The Barefoot Farmer (Jeff Poppen) uses his farm (Long Hungry Creek Farm) as an example in demonstrating good farming principles. The landscape and atmosphere of the 21st century is leaning away from a small farm economy, bucolic scenery, sustainable agriculture and homegrown meals. The health of ourselves and our environment can only be enhanced by a reliance on local small farms for our needs. To learn more about these principle join Jeff Poppen with his weekly column - Barefoot Farmer.To e-Mail Jeff - Click Here

The culture of African people greatly affected the history of Tennessee gardening. Many of the two hundred thousand slaves here grew gardens for themselves and their owners. We still grow crops from seeds brought here from Africa.

Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, opened the eyes of the world to the dangers of chemical sprays.  The book came out fifty years ago, in 1962, when chlordane, DDT, and Aldrin were commonly used.  Case studies of the widespread poisoning of humans and wildlife reported in her essays led to the ban of these chlorin-ated…

We have a new book, Barefoot Farmer II. I say “we” because of all the work done by the designer and typesetter, Victoria, and the illustrator, Linda. “We” also includes Kathryne, Gabby, and the rest of the Macon County Chronicle staff, who turn my weekly chick scratches into a newspaper column. You readers are included…

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Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000194 EndHTML:0000002666 StartFragment:0000002375 EndFragment:0000002630 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/SERVER/EDITORIAL/11-15-11/COLUMNS/barefootfarmer.doc @font-face { font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Plowing is the archetypical farm work. Ground must  be loosened and plants turned under in order…

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000194 EndHTML:0000002814 StartFragment:0000002453 EndFragment:0000002778 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/SERVER/EDITORIAL/11-01-11/COLUMNS/barefootfarmer.doc It’s turnip time again. As fall waxes, and the garden wanes, turnips take over. We sow them in many of our fields for a cover crop, along with crimson clover and buckwheat. If you want some, come up to Long Hungry Road and stop in. they are right below…

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000194 EndHTML:0000003052 StartFragment:0000002453 EndFragment:0000003016 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/SERVER/EDITORIAL/10-11-11/COLUMNS/Barefootfarmer.doc Our 16th annual Southeastern Biodynamic Conference was a huge success. Over 150 people came to hear lectures and enjoy the beautiful gardens and conference site. There were folks from California to New York, Michigan to Florida, and even Costa Rica and South America. Besides the celebration, there was a…

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000193 EndHTML:0000003024 StartFragment:0000002452 EndFragment:0000002988 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/SERVER/EDITORIAL/9-27-11/COLUMNS/barefootfarmer.doc How do we learn? How do we teach? The 16th annual (and may be our last) Southern Biodynamic Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, will explore agricultural education and practical training. For the past 16 years our farm on Long Hungry Road has served as a campus and classroom for several…

Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000196 EndHTML:0000002799 StartFragment:0000002455 EndFragment:0000002763 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/SERVER/EDITORIAL/9-06-11/COLUMNS/barefoot%20farmer.doc Gardens ebb and flow throughout the season. Each week is slightly different than the last one or the next one. Our CSA business requires providing a steady stream of produce, which can be a bit tricky. I have developed a few tricks to insure that 150 families are happy…