July 12, 2024 • 34 mins
This week we welcome Pastor Chris Battle, owner of BattleField Farm Gardens! In part 2 we discussed the food insecurity in our community. Pastor Battle is partnering with community members to make fresh food accessible and to cultivate land-based sovereignty through education, workforce development, and direct relationships to land.
To connect with Battlefield Farms, go to their site at https://battlefieldfarm.org/about/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Check us out to hear the latest on life in the
volunteer state.
Yvonca and her guests discusseverything from life, love and
business with a Tennessee flair.
It's a Tennessee thing, alwaysrelatable, always relevant and
always a good time.
This is Talkin' Tennessee, andnow your host, yvonca.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This episode is brought to you by the Landis
team, your go-to real estatefamily in East Tennessee.
If you are looking to buy orsell, we are the ones you should
call.
Give us a call at 865-660-1186or check out our website at
YvoncaSellsRealEstatecom.
That's Yvonca Y-V-O-N-N-C-Asalesrealestatecom.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Welcome back to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca.
I am your host and I am in parttwo conversation with Pastor
Chris Battle and I have soenjoyed talking to you.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Welcome back Likewise Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yes.
So let's get back to you know,this great conversation How's
your life changed since you cameout of the pulpit?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Oh, it has been.
I'm not going to say dramatic,but it's definitely different.
I'm probably much happier.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
OK.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I was telling somebody that the other day and
they say yeah, we can tell youknow, that's a hard job.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Well, yeah, I don't want to see that.
But you've got to be a manfirst, then the pastor, then
you've got to run thecongregation.
You've got to run thecongregation.
That's a hard job.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
But I think what was happening, what I understand
about me, is how I was pastoring.
I stopped being me.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And I'm not good at that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
And but yeah, I am.
I am much happier.
There's a greater sense offulfillment.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I think I'm really hitting a need in the community,
addressing a need in thecommunity, so yeah, so it was.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It was probably dramatic when it first happened
because you've been doing it forso long, yeah, but it was the
shift in you evolving from onething to the next.
Yeah, and let's talk about thenext.
The next the next isBattlefield Farms.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
So we had the garden in 2018.
Okay, and as I said in the lastsegment, we realized that I
believe, Ivanka, that we havethe solution to most of our
problems.
We are the solution to most ofour problems.
Okay, if the problem is optionson healthy food, we got plenty
(03:08):
of lots around here that areempty.
Church has got plenty of fieldsthat they can use in the
community for community garden.
People can start growing theirown.
We can teach them how to can.
We can teach them how to cook.
We can teach them how to growit.
Correct, you know.
And so I reached out to somepastor friends of mine and we
(03:29):
had lunch together.
I shared, I said, hey, if youdo a garden, you know I will
help you.
Abc, I said, and we'll befighting food disparity in the
community.
And I talked about all theissues and things like that.
But I said, secondly, you'llstart meeting the people in the
community, right, okay, you'llstart getting to meet your
neighbors yes um, and so that wehad a couple of churches who
(03:52):
did it immediately.
Some came later um and are likeright now, the uh, pastor
richard brown, community gardenstuff.
That's like our star cake,that's our star one now right,
yes, and it's interesting.
It's like once other pastorssaw that one like oh, they start
raising they're like so we'veliterally plowed up two more
(04:14):
gardens this week, at churches,you know oh, wow yeah, um and so
, so, um, that that was what wewere doing.
We also in in 2018, I'm likewell, if a food desert is
defined by how close you are toa grocery store or farmer's
(04:36):
market, why don't we get afarmer's market started?
Yeah, that's one of those duh,yeah.
So I reached out to NourishKnoxville.
Nourish Knoxville runs all thefarmer's markets in the city.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And I said, what do we have to do to get a market in
the hood?
They said, well, there's someother groups who are talking
about that.
I'm like, well, who are they?
They said, well, Stan Johnsonwith Seed.
Oh, I know Stan he said I knowStan.
I know Stan Vivian Williamswith Women in Agro you mean
Reverend Vivian Williams.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yes, I know her, I know her too.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Tanisha Baker with Five Points Up.
She's a member of ourcongregation, yes, so we got
together and we started the EastSide Sunday Market.
Okay, and so we called it EastSide Sunday Market, because it's
on the east side and it's onSunday.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
You're supposed to laugh at that and we run from
June through September from oneto four.
So we got the market going, butfor me I'm like that's still
not enough.
We got churches going, right.
We're trying to get churchesgoing.
We've also helped co-found agroup called Rooted East, and
(05:46):
Rooted East works more onindividual gardens, individual
home gardens.
Battlefield works more oncommunity gardens, right.
Okay, so we had a little gardenat the church and we had the
market right.
We had the market that wasmeeting in the church yard and
one of the gardens there, or oneof the farms there, was Abbey
(06:08):
Field.
Abbey Field was a two-acreurban farm that was, by the old
standard, knitting mill rightthere on like Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Park Ridge, and so they were serving in our
farmer's market.
They were serving in ourfarmer's market and the young
lady that was running it leftand they needed somebody to run
it.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And for some reason I raised my hand.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
He said he raised his hand For some reason I raised
my hand.
And so I went from a 16.
You know you needed to raiseyour hand.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
But I went from a 16 by 12 plot to two acres.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh yes, oh yes, okay, you understand.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
I didn't realize what I was getting into.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I'm a realtor, I know that.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
And we rebranded it.
Was called Abbeyfield, werebranded it Battlefield.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I love the name.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
A play on my name.
Yes, it's funny because peoplethink legacy people think that's
my last name.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Hey, mr Battlefield.
Yeah you know and you're likeno, but it's a play on my name,
but also because we're in thiswar against food disparity.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I got a question.
Sure, I got a question aboutthat, and this was a question
from a viewer that wanted me toask you this when you go to East
Knoxville Kroger's, okay, yougo in their produce.
It looks if you go to okay WestKnoxville Kroger's versus East
(07:39):
Knoxville Kroger's.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Well, you ain't got to go that far.
Okay, you can go to EastKnoxville, to Fellini.
You know where I'm going right,I know exactly where you're
going.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I'm trying to understand why the produce in
East Knoxville Kroger's is sosmall compared to other Kroger's
in other areas.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Well you have to ask him.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Like I said, this is a viewer question.
They said please ask him this.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
I think it's a few reasons.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I wanted to hear you, number one.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
It's just like why gas prices higher in East
Knoxville than they are in WestKnoxville.
Okay, it's because when peoplehave limited choices, you can
always raise prices.
Ok because if I don't have it,if I can only buy from this gas
station, ok, they can dowhatever they want to do.
(08:36):
Yes, you know.
