Written by Zoie Denton
On the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee, nestled in the mountains and valleys, lies 80 acres of rolling green pastures and bustling farm life. Quail Run Farm, one of Lookout Valley’s most well-known farms, is a living example of regenerative agriculture. Bought in October of 2022 by Joe and Rachel Riley, Quail Run has turned this beautiful countryside from a quiet homestead to a community-driven ecosystem of animals and hospitality.
“There weren’t any animals here at the beginning,” said Melissa Shepherd, Head of Operations. The land has transformed into a vibrant working community. It offers pasture-raised meats, locally grown produce, and honey—all cultivated with sustainable, regenerative practices.
Shepherd is originally from Yorkshire, England, and joined Quail Run through a program called Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) while traveling through the US.
Since then, the farm has expanded significantly. “We now have cattle, pigs, laying hens, meat birds, turkeys, chickens, ducks, beehives, and roses here on the farm,” Shepherd stated.
The farm is alive with movement, and every animal living on the land plays a role in its health. Quail Run isn’t just about its food, but also about how to work in harmony with the environment. “It’s a very symbiotic system that we’re trying to run here,” Shepherd said.
The farm operates under regenerative principles, which means every part of their operations gives back to the environment. For example, cattle are rotated across different pastures for grazing, naturally fertilizing the land and promoting healthier grass growth. The same goes for chickens and turkeys, which dig and scratch at the soil. Pigs are forest-raised and help tear up forest floors where they forage for food.
Quail Run wouldn’t be in operation without the help of volunteers and the staff. Over the last two years, more than 40 volunteers have stayed on the property, contributing their time and efforts to operating the farm. Today, they average about 10 regular volunteers who work alongside the main team.
“Farming is not a one-person job; it requires a team to get things done,” said Shepherd.
The team includes Darren Flanagan, the farm manager who oversees day-to-day operations, and Alexandria Brooks, who manages the farm’s presence at the local farmer markets.
Joe Riley mostly focuses on the cattle, while his wife, Rachel, oversees the gardens and chickens. The whole team operates as a family, with a genuine connection between each and every member. Volunteers like Liam Flanagan, Adélaïde Koszul, and Claire de Jacquelin have become an essential part of the rhythm as well. All three rise at dawn each day, ready to feed animals, gather eggs, and lend a hand wherever it’s needed.
“Even the staff has its own community,” said Shepherd. “We run more like a family than anything else.”
Helping people understand where their food comes from is another goal of Quail Run Farm, and transparency is everything. When customers buy a cut of beef from their stand at a local market, they are going to know exactly how the animal was raised before it hits their plate. This builds trust between the farm and the customer.
“We are very keen on educating the people about the kind of food they eat and how they get their meals. It’s a way of connecting consumers with farmers and bridging the gap between them,” Shepherd said.
Aside from agriculture, Quail Run also shares the beauty of its land with its customers. The Riley’s have developed 11 different Airbnbs on the farm, drawing in guests from all over for a relaxing stay.
With more Airbnbs in the works, Quail Run’s hospitality continues to grow. Dreams of open fire cooking sessions led by a local chef, and the hopes of a new educational program to be able to educate students on what it’s like to work on a farm, are just a few examples of the farm’s future aspirations.
Every acre of Quail Run tells a story, one rooted in the timeless rhythm of American land and the values that grow from it. What Joe and Rachel Riley have built is more than a farm; it’s a living cycle where the soil, animals, and people depend on one another. Where industrial agriculture dominates much of the regenerative space, the farm proves that health, sustainability, and community offer a better path forward. The land flourishes, and in turn, so does the community, sharing a testament to how harmony between nature and nurture can thrive on Tennessee soil.
Adelaide Koszul hoists a bucket of pig food to the adult pigs as Liam Flanagan goes to replenish the baby pigs’ water. They worked fast as a team. Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Photo by Angelina Fraga. 
Matt Chrnalogar and Jacob Dean, greenhouse and urban farm support team members at Crabtree Farms, control the water system of the roots for the new plants to be put in. It takes time and patience for these to grow. Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Photo by Cooper Thompson. 
Matt Chrnalogar, greenhouse and surban farm support at Crabtree Farms, holds the chestnut very delicately Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (Photo by Cooper Thompson) 
These cows are enjoying their evening meal. They grazed the fields in between meals. Tuesday, September 31, 2025. Photo by Angelina Fraga 
Giuliana Castillo, urban farm production coordinator, plants sprouts in the greenhouse beds at Crabtree Farms. It will grow into a beautiful flower with patience. Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Photo by Cooper Thompson. 
The morning mist sets over Quail Run Farm. It was brisk out and the grass was glittered with dew, Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Photo by Angelina Fraga. 
This sign invites visitors back as they leave Quail Run Farm. Almost all of the signs around the farm had cute little sayings like this. Tuesday, September 31, 2025. Photo by Angelina Fraga.
Blurring Boundaries
Written by Zoie Denton
For 27 years, Crabtree has been more than just soil and crops; it emerges like a hidden oasis of green tucked quietly within a neighborhood, just amongst the hum of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The farm has been a place where neighbors gather, hands dig into the earth, and the community learns together the rhythms of farming. Crabtree’s commitment to sustainable agriculture is matched only by the way it nurtures curiosity, connection, and a sense of belonging for everyone who steps through their fields.
