Our Mission

Red Thread Farm's mission is to offer local, wholesome food and high quality artisan products to the Franklin community with unsurpassed convenience and personalized service that only a small family business can provide.

The Tolley family

Our Inspiration

"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."

[Ancient Chinese Proverb]

A Garden Became a Business

After years of Jeremy's corporate relocations, we moved back to our home state of Tennessee in 2014. By 2018 Jeremy's gardening hobby was producing so many vegetables our refrigerator was overflowing. Amy insisted we find an outlet for Jeremy's gardening hobby and friends were asking to buy the produce, so we set up a website, posted a Facebook notice, and Red Thread Farm became a business. 

In a few short years, we've grown almost exclusively by word-of-mouth and our farm expanded from a raised bed garden to a small-scale vegetable farm including two high tunnel greenhouses, an onsite farm store, and a food safety-compliant wash and pack building with cold storage. Our family is so proud of the little farm we're building and we're humbled by the customers who buy our produce each week throughout the year. Many of our customers have been with us since the beginning and have become dear friends.

  • Jeremy Tolley, Farmer and Owner of Red Thread Farm
  • Jeremy Tolley harvesting pears on a ladder
  • Jeremy Tolley, farmer and owner of Red Thread Farm

Meet Your Farmer

In February 2021, after two decades in a successful career as a human resources executive, I stepped out of the corporate world to pursue a long-held dream of being a small scale farmer. To the outsider this decision might appear foolhardy. Who leaves an established career in the relative comfort of an office for an occupation notorious for sweat, tears, and risk? But those closest to me weren't surprised I couldn't resist following my passion. I've been growing food for as long as I can remember. My earliest childhood memories include growing broccoli and radishes while other kids were involved in sports or playing Atari. At 12 years old, I had a garden that rivaled the "old-timers" in the neighborhood. 

Now in my 40s, I still revel in having my hands in the soil. Author, naturalist, and farmer, Wendell Berry, wrote: "Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: Love. They must do it for love." It's true. I love gardening, growing, and sharing the bounty. And that love has expanded into a passion for the local food movement and an awareness of the increasingly critical role of small farms in the community. For all the problems in this world, I believe small farms can bring about change for good. I believe local food produced with integrity can make a big difference for families, neighborhoods, and the Earth.

To our farm's tribe of fans and supporters: Thank you for choosing Red Thread Farm to be your family's farm. Thank you for the privilege of being your farmer.

Sincerely,

  • Kathryn M., Franklin

    "Your greens are just delicious and so fresh. The green herb dressing I purchased was just perfect with the greens. I am never disappointed in any of my purchases."

  • Christina W. - Fieldstone Farms

    "We've loved everything we've ordered from Red Thread Farm. Thank you for not only growing beautiful, nutritious food, but also for being wonderful, caring humans!"

  • Chris C. - Cottonwood

    "We love Red Thread Farm in Leipers Fork. Pick up is at their farm. I love the drive...my moment of peace every other week."

  • Stacy C. - Fieldstone Farms

    "If you haven’t tried the produce, plants, eggs and honey from this farm you’re missing out!!! They are absolutely wonderful."

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