Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon & Rebecca Smedley.
Hi Devon & Rebecca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I became medically retired from the Army in 2019 after seven years of service, I was contemplating what I would do with my life. Growing up my mother had always worked with plants at a nursery in Sebring, FL, and I enjoyed the work that was brought about when I had summer jobs moving dirt, giant pots, and tending to the overall structure of the nursery. Did I ever think I would be turning plants into a full-time job in my 30’s – no, but after all the ups and downs life has thrown me so far, farming just makes sense to me now. Being considered disable, working the land gives me a sense of purpose and allows me to put in hard work for a goal I believe in. In 2020 I found the perfect piece of land to start my journey in Philadelphia, TN. The 56-acre property was rolling with trees, but I have since cleared sections of the land and built animal pastures for our chickens, goats and pigs, barns to store equipment and feed, and hopefully soon, an aquaponics facility that will allow for year-round gardening. I met my wife in 2020 as well, and together we have begun to build a brand for our farm and sell produce online. She is an artist and just all-around knowledgeable human being. She created our logo and does all our marketing and branding for our products while running her studio out of the farm – Dust to Dust. If you ask her, she grew up wanting to be a vet but life had other plans that led her to art school and teaching. She will laugh and tell you it was her side quest since she is back to raising and caring for animals and learning all about plants. With both of our skill sets, Rising Moons Farms won’t just be another farm, we have big dreams for it to become an education center for all those wanting to learn about sustainable farming, a place for folks to learn about where our food comes from, and more importantly a center for the community to gather, talk, and learn from each other while eating healthier.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If we said it was smooth getting to this point, we would be lying. It most definitely has been a bumpy road full of red clay dirt and rocks! We have had our ups and downs, but here at Rising Moons Farms we are passionate about growing and providing the cleanest, healthiest, and best tasting food possible, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact all these processes can have. With the need for farm to table food dramatically increasing across the country, it is our plan to provide a reliable farm to table food supply that is organically grown, without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, as well as using organic antibiotics for our livestock. In order to continue our goal of providing all these items locally, we need to have a way to produce our garden items year round.
Getting our greenhouse up and going for an aquaponics system has been our biggest struggle. From delays in construction, to difficulty finding contractors, and even mother nature sending us some setbacks. The building on our farm today is actually the second one, since we had to tear down and rebuild at one point. On top of waiting for construction to finish, we of course have had our run in with foxes, hawks, and owls when it comes to our chickens and just when you think you have one fence line complete, another needs mending. The struggles are there, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Rising Moons Farms is a small 56-acre farm located in Philadelphia, TN and founded in 2020. We are operated primarily by veterans with the goal of bringing fresh locally grown produce and livestock to your home and our local restaurants. Over the past five years we have taken land and transformed it into gardens, a place to raise laying hens, goats, and Berkshire pigs, and most importantly a place to call home. We currently provide farm fresh eggs, fresh pork products, canned jellies, and sauces, veggies, fruits, and herbs to our family, friends, and local community, as well as to local restaurants. With the need for farm to table food dramatically increasing across the country, it is our plan to provide a reliable farm to table food supply that is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
The recipes we use for our BBQ sauce line is from my great grandfather and Rebecca’s grandmother is where our Salsa recipe originates from. We want to keep our families love for food alive and use the cleanest ingredients we can when making them. Our flower jellies are a favorite amongst our customers and we are glad to add that recipe to our family name now too, to pass on for generations.
If you are trying to eat healthier, learn where your food comes from, and what it takes to get it to your table, reach out to us, join our community!
What makes you happy?
Honestly, having our hands in dirt and waking up with sore muscles after a long day outside is what makes us happy all while spending it alongside family. There is something about getting your hands dirty, touching nature, and knowing that the food on our table can be easily traced back to real ingredients. There is that saying that says if you choose a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. While running a farm is hard work, we love it and would rather work the long 12-14 hour or more days harvesting, repairing equipment, or tending to animals, than any other 9-5 job out there. We both have 9-5 jobs currently while the farm is learning to sustain itself, and the days we spend out in the garden or with our livestock, are far more enjoyable to us even if it means longer workdays.
Pricing:
- Our eggs go for $6 a dozen and can be purchased in person, on market wagon, or at Noble Curiosities in Sweetwater.
- We sell flower jellies seasonally for $7-9 a jar and they are always a hot ticket item so be sure to follow our socials to know when to grab them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.risingmoonsfarmstn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risingmoonsfarms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risingmoonsfarms
