We escaped the subdivision and moved to our farm full-time in December of 2012, but our story has been years in the making.

 

Johnna was introduced to farm life by her grandparents. Using a mule, a plow and a lifetime of experience gained from growing up in the subsistence lifestyle of rural White County, Tennessee, Johnna's grandfather, Lee Young, taught Johnna everything he knew about small-scale farming, animal husbandry, farm construction and nature on his 10 acre farm in Joelton, Tennessee. Her grandmother, Gladys Young, shared with her how to cook, preserve, and garden, in addition to passing on her love of antiquing and decorating.  With a natural affinity for nature and animals, Johnna spent every spare moment at the farm by her grandparents's sides.

 

While raised a "city boy," Jeremy was bitten by the farming bug from the moment he first stepped on the Young's farm. He loved the goats in particular, and was able to learn much through the weekly visits to the farm.  Since then he has shared with many others the transformative power of the farm and no longer has the need for a gym membership as he works out every day in God's gym.  His love of goats has only grown, and one of his favorite times of the year is kidding season as he firmly believes "there is nothing cuter than a baby goat." It's hard to find someone who has visited our farm who disagrees.

 

When Johnna's grandfather died in 2009 and his farm was sold, the decision was made to find a piece of land where the traditions learned from Lee and Gladys could continue to live on and where Jeremy and Johnna could raise their young son, Jake. In 2011, that dream became a reality when we purchased the land that has become our corner of paradise - Persimmon Farm. We now raise goats, chickens and  2 very spoiled pigs on a little under 28 acres that started out as a blank slate just 5 years ago.

 

The lessons we learn from watching the cycles of nature throughout the year and from caring for our livestock have been invaluable.  When friends and family visit, they immediately comment on the peacefulness of the farm and a longing to be a part of it.  Our goal is to honor Lee and Gladys by passing on all that they taught us, in addition to those things we have learned along our journey, to others who wish to experience some part of farm life.  Our farm brings us such joy, and we have been able to help several other families begin their own small family hobby farms by sharing with them our experiences and knowledge.  We continue to learn every day and can't imagine life any where else.