So prices get higher.
I don't know, I don't.
I haven't seen food beingsmaller.
I haven't noticed that, unlessthey're talking about the
section.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The section.
The section is smaller.
They're talking about thesection Because they know we're
not eating it.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Okay, you know.
I mean when you're in a fooddesert, the problem is we're
also in a food swamp.
Okay, Now, a food swamp is whenthere are four unhealthy
options to every healthy option.
So when I go to my Kroger, Ipass maybe nine, ten unhealthy
(09:21):
options.
You're right.
I'm talking about fast food,dollar stores, corner stores,
okay, and so the chains aregoing to build their.
They're going to cater to whothey think is going to come.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Okay, that makes sense If they said, well,
they're going to eat ramennoodles, they're not going to
eat cucumbers, so why have a bigcucumber section?
That makes sense, you see.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
so I think, that's what's happening there.
Now let East Knoxville startdemanding more fresh vegetables.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Okay, see what happens.
But do you see why they'reasking that?
Because it's like you see thisbig old variety at a Kroger's
even if you said Broadway, okay,versus these nostrils and I'm
like so.
If we're talking about growingfresh produce and all that and
what you do in the community,I'm like so why is that?
(10:23):
But that makes sense.
They're more catering to whatthey think someone's going to
eat and what's going to sell,more than versus giving variety.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And think fresh produce is expensive.
It's more expensive If I canget three cans of green beans
for a dollar and then a pound ofgreen beans costs two dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So is this the effect of the food desert?
Is it local or is it otherthere?
Speaker 4 (10:56):
are 15 identified food deserts in Knoxville Okay.
That affect about 50,000 of ourneighbors.
It's a nationwide issue.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
That's my question.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
It's a nationwide issue.
This is not something that'slocal.
I mean, this is nationwide.
What we're trying to do in EastKnoxville, and particularly I
focus on the 37915 zip code, orsouth of Magnolia Okay, that's
the area we work in.
There's no grocery store in the15 zip code, none whatsoever.
(11:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Sure.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
And because you know it's not going to cater to
poverty Correct, it doesn'tcater to poverty.
It's not going to cater topoverty, correct, it doesn't
cater to poverty.
So what we're trying to do isto set up a system, a system of
gardens farmer's market,whatever.
And we are working on doing agrocery store.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So, when it comes to local government, what are they
doing or what can you share thatthey do?
I haven't asked the governmentfor anything?
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Did you not hear what I said?
I'm just asking the question Isaid, we are the solution to our
own problems.
You see, so just look at itlike this.
Okay, so just look at it likethis.
So if everybody and I may betoo, I don't know too
theoretical or whatever but ifeverybody grew one crop, Okay.
(12:25):
You know you grew good tomatoes.
You know Joe grows good okra,Sam grows good potatoes,
Somebody else grows good.
Everybody grows one crop.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
We could practically eat for free.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
That's true For sure.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Because we share, we barter and we also start
creating community, because I'mgoing to watch out for you.
I'm going to watch your stuff.
I like how you do your work.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
You know what I'm saying.
So let me say this when he sayscommunity, let's take it back
to what we were talking about inthe first episode, about
kingdom building and church.
That's what kingdom is.
That is kingdom building.
I don't think, pastor Beth, Icould be totally wrong.
I don't think a lot of peoplethey've heard kingdom building,
(13:15):
but I don't think a lot ofpeople they've heard kingdom
building, but I don't think alot of people know what kingdom
building is.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I think we've been bamboozled into believing that
kingdom is in heaven yes, Idon't believe that let your will
be done on earth, earth, earthand I think we can create king.
I think that's what we werecalled to do.
I think that's what the churchwas responsible to do to create
(13:44):
kingdom.
I I I talk about us to helpcommunities so look what
happened.
So so I asked a question.
Is I was like what is soinviting, intriguing about your
church that people just yearn tocome there?
Oh, we got a good choir, ourpreacher's okay.
(14:05):
But, I don't know any churchlocally.
I don't know if I know of anychurch period.
Yes, that, just people.
Just like I got to go here,right.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Right, I got to go here Right Now.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But we do have an example of not so much a church
but a city that was like that inthe Bible.
It's called the city of Goshen.
Goshen is where the Hebrewsstayed when they were enslaved
in Egypt.
Okay, they were enslaved inEgypt and that's where the
slaves were.
That's where Goshen was thespot, because Bible talks about
(14:36):
that.
The Egyptians, that theshepherds, were detestable to
the Egyptian.
They couldn't stand them, sojust put them over there
somewhere else.
They'll build, they'll be ourslaves, they'll build our
pyramids, they'll do our dirtywork, but they can't live with
us.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Okay, it was a red line community.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
All of a sudden, the signs or the plagues come.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Right, right.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
And the Bible says something very interesting,
particularly at the fourthplague I think it was the plague
of flies.
It says but God made adistinction between Goshen and
Egypt.
So while there were flies inEgypt, there were no flies in
Goshen.
When hell was hitting Egyptwasn't no hell in Goshen.
(15:23):
When darkness covered the earthfor three days, there was light
in Goshen.
Yes, what do you think thoseEgyptians were doing?
Whoa, whoa whoa whoa, whoa,whoa, whoa.
Our cattle are dying, ourflocks are dying.
We got all these flies andfrogs.
I'm going to go she yes, butdaddy, you told us not to talk
(15:44):
with them.
You told us they are nastypeople, that they're beneath us
right now.
It don't matter, because theirgod is doing something there and
we're going to go there and theBible is doing something
different and that's attractive,that's intriguing, and the
Bible says that when they leftEgypt, they left.
(16:06):
It was a mixed congregation.
There were Hebrews and Egyptianswho left to get slave owners
and and slave and slaves are nowleaving together as liberated
people.
And I'm like well, why can't webe like Goshen?
Yes, you know.
Why can't we have a food systemthat provides for everybody?
(16:27):
Why can't we have aneducational system that provides
for everybody?
Why can't we have a housingsystem where nobody is homeless?
Why can't we have that?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
We can, but we got to have the will to do it and we
have to humble ourselves and, nomatter what we have, we have to
help our brother, our sisterand build them up and not
compare ourselves to each other.
And I think that's the biggestthing is stop the comparing, get
(16:58):
into.
I want a unified spirit.
I want unity, not dividingspirit, because I think that's
the biggest thing is what can wedo for battlefield farms?
Well, we can support them.
We can come out and volunteer.
We can come out and come toPastor Battle and say, hey, what
(17:19):
can I do in laboring?
You know, what can I do to helpbuild up battlefield farms,
because all you're doing iskingdom building and you're
feeding your community.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And what's crazy from it's been crazy for me has been
the support that we havereceived.
