A Different Chick Farm is a Certified Organic family farm on just under 6 acres in Johnson City, Tennessee. Tiffany Stanley and her family began growing food for themselves as homesteaders, but saw demand from the local community. From this start in 2018, they expanded their operation that grows rare and heirloom fruits and vegetables, with a large focus on unique pepper varieties. Half of the farm is now a mixed orchard, planted with apples, peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, pears, blackberries, raspberries and more. Rounding out the offerings at this diverse farm is a flock of heritage breed chickens that are pasture raised. 

Tiffany conducted a trial to compare the effectiveness of two on-farm compost recipes to a commercial fertilizer on ‘Socrates’ cucumber yields. She hypothesized that with the correct compost formula, she could produce similar or higher yields than with commercial fertilizers. 

The trial consisted of 4 rows of cucumbers grown in a greenhouse. The treatments were:

• A: On Farm Compost recipe: chicken manure and pine chips
• B: On Farm Compost recipe: clover and grass clippings, wood shavings, and crop residues.
• C: Commercial Fertilizer: Harmony– granular fertilizer 5-4-3