Perched on a ridge in Cheatham County, just outside the Nashville line, Crooked Limb Farm is a 65-acre project in regeneration and balance. What began as dense woods once used mainly by hunters has become our home—and the start of a farm built on biodiversity, permaculture, and respect for the land, where every improvement supports both our crops and the surrounding habitat.
We started with three mulberry trees and the dream of growing an apple orchard. But the more we learned about conventional agriculture—its dependence on pesticides, monocropping, and practices that exhaust the soil—the more we realized that conventional farming wasn’t the path for us or for the wildlife that depends on this ridge.
So we chose a regenerative model, one that restores the land rather than depletes it.
Our first growing season proved why that shift mattered. Wildlife and beetles nearly wiped out our young fruit trees, blackberry rows, and muscadine vines. Instead of turning to chemicals, we expanded the ecosystem. Ducks, geese, and turkeys joined the farm, providing natural pest control and enriching the soil as they moved across the land.
.JPG/:/cr=t:12.51%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:74.99%25/rs=w:1209,h:605,cg:true)
To rebuild our heavy clay soil, we introduced drought-tolerant cover crops, several varieties of clover, seasonal sunflowers, and earthworms to naturally aerate and heal the ground. Although we’re not a dry vineyard, our crops thrive on rainfall, well water, and nutrient-rich water harvested from our duck ponds, which adds gentle natural fertilizer throughout the season.
As the land evolved, so did our mission. We designated Crooked Limb Farm a pollinator sanctuary, raising honey bees and planting heritage flowers that bloom across the seasons to support the birds, bees, and countless pollinators that now thrive here—strengthening the very ecosystem that sustains our orchards and native nursery plants.
Our commitment extends beyond the farm’s fence line. Through our nonprofit, Wings of Eden Conservancy, we’re working to create safe habitat for pollinators and avian species throughout the region, ensuring that the restoration happening on our ridge contributes to a wider network of biodiversity.
Our orchards and vineyards are becoming a diverse food forest rooted in regenerative practices. Apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, muscadine grapes, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries grow together here in a layered system that supports both wildlife and human cultivation.
As this food forest matures, it will supply fresh,
Our orchards and vineyards are becoming a diverse food forest rooted in regenerative practices. Apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, muscadine grapes, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries grow together here in a layered system that supports both wildlife and human cultivation.
As this food forest matures, it will supply fresh, nutrient-rich foods—and natural treats for parrot owners and their companion birds.
Our working birds—Cayuga, Silver Appleyard, Silver Swedish, Welsh Harlequin, and Mallard Trout Indian Runner ducks, along with Roman Tufted geese and Royal Palm turkeys—play an essential role in the rhythm of the farm.
They provide natural pest control, enrich the soil, and bring a sense of life and movement to the ridge. Our Hyacinth Mac
Our working birds—Cayuga, Silver Appleyard, Silver Swedish, Welsh Harlequin, and Mallard Trout Indian Runner ducks, along with Roman Tufted geese and Royal Palm turkeys—play an essential role in the rhythm of the farm.
They provide natural pest control, enrich the soil, and bring a sense of life and movement to the ridge. Our Hyacinth Macaws also contribute to our mission by inspiring awareness for species that depend on healthy ecosystems to survive.
Our approach blends permaculture with the natural wild woods surrounding the farm, creating a landscape where native ecology and cultivation work hand in hand.
We rely on beekeeping, natural fertilizers, cover crops, and well water—not pesticides—to support resilient systems that protect the environment over time. Every planting, from clov
Our approach blends permaculture with the natural wild woods surrounding the farm, creating a landscape where native ecology and cultivation work hand in hand.
We rely on beekeeping, natural fertilizers, cover crops, and well water—not pesticides—to support resilient systems that protect the environment over time. Every planting, from clovers to sunflowers, helps rebuild the soil and welcome pollinators back each season.
We manage wildlife around our fruit crops through natural, humane methods that maintain balance on the farm.
Aromatic plants like lavender create gentle barriers that discourage deer and groundhogs. Solar electric fencing protects young trees without harming the surrounding ecosystem. Scarecrows and solar sound devices add another layer o
We manage wildlife around our fruit crops through natural, humane methods that maintain balance on the farm.
Aromatic plants like lavender create gentle barriers that discourage deer and groundhogs. Solar electric fencing protects young trees without harming the surrounding ecosystem. Scarecrows and solar sound devices add another layer of protection—all part of our commitment to coexistence rather than conflict.
The Ridge Rail Retreat offers a rejuvenating pause from the world—a place to slow down and feel rooted again. Set along the ridge, our restored locomotive, two thoughtfully outfitted railcars, and cozy caboose provide a unique way to stay on the farm while experiencing the beauty of Tennessee. Guests can wander the pollinator gardens, watch our avian residents move across the ridge, and enjoy the peace of a private creek tucked into the woods. It’s a chance to unplug, find space to rest deeply, and spend time in nature—while still being just a short hop from the sights and music of Nashville. The perfect stay is a long, easy three-day weekend: a day in the city, a day exploring Cheatham County, and a day lingering in the rhythm of the farm.
Crooked Limb Farm is home to Wings of Eden Conservancy, our nonprofit dedicated to creating safe, thriving habitat for pollinators and avian species. The same regenerative practices that guide our farm and plant nursery—building soil, planting diverse species, and restoring natural spaces—also support the conservation work happening here.
Through heritage pollinator gardens, habitat corridors, and the gentle presence of our parrot ambassadors, we work to protect the life that depends on this ridge. In a landscape where development continues to spread across Nashville, our mission is to preserve a pocket of biodiversity—one that nourishes our crops, shelters wildlife, and keeps this land thriving for generations to come.