I mean, it's just been comingfrom everywhere, because what
I'm learning is like I'm likeone of the concerns it took us a
(17:51):
year to leave the churchBecause we had decided we were
going to leave but we couldn'tfind a house big enough.
I guess I should have calledyou, you should have called me.
You should have called me PastorPatrick we couldn't find a
house big enough, because Ithink we had eight kids in the
house at that point on the eastside of town.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Remember 19.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
That we could afford Right that we could afford.
Because, now that I'm leavingthe church, I ain't got no money
.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yes, correct, I ain't got no money, can I tell you
and he had to truly step out onfame.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
So housing was our big thing.
So what happened was the wifehad a nonprofit for single moms
and there was only one mom inthe house at that point.
So they decided to.
We decided to let her and thegirls go over.
I think there was five girls,six girls, something like that
at the time.
So they all went over to thehouse.
(18:48):
One of the members had a littletwo bedroom house.
She said, pastor, you can juststay in my house.
Okay, so we was living rent forme and the boys.
So me and the boys at one house.
The wife and the boys.
So me and the boys had onehouse.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
The wife and the girls had another house which
was actually kind of cool.
Yes, but anyway they said itwas kind of cool.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
They said it was quiet, it was kind of quiet.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
So I had a meeting with a guy on a Saturday and the
next day was going to be mylast Sunday at the church, right
, and I had told him.
I said, hey, this is what oursituation is.
We were talking about something.
That was the small talk, youknow, and I'm like, yeah, so
tomorrow we're going to beleaving and so, but we're living
(19:32):
in separate houses.
So we had our conversation, wetalked about what we came to
talk about.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Right.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
We said our goodbyes.
Sunday morning I got up there,said my goodbyes, preach my
sermon left monday morning I'mat the farm and they got that
gentleman that I spoke with onsaturday text me hey, chris, you
at the farm like yeah, can Icome talk with you?
sure?
So we came, we came, we satdown, it was hot, I needed a
break.
He said, man, me and my wifehave been praying for y'all,
(20:10):
thank you.
And we got this big old houseand it's just the two of us.
If we moved out, would you andyour family consider moving in?
So I'm, I'm, I'm in, so I'mweeping now.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Oh, I was about to say I know you was in tears and
I'm like, but I ain't got nomoney, yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I don't even know what I'm.
He says how much can you afford?
I told him he said well, thatwas as low as we said we could
go.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Really.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So I'm.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Guy, you know, you Bad boy.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
He said come on by the house.
No pressure, but we just feltthe Lord leading us this way and
come on by the house tomorrow.
You bring the family by thehouse tomorrow night.
Whatever.
Look at the house.
If you like it, fine.
If not, if you don't thinkit'll work, fine.
So that was Monday.
I called hey, baby, you ain'tgoing to believe what just
(21:02):
happened.
And of course, so we sneakingby the house.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Because it was in the same community as the farm,
right, he was probably like Ican't even get in the same room,
boy.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
And so I'm at the farm Tuesday morning.
The next Tuesday morning One ofmy volunteers comes up and she
goes.
Chris, me and my husband havebeen praying for y'all and we
got this big old house.
And husband been praying fory'all and we got this big old
house and we was wondering if wemoved out.
(21:34):
Would y'all consider?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
moving in.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I'm flabbergasted I'm I'm knocked out I'm speechless
I'm like now I get to choosebetween two houses and I'm so,
god, you're telling me.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Remember when God said that, and I'm paraphrasing
Remember when he said I'll blessyou beyond your imagination.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Well, this was definitely beyond.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
I tell my husband all the time.
Because blessings are coming,david will go.
You should expect it becauseyou do good.
And I said but, david, to acertain extent you can't expect
something you can't imagine.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
But the crazy thing for me was and I mean, I don't
know how many times I've heardthis is that who would think
that it's like what was holdingus back?
God said I already got thistaken care of.
Faith.
You gotta have faith.
Here's the thing.
So we, we end up going with thefirst house okay which meant
(22:28):
they had to go buy a house, butthey can, okay, and so, um, I'll
never forget.
I got a text wow, chris, wefound a house, they they've
accepted our bid.
If everything goes well, we'llclose may 30th, june 1st, you
guys can move in, he said.
But we got one problem.
(22:48):
I'm like what's the problem?
The house we're buying isbigger than the house we live in
.
So instead of us moving out ofthat house into the bigger house
and you moving from your housesto this house, why don't y'all
just move into the bigger house?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Pastor Battle stop.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
And your rent will stay the same.
Pastor, Battle stop and yourrent will stay the same Pastor
Battle stop.
And so for two years we livedin Park Ridge in a five-bedroom
house for $800 a month.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Only God can do that, only God and.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
I told my boy I'm telling you the truth, but
that's how God was working.
But what was happening for meis like God, you're telling me
I'm on the right path, you'reaffirming me, that's what was
getting me, that's what you know.
Beyond the miracle of that, itwas that you are affirming that
what is going on is a God thing.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
God just gave me confirmation of something in my
life through what you just saidevery good thing is not a God
thing but this was a God thingand I can't tell you how much
support that have been given to.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I don't worry about stuff anymore.
It took me 60 years but I justquit.
I'm like, okay, I see, you canhandle it.
I've been preaching, trustingGod, for 40 years.
I really believe it now becauseI've seen it, I've witnessed it
.
The property that we're on now.
They sold that property that wewere at.
(24:22):
We were leasing that propertyat two acres.
I'm not going to tell all allthe story we ain't got all that
time, but anyway I'm talkingwith a guy and he said oh man,
we got a whole bunch of propertyaround here.
You know.
He said there's a propertypiece on boys bridge, go look at
it, see if you like we talkabout it.
So I'm like, oh, this mightwork, you know.
(24:42):
So we, we're out there you know, you got favor and and and.
Even how I met that guy wascrazy.
But you need to read my book.
But anyway, yes, yes, becauseyou're blowing my mind.
We go out there and I'm lookingonline and this property is
$50,000.
Just land, don't have them.
(25:05):
I'm like I don't have $50,000.
So I went home I said, well,maybe let me offer him $20,000.
And I'll lay out in sackclothand ashes and fast you know.
So he contacts me.
(25:25):
Hey, chris, you stillinterested in the property?
Oh, very much.
So Just trying to figure outhow we're going to raise this
money, right, because I don'thave $50,000.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
So I'm getting ready to offer him $20,000.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
He goes well you know we didn't settle on a price.
Would $5,000 work?