Spanning 22 acres, the farm stretches out like a patchwork quilt of green and soil, with about half its land neatly fenced for growing rows of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. At the center of it all is Corey Hagan, the Director of Farm Programs, who helps oversee everything. The land is in the middle of the Clifton Hills neighborhood, and this is intentional, proving just how close the property can be for its people and helping blur the boundaries between “urban” and “rural” farming.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit status of Crabtree Farms allows the organization to receive the grants, donations, public funds, and upkeep needed to combine community and educational programs. There are currently 30 active gardening beds with plans to add eight more. The workers supply everything each gardener needs: soil, compost, starter plants, and tools to help maintain them.
Hagan stated, “The garden beds are for the people to come out and produce for their families.” These beds help families focus on planting and harvesting with the guidance of staff and volunteers.
While the community garden beds are ideal for personal growing, Crabtree also runs an Emerging Farmers Program to train people in farming on a larger plot. This offers more hands-on experience on real land, without the financial risks and burdens of purchasing and running one’s own farm. Hagan said that this idea is to “allow them to farm without the risks of owning their own farm.”
Crabtree Farms’ mission is evident through programs, activities, and teaching agricultural skills. The farm’s educational effort extends through providing hands-on nature and farm-based learning for children and homeschool students through a partnership with Nature Kin Farm and Forest School.
“It is an opportunity for these kids to be able to come out and learn what it’s like to work in nature,” said Hagan. Through this collaboration, the kids not only learn about plants and soil but also about the ecology of nature.
Operating in an urban setting, Crabtree offers a connection between people and their food. Providing green spaces, farmland, and education within walking distance of neighboring homes.
Over the past 27 years, the farm has become a hub for locals while giving back to the community. Crabtree donates plants, supports local food access, and opens its gates to locals who may lack access to fresh produce.
By lowering barriers to farming skills, Crabtree’s Emerging Farmers Program empowers more people to see themselves as producers, nurturing new growers who help seed local food resilience and enterprise.
It’s easy to walk past Crabtree, but once you step into the fields and gardens, the farm’s purpose comes alive. Every bed of soil, every shared tool, and every mentoring moment is designed to help people grow food for their families and themselves. For the locals, Crabtree is more than land, it is a place of learning, connection, and care.
Meet the Storytellers
Angelina Fraga is a senior studying Communication with a minor in Marketing. She is a staff photographer for the University Echo, and a section editor for Rising Rock. She is also part of a team of students who assist in making local entertainment content for the City of Chattanooga website. Angelina is skilled in journalism and audio, but her true passion lies in photography, capturing moments. She hopes to combine her strong suits in communication and marketing to pursue a career in marketing and PR photography. To contact Angelina, email her at rvg337@mocs.utc.edu.
Zoie Denton is a senior studying Communication with a focus in Marketing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Denton currently serves as the Assistant Sports Editor for the University Echo, works as a part-time sports photographer for Newport Speedway, and has her own blog where she writes recaps and features about Formula 1. Her passions lie in writing and photography. Denton loves covering sports, and her goal is to work as a sports journalist in motorsports. Find Dentons’ work at https://www.theutcecho.com/sports/ and find more of her Formula 1 work here. For more information contact her at zcl644@mocs.utc.edu.
Moses Malone is a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga pursuing a degree in Communication and a minor in Film and Television. While Moses enjoys photography, he has a passion for writing and directing visually appealing and heartfelt short films. He is always looking for people to collaborate and build relationships with to further strengthen his film talents. After graduating in Spring 2026, he hopes to pursue a career in directing film projects that will cause audiences to see the light in the darkest places. To contact or collaborate with Moses, email him at hhp457@mocs.utc.edu.
Cooper Thompson is a senior studying in Communications with a minor in
Marketing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Thompson was
born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He is the Vice President and Social Media
Manager for the UTC Men’s Club Soccer team. Thompson works for Vecoma
at the Yellow River and serves as their main wedding photographer. He also
focuses on Sports Photography whenever he gets the chance as well. Every
year, Thompson brings his camera with him to document his travels he goes
on around the world. This past summer he went to Japan and captured the
emotions and beauty of the country with messages that lie in each of his
photos. Thompson is a hard working, determined, and kind person who uses
his skills and personality wherever he goes. Growing up, playing soccer has
always been his main passion, and after college he wants to pursue a career in
Sports Photography for mainly soccer, but also any kind of sport given the
opportunity to him. To connect with Thompson, email him at
mbw143@mocs.utc.edu.
Aidan Henderson is majoring in Communications with a minor in Criminal Justice at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Henderson works as a staff photographer for The University Echo and is the social media manager for the Korean Culture Club. Through her academic career, she has developed experience in photojournalism, public relations, creative writing and social media marketing. Henderson’s passion lies in creating and telling stories for others to feel connected. She strives to broaden her creative outlets through different mediums, whether it be a camera, phone or pencil. Henderson loves to go to concerts, play video games and listen to her favorite music. Her goal is to work with social media marketing and create a strong audience. To reach out to Henderson, reach out at pww399@mocs.utc.edu.