Matthew Hill moved from California to Tennessee five years ago with his wife and kids. They bought some land in Overton County and started a farm from nothing. They have grown it to a self-sufficient operation. Recently they were recognized at the TSU Small Farm Expo for most improved farm of the year.

Thomas Capps

Big improvements on a family farm in Overton County. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I'm Tomas Capps.

Matthew Hill

We love to provide for our community, be part of the community. We love to provide for ourselves our family.

Thomas Capps

Matthew Hill and his wife and kids moved from California to Tennessee five years ago. Looking for a quieter way of life, they bought some land in Overton County and started what is now Hill Hollow Farm. They didn't have any experience starting out, but they have since grown into a self sufficient small operation.

Matthew Hill

Five years ago, when we bought the farm, we had a push mower and I mean, that was literally all we had. And you know, now we're running cattle and sheep and we're plowing land and doing all kinds of different things. We have pigs, we have chickens, we sell eggs, we sell, produce at farmer's market, anything that we can't sell, we turn into jams and jellies and sell those we preserve and can do a lot of stuff. We're gonna start selling meat directly to consumers. That's going to happen next year. We'll just keep on going and doing more and more.

Thomas Capps

The Hills were recently recognized at the Tennessee State University Small Farm Expo as the most improved farm of the year. Matthew says it's nice to have their hard work recognized and appreciated.

Matthew Hill

Anybody that knows running a farm, you put in a lot of hard work into farming. And so I mean, yeah, it is nice to be recognized. Although that's not what we're doing it for it. Her mother moved about a mile from us. She participates in the farming all girls do. We just started homeschool with them three weeks ago. And so now they can just stay on the farm all the time. My wife stays home with them, and that's what we do. And all together it's a team effort. You know, if one person is sick, then the other people got to step up and do do a little more but we take care of it.

Thomas Capps

Improving an operation that's more than just a farm. It's a special way of life. For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I'm Thomas Capps.