I'll have the check for youFriday.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Pastor Battle, get up and get out.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Are you serious?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
I'm serious as a heart attack.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
But that stuff has been happening over and over and
over again and I am trulyconvinced, like I said, for 30
some odd years I'm askingchurches bring your tithes,
bring your offerings, you know,bring this money.
And begging folks, just so wecan meet budget.
Leave the church, start agarden and folks just start
(26:13):
throwing money at you Because Ibelieve people support causes.
And if they know that you're inthe will of God if you know
that youfiting community.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
People support it and when they see you labor, when
they see that sweat equity, thatyou put in there and they see
that you believe in somethingthey're going to help to grow it
.
I truly believe that that'samazing.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
And it's been a wonderful journey and it's like
so we had a church out hereConcord United Methodist Church.
They support a lot of they gota beautiful garden out there,
but they support a lot ofpantries with sweet potatoes or
whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Right.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
So they, Brother Mike , called me and said Brother
Chris, would you like some sweetpotatoes?
I'm like yeah sure.
How much would you like?
I'm like how much you got.
I came home with 210 pound bagsof sweet potatoes, a ton of
sweet potatoes.
(27:20):
I put them out on the farmstand.
I get on Facebook live.
I said y'all come get thesetaters right and I promise you,
within two hours they were gone.
People were coming fromeverywhere.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Oh my goodness, and this happened a couple of times
right.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
So, it hit me.
I said now you know, thedemographic that I'm trying to
reach may not havetransportation, may not have
Wi-Fi.
How do I get this to them?
So I said well, maybe we needto get like a veggie van or
something like that.
So we went on this quest for aveggie van, a mini bus that we
(27:58):
could convert right.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Right.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
And they were running brand new $72,000 or so.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, and you still had to convert it right.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
I'm like I got on Facebook marketplace, right, and
I'm looking at stuff and I andthere was someone who nice, you
know, between five and tenthousand which was affordable
you know right.
I'm like but you know something, this is hold off.
Okay, you know I got the money.
But you know how something justsays hold off.
Okay, you know I got the money,but just hold off.
And so because that was one.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I was getting ready to put the money down so I text.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
A friend of mine I said you know, you know, you and
I are both men of visions anddreams.
I'm laying it all right, youknow and I told him what we were
going to do and I said the whatwe were going to do.
And I said the only differencebetween you and I is that your
pockets are deep and my pocketsgot holes in them.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
And this was Steve Diggs, who runs Emerald
Foundation right.
And I said if you got a minibusthat's coming off the line,
would you consider us, I think.
Two weeks later I bought onefor $1,500.
That's Steve Diggs, but thewhole thing is that you know,
and so and we renamed it.
(29:14):
You know, fannie Lou afterFannie Lou Hamer.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
OK.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
And we got it all painted up.
We converted it.
My boy, ruben, fixed it upinside.
Yeah.
And so every week now we takeout a couple of tons of produce
to the community, you know,because a lot of times people
can't get to the grocery store.
We had a look, I heard a ladysay this.
She said and it broke my heartbecause I've always had a car-
(29:37):
Right.
I've always since I was 16.
I've had my first one was a 68Rambler with three on the tree.
You don't know nothing aboutthat, but anyway.
No, the gear shift was on thecollars, the steering column.
But I've always had a car Goget my groceries.
If I forgot something, just goback.
You know, that's why you have abunch of kids, so they can
(29:58):
carry their groceries in.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Right.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
This lady said this it takes her three to four hours
to do her grocery shoppingusing public transportation here
in Knoxville and this is whatgot me.
She says, but I can onlypurchase what my walker will
allow me and it broke my heartand you know.
I had never, I had neverthought about it like that, and
(30:25):
so I mean I was like it, justlike, put me in her shoes.
I'm like well, if people can'tget food, you know, how do we
get it to them?
That's how the idea of theveggie van comes up.
So we go out every day.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
You know we didn't go out today because it's
Juneteenth, but he was stillserving.
He still was at the parade, hewas still serving he still was
at the parade.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
He was still serving the community.
While everybody else waspassing out candy, we was
passing out potatoes there yougo and potatoes are going to be
good for dinner tonight.
Yep, and some onions, ok sothat's one way that you serve.
We're moving now toward doing amobile grocery store, okay, and
(31:09):
we're hoping to do a grocerystore in the community.
That's our goal, but, again,hopefully we'll be able to
replicate this in some of theother food deserts that are in
Knoxville.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
So my next question is how do people get involved?
Where do you need help?
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Well, we always need volunteers.
Okay, we need people to do somegardening.
Okay, great.
So we have the Payne AvenueGarden.
We have a garden at Stop and Goon Dandridge yes, some of our
African refugee brothers andsisters are using that one um,
(31:48):
then we have one um on chestnutand um martin luther king, right
behind holiday market.
We call it the concrete gardenbecause it's literally a garden
on concrete.
We just got raised beds there,um, so we always need people to
do that where, like I said, we,uh, we've established a couple
more gardens that are going tobe getting going next year.
Okay, at st Paul, baptist andLonsdale that new friendship.
(32:11):
After we we plowed them up thisweek, we're going to be
amending the soil yeah, how dothey get in contact?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
or who, how do they the?
Speaker 4 (32:22):
best way to contact.
Yes, you can email me at chrisat battlefieldfarmorg.
Say it one more time chrisC-H-R-I-S at battlefieldfarmorg
and that's the best way tocontact me and we'll be glad to
let you know, or go to ourwebsite battlefieldfarmorg
(32:43):
battlefieldfarmorg.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
So what's on the horizon?
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Well, right now the mobile grocery store.
We're hoping that'll be runningthis year and then we're in
hopes that we will do a grocerystore in the community as well.
It's going to be an affordablegrocery store where everything
we sell will just be a nickelover cost.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Do y'all hear that?
Yeah, a nickel over cost.
Pastor Battle, thank you forcoming in, being so open to talk
about you know, your journey,the things you've learned, the
things that you're trying to,you know put out in the
community and all the kingdombuilding that you're doing.
(33:31):
This door is always open foryou.
If you ever need to come backand you ever need us, the door
is always open to you.
I know God.
It took this part of it for Godto tell me why this interview
wasn't last year.
You gave me confirmation in mylife, so I say this I hope God
(33:56):
blesses you beyond yourimagination.
I know he will and I've reallyenjoyed you.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Thank you, I enjoyed being here today.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Everybody tune in every Friday at four for Talking
Tennessee.
Bye, guys.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Thanks for listening to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca
.
Watch out for our weeklyepisodes from the first family
of real estate and check us outon the web
wwwyvoncasalesrealestatecom.
Wwwyavoncasalsrealestatecom.
See our videos on Yvonca'sYouTube channel or find us on
Facebook under Yvonca Landis andTwitter at Yvonca Landis, and
(34:34):
don't forget to tell a friendabout us.
Until next time.
Yvonca signing off.
Check us out to hear the latest on life in the
volunteer state.
Yvonca and her guests discusseverything from life, love and
business with a Tennessee flair.
It's a Tennessee thing, alwaysrelatable, always relevant and
always a good time.
This is Talkin' Tennessee, andnow your host, yvonca.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This episode is brought to you by the Landis
team, your go-to real estatefamily in East Tennessee.
If you are looking to buy orsell, we are the ones you should
call.
Give us a call at 865-660-1186or check out our website at
YvoncaSellsRealEstatecom.
That's Yvonca Y-V-O-N-N-C-Asalesrealestatecom.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Welcome back to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca.
I am your host and I am in parttwo conversation with Pastor
Chris Battle and I have soenjoyed talking to you.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Welcome back Likewise Thank you.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yes.
So let's get back to you know,this great conversation How's
your life changed since you cameout of the pulpit?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Oh, it has been.
I'm not going to say dramatic,but it's definitely different.
I'm probably much happier.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
OK.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I was telling somebody that the other day and
they say yeah, we can tell youknow, that's a hard job.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Well, yeah, I don't want to see that.
But you've got to be a manfirst, then the pastor, then
you've got to run thecongregation.
You've got to run thecongregation.
That's a hard job.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
But I think what was happening, what I understand
about me, is how I was pastoring.
I stopped being me.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And I'm not good at that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
And but yeah, I am.
I am much happier.
There's a greater sense offulfillment.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I think I'm really hitting a need in the community,
addressing a need in thecommunity, so yeah, so it was.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It was probably dramatic when it first happened
because you've been doing it forso long, yeah, but it was the
shift in you evolving from onething to the next.
Yeah, and let's talk about thenext.
The next the next isBattlefield Farms.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
So we had the garden in 2018.
Okay, and as I said in the lastsegment, we realized that I
believe, Ivanka, that we havethe solution to most of our
problems.
We are the solution to most ofour problems.
Okay, if the problem is optionson healthy food, we got plenty
(03:08):
of lots around here that areempty.
Church has got plenty of fieldsthat they can use in the
community for community garden.
People can start growing theirown.
We can teach them how to can.
We can teach them how to cook.
We can teach them how to growit.
Correct, you know.
And so I reached out to somepastor friends of mine and we
(03:29):
had lunch together.
I shared, I said, hey, if youdo a garden, you know I will
help you.
Abc, I said, and we'll befighting food disparity in the
community.
And I talked about all theissues and things like that.
But I said, secondly, you'llstart meeting the people in the
community, right, okay, you'llstart getting to meet your
neighbors yes um, and so that wehad a couple of churches who
(03:52):
did it immediately.
Some came later um and are likeright now, the uh, pastor
richard brown, community gardenstuff.
That's like our star cake,that's our star one now right,
yes, and it's interesting.
It's like once other pastorssaw that one like oh, they start
raising they're like so we'veliterally plowed up two more
(04:14):
gardens this week, at churches,you know oh, wow yeah, um and so
, so, um, that that was what wewere doing.
We also in in 2018, I'm likewell, if a food desert is
defined by how close you are toa grocery store or farmer's
(04:36):
market, why don't we get afarmer's market started?
Yeah, that's one of those duh,yeah.
So I reached out to NourishKnoxville.
Nourish Knoxville runs all thefarmer's markets in the city.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
And I said, what do we have to do to get a market in
the hood?
They said, well, there's someother groups who are talking
about that.
I'm like, well, who are they?
They said, well, Stan Johnsonwith Seed.
Oh, I know Stan he said I knowStan.
I know Stan Vivian Williamswith Women in Agro you mean
Reverend Vivian Williams.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yes, I know her, I know her too.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Tanisha Baker with Five Points Up.
She's a member of ourcongregation, yes, so we got
together and we started the EastSide Sunday Market.
Okay, and so we called it EastSide Sunday Market, because it's
on the east side and it's onSunday.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
You're supposed to laugh at that and we run from
June through September from oneto four.
So we got the market going, butfor me I'm like that's still
not enough.
We got churches going, right.
We're trying to get churchesgoing.
We've also helped co-found agroup called Rooted East, and
(05:46):
Rooted East works more onindividual gardens, individual
home gardens.
Battlefield works more oncommunity gardens, right.
Okay, so we had a little gardenat the church and we had the
market right.
We had the market that wasmeeting in the church yard and
one of the gardens there, or oneof the farms there, was Abbey
(06:08):
Field.
Abbey Field was a two-acreurban farm that was, by the old
standard, knitting mill rightthere on like Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Park Ridge, and so they were serving in our
farmer's market.
They were serving in ourfarmer's market and the young
lady that was running it leftand they needed somebody to run
it.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
And for some reason I raised my hand.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
He said he raised his hand For some reason I raised
my hand.
And so I went from a 16.
You know you needed to raiseyour hand.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
But I went from a 16 by 12 plot to two acres.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Oh yes, oh yes, okay, you understand.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
I didn't realize what I was getting into.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I'm a realtor, I know that.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
And we rebranded it.
Was called Abbeyfield, werebranded it Battlefield.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I love the name.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
A play on my name.
Yes, it's funny because peoplethink legacy people think that's
my last name.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Hey, mr Battlefield.
Yeah you know and you're likeno, but it's a play on my name,
but also because we're in thiswar against food disparity.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I got a question.
Sure, I got a question aboutthat, and this was a question
from a viewer that wanted me toask you this when you go to East
Knoxville Kroger's, okay, yougo in their produce.
It looks if you go to okay WestKnoxville Kroger's versus East
(07:39):
Knoxville Kroger's.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Well, you ain't got to go that far.
Okay, you can go to EastKnoxville, to Fellini.
You know where I'm going right,I know exactly where you're
going.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I'm trying to understand why the produce in
East Knoxville Kroger's is sosmall compared to other Kroger's
in other areas.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Well you have to ask him.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Like I said, this is a viewer question.
They said please ask him this.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
I think it's a few reasons.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
I wanted to hear you, number one.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
It's just like why gas prices higher in East
Knoxville than they are in WestKnoxville.
Okay, it's because when peoplehave limited choices, you can
always raise prices.
Ok because if I don't have it,if I can only buy from this gas
station, ok, they can dowhatever they want to do.
(08:36):
Yes, you know.
So prices get higher.
I don't know, I don't.
I haven't seen food beingsmaller.
I haven't noticed that, unlessthey're talking about the
section.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The section.
The section is smaller.
They're talking about thesection Because they know we're
not eating it.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Okay, you know.
