Two Chicks and a Farm keeps on growing through markets, CSA

For Kim Bryant, becoming co-owner of Two Chicks and a Farm is a reinvention of a career whose previous focus was first as a plant nursery worker and then as a social worker. For her partner Jen Russomanno, it’s an additional career as she continues to work in the public health field while farming and pursuing her doctorate in public health at the University of Tennessee.

As if that doesn’t keep them busy enough, they also organize a Garden Delivery CSA with eight other vendors that serves customers at six weekly drop-off locations. They recently added 150 chickens (all have names) to their operation to provide eggs to their inventory, and they also recently purchased an additional 18 acres of land on which to grow produce, making their total available planting capability 49 acres distributed in three Jefferson City/New Market locations.

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Growth of the farm came naturally

“We started in 2012 (with two high tunnels) to have a sustainable way for us to grow our own food and then realized we had quite a surplus left over, so we started selling at the Dandridge Farmers Market. It took off from there. People responded to the products we were selling. In the last six years we have grown 400 percent or something close to that,” Russomanno said.

She credits Bryant with being the “brains of the operation.”

“Kim grew up in East Tennessee on a farm with her dad and owned a greenhouse and nursery business back in the ’90s, so she has a lot of experience with farming. She’s very knowledgeable when it comes to a planting schedule, the soils needed and what you might consider the hands in the dirt kind of thing,” Russomanno said.

Bryant has two sons who work on the farm, plus they hire others to help with planting and delivering of the weekly CSA orders. Russomanno said she also helps with labor, but her main farm job is the “social stuff.”

“I do speaking engagements, social media, community outreach stuff and handle all the coordination for the CSA,” she said.

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Where can you find them?

The ladies bring their products to four markets, including the new Eastside Sunday Market, which kicks off Sunday. Other markets are Saturday’s Market Square Farmers Market and two monthly markets, one at UT Medical Center and another at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Their CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, program helps to offset the days they aren’t at market.

“We allow people to order what they want when they want it. There is no minimum order or requirement to order each week. That way if you go out of town you don’t lose that weekly box of produce. We like this model best because it allows people of all income levels to buy produce. We have a range of prices so we can accommodate people in all economic levels. They can spend as little as $10 a week or as much as $100-plus if that’s what they want,” Russomanno explained.

The CSA features eggs, produce, honey, beeswax, soap, beef, pork, chicken and pasta. There is a $25 membership fee for new members or $15 annually for returning members.

For more information, visit gardendeliverycsa.com or call 865-441-5743.

Chemical-free growing philosophy

The “chicks” subscribe to a chemical- and pesticide-free growing philosophy but are not certified as an organic farm. It was something they considered but found it to be cost-prohibitive.

“We are not certified organic because the cost outweighed what it would bring to the operation. We are completely chemical- and pesticide-free and feel we are honest and transparent with the way we grow. People are welcome to visit our farm at any time,” Russomanno said.

What do they grow?

In addition to the two high tunnels they have 6 acres that are currently prepped for produce production. Fresh greens, zucchini, squash, eggplant, beans, peppers, onions, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are a few of the items being tended. 

They have found that tomatoes are one of the most sought-after products, so this year they have planted about 5,000 tomato plants in 19 varieties. Two of the most unusual varieties planted are a Black Krim tomato and a chocolate sprinkle cherry tomato, which are supposed to be sweeter than other tomato varieties.

“The thing about markets is that in late July and August everybody has pretty much the same thing. It’s just how it is. People are sick of zucchini and squash, so we try to have one or two items to set us apart. It’s fun to grow something new,” Russomanno said.

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In addition to market customers the women have several chefs as clients as well as four Morning Point assisted living facilities.

“They started a whole farm-to-table program last year as part of their healthy living initiative. We’ve been working with them since. I did a speaking engagement there and got to meet the residents and many of their family. It was one of my favorite things I’ve done. It was so nice to see the community cohesiveness,” Russomanno said.

“Our delivery person said when she delivers there the residents light up and want to know what they are getting that week. The dining directors said many of the residents will help shell the beans,” she added.

More on the horizon

With the 18-acre addition, plans are in place to expand their operation into a community educational program.

“We break ground on our new house there next week. What we want to do is create a farm that is open to the community. We are looking to have a place where people can come and not only buy produce but also visit the farm, learn about organic growing and sustainability practices,” Russomanno said.