Inspiring Conversations with Whitney Campbell of Blue Hole Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Campbell

Hi Whitney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a bit of a train traveler, jumping from one train to the next, because there are so many fun things to do out there! I grew up in Boulder Colorado with the Flatirons at my back door and would get “lost” for hours exploring the trails.

In Santa Cruz CA I received degrees in Environmental Studies and Psychology. Instead of pursuing a masters program, I chose to take time for a family. When the birds flew the coop, I pursued a career in hotel and restaurant management. I was even the head chef of a German restaurant for a year before I made my way to Nashville to play music for a living. I play guitar and stand up bass and have recorded on 3 albums in addition to my own solo album of originals. However, I did not enjoy being on the road and it turns out I’m not a night owl.

I never lost my desire to be outside, in the garden, and caring for animals. As some say, chickens are the gateway animal to homesteading and I soon found myself with pigs, cows, geese, guineas and many goats. I realized that my passion was being part of the community. Seeing the farm through the eyes of children has helped form my vision for expanding Blue Hole Farm into an educational opportunity for all ages.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a bumpy road! The property had been sorely neglected and subjected to the ravages of nature for about 20 years. Being on a musician’s budget for the first couple years meant learning to upcycle every pallet, bucket and umbrella. With the rising costs of feed and materials, it’s still a challenge to keep expenses down.

Sometimes it seems things are held together with shoestrings and bubblegum. Just when you think you’ve plugged every hole in the roof, another appears! And we’ve learned the hard way to never go cheap on fencing! According to the goats, the grass is always greener on the other side.

The 2010 flood deposited piles of trash on the property and the former owners covered them with dirt and filled the drainage ditches with trash. Last year, our small team won the city wide contest for picking up the most trash along the roadway. Not even a day later, there were two incidents of illegal dumping right onto the side of the farm.

Taking care of the animals has taught many lessons. There is just as much death as life on a farm and it’s not easy to make some decisions. One summer we lost 5 baby goats to pneumonia. However, the joys always outweigh the sorrows.

We’ve been impressed with Blue Hole Farm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Blue Hole Hole Farm is a small urban farm in Antioch TN. For the past few years, we have grown pumpkins with the kids at the Tennessee Nature Academy (TNA), an outdoor education school.

The work has been rewarding for participants of all ages. We have regular Farm Volunteer Days and Dinners to work on projects and then gather for a communal meal and sometimes a bonfire. The farm has hosted several fall festivals, private events, school field trips and education based workshops.

Many kids in the city have never visited a working farm with animals and have no idea where their food comes from. Our goal is for them to have hands-on experiences that will turn into forever memories and positive life choices.

In addition to TNA, we are proud to be in partnership with the Mission Continues, a veterans service organization, and the Mill Creek Watershed Association. The farm is situated along Mill Creek and we are actively working towards being an example of a healthy riparian corridor in our environmentally sensitive watershed.

We specialize in being friendly to the community. Many of our local residents grew up on farms, either here in America or in foreign countries. So many visitors come and reflect on their memories and are thrilled to share the experience with their children. We offer volunteer opportunities and strive to work with people’s strengths and interests. Some people just want to come and sit by the creek for some nature therapy.

While we don’t have regular visiting hours, we have flexible schedules to accommodate visitors. Donations to the farm are gladly accepted to help with feed costs and many bring their leftover veggie scraps to feed the critters.

I’ve found my place: tending and preserving the land, sharing with animals, growing produce and most of all creating a community of neighbors who come together to work, laugh, learn, share ideas and end the day at the tables for a hearty meal together.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Biscuit Mountain Breakdown – podcast
Talaterra – podcast

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bluehole.farm
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueholefarmnashville
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueholefarm