THE TENDER sweet corn grazed young Edgar Kane’s hip as he pressed his tennis shoe into the imprint his grandfather’s boot had left in the soil. When the older man fed the cows, slopped the hogs, weeded his garden, or chased the chickens from the porch, young Edgar took it all in. There on that small farm, as he followed his grandfather’s footsteps closely, Edgar learned to be respectful, trustworthy, and faithful in everything he would set his hand to do for the rest of his days. Whether caring for animals, cultivating a vegetable garden, or later, as he married his wife, Dawn, and raised a family while juggling a career, these valuable lessons his grandfather taught have carried him through countless seasons of his life.
“When Dawn and I first met, my brother and I raised feeder pigs,” recalled Edgar. “She would come down after work and help me deliver them. When we got married, the feeder pig market went away, so we started raising sweet corn and selling it at flea markets. Then, we started adding more items and attending a few farmers markets. We also got into the meat goat market, but our children were young, and it was too much for both of us, so for a while, we stopped raising goats. Our farmers market business was really taking off, but the demands of raising a family and working a full-time job made it difficult.”
Although they put their farmstead on hold, like seeds lying dormant beneath the frozen ground, they hoped their dreams would spring up once the conditions were right.
“When my mother retired, she really enjoyed going to the farmers markets,” said Edgar. “I would plant, and my mother would pick and go to the markets. Four years ago, she had some health issues and was unable to go. She loved the markets and all the people she met there. I told her to ‘slow down,’ and she would tell me that was her social time. After that, I didn’t plant anything for about four years.”
But nothing satisfies the Kanes quite like plunking their hands into the warmed soil while planting their tiny seeds. Then, they both watch in amazement as the green leaves sprout and mature into tasty vegetables that will fill their bountiful table at the farmers markets in Shelbyville and Tullahoma. Now that Edgar has officially retired, coupled with the 15 acres his mother purchased in the 1990s, they now have the time and ample space to dedicate to their newest adventure — E&D Farms.
Edgar said, “I really enjoy growing vegetables. To me, this isn’t work. It’s enjoyable. I love being outside. What I enjoy most at the markets is our repeat customers. We know we are doing something right when, week after week, the same people come by and wait in line just to purchase what we’ve grown.”
With Edgar’s three decades in human relations and Dawn being a first grade teacher, the two are passionate about sharing what they’ve learned and helping others put their knowledge into practice for themselves.
If you’ve been considering starting a garden or farm of your own, Edgar advised, “Start small. You don’t have to have a lot of acres to sell at a farmers market. You can always expand as you go. I’ve never met a farmer who isn’t willing to help someone who is just starting out, so ask lots of questions. John Teague at the University of Tennessee (UT) Extension Office here in Bedford County is also a great resource.”
Though the warmth of summer has faded into autumn, and the nourishing dew of spring has turned to a biting frost, now is the perfect time to begin planning your spring garden. Many seed companies offer free catalogs upon request on their websites. The Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library offers gardening classes and provides a small seed library, and The UT Extension Office offers classes. Plus, they teach essential skills to preserve your bounty.
“God gave me everything I have,” said Edgar. “If it wasn’t for Him putting me in the right place, I wouldn’t have met Dawn, and I wouldn’t have the family I have now. They are a big part of who I am, and my grandfather was a huge inspiration to me when I was younger.” GN
