The entrance to the farm resides just a few miles from downtown Knoxville
The farm collects bamboo from local landowners who don’t want it and then use it for a variety of purposes including building a shade wall around the pavilion.
Adam Caraco, Assistant Urban Agriculture Director at BCF, garnered his green thumb and love for nature while spending much of his youth exploring the forests of the souther Adirondack Mountains where he was raised in upstate New York. “I love helping people garden. Not only does gardening provide nutritious food, but it gets you outdoors, is mentally stimulating, helps you stay active, reconnects you with nature, and is great for the environment. In turn I get to be outside, mentally stimulated, active, well connected with natural cycles, and environmentally friendly. I am grateful to have this position and love being able to share the joy of gardening with others.”
Jenna Bailey’s fascination with alternative food systems and the way food defines a community began while taking an Anthropology Food class in college. Now, working at Beardsley Community Farms, she is able to pursue her passions of “ensuring food security, developing community, promoting sustainability, teaching environmental education, and generally working hard for a cause I can believe in”
BCF gives volunteers, like Nicole who looks on from behind, a look at the inner workings of a beehive with their indoor observatory panel. Part of the goal of BCF is to educate locals on sustainable food systems like beehives. The farm also contains several outdoor hives as well that last year produced a sizable number of gallons of honey. “Local raw honey is particularly nutritious; based on the concept of immunotherapy, it contains bee pollen that can ward off infections and provide allergy relief”
BCF’s chickens, who are named after past Presidents and First Ladies, produce farm fresh eggs in a more animal-friendly way than industrial-style egg manufacturers.
A few volunteers, Anna, Nicole and Eva (pictured left to right) harvest fresh carrots. Says Adam Caraco “It’s funny to see kids come here and find out where produce like carrots actually come from. Some were under the impression that they grew on trees!”
The farm utilizes large rainwater collection systems to provide eco-friendly irrigation for their crops.
