Life is berry good in Wartrace

A group of stay-at-home dads recently visited the farm with their children, who picked berries and played in the mud. Children are encouraged to visit the farm. (T-G Photo by Tamara Belinc) [Order this photo]

Strawberry heaven starts at Valley Home Farm in late April and continues until early June. The farm is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from noon until 5 p.m., on Sundays.

All in the family

Nancy Edwards pulls weeds away from the strawberries, ensuring ripe, healthy berries. She said the heavy rain hasn't affected their crop at all. (T-G Photo by Tamara Belinc) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"Valley Home Farm is a family venture," said Nancy Edwards, one of four siblings who help operate the farm. "My brother, Bobby Potts, is the main farmer. He's worked here full-time since he was 14 years old and learned how to farm from our grandfather."

Bobby's wife, Janet, also works on the farm, while Nancy and Bobby's sisters, Linda Williams and Vickie Pyrdum work as bakers.

"They do their day job and then come here to bake cakes, pies, bread and vanilla pound cake," Edwards said.

Bring on the kids

They grow two different kinds of strawberries, Sweet Charley's and Chandlers. People can buy pre-picked berries or pick their own.

"We really encourage families to bring their kids and pick the berries," she said. "We like to see the kids out here."

In fact, a group of stay-at-home dads from Nashville had brought their children out to pick strawberries earlier in the week. The kids picked strawberries and played in the mud, splashing around in puddles from the recent rains. This wasn't the first trip the group had made from to the farm.

"We have some very loyal customers," Edwards said. "They worry about the rain and the frost. They are very concerned and call to make sure everything is all right."

High and dry

Edwards wants to reassure their customers that the strawberries are fine, even after all the recent wet weather. The berries are planted on mounds and have been picked back to keep mold and other problems from setting in.

The family has been growing strawberries since 2000, but before that, they grew traditional farm crops.

"We had to go with the changing of the times," she said. "We knew we had to diversify. I love growing strawberries. It's not the best living, but it's a great life."

History lives

Valley Home Farm is a 350-acre, five-generation family farm. The main farmhouse was built in 1835 by the Jeremiah Cleveland Family in the Greek Revival style of architecture. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been featured on the television show "Our Place."

The home was once owned by the Albert Dement family and famous Tennessee Walking Horses, such as Merry Legs, Last Chance and Neil, were bred on the farm. The Potts family bought the farm in 1958, and it has been in the family since then.

More than berries

The family has branched out into other areas besides strawberries. For years, they offered autumn products, such as fall mums, and also had hayrides and a corn maze for the public. They are no longer able to do so.

"It was just too much work," she said. "We weren't able to keep up with all of it."

One of their many other products is honey.

"We have the bees to help pollinate the strawberries," she said, "so we thought we might as well do something with the honey."

They are also planning on growing blueberries. Those will be planted in February and will ripen in June.

"The blueberry season will follow the strawberry season," she said. "We are very excited about that."

For more information, call the farm at (931) 389-6470.