Written by Maddie Charnes
On the grassy mountain side located 20 miles from Chattanooga, the land of Walden Peak Farm has continued to be a place of family connections and community since 1841.
“Something I think about is the people that used to be here,” said Lucy Bowick, former owner and resident of Walden Peak Farm. “I never come out here and I don’t think about them. They’re my ancestors.”
In November of 1841, a land grant was deeded to Edwin Pickett and his brother. As the brothers married and settled, a flourishing community began. Although the family thrived from generation to generation, life was not always easy living on the mountain
“Times were not always easy,” said Jay Welch, Bowick’s sister and former resident of the farm. “We had a coal stove when I was growing up, and it was often very cold. We learned how to be self-sufficient living on the mountain.”
Living further from the city, the sisters said they often farmed for their food and had to make their own way.
“There’s a saying in our family that if you’re not willing to fight for the land then you’re not worth having it,” Bowick said.
Within the past few months, Walden Peak Farm has transformed from a family home of generations to a venue for friends and strangers alike to come together.
Ryan Welch, son of Jay Welch and current property owner, has recently made the land into a venue where he plans on providing farm to table food and events for locals.
“Our main goal right now is to give families from the mountain a place to hangout outdoors,” Ryan said. “We want to have seasonal festivals, and we aim to help people reconnect with the land they live on.”
Ryan’s wife, Andrea Zoppo, began to put on book readings for families and children to come together.
“I wrote a book educating children about what happens to bugs during a storm,” Zoppo said. “It’s so important to educate them about nature, because it’s the world we live in.”
Zoppo and Welch plan on continuing to put on events for locals where they can teach them about the land they live on, as well as build connections that can last a lifetime.
“I feel a big connection to the property,” said Ryan Welch. “The more I’ve been working on the property, the more I feel like I’m walking in my ancestors footsteps.”
Meet the Storyteller
Maddie Charnes is a writer studying communication as a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is currently an Editor for Rising Rock Media, as well as the Opinion Editor for The University Echo. With a passion for storytelling, she aims to shed light on important social issues on both a large and local scale. Outside of her academic efforts, she recently completed an internship at News Channel 9. Charnes hopes to utilize her newfound experience to share meaningful stories of those within the community. To connect, email her at dpn925@mocs.utc.edu.