I mean when you're in a fooddesert, the problem is we're
also in a food swamp.
Okay, Now, a food swamp is whenthere are four unhealthy
options to every healthy option.
So when I go to my Kroger, Ipass maybe nine, ten unhealthy
(09:21):
options.
You're right.
I'm talking about fast food,dollar stores, corner stores,
okay, and so the chains aregoing to build their.
They're going to cater to whothey think is going to come.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Okay, that makes sense If they said, well,
they're going to eat ramennoodles, they're not going to
eat cucumbers, so why have a bigcucumber section?
That makes sense, you see.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
so I think, that's what's happening there.
Now let East Knoxville startdemanding more fresh vegetables.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Okay, see what happens.
But do you see why they'reasking that?
Because it's like you see thisbig old variety at a Kroger's
even if you said Broadway, okay,versus these nostrils and I'm
like so.
If we're talking about growingfresh produce and all that and
what you do in the community,I'm like so why is that?
(10:23):
But that makes sense.
They're more catering to whatthey think someone's going to
eat and what's going to sell,more than versus giving variety.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And think fresh produce is expensive.
It's more expensive If I canget three cans of green beans
for a dollar and then a pound ofgreen beans costs two dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So is this the effect of the food desert?
Is it local or is it otherthere?
Speaker 4 (10:56):
are 15 identified food deserts in Knoxville Okay.
That affect about 50,000 of ourneighbors.
It's a nationwide issue.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
That's my question.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
It's a nationwide issue.
This is not something that'slocal.
I mean, this is nationwide.
What we're trying to do in EastKnoxville, and particularly I
focus on the 37915 zip code, orsouth of Magnolia Okay, that's
the area we work in.
There's no grocery store in the15 zip code, none whatsoever.
(11:27):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Sure.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
And because you know it's not going to cater to
poverty Correct, it doesn'tcater to poverty.
It's not going to cater topoverty, correct, it doesn't
cater to poverty.
So what we're trying to do isto set up a system, a system of
gardens farmer's market,whatever.
And we are working on doing agrocery store.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So, when it comes to local government, what are they
doing or what can you share thatthey do?
I haven't asked the governmentfor anything?
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Did you not hear what I said?
I'm just asking the question Isaid, we are the solution to our
own problems.
You see, so just look at itlike this.
Okay, so just look at it likethis.
So if everybody and I may betoo, I don't know too
theoretical or whatever but ifeverybody grew one crop, Okay.
(12:25):
You know you grew good tomatoes.
You know Joe grows good okra,Sam grows good potatoes,
Somebody else grows good.
Everybody grows one crop.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
We could practically eat for free.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
That's true For sure.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Because we share, we barter and we also start
creating community, because I'mgoing to watch out for you.
I'm going to watch your stuff.
I like how you do your work.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
You know what I'm saying.
So let me say this when he sayscommunity, let's take it back
to what we were talking about inthe first episode, about
kingdom building and church.
That's what kingdom is.
That is kingdom building.
I don't think, pastor Beth, Icould be totally wrong.
I don't think a lot of peoplethey've heard kingdom building,
(13:15):
but I don't think a lot ofpeople they've heard kingdom
building, but I don't think alot of people know what kingdom
building is.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I think we've been bamboozled into believing that
kingdom is in heaven yes, Idon't believe that let your will
be done on earth, earth, earthand I think we can create king.
I think that's what we werecalled to do.
I think that's what the churchwas responsible to do to create
(13:44):
kingdom.
I I I talk about us to helpcommunities so look what
happened.
So so I asked a question.
Is I was like what is soinviting, intriguing about your
church that people just yearn tocome there?
Oh, we got a good choir, ourpreacher's okay.
(14:05):
But, I don't know any churchlocally.
I don't know if I know of anychurch period.
Yes, that, just people.
Just like I got to go here,right.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Right, I got to go here Right Now.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
But we do have an example of not so much a church
but a city that was like that inthe Bible.
It's called the city of Goshen.
Goshen is where the Hebrewsstayed when they were enslaved
in Egypt.
Okay, they were enslaved inEgypt and that's where the
slaves were.
That's where Goshen was thespot, because Bible talks about
(14:36):
that.
The Egyptians, that theshepherds, were detestable to
the Egyptian.
They couldn't stand them, sojust put them over there
somewhere else.
They'll build, they'll be ourslaves, they'll build our
pyramids, they'll do our dirtywork, but they can't live with
us.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Okay, it was a red line community.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
All of a sudden, the signs or the plagues come.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Right, right.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
And the Bible says something very interesting,
particularly at the fourthplague I think it was the plague
of flies.
It says but God made adistinction between Goshen and
Egypt.
So while there were flies inEgypt, there were no flies in
Goshen.
When hell was hitting Egyptwasn't no hell in Goshen.
(15:23):
When darkness covered the earthfor three days, there was light
in Goshen.
Yes, what do you think thoseEgyptians were doing?
Whoa, whoa whoa whoa, whoa,whoa, whoa.
Our cattle are dying, ourflocks are dying.
We got all these flies andfrogs.
I'm going to go she yes, butdaddy, you told us not to talk
(15:44):
with them.
You told us they are nastypeople, that they're beneath us
right now.
It don't matter, because theirgod is doing something there and
we're going to go there and theBible is doing something
different and that's attractive,that's intriguing, and the
Bible says that when they leftEgypt, they left.
(16:06):
It was a mixed congregation.
There were Hebrews and Egyptianswho left to get slave owners
and and slave and slaves are nowleaving together as liberated
people.
And I'm like well, why can't webe like Goshen?
Yes, you know.
Why can't we have a food systemthat provides for everybody?
(16:27):
Why can't we have aneducational system that provides
for everybody?
Why can't we have a housingsystem where nobody is homeless?
Why can't we have that?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
We can, but we got to have the will to do it and we
have to humble ourselves and, nomatter what we have, we have to
help our brother, our sisterand build them up and not
compare ourselves to each other.
And I think that's the biggestthing is stop the comparing, get
(16:58):
into.
I want a unified spirit.
I want unity, not dividingspirit, because I think that's
the biggest thing is what can wedo for battlefield farms?
Well, we can support them.
We can come out and volunteer.
We can come out and come toPastor Battle and say, hey, what
(17:19):
can I do in laboring?
You know, what can I do to helpbuild up battlefield farms,
because all you're doing iskingdom building and you're
feeding your community.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And what's crazy from it's been crazy for me has been
the support that we havereceived.
I mean, it's just been comingfrom everywhere, because what
I'm learning is like I'm likeone of the concerns it took us a
(17:51):
year to leave the churchBecause we had decided we were
going to leave but we couldn'tfind a house big enough.
