07/5/11

How Did We Get Here? A story by Jim Pfitzer

I got to wondering this past week how this beautiful little oasis we call Crabtree Farms came to be. Obviously someone decided to build a barn, buy some tools, plow some fields, and plant some crops, but who, when, and how?

Crabtree from above.

Joel Houser remembers reading about Crabtree that “Since the Indians were driven out” it has been a farm, but not always like we know it. In fact, it hasn’t been that long since there were goats, chickens, sheep, and cows on the farm, and there was a time when this land was managed for dove hunting-not a surprise to Houser who says he frequently finds shotgun shells on the property.

Apparently after years of mixed use, the property was largely abandoned in the 70′s and left to grow wild. During that time it became a dump for everything from used mattresses to beer bottles, and fell into serious decay. Then, in 1998, things began to change when Will and McNair Bailey had a vision to turn this land with its long agricultural and community history into a farm with a focus on education.

According to the website www.localharvest.org, the 22 acre property was donated to the City of Chattanooga by the Crabtree/McGauley families with assistance from The Trust for Public Land. Will and McNair founded Crabtree Farms that same year and were given a 60-year lease for the high price of $1 per year.

The first farm managers, Nathan and Padgett Arnold-who now both work for Sequatchie Cove Creamery-grew vegetables and cut flowers, and raised livestock, but the livestock was too difficult without anybody living on the farm. Houser winced as he shared stories of coyotes getting animals, and sheep getting tangled in electric wire. I’ve buried a lot of sheep,” he said.

The farm became certified organic in 2005, “and that pretty much nixed the idea of getting back into livestock,” Houser told me. “The split operation would be too hard. You need dedicated facilities.”

When Padgett left in 2006, most of the flower business followed her to Sequatchie Cove, and Houser, who was promoted to farm manager at that time, said he would rather produce food anyway, so Crabtree focused its growing efforts on vegetables.

Over the years, Crabtree has maintained its education mission. For years, Crabtree produced pamphlets to help small farmers, but Houser said that kind of effort proved to be too broad in scope. The meticulous research and record keeping from the very beginning, however, still brings small farmers from around the country to Crabtree for advice in sustainable and organic practices, farm finances, and efficiency. And of course the farm is happy to share everything it has with whomever comes calling.

Starting in 2000, Crabtree made fields available to community gardeners,

Community Gardens at St. Luke’s.

but the management became too difficult with different planting schedules and plans, and the fields losing fertility without coordinated crop rotation and cover crops. In 2007, the community garden program shifted to one that provided seed money, workshops and support for gardens around the community-a program that ended up having a greater impact on many more people and co

mmunities. Four years after that program started, more than half of the original gardens are still growing and more have been started every year, and hopeful would-be gardeners from Knoxville, Nashville and Atlanta come to Chattanooga for workshops on getting their own programs started.

Now-a-days Crabtree is educating the public through school fieldtrips, a Juvenile Court mandated work program, and countless workshop and volunteer opportunities. As for where we’re headed next… I guess we’ll have to stick around and watch. Wherever Crabtree goes, I’m sure it will be exciting, educating, and delicious!

Crabtree Farms is open Tues- Sat 9-1pm. Stop by and check us out!