2559 Shellsford Road
Mc Minnville, Tn 37110
The Keel family has been growing produce in Warren County since 1843, or perhaps as early as 1860. We have been told that Great-grandfather John and the Sheriff of Coffee county terminated their business association and that John moved to Warren county. There is a deed of record that shows he bought 480 acres above Safely Hollow on the mountain. There is also a parcel of there known as Keel Flat. We assume that it is there that John and family had their garden and grew produce, which they gave or sold to friends and neighbors. They may have hauled some of it to town on Saturday.
(photo of mt. side of Safely Hollow)
Grandfather Ike also lived in Safely Hollow. He was a timber man, but, as the custom in this time period, grew a very large produce garden. He most likely took produce with him to town (Mc Minnville) on Saturday when he took his staves (hammer handles) to town.
(photo of mt. behind house)
In the early 1900s my father (Claude Jessee Keel) was born in Safely Hollow where he planted and grew a large garden. He also sold produce such as blackberries, strawberries, apples (grown on Ben Lomand mountain), peaches and other produce. He was responsible for the (now destroyed) orchards on Ben Lomand mountain.
(photo of house in Safely Hollow)
I returned to Warren County in 1983 and like my forefathers, started growing gardens and selling produce.
(photo of home garden)
However, I did not give the garden any real attention until 2003. At that time we started to grow more and more vegetables and pumpkins. For the 2006 season, I will have: 35 different types of vegetables (many sub-varieties, i.e. sweet bell, sweet banana, hot banana, Poblano, Anaheim, Cubanelle, etc.), all kind of berries and 7 varieties of apples.
(photo of mountain farm)
As most of the folks around here know, we grow most of our produce with special care and old time-down to earth methods
(photo of old plow/equipment)
However, we do use a little modern high tech. We do use bug spray and weed spray but very moderately. The land must be useful for farming if it is to be passed on to my grandchildren.
(photo of new tractor)
ORGANIC? I do plan to have 100% organic by the 2009 season. It will be limited to sweet peppers, tomatoes, squash and greens.
(photo of Safely Hollow farm)
I also buy Tennessee produce from other responsible Tennessee produce farmers. This produce is grown in Tennessee; washed and packaged for produce vendors and commercial wholesale houses. It is top quality produce.
(photo of Swaford/Jackson farms)
The following photos are of various crops at different stages. You could be buying some of this produce right now.
(photo of Safely Hollow farm)
I have a large selection of produce currently from 3 sources; Organic grown (no chemicals/natural fertilizers); home grown (local) with moderated use of chemicals; and commerical grown.
It is truly a down to earth feeling just to watch a vegetable garden grow. I hope you enjoyed the photos and the family history. Drop by sometime as produce is generally available. We are just down the road from grandpa Pepper's old home place and the first Caucasian man in Warren County.
Thank
you--Leonard Keel