focused on education & resource sharing and land access & policy.

Connect with folks involved in ag and gardening projects across the city be part of the development of a collaborative support structure for Chattanooga urban ag.

We will begin with working group meetings at 5 p.m., and then move into a farm tour, dinner, and social time around 6, followed by music and dancing 'til Taylor sends us home!

The event includes dinner and childcare can be organized if needed. Please let us know if you plan on bringing children.

Questions? Please reach out to Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com or (516)279-8871

Sequatchie Cove Farm is renowned for both its commitment to sustainable farming principles and its commitment to the local community.

Currently, the farm’s focus is on pasture-raised eggs, but they also sell lamb, vegetables, fruits, and a variety of other products. They sell direct to consumer, wholesale, through a CSA, and on-farm.

Come see how the farm weaves silvopasture––both new plantings and woodland grazing––into their ecologically oriented poultry and livestock operations.

Be sure to sign up here!

Alysia Leon is using ethical foraging techniques and sustainable production methods to produce a wide array of value-added products on her 55 acre farm in Dunlap, TN.

The tour will include both intensively managed field-grown herbs, and sustainably managed wild populations of forest-grown herbs.

Be sure to sign up here.

Solace Farm is a diverse livestock and garlic farm about 1 hour northwest of Chattanooga.

They sell meat, eggs, and garlic as well as a suite of value-added body-care goods. Come see how they are using silvopasture and other sustainable techniques to renovate degraded strip mine land.

Be sure to sign up here.

Join us for a networking opportunity for local farmers and chefs! Mallory and Trapp of LUNCH Sewanee will share about how they source ingredients directly from local farmers for their farm-to table restaurant and catering business. We will also enjoy a  meal together. Chef Mallory will provide taco meat and a vegetarian taco base, so we ask folks to bring taco pairings to contribute to the dinner. 

Questions? Please reach out to Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com.

This event is being offered with support from TN Local Food and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Services.

Making great compost is one thing. Knowing how to unlock its full potential will take your farming to a whole new level.

Krisi and Nick of Alter Eco Farms will show you how to turn solid compost into high-impact amendments like humic acid, compost extract, and compost tea. We will compare techniques, talk strategy, and put it all under the microscope, because... you know we are bringing the microscopes.

Join us for a hands-on afternoon of real soil science and leave with the skills to dramatically boost the power and performance of your soil microbes. We will begin with a lunch potluck and then we'll get our hands dirty! Please plan to bring a folding chair or picnic blanket so you can be comfortable during lunch. 

This workshop has a maximum capacity of 30 participants. Please plan to wear closed toed shoes and prepare to get dirty!  

The Southeast TN CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) program highlights farmers in the region and helps to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning. There are many ways to approach the topics covered in the workshops. The information shared at each CRAFT workshop reflects the philosophy of the farmer-educator(s) and their findings/ways of doing things that work for them in their operation. There will always be an opportunity to learn more, dive deeper into the topics, and approach them from different angles. 

* This event is free to attend. Through support from Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga and SSARE, Southeast TN CRAFT is able to offer quality programming at no cost to participants.  

Join our chapter as we participate in Ag Day on the Hill. The day will include tabling on the plaza, a picnic lunch, visits with lawmakers, and a farmer power hour. We would love for you to join us for any part of the day that you are available.

We will have 2 virtual prep-call opportunities for folks to learn more and to go over logistics for the day: March 4th at 12 p.m. CST or March 9th at 3:30 p.m. CST. Please email setnyf@gmail.com to sign up to be involved!

Learn how to give your spring plants a great start! The workshop will include hands-on learning, a lunch potluck, and a farm tour.

Please make sure to sign up if yoou plan on coming! Leading up to the event, you will receive an email with the address and last minute info.

Please reach out to SeTNYF chapter coordinator Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com with any questions.

* This event is free to attend. Through support from Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga and SSARE, Southeast TN CRAFT is able to offer quality programming at no cost to participants.  

We hope you can join us for the re-scheduled CRAFT fruit workshop we planned for Jan 25th but had to postpone due to weather.

This event will begin with a potluck. Then we will learn about timing and strategies for pruning blueberries and grape vines, and take a tour of Wheelers Orchard to learn about their orchard/vineyard operation, value-added products and on-farm market. 

Please reach out to SeTNYF chapter coordinator Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com with any questions.

Please sign up if you plan on coming! You will receive an email with the address and last minute info as we get closer to the event. If you signed up for the event when it was scheduled for Jan. 25th and still plan on coming, you do not need to sign up again.  

* This event is free to attend. Through support from Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga and SSARE, Southeast TN CRAFT is able to offer quality programming at no cost to participants.  

