ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Each little, medium, or multi-generational farm across this country has a story to tell; as many of those stories need to be told as possible. Why? Because, while our individual farm stories are not identical, they collectively represent a larger “farm story” that is under-heard in our nation today. This is ours:
In 2012 there was a desperate need for “recentering” in my life and for that of my family. I was on my third combat deployment to Afghanistan while my wife, Nicole, was essentially on her own, pregnant, and working full-time in private practice as a family medicine physician. The responsibilities, stresses, and habitual separation were incompatible with the family focused life both of us wanted. I was ready to separate from active duty service by the time I returned from my final tour in 2013. Nicole expressed an interest of getting back into academics but without giving up her clinical work. We both felt it was important to be near family and we wanted to live somewhere rural too. East Tennessee offered all these components. Somewhere along the way, I thought that a family farm might compliment our efforts to “simplify, balance, and ground” our lives. I was wrong about the “simplify” part but I could never have guessed just how much it would change our lives for the better. I like to say, “we are cultivating a life philosophy more than anything else here.”
The land that Six Stone Jars Farm operates on was purchased in 2013. Looking back, with over a decade into this endeavor to ground ourselves to each other and to the earth, we could have not made a better choice. Like having a strong and developed tap root, we can do more than just weather bad storms, we can thrive. Sure, we grow stuff and raise animals but more than anything else we are in the business of helping others do the same. Six Stone Jars Farm is multifaceted in this regard. It is not only our homestead with a business but also a platform for us to teach, serve, and collaborate with others. For us, promoting healthy people and healthy ecology are inseparable, they go hand in hand. Similarly, we hope this website serves a greater purpose than just advertising products.
If you are interested in learning more about our philosophies and concepts be sure to contact us or check out the blog page.
Respectfully,
Chad
Meet the Team
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Chad
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Nicole
Meet the ultimate farm caregiver! Balancing her role as a loving mother with being our sharp eye for our farm’s heath, she ensures all of our animals stay safe. If anyone does happen to get sick, you can count on her to find a cure. When she is off duty, you can find Nicole in the dirt; gardening is her form of meditation and way of giving back to the earth.
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Bryce
Bryce is the shepherdess of the farm, she loves spending her time with the dogs, sheep, and pigs. She shares a very special bond with the herd, and you can often find her hanging out with her favorite girls: Cocoa, Beauty, and Wren. She also loves sitting in the pasture and reading with them!
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Braxton
Does Braxton have the best job on the farm? Quite possibly! as our small-animals specialist, he takes great care of the rabbits, cats, and “teeny bopper” teenage chicks. When he isn’t busy feeding and tending to his fluffy crew, you can usually find him curled up enjoying cuddle time with the farm cats.
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Johnny
Chief Livestock Guardian. This Great Pyrenees is the gold standard of livestock protection. His presence is why calves and lambs can safely be born on pasture and why chickens can free range.
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Louise
Chief Child Guardian. Although close to retirement now, this Great Pyrenees never relinquished her roll as supervisor of children. She loves welcoming visitors and making sure her smaller teammate Eve has backup when threats come around.
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Eve
While the smallest of our LGDs, this Sheltie mix is our primary aerial defense on the farm. She keeps her eyes on the horizon and sky and sounds the alarm when birds of prey get too close to the chicken coop. She has even taught our other dogs how to ward off raptors.
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Wren
Welcoming our newest team member, Wren! Our Maremma Sheepdog pup is quickly learning that being a livestock guardian is a full-time gig.
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Cocoa
Cocoa is a beautiful Katahdin ewe with a big heart and an even bigger appetite! Raised on a bottle, she views humans as her best friends and will happily beg for scratches. When she isn’t busy being a fantastic mom, you can find her scouting out her next snack.
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Beauty
A Bluetooth sheep? Yes! Beauty takes connection to a whole new level. As a tiny bottle-raised lamb, she earned her techy nickname by instantly “connecting” to people the moment they walked near. Today, she is a sweet, wonderful mama who still loves hanging out and staying connected to her favorite friends.
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La Rea
WHAT’S WITH THE NAME
A common question we get is, “Why did you name your farm Six Stone Jars?”
According to the Gospel of John the first miracle that Jesus of Nazareth performed was turning six stone jars of water into wine. Many people know this story as The wedding at Cana.
Whether it was our love of wine or important social gatherings like weddings there is something tangible, elemental, and communal about this miracle that we are drawn to as a family.
It is speaks to God’s abundant grace and self giving nature. It seemed fitting to name our farm, at its own beginning, with something that reflected this emphasis on generosity, hospitality, and sharing.
