Help Support The Valentine Family Farm

Ben and Daphne Valentine, along with their two sons Benjamin (11) and Simeon (9), own a small farm in Rutherford county on the east side of Murfreesboro. They use their talents to pursue such arts as candlemaking, woodworking, and home remodeling, and they provide wonderfully flavorful foods such as wildcrafted seasonings, delicious pickled vegetables, and fermented beverages. “Food as medicine” is the major focus of their efforts, which has led them to become one of the first industrial hemp farmers in the state of Tennessee. They are also working to raise free range laying hens in order to provide nutritious and flavorful eggs to the local community.Ben & Daphne purchased their farm years ago, while Ben was working an office job, with the shared dream of sustainable agriculture focused on community engagement and local sales. With the idea that “smaller is better,” they purchased the land, with its fixer-upper home, as a palate of unlimited possibility. Through the support of their community and diverse group of friends, they began to see how their dreams of farming and crafts as their sole source of income could become reality. Ben ultimately left his office job to pursue a business in home remodeling in order to be more present on the farm. As time has gone on, several bumps in the road have led them to their current and immediate need. As they have struggled to adjust to a reduced income, they’ve also endured incredible frustration as storms have damaged both their barn & a newly constructed high tunnel greenhouse. These unforeseen trials have left them trying to pick up the pieces of their efforts while also struggling to make payments on their farm as well as simply cover their daily expenses.While this time of hardship has served to reinforce & renew their goals & commitment to their work, they are at great risk of losing the very thing they must have in order to continue to pursue this honorable occupation: their property. They have learned incredibly valuable lessons through their past choices & difficulties, and they are primed to move into a new season in which they can be profitable in the efforts on their farm. The funds from this campaign will help the Valentines to get current on payments for their home and property, as well as meet their daily expenses. In order to keep their farm, they must make a very sizeable payment on the 15th of February.Ben & Daphne have always been generous, even in spite of the strain of their own day-to-day needs. They have opened their home many times as a place to gather and learn, and by your generous contribution to the future of their farm, they’ll be able to continue to share their love of nature, while making nutritious foods & artisanal crafts available to the local community. Any one of us could find ourselves in a similar situation, & none of us can hope to pull through the lean & difficult times without a solid community around us. Let’s be that community for the Valentines.