Join us as we build upon the momentum from the October roundtable discussion where we developed working groups focused on education, resource sharing, land access and production, and policy.

Connect with folks involved in ag and gardening projects across the city be part of the development of a collaborative support structure for Chattanooga urban ag.

This event will begin with a potluck and Southeast TN Young Farmers annual meeting/strategic planning. Then we will learn about timing and strategies for pruning blueberries and grape vines, and take a tour of Wheelers Orchard to learn about their orchard/vineyard operation, value-added products and on-farm market. 

You are welcome to come only for the workshop if you do not wish to participate in the strategic planning session. Here is the timing for each of the sections: 

12-2 p.m. Potluck and Strategic Planning

2-4 p.m. Fruit crop pruning and farm tour

Please reach out to SeTNYF chapter coordinator Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com with any questions. Leading up to the event, you will receive an email with the address and last minute info! 

Join us to learn about the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and spend time with Southeast TN Young Farmers friends. We will take a tour of the Food Bank's warehouse, hear about how local farmers can supply food to feed their neighbors through purchasing programs and donations, and help with a project in their on-site garden. We will finish up the event with our Quarterly Meeting and a semi-potluck farmer friends-giving lunch. We will provide meat and vegetarian main dishes, so bring a side dish, dessert, or drink if you are able! 

Questions? Please reach out to Emily Dudley with the Southeast TN Young Farmers at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com

This event is being offered through support from TN Local Food and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

With the Chattanooga Food Coalition, the Chattanooga Food Forest Coalition, Wild Violet Permaculture, Southeast TN CRAFT and the Southeast TN Young Farmers

Join us as we build upon the momentum from the June roundtable discussion. Connect with folks involved in ag and gardening projects across the city and hear updates on the development of a collaborative support structure for Chattanooga urban ag.

The event includes dinner and childcare is available as well.

Hosted by our friends at Carbon Cowboys

Carbon Cowboys Chat

We’re bringing the pasture walk conversation online! Join grazing specialist Randall Tomlinson and regenerative farmer Elson Mast (Manderley Farms) for a live chat on managing 300 head of cattle with regenerative grazing. After hosting an on-farm pasture walk with Southeast TN Young Farmers, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the Cumberland River Compact, they’re here on Discord to go deeper, answer your questions, and share practical tips for farmers and land stewards. Whether you’re new to adaptive grazing or refining your system, you won’t want to miss this.

Join us for a special day of learning led by grazing educator Randall Tomlinson with Elson Mast of Manderley Farms and Kelsey Keener of Sequatchie Cove Farm. This event is being held in partnership with the Cumberland River Compact and the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.

In this free class, participants will learn how to implement practices that improve pasture health and maintain clean waterways.

The classroom lesson will highlight the key parts of pasture management followed by a panel discussion with local farmers:

• risk management

• land resiliency

• increasing efficiencies

We will finish up with a wagon ride field tour to see regenerative grazing in action. (Have a question you'd like the educators to include in the panel? Please share it using the registration form below!)

Refreshments and lunch will be provided, and all participants will leave with resource packets on starting simple and basic steps to success!

Questions, or have trouble registering through the form linked below? Please reach out to Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com or (516)279-8871

Many thanks to our hosts at Manderley Farms. This event is made possible through support from the Cumberland River Compact, the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, the Southeast TN CRAFT program and Southern SARE, and the National Young Farmers Coalition.

“I grew my own herbs… now what??” Join us at Bird Fork Farm in Dunlap, TN for a workshop focused on growing and processing high-quality medicinal and culinary herbs, with an emphasis on the processing side! Learn how to fill your spice and tea cabinets up with home-grown goodness!

Herbalist and Bird Fork Farm founder Alysia Leon will lead us through the methods they use to grow and process herbs on the farm. You will also get a chance to practice garbling herbs (or picking the flowers and leaves from the stems, in order to store them properly for later use) using DIY equipment that you can easily and cheaply create for your home and farm projects. The workshop will be followed by a potluck lunch.

Please be sure to sign up so that we can send you detailed location information leading up to the event, and any last minute updates!

If you wish to make it a full weekend of herbal learning, you’re in luck! Bird Fork Farm is offering a Make & Take Garlic braid workshop on Sunday, July 27th. You can even camp out on the farm Saturday night. Tickets for the garlic braid workshop (and camping options) are available on the Bird Fork Farm website.

Learn about various aspects of establishing and maintaining community gardens with instructor Lotus Chaney of Buttonbush Farm. This event is being held in collaboration with the Food Forest Coalition of Chattanooga at one of their community garden partner sites. 

Following the learning portion of the morning, there will be a community potluck lunch, so please plan to bring something to contribute to the potluck!