I guess I should have calledyou, you should have called me.
You should have called me PastorPatrick we couldn't find a
house big enough, because Ithink we had eight kids in the
house at that point on the eastside of town.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Remember 19.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
That we could afford Right that we could afford.
Because, now that I'm leavingthe church, I ain't got no money
.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yes, correct, I ain't got no money, can I tell you
and he had to truly step out onfame.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
So housing was our big thing.
So what happened was the wifehad a nonprofit for single moms
and there was only one mom inthe house at that point.
So they decided to.
We decided to let her and thegirls go over.
I think there was five girls,six girls, something like that
at the time.
So they all went over to thehouse.
(18:48):
One of the members had a littletwo bedroom house.
She said, pastor, you can juststay in my house.
Okay, so we was living rent forme and the boys.
So me and the boys at one house.
The wife and the boys.
So me and the boys had onehouse.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
The wife and the girls had another house which
was actually kind of cool.
Yes, but anyway they said itwas kind of cool.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
They said it was quiet, it was kind of quiet.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
So I had a meeting with a guy on a Saturday and the
next day was going to be mylast Sunday at the church, right
, and I had told him.
I said, hey, this is what oursituation is.
We were talking about something.
That was the small talk, youknow, and I'm like, yeah, so
tomorrow we're going to beleaving and so, but we're living
(19:32):
in separate houses.
So we had our conversation, wetalked about what we came to
talk about.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Right.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
We said our goodbyes.
Sunday morning I got up there,said my goodbyes, preach my
sermon left monday morning I'mat the farm and they got that
gentleman that I spoke with onsaturday text me hey, chris, you
at the farm like yeah, can Icome talk with you?
sure?
So we came, we came, we satdown, it was hot, I needed a
break.
He said, man, me and my wifehave been praying for y'all,
(20:10):
thank you.
And we got this big old houseand it's just the two of us.
If we moved out, would you andyour family consider moving in?
So I'm, I'm, I'm in, so I'mweeping now.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Oh, I was about to say I know you was in tears and
I'm like, but I ain't got nomoney, yeah yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I don't even know what I'm.
He says how much can you afford?
I told him he said well, thatwas as low as we said we could
go.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Really.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So I'm.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Guy, you know, you Bad boy.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
He said come on by the house.
No pressure, but we just feltthe Lord leading us this way and
come on by the house tomorrow.
You bring the family by thehouse tomorrow night.
Whatever.
Look at the house.
If you like it, fine.
If not, if you don't thinkit'll work, fine.
So that was Monday.
I called hey, baby, you ain'tgoing to believe what just
(21:02):
happened.
And of course, so we sneakingby the house.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Because it was in the same community as the farm,
right, he was probably like Ican't even get in the same room,
boy.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
And so I'm at the farm Tuesday morning.
The next Tuesday morning One ofmy volunteers comes up and she
goes.
Chris, me and my husband havebeen praying for y'all and we
got this big old house.
And husband been praying fory'all and we got this big old
house and we was wondering if wemoved out.
(21:34):
Would y'all consider?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
moving in.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I'm flabbergasted I'm I'm knocked out I'm speechless
I'm like now I get to choosebetween two houses and I'm so,
god, you're telling me.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Remember when God said that, and I'm paraphrasing
Remember when he said I'll blessyou beyond your imagination.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Well, this was definitely beyond.
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
I tell my husband all the time.
Because blessings are coming,david will go.
You should expect it becauseyou do good.
And I said but, david, to acertain extent you can't expect
something you can't imagine.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
But the crazy thing for me was and I mean, I don't
know how many times I've heardthis is that who would think
that it's like what was holdingus back?
God said I already got thistaken care of.
Faith.
You gotta have faith.
Here's the thing.
So we, we end up going with thefirst house okay which meant
(22:28):
they had to go buy a house, butthey can, okay, and so, um, I'll
never forget.
I got a text wow, chris, wefound a house, they they've
accepted our bid.
If everything goes well, we'llclose may 30th, june 1st, you
guys can move in, he said.
But we got one problem.
(22:48):
I'm like what's the problem?
The house we're buying isbigger than the house we live in
.
So instead of us moving out ofthat house into the bigger house
and you moving from your housesto this house, why don't y'all
just move into the bigger house?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Pastor Battle stop.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
And your rent will stay the same.
Pastor, Battle stop and yourrent will stay the same Pastor
Battle stop.
And so for two years we livedin Park Ridge in a five-bedroom
house for $800 a month.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Only God can do that, only God and.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
I told my boy I'm telling you the truth, but
that's how God was working.
But what was happening for meis like God, you're telling me
I'm on the right path, you'reaffirming me, that's what was
getting me, that's what you know.
Beyond the miracle of that, itwas that you are affirming that
what is going on is a God thing.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
God just gave me confirmation of something in my
life through what you just saidevery good thing is not a God
thing but this was a God thingand I can't tell you how much
support that have been given to.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
I don't worry about stuff anymore.
It took me 60 years but I justquit.
I'm like, okay, I see, you canhandle it.
I've been preaching, trustingGod, for 40 years.
I really believe it now becauseI've seen it, I've witnessed it
.
The property that we're on now.
They sold that property that wewere at.
(24:22):
We were leasing that propertyat two acres.
I'm not going to tell all allthe story we ain't got all that
time, but anyway I'm talkingwith a guy and he said oh man,
we got a whole bunch of propertyaround here.
You know.
He said there's a propertypiece on boys bridge, go look at
it, see if you like we talkabout it.
So I'm like, oh, this mightwork, you know.
(24:42):
So we, we're out there you know, you got favor and and and.
Even how I met that guy wascrazy.
But you need to read my book.
But anyway, yes, yes, becauseyou're blowing my mind.
We go out there and I'm lookingonline and this property is
$50,000.
Just land, don't have them.
(25:05):
I'm like I don't have $50,000.
So I went home I said, well,maybe let me offer him $20,000.
And I'll lay out in sackclothand ashes and fast you know.
So he contacts me.
(25:25):
Hey, chris, you stillinterested in the property?
Oh, very much.
So Just trying to figure outhow we're going to raise this
money, right, because I don'thave $50,000.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Right.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
So I'm getting ready to offer him $20,000.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
He goes well you know we didn't settle on a price.
Would $5,000 work?
I'll have the check for youFriday.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Pastor Battle, get up and get out.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Are you serious?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
I'm serious as a heart attack.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
But that stuff has been happening over and over and
over again and I am trulyconvinced, like I said, for 30
some odd years I'm askingchurches bring your tithes,
bring your offerings, you know,bring this money.
