TOGA

Foggy Hollow Farm

Foggy Hollow Farm is a small, minor crop and livestock farm located in Cheatham County 20 miles from Nashville. In only the fourth year of production, the 30-acre certified organic farm has three acres in vegetable and fruit production, 1/2 acre in blueberries, and twelve in pasture for goats and chickens. Infrastructure that has been built includes: six movable hoop houses, passive solar greenhouse, cooler, electric fencing, and irrigation system. Talking points will include the construction, financing, and use of this infrastructure and marketing methods used to sell the farm's produce. Additionally, the inclusion of livestock and laying hens in 2011 and the intensive grazing methods and equipment used will be discussed.

Also on this farm, will be a tour of a sustainable Tennessee farm house. The home features two mudrooms for washing vegetables; two 2500 gallon rain harvest tanks used to collect all water used for the livestock, blueberries, and vegetables; a cellar for food storage; and all infrastructure built for farming operations. Built in 2010, this relatively small home is the only new residence in Middle Tennessee that has obtained LEED platinum certification. And, this is the only known platinum certified home on an organic farm in the country. Other features include: geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels (currently have a $1,000 credit with the Nashville Electric Service(NES)), solar thermal hot water, Energy Star appliances, Water Sense plumbing fixtures, high-efficiency windows, solar site orientation, and the use of local and re-used material. In 2011, the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the United States Green Building Council designated this home as one of its five Green Star Award Winners.