Please make sure to sign up so that we know you’re planning on coming! Leading up to the event, you will receive detailed location information as well as any last minute event info.

** Please note that the Germantown exit on I-24 will be closed that weekend, and plan accordingly.

Questions? Please reach out to SeTNYF Chapter and Southeast TN CRAFT Coordinator Emily Dudley at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com or (516)279-8871.

In our third year creating this tradition, we will celebrate our community, compete for the Farm Olympics Cup, spread awareness about the serious challenges that young farmers face, and raise money to help our chapter address those issues.

Attendees may participate in, or simply watch, a variety of farm-related sporting events. This years’ events include the Kubota of Chattanooga Transplant Race, American Farmland Trust The Obstacles to Land Access Race; The Sequatchie Cove Farm Multigenerational Egg Toss; The Land Trust for Tennessee Plant Identification Quiz; the Hay Bale Toss; the Classic Fence Race; a Kids and Adult's Water Trough Relay, as well as the Grace Frank Group Egg Juggle, and the Lupi’s Pizza Pies Pie Judging event.

Competitive events will be followed by a farm to picnic blanket feast featuring Cove Creek pork and side dishes from local farms and restaurants. After dinner there will be a silent auction (online pre-bidding available the week before the event) with products from our farmers and supporters; and a community contra dance featuring the Cumberland Mountain Music Makers.

Use promocode earlybird to get 25% off tickets for ordering before June 1st and use promocode setnyfmember25 for 50% off tickets if you are a member!

Made possible with generous support from Alter Eco Farms, Kent Ballow, Feathers and Fruit, Food as a Verb, the Grace Frank Group, Hamilton County Parks, Kubota of Chattanooga, Lupi’s Pizza Pies, Niedlov’s Bakery and Cafe, Sequatchie Cove Farm, Summer Fields, The Land Trust for Tennessee, American Farmland Trust, Appalachian Conservation Institute, Cumberland Forest School, Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Southeast AgriSeeds, Stewards Unlimited, TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Marugg Company, and anonymous friends!

Come out to Cove Creek Farm in Tracy City for an informal electro-net repair workshop.

Do you use electro-net for your garden space, small-ruminants, poultry, or pigs? Let’s share our tricks for fixing fencing and discuss how to determine that it’s time to say goodbye.

If you have fencing that needs to be repaired, please bring it! If you don’t use electro-net or don’t need to make repairs, there will be extra fencing available for you to practice on. We are able to provide some repair materials, but we encourage you to bring repair kits or other materials you have if you plan to fix your own fencing. We will also try to fit in time to practice for the Farm Olympics Temporary Fencing Race event.

Please consider bringing a snack or drink to contribute to the picnic!

Folks who sign-up will receive more-detailed location information as the date of the event comes closer. So if you plan on attending, please make sure to fill out the sign-up form! Questions? Please reach out to Emily at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com.

How do you maintain a presence in agriculture and land care without secure land or generational wealth?  What opportunities exist between the extremes of full-time farming and a taking a city job in hopes of one day buying land?  We will discuss these questions along with soil health, plant succession, and the challenges of creating enterprises that fit within the constraints of the land access, finances and local ecology. This workshop will begin with a potluck lunch.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Nathaniel Bankhead

Born and raised in Tennessee, Nathaniel has spent time as a farmer, teacher, and learner in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Kansas and Kentucky. Attracted to permaculture out of a desire to draw on the best of both agroecology and community development, he is owner and operator of Wild Violet Permaculture. He specializes in land restoration with a focus on reforestation, grazing, adicinal herbs. His clientele include nonprofit organizations, the City of Chattanooga, and private landowners across southern Appalachia. nd me

Folks who sign-up will receive more-detailed location information as the date of the event comes closer. If you plan on attending, please make sure to fill out the sign-up form! Questions? Please reach out to Emily at setnyfcoordinator@gmail.com.

Join our chapter as we participate in Ag Day on the Hill in Nashville and meet with lawmakers!

We will hold a prep meeting a week before the big day to make sure everyone is ready. Carpooling may be available.

Join Steven Ussery of Stewards Unlimited for a workshop on business planning and grant writing for farms and agribusinesses. Randall Tomlinson will also share about his experience accessing grant funds to expand Sequatchie Cove Creamery.

Snacks will be available during the workshop. You are welcome to bring a snack to share if you’d like!

The workshop portion of the event will be followed by a tour of Cove Creek Farm. Cove Creek Farm raises grass-fed and finished beef, pastured chicken, pastured hogs and has an agri-tourism enterprise. At their Monteagle farm, you’ll see their beef cattle and agri-tourism, which includes a petting zoo, on-farm shop, and extensive indoor and outdoor play area!