And begging folks, just so wecan meet budget.
Leave the church, start agarden and folks just start
(26:13):
throwing money at you Because Ibelieve people support causes.
And if they know that you're inthe will of God if you know
that youfiting community.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
People support it and when they see you labor, when
they see that sweat equity, thatyou put in there and they see
that you believe in somethingthey're going to help to grow it
.
I truly believe that that'samazing.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
And it's been a wonderful journey and it's like
so we had a church out hereConcord United Methodist Church.
They support a lot of they gota beautiful garden out there,
but they support a lot ofpantries with sweet potatoes or
whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Right.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
So they, Brother Mike , called me and said Brother
Chris, would you like some sweetpotatoes?
I'm like yeah sure.
How much would you like?
I'm like how much you got.
I came home with 210 pound bagsof sweet potatoes, a ton of
sweet potatoes.
(27:20):
I put them out on the farmstand.
I get on Facebook live.
I said y'all come get thesetaters right and I promise you,
within two hours they were gone.
People were coming fromeverywhere.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Oh my goodness, and this happened a couple of times
right.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
So, it hit me.
I said now you know, thedemographic that I'm trying to
reach may not havetransportation, may not have
Wi-Fi.
How do I get this to them?
So I said well, maybe we needto get like a veggie van or
something like that.
So we went on this quest for aveggie van, a mini bus that we
(27:58):
could convert right.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Right.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
And they were running brand new $72,000 or so.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, and you still had to convert it right.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
I'm like I got on Facebook marketplace, right, and
I'm looking at stuff and I andthere was someone who nice, you
know, between five and tenthousand which was affordable
you know right.
I'm like but you know something, this is hold off.
Okay, you know I got the money.
But you know how something justsays hold off.
Okay, you know I got the money,but just hold off.
And so because that was one.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
I was getting ready to put the money down so I text.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
A friend of mine I said you know, you know, you and
I are both men of visions anddreams.
I'm laying it all right, youknow and I told him what we were
going to do and I said the whatwe were going to do.
And I said the only differencebetween you and I is that your
pockets are deep and my pocketsgot holes in them.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
And this was Steve Diggs, who runs Emerald
Foundation right.
And I said if you got a minibusthat's coming off the line,
would you consider us, I think.
Two weeks later I bought onefor $1,500.
That's Steve Diggs, but thewhole thing is that you know,
and so and we renamed it.
(29:14):
You know, fannie Lou afterFannie Lou Hamer.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
OK.
Speaker 4 (29:17):
And we got it all painted up.
We converted it.
My boy, ruben, fixed it upinside.
Yeah.
And so every week now we takeout a couple of tons of produce
to the community, you know,because a lot of times people
can't get to the grocery store.
We had a look, I heard a ladysay this.
She said and it broke my heartbecause I've always had a car-
(29:37):
Right.
I've always since I was 16.
I've had my first one was a 68Rambler with three on the tree.
You don't know nothing aboutthat, but anyway.
No, the gear shift was on thecollars, the steering column.
But I've always had a car Goget my groceries.
If I forgot something, just goback.
You know, that's why you have abunch of kids, so they can
(29:58):
carry their groceries in.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Right.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
This lady said this it takes her three to four hours
to do her grocery shoppingusing public transportation here
in Knoxville and this is whatgot me.
She says, but I can onlypurchase what my walker will
allow me and it broke my heartand you know.
I had never, I had neverthought about it like that, and
(30:25):
so I mean I was like it, justlike, put me in her shoes.
I'm like well, if people can'tget food, you know, how do we
get it to them?
That's how the idea of theveggie van comes up.
So we go out every day.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
You know we didn't go out today because it's
Juneteenth, but he was stillserving.
He still was at the parade, hewas still serving he still was
at the parade.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
He was still serving the community.
While everybody else waspassing out candy, we was
passing out potatoes there yougo and potatoes are going to be
good for dinner tonight.
Yep, and some onions, ok sothat's one way that you serve.
We're moving now toward doing amobile grocery store, okay, and
(31:09):
we're hoping to do a grocerystore in the community.
That's our goal, but, again,hopefully we'll be able to
replicate this in some of theother food deserts that are in
Knoxville.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
So my next question is how do people get involved?
Where do you need help?
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Well, we always need volunteers.
Okay, we need people to do somegardening.
Okay, great.
So we have the Payne AvenueGarden.
We have a garden at Stop and Goon Dandridge yes, some of our
African refugee brothers andsisters are using that one um,
(31:48):
then we have one um on chestnutand um martin luther king, right
behind holiday market.
We call it the concrete gardenbecause it's literally a garden
on concrete.
We just got raised beds there,um, so we always need people to
do that where, like I said, we,uh, we've established a couple
more gardens that are going tobe getting going next year.
Okay, at st Paul, baptist andLonsdale that new friendship.
(32:11):
After we we plowed them up thisweek, we're going to be
amending the soil yeah, how dothey get in contact?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
or who, how do they the?
Speaker 4 (32:22):
best way to contact.
Yes, you can email me at chrisat battlefieldfarmorg.
Say it one more time chrisC-H-R-I-S at battlefieldfarmorg
and that's the best way tocontact me and we'll be glad to
let you know, or go to ourwebsite battlefieldfarmorg
(32:43):
battlefieldfarmorg.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
So what's on the horizon?
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Well, right now the mobile grocery store.
We're hoping that'll be runningthis year and then we're in
hopes that we will do a grocerystore in the community as well.
It's going to be an affordablegrocery store where everything
we sell will just be a nickelover cost.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Do y'all hear that?
Yeah, a nickel over cost.
Pastor Battle, thank you forcoming in, being so open to talk
about you know, your journey,the things you've learned, the
things that you're trying to,you know put out in the
community and all the kingdombuilding that you're doing.
(33:31):
This door is always open foryou.
If you ever need to come backand you ever need us, the door
is always open to you.
I know God.
It took this part of it for Godto tell me why this interview
wasn't last year.
You gave me confirmation in mylife, so I say this I hope God
(33:56):
blesses you beyond yourimagination.
I know he will and I've reallyenjoyed you.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
Thank you, I enjoyed being here today.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Everybody tune in every Friday at four for Talking
Tennessee.
Bye, guys.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Thanks for listening to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca
.
Watch out for our weeklyepisodes from the first family
of real estate and check us outon the web
wwwyvoncasalesrealestatecom.
Wwwyavoncasalsrealestatecom.
See our videos on Yvonca'sYouTube channel or find us on
Facebook under Yvonca Landis andTwitter at Yvonca Landis, and
(34:34):
don't forget to tell a friendabout us.
Until next time.
Yvonca signing off.
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