Since 1887, the Short family has farmed the land that will soon become home to Armistead Farm. Today, that family legacy is taking on new life as a nonprofit dedicated to connecting people with food, agriculture, education, and the land itself.
Located on 48 acres, Armistead Farm will operate as a regenerative farm with educational programming within the forthcoming Armistead agrihood, a new community being developed through a partnership between the Short family and Character Development.
Franklin native Jim Short, a fifth-generation steward of the property, grew up visiting the farm for fresh milk and spending summers helping bale hay. Today, he is working to preserve those agricultural traditions while creating opportunities for future generations to experience farm life firsthand.
This month, the community is invited to help build Armistead Farm's first hoop houses. The community groundbreaking and hoop house build will take place October 5-12, 2026, at Armistead Farm, 1740 New Highway 96 West, Franklin. Volunteers are invited to take part in the weeklong effort and help bring the farm's vision to life. To learn more and sign up, visit armisteadfarm.org/volunteer.
The hoop house project is the first step toward an even larger vision. In 2027, Armistead Farm plans to launch a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, offering seasonal shares of locally grown vegetables, flowers, and herbs.
Future programming will give children and adults opportunities to learn about growing food, cooking what they grow, and experiencing the daily life of a working farm.
To follow the Farm's progress and be the first to know about the October groundbreaking, CSA sign-ups, programming, and events, visit armisteadfarm.org, follow @armisteadfarm on social media, and subscribe to the Farm's newsletter. To learn more about the Armistead community, visit armisteadtn.com